Terrorist Activities in Pakistan
Suicide Bombings
Ten persons, including two children, were killed and over 65 others sustained injuries when two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in the Clifton area of Karachi in Sindh on October 7, reported The News. The twin blasts occurred within minutes of each other at a time when large number of people were gathered in the shrine. The first blast took place when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the central gate of the shrine, while the second bomb went off minutes later in the shrine premises, damaging a number of shops and vehicles. The suicide bombers were reported to be teenage boys. It was reported that a spokesman of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility for the attack over phone to the British media service.
Bomb/Missile Attacks
A Policeman, Fazal Rabi, was critically injured, when an explosive device, allegedly planted by unidentified militants near the main gate of the Lotharan Sarhadi Church in Mardan triggered with a bang on the night of September 12, reports Dawn.
A roadside bomb blast killed six persons and injured four others in Kurram Agency on September 12, reports Dawn. A pickup truck was heading from Sadda to Wacha Darra in Parachemkani area when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on a dirt track exploded with a bang. Six persons died on the spot while four others sustained injuries.
At least 10 persons, including four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were injured in a remote-controlled blast near Javed Shaheed Chowk in Panjgur District of Balochistan on September 20, reported Daily Times. Sources said that unidentified assailants planted a remote-controlled device in a car parked near the Javed Shaheed Chowk and detonated it as a convoy of FC reached the area.
At least four persons, including three children, injured in a hand grenade attack at Chaki Shawani area in Quetta on September 26, reported Daily Times. Sources said unidentified assailants riding a motorbike hurled a hand grenade and fired at some children who were playing in Sardarabad colony. It landed in the street and exploded, injuring three minors. The assailants managed to escape from the scene. The assailants intended to attack on a Policeman’s residence which is situated in the street where the incident took place, Sources added.
Three persons were injured when unidentified assailants hurled e a hand grenade at a Government High School in Industrial Town Hub of Lasbela District on September 28, reported Daily Times.
A Police van of the Shalkot Police Station, patrolling the western e bypass on the outskirts of Quetta was damaged in a remote controlled blast on October 12, reports Daily Times. Sources said that unidentified persons had planted an explosive device along the roadside near the Akhtarabad area in the western bypass and detonated it when a Police mobile passed by.
The Police on October 11 neutralised a powerful explosive device planted under a bridge on Choha Gujar-Hazar Khwani Road under Chamkani Police Station in Peshawar, reports Dawn. An official of the bomb disposal unit said that the 12-kilogram heavy bomb was packed in a canister.
A child suffered splinter wounds in a hand grenade attack at the residence of one Nadeem Isahqzai in Ferozabad area of Saryab in Quetta on October 14.
Unidentified militants blew up the shrine of Syed Muhammad Shah at Loy Shelman, near Parang Dra in Landikotal of Khyber Agency on October 14, reports Daily times. However, no casualties had been reported in the blast.
A tribal elder, Mir Hasan Qalandrani, his son and nephew were abducted near Sungar area of mastung on sept 14. Sources said that unidentified militants -intercepted Mir Hasan Qalandrani, his son and the nephew near sungar area of Mastung and took them away on gunpoint.
Attacks/Ambushes
Four persons were killed when militants attacked the house of a pro- Government tribal elder, Malak Buner Khan, in Ghafoor Shah Village of Khar tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur Agency on September 15, reports Dawn. Sources said militants used heavy weapons and hurled hand grenades at the house. Ismail Khan, 25-year-old son, and Nawabzada Jan, 18-year-old nephew, of Malak Buner Khan were killed in the attack. The Security Forces (SFS) cordoned off the area soon after the attack and started search operation. They killed two of the fleeing militants. SFs continued search operation on September 16 and arrested more than 12 suspected persons.
Five persons, including two Police Constables, were injured when unidentified assailants ambushed the vehicle of a former councillor of Sumari union council, Mujahid Shah, near Muslimabad on Indus Highway in Kohat on Sept 19.
Security Forces Forces (SFs) on October 4 repulsed an attack by a group of 60 Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) militants on Sarbanda check post in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 4. The sources said that militants had entered Peshawar from Shalobar area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency.
Targetted Killings
Two persons were shot dead in Mand, a town near the border with Iran, of Balochistan on September 14, reports Dawn. The Police said four persons hailing from Rahimyar Khan City of Punjab were staying at a guesthouse for the last several days. Two unidentified assailants barged into the guesthouse and . opened fire on the four people, killing two of them on the spot. The other two sus other two sustained bullet injuries.
A barber, Tahir Manzoor was shot dead in Naushki Bazaar of Naushki District on September 16, reports Daily Times.
A Frontier Corps (FC) official was shot dead by BLA militants on Sept 16 when he was performing his duty at a picket near the main intersection of Hub Chowki in Lasbela District. A spokesman of the BLA, who introduced himself as Jayhind Baloch, claimed responsibility of the killings of the FC personnel and the barber.
The dead body of Gulab Khan Afridi, a commander of Tariq Afridi fraction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was found in a bazaar at Shni Kalay area of Darra Adamkhel on Sept 26. He was shot dead and also beheaded by unidentified assailants, sources said.
A person belonging to the Shia community, identified as Zaheer Abbas, was shot dead in a suspected sectarian attack near his house area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on September 27, reports Daily times.
A teacher of the Jamia Binoria Al Almia was shot dead in Site area on October 5, reports Dawn. Police said 50-year-old Maulana Mohammad Amin was going to visit his relatives when at least four assailants fired from the front and rear at the jeep he was driving. According to the Police, Maulana Amin was once associated with the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) as its divisional chief in Karachi and later quit the party after it was banned.
Mir Nooruddin Mengal, a central leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), was shot dead in Kalat town on October 13, reported Dawn. Mengal was a member of the party’s central executive committee and was going home when unidentified assailants on a motorbike opened fire on him. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Unidentified militants killed three anti-Taliban tribal elders tasked with protecting their areas from insurgents in the Bazai area of Mohmand Agency on Oct 13.
A religious scholar, Sardar Haider, was shot by unidentified assailants on his way to his office from his house in the Kotwali area of Peshawar on October 14, reports Daily Times.
