Terrorist Activities in Pakistan
Suicide Bombings
At least 11 people, including Additional District and Sessions Judge Rafaqat Awan, a woman lawyer, and a Policeman, were killed and 25 others were injured when militants attacked the courthouse complex in Islamabad on March 3, reports Daily Times. According to details, the militants sprayed bullets at everyone, hurled hand grenades and later exploded their suicide vests. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid distanced itself from the attack He further suggested that some mujahideen groups or agencies could be involved in the terrorist activity.
Meanwhile, ‘spokesman’ of Ahrar-ul-Hind (AH), a splinter group of TTP, Asad Mansoor claiming responsibility for the attack alleged that judicial system in the country was ‘un-Islamic’ and that they would continue their ‘struggle’ till enforcement of Sharia’h law.
At least 11 persons were killed and 45 others injured in a suicide attack targeting Police in Sarband area of Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 15, reports Dawn. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP-city) Banaras Khan said the blast appeared to have targeted Police mobile van and was carried out by a suicide bomber. Superintendent of Police Faisal Kamran said that due to the sensitive nature of the area, which is situated on the border of the tribal areas, Police personnel were using armoured personnel carriers (APC) to conduct routine patrolling when they were targeted by the suicide bomber who was on foot. According to Shafqat Malik, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), at least eight kilograms of explosives were used in the blast. According to Reuters, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Ahrar- ul-Hind (AH) claimed responsibility for the attack. “We claim both Peshawar and Quetta attacks,” said its ‘chief’ Umar Qasmi. “We don’t abide by these talks and will continue to stage attacks”, he added.
Meanwhile, the TTP negotiators said that the TTP leadership was ready to hold direct talks with the Government and condemned the terrorist incidents in Quetta (Balochistan) and Peshawar calling them a conspiracy being hatched to derail the peace process, reports Dawn. “The TTP strongly condemns the Peshawar and Quetta blasts,” said TTP ‘central spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid. “We have no connection to these attacks because we are observing a ceasefire.”
Bomb/IED Blasts
Twelve Security Force personals (Khyber Khasadar Force), who were providing security to a polio team, were killed in two separate blasts in the Lashora area of Jamrud Tehsil in Khyber District on March 1, reports Daily Times. A child was also killed in the firing by the militants after the blasts.
A 10-year-old boy was killed and four others were injured when an explosive apparently hidden inside a toy they were playing with detonated in Khaki, a suburb of Nowshera town (Nowshera District), of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on April 3, reports Dawn. The boy who was killed in the blast was Afghan.
Six Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers were killed and eight others sustained injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated through a remote control targeted a Security Forces’ (SF) convoy near Warmagal area in Hangu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 5, reports Dawn. Military sources confirmed that a SFs’ convoy was travelling from Hangu to Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) when it was targeted near Warmagal area. The sources said the vehicle was also damaged in the attack.
Three Policemen, including Kurram Agency Chief Administrator Riaz Mehsud was injured in a remote-controlled explosion in Tor Gar area of Thal tehsil (revenue unit) in Hangu District on March 6, reports Dawn. The other two injured were identified as Political Agents Fazle Qadir and Asghar. Thal Station House Officer (SHO) Farid Khan said that Mehsud was travelling with his convoy to Peshawar when his vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled bomb in the area.
Soon after the attack a search operation was started in the areas and the Army and Police arrested four suspects and seized an explosive-laden vehicle, confirmed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Thal Police Muhammad Ashraf.
Kurram Agency Political Agent, Riaz Khan Mehsud and three other officers sustained injuries when their vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Torghar in Thall area of Hangu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 6, reports Daily Times. Hangu District Police Officer Iftikhar Khan said that the condition of the political agent and other officers is out of danger and they are stable. Police said Mehsud, Alizai Assistant Political Agent Akbar Khan and Tehsildar Fazal Qadar and Naeem Khan were coming from Parachinar to Hangu when their vehicle was targeted.