Militant Arrests
The Police in association with intelligence agencies agencies arrested seven suspected militants, two of them said to be Tajik, and recovered from them maps of sensitive places, suicide jackets and sophisticated weapons in Raiwind of Lahore, ا. Dawn reported on September 14.
Daily Times reported that firing Islamabad Expressway on September 15 from where motor- cade of Prime Minister (PM) passed sometime earlier showed a serious security lapse. After passing of PM’s motorcade from the Expressway two militants started aerial firing nearr Dhoke Kala Khan area. However, no casualty was reported. Islamabad Traffic Police officer later arrested both the assailants and seized arms from their possession. During the operation two policemen were injured. Senior Superintendent of Police Tahir Alam Khan claimed that PM’s motorcade passed from the place long ago so it can be assumed that the assailants wanted to attack PM’s motorcade.
Three suspected militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested from Jinnah town, located in the limits of Sihala Police Station in Islamabad on September 28, reported Dawn. Sources said one of them, Zar Wali, was an impor-tant UP leader in Swat’s Charbagh area. The three suspects were members of Qari Mushtaq outfit of Charbagh, they added. The Security Forces were informed of Wali’s visit to Islamabad to meet TTP militants, Shamsher and Wasal Khan.
SFs arrested 10 suspected mili-tants during a raid on a seminary in the frontier region of Kohat on Sept 29.
Suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant, Faisal Abbasi, was arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from Islamabad of Punjab on September 30 for allegedly facilitating Faisal Shahzad, the failed New York Time Square car bomber, reported Dawn.
Six militants were arrested in a Police raid on an old Afghanistan refugee camp in Darsamand area of Orakzai Agency on October 5. A rocket, Kalashnikov, rifle and hundreds rounds of cartridges were recovered from their possession.
Security Force personnel arrested four al Qaeda suspects, including an injured Arab national, after an encounter in Ganja Don village near Mastung District on Oct 6. The other three suspects were Afghans who were handed over to the concerned authorities for interrogation.
The Police raided a madrassa (seminary) and arrested an Afghan Taliban commander ‘Abdul Raziq’ in the Jamia Imdad-e-Aloom-e-Islamia premises in Peshawar, the provin-cial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 7, reports Daily Times.
Security Forces arrested 10 militants on Oct 11 and recovered a large number of arms and ammunition from their possession during a pre-dawn search operation in Katlang tehsil (revenue unit) of Mardan District. The operation, which continued the whole day, was carried out in Sawaldair, Matha, Shamozai, Babozai, Kadao, Chora, Bashakhale, Jamal Gari, Spinkai, Jabbar and Guli Bagh areas of Katlang.
Miscellaneous
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (UP) on October 10 claimed responsibility for October 9 attack on NATO supply convoys in Sibi District and vowed they would continue until US drone strikes were stopped, reports Daily Times. “We accept responsibility for the attacks on the NATO supply trucks and tankers in Sibi district on Saturday,” TTP spokesman Azam Tariq said. “We will continue such attacks until the drone strikes are stopped,” he added.
At least 10 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and one soldier were killed in an operation against militants in different parts of the Mardan District on October 12, reports Daily Times. The sources said that the Army along with Police on October 11, started a two-day joint operation against militants in various parts of Mardan including included Matta, Ghuando, Shamozai and Shikray Baba areas of Katlang tehsil (revenue unit), Sawaldher, Bakhshali and Guli Bagh areas, after the killing of renowned religious scholar and Swat Islamic University vice chan-cellor Dr Muhammad Farooq. The sources added that around 800 sus-pected terrorists had also been arrested in the operation.
US drones launched four missile strikes at a house and two vehicles in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency in the evening of October 13, killing 11 militants, including three foreigners, reports Daily Times.
The City Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) identified one of the suicide bombers of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine blasts of Karachi in Sindh and issued a copy of his Computerised National Identity Card on October 13, reports Daily Times. The militant identified as Badshah Khan, belonged to the Mehsud tribe and was a resident of the Ladha area of South Waziristan in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA).
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants released a video of the abducted Islamia College University Peshawar Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Ajmal Khan in which he appeals to the Government to accept the militants’ demands to secure his release. Professor Ajmal Khan, the cousin of Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan was abducted on September 7. In the video tape, Khan is shown wearing a traditional Pashtun cap with a beard, and with two masked men holding Kalashnikov assault rifles standing behind him. “I am a heart patient and cannot live here any longer. The Government should do something for me and should negotiate with the Taliban,” Khan said in the video recording. “The Government should solve their problems (with the Taliban), if they have any,” he added.
In Bara, SFs demolished the houses of three important ‘commanders’ of Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) in Sipah area on Oct 14. Officials said the commanders were wanted in a number of sabotage activities.
The ‘master trainer’ of suicide bombers and second-in-command of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Qari Hussain Mehsud, is reported to have been killed in the October 4 US drone attack in Mirali town of North Waziristan Agency, Dawn reported on October 15. However, TTP contradicted reports about Qari Hussain’s death and described it as part of a campaign to demoralise its fighters.
The driver of a NATO container was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Mangochar in Kalat District on October 15, reported Daily Times. The helper was injured in the attack. The assailants man-aged to escape.
PAKISTAN
Force will be used to restore peace in Balochistan, says Rehman Malik
Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced on September 7 that the Government had decided to take stern action against miscreants in Balochistan based on the approach used to restore peace in Karachi, reports Daily Times. Talking to reporters at the Quetta airport, Malik said the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) had taken the place of political parties in the province and were involved in targeted killings. He said the Government would act against these groups until its writ is restored. Malik said that he had been tasked by the prime minister to revive the peace process in Balochistan based on the model applied in Karachi. Malik said that he had called on Baloch nationalist leader Hyrbyair Marri in London and had also talked with another nationalist leader Brahmdagh Bugti but neither had given a positive response to the Government’s offer for talks to maintain peace in Balochistan.
Operation to be launched against Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Rehman Malik
The Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while announcing a grand operation against Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), once again made it clear that no military operation was taking place in Balochistan, The News reported on September 14. Malik expressed these views while talking to media persons. He said the LeJ was spreading anarchy and “we will not let them allow playing with the lives of people at any cost and an operation would be launched against this outfit”.
Arms and explosives seized in Karachi
The security forces raided a house near Sindhi Hotel and Madrassa-e-Arabia Faizanul Quran in the Liaquatabad area of Karachi in Sindh and recovered a cache weapons, including explosive materials, while arresting three alleged suspects on September 15, reported Daily Times. The recoveries included a light machine gun, a rocket launcher, one 7-mm rifle, one submachine gun, a 12-bore repeater, one .44-bore rifle, one 30-bore pistol, a 9mm pistol, 1,000bul-lets, 5 boxes of explosive materials, 8 boxes of wires and religious literature. The arrestees were identified as Shafiqullah, Noman and Faizan.
CID to investigate sectarian and bomb blast cases in Sindh The Sindh
Police Chief gave special powers to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to investigate and prosecute suspects involved in sectarian terror-ism and bomb blast cases, reports Dawn. Prior to this decision, the CID was not bound to investigate and prosecute any suspect arrested by it. It was the responsibility of the investigation wing of the Karachi Police to submit a charge-sheet against the suspects, who were arrested by the CID, in court and help the Government lawyer in prosecution. Officials said that the proposal came in the wake of continuing incidents of sectarian terrorism in the city.
US employs Afghan force to hunt militants in Pak
The Central Intelligence Agency runs an Afghan paramilitary force that hunts down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in covert operations in Pakistan, a US official said Wednesday, Sept 22. Confirming an account in a new book by famed reporter Bob Woodward, the US official told AFP that the Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams were highly effective but did not offer details. The 3,000-strong para-military army of Afghan soldiers was created and bankrolled by the CIA and was designed as an “elite” unit to pursue “highly sensitive covert operations into Pakistan” in the fight against AI-Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries, according to The Washington Post, which revealed details of the new book.
Revelations about a US-run unit operating in Pakistan are sure to complicate Washington’s ties with Islamabad as well as Kabul’s difficult relations with Pakistan .-Agencies
Dead body of abducted Baloch lawyer recovered in Balochistan
A bullet-riddled dead body of an abducted Baloch lawyer, Ali Sher Kurd, was found from a desolate place in Khuzdar on September 24, reported Daily Times. Ali Sher was reportedly abducted by armed militants from Quetta some days ago. Students, however, took to the streets in protest against the killing of Baloch lawyer alleging that he was in illegal custody.
Meanwhile, three NATO containers were set ablaze in the Menguchar area of Kalat District. According to sources, the containers, carrying logistic support for NATO forces were heading towards Kandahar (Afghanistan) from Karachi (Sindh) when unidentified assailants opened fire on them and then set the containers ablaze. No group has claimed the responsibility of attack.
Troika resolves to defend democratic process
The Government has expressed its resolve to defend and protect the democratic process and to resolve all issues in accordance with the Constitution. This was decided at a meeting held in the Presidency on Monday, Sept 27 presided over by President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, and attended by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and the Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting that lasted for over 90 min-utes reviewed the current situation of the country. The meeting also reviewed flood relief measures in the country and the ongoing fight against militancy.
Three persons injured in grenade attack in Balochistan Three persons were injured when unidentified assailants hurled a hand grenade at a Government High School in Industrial Town Hub of Lasbela District in Balochistan on September 28, reported Daily Times.
TTP reaffirms its ties to al Qaeda The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) South Waziristan ‘comman-der’ Waliur Rehman on September 29 reaffirmed his outfit’s ties to al Qaeda, vowing to fight for imposi-tion of Islamic law across the world, reports Daily Times. He underlined the persistent efforts of the group to raise its profile beyond Pakistan. “Al Qaeda is a global organisation with branches spread all over the world, whether it is Arab countries, Europe, America or the subconti-nent. Many organisations are attached to it. We totally agree with their ideology and their agenda,” he said. “We will expand this war during the next 10 years,” he added. Waliur Rehman, a close
associate of Hakimullah Mehsud, told the interviewer that Osama Bin Laden was alive and continuing to direct operations. During the inter-view, he claimed there were “at least” 2,500 fighters in South Waziristan tying down the Pakistani Army, and about 18,000 TTP fight-ers across the whole country. The interview was conducted in North Waziristan by a Pakistani reporter working for a foreign journalist.
Pakistan halts NATO supplies after attack Pakistan on September 30 stopped NATO supply trucks at the Torkham border after three Frontier Corps soldiers were killed in an attack by alliance helicopters on a Pakistani check post in Khurram Agency of FATA on the border with Afghanistan on September 29, reports Daily Times. The supplies were stopped for security reasons as authorities expected public a backlash to the attacks in Kurram Agency, where similar strikes had been carried out a few days ago.
TTP claims responsibility of Swat University VC’s killing
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter on October 3 claimed responsibility for the murder of Swat Islamic University Vice Chancellor Mohammad Farooq Khan on October 2, reports Daily Times. Swat TTP spokesman Umar Hassan Erabi phoned media per-sons and accepted responsibility for the killing “because Dr Farooq was propagating against the TTP and had written anti-Taliban books.” Farooq was reported running a rehabilitation centre for 175 suicide bombers who were trained by the TTP in the Swat District.
Erabi, meanwhile, claimed that their leader Maulana Fazlullah was still in Swat, adds The News. He denied reports that their leader Maulana Fazlullah and his men recently crossed over to Chitral from Nuristan in Afghanistan. He insisted that Maulana Fazlullah was alive and in good health.
Six persons killed ‘as 28 NATO oil tankers set ablaze in Islamabad
Six persons were killed and over a dozen sustained injuries when unidentified militants opened fire at 28 NATO oil tankers and set them ablaze near the DNA Phase 2 on Grand Trunk Road in Islamabad, the nation-al capital of Pakistan, on October 3, reports The News. The militants man-aged to escape from the incident site after carrying out the attack.