Five people, including four children and a woman, were wounded in a bomb blast outside their house at Ghandi village near Jamrud town in Khyber Agency on March 13, reports Dawn.
At least 10 persons, including nine civilians and one Security Force (SF), were killed and 35 others were injured in a bomb explosion targeting Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle at Science College Chowk area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on March 14, reports Dawn. A Police Official, who requested anonymity, said that target of the blast was FC vehicle that narrowly escaped the attack.
Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan distanced itself from the attack. However, its splinter group Ahrar-ul-Hind (AH) claimed responsibility for the attack. “We claim both Peshawar and Quetta attacks,” AH ‘chief’ Umar Qasmi said, adding, “We don’t abide by these talks and will continue to stage attacks.”
At least six persons were killed in the morning of March 19 when a mortar shell exploded in a house in the Shawal tehsil (revenue unit) of the North Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. The dead in the incident included four women, a man and a child.
Separately, the Bajaur Levies Force on March 18 defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along a road in Kharyan area of Nawagai tehsil in Bajaur Agency, reports Daily Times. The officials said that the personnel of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) rushed to the site after receiving information from the locals, and the bomb was safely defused.
Five persons, including a woman, were injured when a bomb exploded near the Sirki Gate area in Peshawar (Peshawar District) on March 19 (today), reports Dawn. According to the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel, at least half a kilogram of explosive material was used in the bomb.
Targeted Killings
Two persons, including the administrator of a seminary Qari Ali Hassan and his son were shot dead outside a seminary located at Abul Hassan Isphahani Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Karachi on February 27, reports The News.
Separately, two unidentified people were killed when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on a car in Hussainabad area of Malir Town on February 27, reported The News.
In another incident, a Shia scholar, identified as Allama Taqi Hadi Naqvi, was shot dead in an incident of target killing near board office located in North Nazimabad Town on February 27, reported The News.
An Afghan Government official, identified as Sardar Mohammad, was shot dead on Roghani Road area of Chamant town in Qilla Abdullah District in Balochistan on February 27, reports Dawn. According to sources, Mohammad was an important official and was considered a close associate of Afghan commander Abdul Raziq Khan, the in-charge of Spin Boldak District, the first Afghan District after zero point at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Separately, unidentified armed assailants barged into the house one Kahir Mohammad in Etihad Colony of Quetta and killed his son Abdul Zahir on February 27, reported Dawn. In another incident, unidentified militants killed a man, identified as Ghulam Nabi, in Mastung District on February 27, reports Dawn.
Two senior workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), identified as Khalid Matin (45), and Hamid Ayub (55), were shot dead when they walked out of a mosque after offering Friday prayers at Gol Market in North Nazimabad Town of Karachi on February 28. A beggar, identified as Abdul Aziz, was also injured in the incident. Station House Officer (SHO) Ejaz Lodhi said that four armed assailants were behind this incident.
Separately, in a sectarian attack, a salesman, identified as Manzar Ahmed (55), working at a sanitary shop was killed while another salesman Imran was wounded within the limits of Rizvia Police Station in Petal Wali Gali in Liaquatabad Town on February 28, reports The Express Tribune. Station House Officer (SHO) Hassan Haider said that the victims were attacked on sectarian grounds.
Nine persons, including six Policemen and one Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Anwar Ali, were injured when an unidentified militant hurled a hand grenade at their van in Sanawan area of Kot Addu area in Muzaffargarh District on February 28. The injured also included, driver of the Police van, identified as Habib Akram, two constables, identified as Ashraf Ali and Zia Ullah, two unidentified Police volunteers, two suspected criminals and a rickshaw driver.
At least two people were killed and two others were injured in an incident of firing between two rival Lyari gangsters in Ali Muhammad area of Lyari Town in Karachi on March 2, reports Daily Times. Markets and business outlets were also reportedly closed. As soon as the Rangers personnel reached the area, the assailants hurled grenades on the forces. The Rangers arrested three injured criminals after retaliating to their firing.