US Ambassador Anne Patterson apologises for Pakistani soldiers’ death
US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson on October 6 extended an apology to the country on behalf of the American people for the cross-border NATO air strike on September 30, which resulted in the death of three Pakistani Frontier Corps soldiers, reports Daily Times. Ambassador Patterson said that a joint investigation into the incident had established that the US helicopters had mistaken the Pakistani soldiers for insurgents they had been pursuing. “We extend our deepest apology to Pakistan and the families of the Frontier Scouts,” she said. The ambassador noted that the US would coordinate with Pakistan in the future to prevent the recurrence of such tragic accidents.
Plot to attack Ahmadis’ place of worship foiled in Karachi
The Police on October 10 foiled plans of militants to attack a worship place of Ahmadis and a private clinic by arresting two suspects Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) militants, Naseem Haider alias Ferron and Asif Rasheed alias Dumba, from Orangi Town area of Karachi, reports Dawn. One SMG, two pistols, one 9mm and one repeater gun were recovered from their possession. Both the suspects were involved in several sectarian attacks including the targeted killing of two doctors, said City Police Chief Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari.
No evidence that floods benefited TTP, Richard Holbrooke
The US envoy for Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, on October 13 said that he had seen no evidence that the floods in Pakistan have benefited the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports Daily Times. He said this while talking about the Osama Bin Laden humanitarian appeal urging Muslim Governments to help Pakistan’s flood victims in an audiotape made available by the US-based SITE Intelligence Group. “What I see is that the flood was an equal opportunity flood: It hit every-body and a lot of the TTP were dis-located, their communications were disrupted…” Holbrooke said. He added that everybody knows that Osama Bin Laden does not care about people in flooded areas as he has a different set of goals.
Seven LeJ militants arrested as plot to kill Prime Minister foiled in Punjab
The Police on October 14 arrested seven Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) militants plotting to kill the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in a suicide attack at his house in Multan in Punjab, reported Daily Times. The conspiracy against PM was nearly complete, Police officials said. Their plan included monitoring Gilani’s movements and storming his private residence in Multan with guns and a suicide bomber, Police investigators said. It was also reported that some of these suspects are believed to have taken part in an attack on the Inter Service Intelligence offices in December 2009 in Multan.
Pakistan must bring rich into tax net: Clinton
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Oct 14 said Pakistan’s wealthy needed to follow in the foot-steps of the international community in helping the ravaged nation’s long-term recovery. “It’s absolutely unacceptable for those with means in Pakistan not to be doing their fair share to help their own people while taxpayers in Europe, the United States and other contributing countries are all chipping in,” Clinton said.
“The most important step Pakistan can take is to pass meaningful reforms to expand its tax base,” Clinton said in a public statement as she joined the European Union’s foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton in pledging continued assistance.
She insisted on the need to reform the tax code, in order to increase the burden on Pakistan’s wealthier classes.
REGIONAL
Bangladesh -Internal Dynamics
PBCP-Janajudhha ‘regional leader’ arrested in Pabna District
Ataikula Police personnel arrested Mohammad Abdul Hakim a ‘regional leader’ of the Purba Banglar Communist Party-Janajudhha (PBCP-Janajudhha) from Goashbari village in Pabna District on September 10. Officer-in-charge of Ataikula Police station Mohammad Sirajul Islam said that Hakim was accused in 12 murder cases.
Six Hizb-ul-Mahadi militants arrested in Rangamati District
The Police on September 13 arrested six militants of the banned Islamist outfit, Hizb-ul- Mahadi from Suvalong market of Barkal sub-district of Rangamati District while selling books on jihad at the weekly village market, reports Daily Star.
Three militants of GMF killed in Kushtia and Chittagong Districts
Three militants of Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) were killed in shootouts with Security Forces in Kushtia and Chittagong Districts on September 16, reports Daily Star. The deceased were identified as Mannan Mollah, a ‘regional leader of GMF at Dorbeshpur village in Kushtia District, Mohammad All a cadre of the GMF unit and Akhtaruzzaman Khushbu from Sandwip sub-district in Chittagong District.
German expatriate arrested for his JMB link in Jhenaidah District
Police personnel arrested a German expatriate, identified as Faruk Ahmed Aruj for his alleged link with Jamaat-e-Mujahideen Bangladesh from village Elangi of Kotchandpur sub-district in Jhenaidah District on September 13, reports Daily Star. He was staying in Germany since 1985 and working there as a manager of a fast food chain. He was produced in Court on September 15 and the Court granted a three-day remand to quiz him.
Five bombs recovered in Jessore District
Five bombs were recovered by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from a house at Putkhali frontier in Benapole of Jessore District on September 18, reports Dailystar. A team of RAB raided the house of Ruhul Amin and recovered the bombs from the rooftop of the house in an abandoned condition. The owner of the house managed to flee the spot.
Additionally, RAB recovered four powerful ‘remote-controlled’ bombs in an abandoned condition from the newly built stadium at Rehaichar Moholla of Chapainawabganj town on September 19. Subsequently, the team defused the four bombs.
PBCP-ML cadre arrested in Kushtia District
A cadre of Janajuddho faction of the Purba Bangla Communist Party-Marxist-Leninist (PBCP-ML), Korban Ali, was arrested by the Police at Kursha village under Mirpur sub-district in Kushtia District on September 21, reports Daily Star. Firearms, ammunition and bombs were recovered from his possession. Police also recovered one LG, two bullets and five bombs from his residence.
Bangladesh faces risks of terror finance, warns FATF
In a draft report handed over to the Government on September 15, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world’s lone anti-money laundering organisation, warned that Bangladesh faced a significant risk of money laundering and some risk of terrorism financing, according to Daily Star. The report, inter alia, also observed that some outfits designated by the UN as terrorist groups like Al Haramain (Bangladesh Branch), Global Relief Foundation (GRF), Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islam’ Bangladesh (HuJI-B) are active in Bangladesh, posing a serious threat for the country. The report also said that JMB members have publicly claimed of receiving funds from Saudi Arabia.