Four persons, two of them brothers, were shot dead in Lyari area of Karachi (Karachi District), the provincial capital of Sindh, in the night of March 7, reports Dawn. Kalakot Police said Rizwan alias Sunni was gunned down in Gul Mohammed Lane. Later, a body stuffed in a gunny bag was found in Sarbazi Mohalla. The deceased was identified as Waqas Baloch, brother of Rizwan. A Police official said there were reports that Rizwan had ‘sympathies’ with the Uzair Baloch group. Subsequently, gunmen resorted to heavy firing on Mirza Adam Khan Road, leaving two people dead and injuring two others, including a passerby Policeman, Imran Beg.
Head Constable, identified as Manzoor Ahmed, was shot dead on Sariab Road in Quetta (Quetta District) on March 10, reported Dawn. Superintendent of Police (SP) Imran Qureshi said that unidentified militants opened fire at the vehicle of head constable Manzoor Ahmed on Sariab Road, killing him on the spot. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Information Secretary of the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jama’at (ASWJ) Rawalpindi Chapter, Mohammad Sohail Muavia, was killed and two of his companions, identified as Amanullah and Nasir, were injured when unidentified militants opened fire at the car of Mufti Tanveer, Rawalpindi President of ASWJ, near Zia mosque in Shakrial area of Islamabad on March 10.
A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist, identified as Itrat Hussain Rizvi, succumbed to his injuries after he was shot at by unidentified armed assailants at a video shop in North Karachi Town of Karachi on March 11, reported Daily Times. He was injured on March 9, 2014, and was a member of MQM Unit 173.
Two persons, including one Frontier Corps (FC) soldier, were killed on March 11 as a result of firing by unknown motorcyclists within the limit of the Hoyad Police Station in Janikhel area of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. According to Police, the two persons, who were brothers, sustained severe injuries when they were fired. The victims were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition where they succumbed to their injuries.
Further, two Policemen escorting a polio vaccination team for security, were shot dead in Garo Ahmed area of Dera Ismail Khan District on March 11, reports Dawn. The two cops were returning to their homes after performing their duties when they were targeted by unknown assailants in Garo Ahmed area, killing the two on the spot.
At least 19 civilians, including 10 women and four children, were killed and more than 50 others were injured in gang war clashes among rival gangsters, Uzair Baloch, Ghaffar Zikri and Baba Ladla on March 12 in Gharib shah locality of Lyari Town in Karachi. Violence triggered after the March 10, 2014, killing of five relatives of Baba Ladla. However, violence continued on March 12 after the killing of a brother of Ghaffar Zikri, the head honcho of another powerful gang allied with the Baba Ladla group, in an alleged encounter with the law enforcers. According to details, the two gangs suspected that their rival, Uzair Baloch, the head of the People’s Amn Committee (PAC), was behind these killings.
A Policeman and his father were shot dead by unidentified assailants at Gara Mehraban in the limits of Choudwar Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on March 17, reports The News. Sources said that Constable Delawar Gandapur along with his father Rehmatullah Gandapur was on his way home on his bike when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in Gara Mehrban.
Three mutilated dead bodies which were recovered 20 days ago from Nooriabad area near Super Highway that lies between Karachi and Hyderabad Districts were identified as that of the workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on March 18, reports Dawn. The victims who were abducted from different parts of Karachi were identified as Yawar Abbas, Shamshad Haider and Farooq. According to details, Abbas was kidnapped from PIB Colony in Gulshan Town in November 2013, followed by Shamshad, and Farooq who went missing since January 2014.
A former Station House Officer (SHO) Anwar Jaffri was killed and his driver was injured, in an incident of firing in Korangi Town of Karachi on March 20, reports Daily Times.
Separately, a Policeman, identified as Mehboob, was killed and another Policeman Farooq was injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at them at the signal stop in Orangi Town on March 20, reported Daily Times.
Three gangsters associated with the Faisal Pathan group of Lyari were killed in an encounter with Police and Rangers in Aath Chowk area within the remits of Kalakot Police Station in Lyari Town of Karachi on March 22. The gangsters were identified as Bilal, alias Bilawal, Abid and Akbar, alias Seti. Officials claimed they had recovered radio sets, hand grenades and weapons from their possession.
Separately, two Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) leaders, identified as spokesperson Maqsood Qureshi and Salman Wadho, were killed in a targeted attack near Bhiria city in Naushahro Feroze District on March 21, reports The Express Tribune. Wadho was the Secretary General of Latif Sangat – the literary wing of JSQM. After the attack, the assailants set the vehicle on fire and escaped from the scene. The killing has triggered widespread unrest in many towns and cities of Sindh, with business activity coming to a halt.
Miscellaneous
At least 10 militants were killed during an exchange of fire in Darinjan and Rustam Bazar areas of Sui tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Bugti District on March 1, reports Dawn. Frontier Corps (FC) Spokesman Khan Wasay said “Forces quickly responded and 10 militants were killed on the spot.” He said that the forces also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession.
Separately, unidentified militant blew up an 18-inch Sui gas pipeline in Dera Murad Jamali area of Naseerabad District on March 3 (today), disrupting gas supply to Quetta and various other areas of the province, reports Dawn.
Meanwhile, Officials on March 1 said that they had rescued 11 kidnapped foreigners including eight Iranians, two Tunisians and one Yemeni national from Turbat District. Iranian security officials confirmed that their kidnapped border guards were among those recovered. They had been abducted on February 5, 2013 from Sistan-Balochistan border.
In response to the militant attack on a polio team in the Lashora area of Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) which left at least 13 persons dead on March 1, Security Forces launched an assault on March 2-morning on militant hideouts in Kalanga and surrounding areas of Bara tehsil and killed five militants, reports Dawn. Security sources confirmed that gunship helicopters struck the Ayubi Markaz (headquarters) of Mullah Tamanchey involved in the attack on polio workers.
Two Security Force (SF) personnel were killed and seven others were injured when a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted a SFs’ vehicle at Sadukhel area of Landi Kotal tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 3, reports Dawn. According to sources, a convoy of Frontier Corps (FC) personnel was travelling from Landi Kotal tehsil to Jamrud.
At least 23 mortar shells fired from Afghanistan fell into North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on April 3, reports Dawn. The mortar shells landed into Ghulam Khan and Bagi Dar areas of North Waziristan. No casualties or loss of life was reported due to the targeted areas being uninhabited.
Two persons were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked four vehicles carrying NATO supplies for Afghanistan in the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 4, reports Dawn.
Meanwhile, two bullet riddle dead bodies in gunny sacks were recovered from the Shah Kas area in Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) on March 5 (today), reports Dawn.
Two people, including a local leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), who was also the chief of the traders community, Attaullah Muhammadzai, and his bodyguard, were shot dead on Chakar Khan Road in Khuzdar District on March 9, reports Dawn.
Unidentified militants opened fire near Vita chowrangi and shot dead two unidentified people and injured two others in Korangi Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on March 9, reports Dawn.
Separately, Police and Rangers conducted targeted operations on March 9 in several areas of Karachi city during which police claimed to have arrested 66 suspects whereas Rangers officials claimed the arrest of 15 suspects, reports Dawn. A large number of weapons and ammunition were recovered from their possession.
Meanwhile, Daily Times reported that more than PKR 15 million were looted from 10 banks across the Karachi city during three months of 2014. According to a data available from police sources, four bank robberies were reported in January, three in February and three in first nine days of March. A total of 30 banks were looted in 2013.
Five people were found dead in the Brohi Mohalla area of Mawach Goth area in Baldia Town of Karachi on March 10, reports Dawn. The victims were relatives of a suspected gangster, Lala Orangi-wala, one of the main characters of a gang led by Noor Mohammed alias Baba Ladla, said City Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Faisal Bashir Memon. They were allegedly killed by the Sheraz Comrade Group, which was supposed to be a rival gang of the Ladla group, he added. The SSP said that so far they had not found any criminal record of the victims. The complainant Munir told the Police that his brothers, Ismail and Shoaib, as well as their maternal uncle, Taj Mohammed, were boxers who played for different Government and non-governmental organisations in the city. The Police investigators linked the five killings with the ongoing gang warfare in Lyari.