Taliban warns Bangladesh over sending troops to Afghanistan
The Taliban has warned Bangladesh against sending troops to Afghanistan. The warning came after the United States requested Dhaka to send combat forces to help the coalition forces in Afghanistan, reports Daily Star on September 29 quoting the Search for International Terrorist Entities (SITE) intelligence group, a US monitoring service dedicated to gathering information on international terrorist groups. SITE said the Taliban has responded by posting messages in Arabic and Pashto on its website and Jihadi forums calling on Dhaka to spurn the US request. “(We) believe that the leader of Bangladesh has enough Islamic knowledge and political wit not to involve people in the fight against Islam and against the Afghan people by sending a few hundred soldiers to Afghanistan,” the message read.
Earlier, Richard Holbrooke, US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, made the plea for troops at a meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in New York last week. He said Bangladeshi troops could help ensure security and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan. Moni assured the US envoy of further talks on the issue.
GMF cadre killed in shoot out in Kushtia District
A Gono Mukti Fouz cadre was killed in a shootout with Police in Saddar sub-district of Kushtia Disrict on September 29, reports Daily Star. The deceased was identified as Sahidul Islam of Bhadalia village of Kushtia Saddar. Police raided Swastipur village on information that Sahidul and his aides were holding a meeting.
‘War trial a conspiracy to create chaos”, says Khaleda Zia
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia on October 5 said that a conspiracy is on to throw the nation into chaos in the name of war crimes trial four decades after the general amnesty to the collaborators, reports Daily Star. “The real war criminals had been released after the Liberation War. The then Government had even pardoned the anti-liberation forces,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Committee for Resistance and Correction Militancy requested the finance ministry to submit a report to its next meeting on whether the militants are using network of any local bank. “We need to know whether there is any dubious transaction to stop terror financing and root out militancy in the country,” a senior Home Ministry official said after a meeting of the committee at the Ministry.
PCJSS leader shot dead
A leader of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) was shot dead at his Kalyanpur residence in Rangamati early on Friday, Oct 8. The deceased was identified as secretary of Naniachar upazila, Abilash Chakma, son of Daial Chakma of Ghilaichari union in the upazila of the district. Media reports said that unidentified assailants entered his house around 3 am and fled after shooting him in his forehead.
Militant hideouts in Bangladesh dwindle: Tripura DGP Pranay Sahay
The change of guard in Bangladesh has resulted in sharp downfall in militancy related incidents in Tripura, India said outgoing Director of Police (DGP) Pranay Sahay on October 13, reports Tripuratimes. Pranay Sahay, who handed over the charge to K. Saleem All on October 11 to pave the way for taking over the charge of Special Director General of Border Security Forces (BSF), told media that the insurgent hideouts in Bangladesh has got dwindled from 45 in 2005 to 18 in August, 2010. Of the total hideouts, 15 camps being operated by National Liberation Front of Tripura while rest 5 hideouts belong to All Tripura Tiger Force, according to intelligence inputs.
Arms supplier arrested in Meherpur District
A joint team of Rapid Action Battalion and Police personnel arrested an arms supplier in Gangni sub-district of Meherpur District in the night of October 12 and recovered four bombs from his possession, reports Daily Star. The arrestee Bilal Hossain used to supply bombs to militant outfits and criminal gangs, the RAB sources said.
UNLF chief Meghen arrested in Bangladesh
The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) ‘chairman’, Rajkumar Meghen alias Sanayaima was arrested in Bangladesh on an unspecified date in October 2010, senior Indian officials said, reports Sangai Express. He was subse-quently handed over to India. Officials said Meghen had moved to Dhaka from his hideout in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division to line up an arms deal. However, a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) official said that they have received information about the arrest of the UNLF leader but had no information that he was handed over to the Government of India.
India – Internal Dynamics
KLNLF militant killed in Assam
An unidentified Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) militant was killed in an encounter with Security Forces in Karbi Anglong District of Assam on September 11, reports Telegraph.
Assam Rifles trooper killed in Manipur
An Assam Rifles trooper was killed and another injured in an encounter with unidentified militants at Sandang Semba Maring area under Yairipok Police Station of Imphal West District in Manipur on September 11, reports Times of India.
Maoists kill two Policemen in Chhattisgarh
According to IBN Live, cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist attacked Bhejji Police Station in Dantewada District and killed two Policemen early on September 13. Some Policemen were injured in the Maoist attack, sources said. The two policemen of the District Force were shot dead when they had stepped outside the Police Station.
Maoists kill five persons in West Bengal
Cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist shot dead five sup-porters of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) at Nachupatina village in West Midnapore District on September 13, reports The Hindu.
Three LAEF militants lynched in Meghalaya
Three Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) militants were lynched after a scuffle with villagers at Menadoba market in East Garo Hills District on September 18, according to Telegraph. They were identified as Arup Marak, Lucas Marak and Gneng Marak.
Maoists kill five persons including three Policemen in Chhattisgarh
According to Times of India, cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist killed three Policemen, including an officer, in Bijapur District, while three other members of a Police team were missing, Police said on September 20. All six were part of a Police team that had left for Bhadrakali Police Station from Bhopalpatnam on September 19, Police suspect that Maoists were behind the killings.
Ex-Army men refuse Naxal combat training offer
Sources in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said none of the retired Army trainers who were contacted by the paramilitary forces to provide jungle warfare training to their personnel have agreed to go and live in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh – two affected States – because of the troubled situation, reports Business Standard.
Maoists kill SPO in Chhattisgarh
Indian Express reports that a Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and eight others, including an assistant Sub-Inspector and three civilians were injured on September 21 when armed cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist opened fire at them at the site of the construction of a culvert between Usoor and Awapalli in Bijapur District.
ULFA militant shot dead in Assam
A suspected “self-styled captain’ of the United Liberation Front of Asom, identified as Chandan Roy alias Kanu Roy was shot dead by the Army and Police in a joint operation at Maktaigaon village of Sapkata outpost under Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar District, reports Sentinel,
Maoists kill ruling BJD party leader in Orissa
The Hindu reports that Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed Nrusimha Panda alias Babuli Panda, a leader of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at Ramgiri vil-lage in Baipariguda Block of Koraput District on Sept 25. The Maoists alleged that Babuli Panda was a supporter of ‘Shanti Committee’ which is opposed to CPI-Maoist and was also involved in corruption for which he had to face their wrath.
Two militants among three persons killed in Assam
An unidentified militant belonging to anti-talks faction of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front was shot dead in a joint operation by the Assam Police and Army at Napak Ghat under Dakmuka Police Station in Karbi Anglong District on September 25, reports Sentinel. Another KLNLF cadre, Lamkhang Longhan was killed in Kaziranga area of Golaghata District on September 26.
Three SFs and three Maoists killed in Jharkhand
A Central Reserve Police Force trooper, two State Armed Police personnel and three cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist were killed in the ongoing encounter between Security Forces and the Maoists that started on September 25 at Tidposhi forest in West Singhbhum District, reports IBN Live.
School teacher arrested for Maoist link in Jharkhand
Jitu Bhagat, a school teacher was arrested by the Police from Latehar for his alleged links with the Communist Party of India-Maoist on September 25. A motor cycle and a mobile handset, belonging to the Maoists, were seized from him.
Terror group threatens to launch biological war in Assam
A terror group claiming to be Indian Mujahideen (Assam) has threatened to launch a biological war in India’s northeastern state of Assam if their supporters are not released from the Guwahati Central Jail within the next 24 hours.
The email from Indian Mujahideen (Assam) was received by News Live, a satellite TV channel in Guwahati and tele-cast in their news bulletins on Oct 6. Police are not willing to comment on the credentials of the outfit.
Maoists kill five Policemen in Maharashtra
Times of India reported that a land mine blast triggered by the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist killed a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector, two Sub-Inspectors of District Police and two Constables of CRPF on October 4. The Maoists man-aged to decamp with their weapons. One Constable is reportedly missing.
Eight SFs injured in landmine blast in Maharashtra
Times of India reports that the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist triggered a landmine blast in Talewada jungle in Gadchiroli on October 5, leaving eight Security Forces injured. The SFs were part of the rescue team that was travelling in an anti-mine vehicle from Pranhita headquarters at Aheri to Perimili to retrieve the body of one of the slain cops killed on October 4.
Maoists kill teacher in West Bengal
Cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist shot dead a teacher near Jhargram in West Midnapore District on October 6, suspecting him to be a Police informer.
Two crude bombs exploded in Assam
Two crude bombs, one near the cinema hall in Golokganj town and the other near the Police watch post in Agomoni in Dhubri District, exploded on October 6, reports Telegraph. No one was injured in the blast.
Six Maoists among eight persons killed in Chhattisgarh
Six cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist and two civilians were killed in a gun battle between Maoists and Security Forces near Padki Pali village in Mahasamund District along Chhattisgarh-Orissa boarder on October 9, reports Indian Express. The villagers were killed in the cross-fire. The Police recovered weapons from the site.
Maoists shift base to Purulia hills in West Bengal
According to Times of India, the Communist Party of India-Maoist in West Bengal have shifted their operational base to the hilly terrain of Purulia District that include the Ayodhya and Dalma ranges, to stop the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) advance in Jangalmahal and for easy access to Bihar. The Police believe the Maoists had three strong squads in Purulia Gurbandha, DaIma and Ayodhya. Now, they have increased the number of squads and platoons there and at least 500 elite People’s liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) cadres are believed to be camping the area.
Two Policemen killed in Chhattisgarh
The Hindu reports that two Police Constables were killed by about 40 to 50 cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist in Bijapur District on October 12. They were shot dead just one kilometer from the Pamed Police Station as they were returning from the market after offering prayers to Goddess Durga at a roadside pandal.
Chhattisgarh Government decided to step up the offensive against CPI-Maoist that had slackened since July 2010 as the Security Forces found it difficult to operate in the thick forests that serve as Maoist hideouts, reports Sify.com.
Two cadres of pro-talk faction of NDFB shot at and wounded in Assam
Unidentified miscreants on a motorcycle shot at and wounded two cadres of the pro-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland at Sarenapara in Baksa District on October 14, reports Sentinel.
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
TMLP local leader shot dead in Mahottari District
A group of unidentified assailants shot dead Rajaram Yadav, chairman of Aurahi Village Committee of the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) in Mahottari in the night of September 19, reports Nepal News. Yadav was previously a cadre of Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (UCPN-M).
Meanwhile, one person who identified himself as Basanta and claimed to be a cadre of the Terai Mukti Morcha called up local journalists and took responsibility of the killing.
SJMM sets ablaze VDC buildings in Sungari District
Kantipuronline reports that the Sanyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha (SJMM) set ablaze the Panchakanya and Bishnupaduka Village Development Committee (VDC) buildings and a health post in Sunsari District in the night of September 20. SJMM Sunsari in-charge Abiral said the buildings were set ablaze to highlight the SJMM’s demand that the State needs to be restructured taking ethnic populations into consideration. “We will not grant recognition to any government offices and officials until our demands are addressed,” he added: The activities of the agitating Kirat Janabadi Workers Party had declined drastically after its cadres were detained three months ago. However, its activities have picked up pace after it united with the SJMM.
PLA objects to accusation by Indian Government
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) on October 11 took exception to the Indian Government’s claim, alleging that PLA of Nepal was imparting training to Indian Maoists, reports Kantipuronline. The PLA has remarked that the news report is baseless, premeditated and speculative. “People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) attention has been drawn towards the report that alleges the Maoist army of training Indian Naxalites,” said PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun, in a statement.
Similarly, UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on October 12 said that the recent Indian media report that Nepali Maoists were imparting training to Indian Maoists is a “conspiracy and design of foreign forces.” Speaking at a programme in Kathmandu, Prachanda said the report is a challenge to nation-al independence and an attempt to lead the country towards confrontation.
| Monthly Fatalities The following deaths, related to ongoing insurgencies/acts of terrorism occurred during the period Sept 10 to Oct 25, 2010: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Military Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Assam | 09 | 00 | 15 | 24 |
| Manipur | 01 | 01 | 05 | 07 |
| Meghalaya | 02 | 00 | 04 | 06 |
| Left-wing | 50 | 23 | 28 | 101 |
| Total | 62 | 24 | 52 | 138 |
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
Tamil Nadu justifies ban on LTTE The Tamil Nadu Government on September 21 strongly defended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which was extended on May 14, 2010 for two more years, according to The Hindu. Tamil Nadu said lifting the ban at this juncture would imply allowing such a deadly foreign militant organisation to operate fully from India, and this would give the outfit a tremendous psychological boost.
Arms and ammunition recovered in North and East
Sri Lanka Army reports that troops on their search and clear operations in Championpatthu, Charnalankulam, Devapuram, Mulliyaveli and Vellamullivaikkal areas in the North recovered four hand grenades, 19 electric detonators, 1000 rounds of Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) ammunition in two boxes, seven Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPGs), one 60-mm mortar bomb, one Anti Personnel Mine (APM), one T-56 weapon and one Toshiba laptop computer on September 22.
Meanwhile, de-mining groups recovered five hand grenades, 59APMs, one 60-mm mortar bomb, one 81-mm mortar bomb and one RPG from Kannadi, Pirattlalankulam, PeriyathaMpanei, Sinnapandivitichchan, Periyapandivirichchan and Adampan.
United States wants LLRC to Identify persons responsible for war Crimes
Asian Tribune reports that Robert Blake, a senior American diplomat, suggested that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), established by the Sri Lanka Government should identify persons responsible for the serious violation of international humanitarian laws that occurred in the final stages of the conflict with the Liberation -tigers of Tamil Eelarri militants.
Blake made this “expressed view of the United States” When he addressed the World Affairs Council in San Diego in California on September 30.
Arms and ammunition recovered in North
Sri Lanka Army reports that troops on their search and clear operations in Iranamadu, Visuamadu, Ampakamam and Tekilpadanthan areas in the North recovered 41 60-mm mortar bombs, seven 81-mm mortar bombs, eight Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPGs), five hand grenades, five Anti Personnel Mines (APMs), one pressure mine, one round of 130-mm artillery shell, body part of a T-56 weapon, 220 rounds of T-56 ammunition, 40 rounds of 7.62 x 108 Armour-Piercing Incendiary ammunition on October 4.
Tamil parties ask Government to institute civil administration in the North
Sri Lanka’s Tamil Political Parties Forum (TPPF), on October 4 asked the Government to start a civil administration in the North after ending the military administration, reports Colombo Page. Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and Tamil National Liberation Front (TNLF) General Secretary M.K. Sivajilingam said that there was no need for the Government to continue an administration managed by the Armed Forces in the North following the end of the war.
155 illegal Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants arrested in Thailand
Thai immigration officials with the aid of the Crime Suppression Division of Thai Police raided several apartments in Bangkok and arrested 155 illegal Sri Lankan immigrants on October 10, reports Colombo Page. According to Thai media reports the Government suspected the illegal Tamil immigrants to be a part of a group seeking to travel to Canada as refugees. Many of the migrants were without travel documents or valid visas. Also, Intelligence information revealed that a number of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militants were among the Sri Lankan illegal immigrants living in Thailand waiting to seek asylum in a third country, mainly Canada.
Main opposition party continue agitations for former Army commander’s release
Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) said on October 12 that it would continue to agitate for the freedom of former Army Commander and democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Sarath Fonseka. The UNP has planned countrywide demonstrations on December 10 to coincide with the International Human Rights Day to urge the Government to release Fonseka. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that the party had also organized protest rallies in 20 Districts in the country to be held in November 2010. Attanayake added that the country needed to agitate for the release of the man who had liberated the country from terrorism.
Arms and ammunition recovered in North, East and West
Sri Lanka Army reports that troops on their search and clear operations in Kilinochchi, Visuamadu, Murusumoddai and Mulliyavelei areas in the North recovered three hand grenades and one 60-mm mortar bomb on October 14.
Meanwhile, troops in the East recovered two T-56 weapons, two T-56 magazines, 1500 rounds of T-56 ammunition, three hand grenades, one claymore mine weighing about four kilograms, two Anti Personnel Mines (APMs), 47 40-mm grenades and 20 metres long detonator cord from Punnakudah in Batticaloa District.
INTERNATIONAL
Bomb kills 11 at Iran military parade
A bomb tore through a military parade in Iran on Wednesday, Sept 22 killing 11 people as the Islamic republic showcased its weaponry at events marking the start 30 years ago of the bloody Iran-Iraq war. Among the dead were the wives of two com-manders while medics reported 47 people wounded, 15 of them seriously. Western Iran, which has a sizeable Kurdish population, has seen deadly clashes between the Iranian security forces and Kurdish rebel groups, notably the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), which operates from bases in neighbouring Iraq. Provincial governor Vahid Jalalzadeh blamed the United States and “counter-revolutionaries” for the attack.
US Congress warned of home-grown terrorism threat
Three Obama administration officials have told Congress that efforts by terrorists to recruit US res-idents are causing new national security threats. National Counter-terrorism Center director Michael Leiter said the threat posed by terrorism had become more complex due to home-grown extremists. “Domestic radicalisation” was becoming more pronounced, Congress heard. At least 63 US citizens have been charged or convicted of terrorist acts or related crimes since 2009. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the US was now seeing “more diverse activity” from a more “diverse collection of groups”, adding that al-Qaeda had inspired an array of terrorist organisations.
Qaeda warns France on rescue attempt
AI-Qaeda has warned Paris not to attempt to rescue five French nationals kidnapped by the jihadists in Niger, SITE monitoring group said Thursday, Sept 23 as France mobilised its forces to find them.
SITE said the statement carried a waming to France that they should not attempt another rescue mission “like they had done for Michel Germaneau.”
AQIM militants have made increasing threats against France and its citizens since a July deadly Sahara raid in a bid to rescue French hostage Michel Germaneau in which seven of its members were killed.
4 Iraqi police killed in blast near Fallujah
A car bomb killed at least four Iraqi policemen outside the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah on Sept 27 and wounded a policeman and two civilians.
Fallujah has been the scene of recent violence as Sunni insurgents apparently seek to regain footholds in the area, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad. In Baghdad, officials say militants killed a government worker in a highway ambush and wounded four more in a string of attacks targeting public employees. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.
Sahara army chiefs meet to draft anti-Qaeda plan
Military chiefs from four Saharan countries met on Sunday, Sept 2 to set out a joint strategy for fighting al Qaeda’s north African wing, the group holding seven foreigners, including five French national hostage in the Sahara desert. Security analysts have said the group posed a growing threat to security in the resource-rich region.
Chiefs of staff from Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger were meeting in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, where they have set up a joint head-quarters to coordinate the fight against Qaeda in the Sahara.
Algeria has been pressing its neighbor’s in the Sahara to take a more coordinated approach to tack-ling el Qaeda and also to halt the practice of paying ransoms and releasing jailed militants in return for hostages’ freedom
More journalists killed in Iraq than in 2009: IPI
More journalists have been killed in Iraq so far this year than in all of 2009, IPI
press watchdog IPI said Tuesday (Oct 5) in a statement. Tahrir Kadhim Jawad, a cameraman for the al-Hurra satellite channel, was killed on Oct 4 when a magnetic “sticky bomb” attached to his car detonated in the town of Garma, police in near-by Fallujah said. “Jawed is the fifth journalist to be killed in Iraq this year, and the third to be killed there in less than a month,” the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) said.
Nine other people died in ram-pant violence in the country on the same day. In 2009, four journalists were killed in Iraq, against 14 the previous year and 42 in 2007, IPI said. “Whilst, thankfully, this toll is nowhere near the heights seen dur-ing the war, Iraq cannot be allowed to slide backwards,” IPI Press Freedom manager Anthony Mills said.-AFP
Thailand blames ‘Red Shirts’ for deadly bomb blast
Thailand on Wednesday, Oct 6 blamed a deadly blast at an apartment complex near Bangkok on the anti-government “Red Shirt” movement as investigators probed whether a bomb-maker caused the explosion accidentally. Authorities said the powerful blast, which killed at least four people and injured nine late Tuesday, was believed to be linked to political unrest. The blast ‘believed to have occurred in a room on the second floor of the apartment building in Nontheburi Province north of Bangkok.-AFP
UK Diplomat escapes attack in Yemen
Assailants fired a rocket at a convoy carrying Britain’s No 2 diplo-mat in Yemen and killed a Frenchman working for an Austrian oil company on Oct 6 in a pair of attacks that heightened fears over the safety of Westerners in Yemen. The violence casts doubt on the effectiveness of the Yemeni government’s US-backed campaign to uproot al-Qaeda militants who have found a haven in parts of the mountainous where the central government’s control is weak.
It was the second attack in less than six months to target British officials in the country, and the latest since Yemeni authorities recently boosted security around embassies in Sanaa after receiving information that al-Qaeda was planning an attack.
Germany seeks extradition of militant from US
German prosecutors are seeking the handover of the militant whose disclosures under US interrogation in Afghanistan helped trigger Europe’s terror alert. A spokesman for Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said Monday that a request for transfer of the 36-year-old German of Afghan descent has been filed. He declined to be named in line with department policy.
Germany accuses Ahmad Wali Siddiqui, who was arrested by the US military in July in Afghanistan, of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation. Siddiqui is believed to have been part of the Hamburg militant scene that also included key September 11 plotters.
4 killed in Iraq
Four men were hauled out of their homes and killed execution-style by gunmen wearing military uniforms in the town of Yusufiyah on Monday, Oct 11 while a top police chief survived a bomb attack in the Iraqi capital. The town, 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Baghdad, is located in a Sunni-dominated region that was an Al-Qaeda stronghold until 2008, when local militiamen rose up against the insurgents. An interior ministry officiel said all the victims were members of the Sahwa (Awakening) militia that was instrumental in turning the tide against Al-Qaeda. In another attack on Monday, a police major general was wounded and his driver killed by a roadside bomb that targeted their convoy in eastern Baghdad, the official said.
Eight police killed in Mexico ambush Armed gunmen on Monday, Oct 11 shot dead at least eight police officers on patrol in Mexico’s notorious northwestern drug trafficking state of Sinaloa. The attack took place near Angostura town which is the base for the powerful Sinaloa drug gang. Officials said they found an abandoned vehicle riddled with bullet holes and marked with an “X” an identifying sign often used by the Sinaloa gang after a hit job near the scene of the attack. The Sinaloa gang is one of the country’s oldest and most violent drug cartels.
Qaeda: Attack restaurants in Washington
Al Qaeda has called on American jihadis to carry out a terror attack on crowded restaurants in Washington to massacre US government workers. The terror threat was unearthed from the second edition of Al Qaeda’s English-language magazine Inspire. “A random hit at a crowded restaurant in Washington, DC, at lunch hour might end up knocking out a few government employees,” the New York Daily News quoted Yahya Ibrahim, as having written in the 74-page propaganda magazine. According to a copy of the magazine obtained by the SITE intelligence group, Al Qaeda also urged them to use everything from pickup trucks to improvised pressure-cooker bombs to kill. The trucks can be fashioned into “the ultimate mowing machine”, with steel blades welded to the grill to “mow down the enemies” by running down Americans on crowded sidewalks “to achieve maximum carnage” in
| Current Threat Levels : | ||
| City/Region | Threat Level | |
| Islamabad | Level 2 | ** |
| Karachi | Level 2 | ** |
| Lahore | Level 2 | ** |
| Punjab | Level 2 | ** |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Level 3 | *** |
| Peshawar | Level 2 | ** |
| Quetta | Level 3 | *** |
| Upper Balochistan | Level 3 | *** |
| Lower Balochistan | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper/ Rural Singh | Level 3 | *** |
| Gilgit and Northern Areas | Level 3 | *** |
| Tribal Areas, Close to Afghan Border | Level 3 | *** |
| Index to Threat Level Perceptions | |
| Threat Level 1 Indicates there is no threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required | * |
| Threat Level 2 Indicates there is no specific threat to foreigners; however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised if traveling. | ** |
| Threat Level 3 Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Level dictates that foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation. | *** |
| Threat Level 4 Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law & order leading to anarchy. All foreigners advised to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff. | **** |
| Threat Level 5 Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion /occupation by enemy. | ***** |