Two bullet-riddled bodies of Bugti tribesmen were found dumped in Pir Koh area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan in the morning of March 18, reports Daily Times. Levies Personnel in Pir Koh discovered the bodies in a desolated place. One of the deceased was identified as Khaliq Bugti, while the identity of the second body could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Government on March 18 extended special powers granted to the Frontier Corps (FC) for another two months, reports Dawn. According to an announcement by the Provincial Home Secretary Syed Asadur Rehman Gilani, the paramilitary force will continue to exercise police powers for two more months to maintain law and order in the province. The FC was first given the powers to carry out raids and detain and interrogate suspects in January 2012 after the provincial coalition Government led by Nawab Aslam Raisani was sent home and Governor rule was imposed in Balochistan on the demand of Hazara Shia community.
At least five militants were killed and eight others were arrested during a search operation by Security Forces (SFs) in Turbat District on March 22, reports Dawn. An un-named official said that SFs launched a search operation in the Pidrak area of Turbat that led to an exchange of fire between militants and SFs. “The forces quickly responded and killed five militants during the exchange of fire,” he added. He further stated that eight suspects were arrested up from the same area and are being interrogated by the security personnel.
Pakistan
TTP’s popularity is on the rise
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on February 26 claimed that its popularity is on the rise in Pakistan, reports The News. “An ever increasing number of Pakistanis are joining hands with us adding more and more firepower to our jihadist capabilities. The graph of our popularity is going north”, Shahidullah Shahid, the TTP ‘spokesman’ said in a statement. “We are dying to see the “glorious” results of a “grand” onslaught that the “valiant” armed forces of Pakistan are preparing to launch against us”, he said, adding, “Instead of pulling the “trigger”, if the government of Pakistan focuses on removing the “triggers” of this war the TTP’s anti-state activities will reduce drastically”.
Separately, TTP ‘committee member’ Maulana Sami-ul-Haq conveyed some of the committee’s requests to TTP’s political Shura (council), the coordinator of the Taliban committee Maulana Yousaf Shah said on February 26, reports The Express Tribune. A member of the Government’s four-member negotiating committee Rustam Shah Mohmand confirmed that on February 24, 2014 Government negotiators had an ‘informal’ meeting with the TTP intermediaries in the presence of Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Meanwhile, at least 50 Barelvi school of thought groups at a multi-party conference held under the banner of Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Risalat Mahaz in Lahore District in Punjab on February 26 demanded the Government to declare extremists as well as their supporters, whether political or religious, as enemies of the state and traitors, reports Dawn. “Negotiations with banned outfits are unconstitutional… the army should be given a free hand to crush terrorists and the operation should continue until elimination of the last terrorist,” it asserted.
PTI ends NATO supply blockade to Afghanistan
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been staging sit-ins to block the NATO supply to Afghanistan in protest against covert United States (US) drone strikes in the country, announced an end to its campaign on February 27, reported Dawn. The decision of the PTI came after a local court ruled on February 25, 2013 that no private individual has a right to block or check vehicles on roads. “Given PTI’s commitment to rule of law and respect for the senior judiciary, the Party will end its blockade of NATO supplies,” said a statement issued by the party.
“The Core Committee felt that the pressure of the blockade had already resulted in a shift in the Obama Administration’s drone policy and as a result drones had been stopped for the present,” it added.
Govt to use ‘other options’ if talks fail: Minister of Interior
Federal Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on February 27 said that if the peace dialogue with the Taliban fails the Government will use other options to establish durable peace, reports Daily Times. Nisar said that the Government was in contact with some militant groups, as talks with the main Taliban faction remained stalled. Chaudhry Nisar said dialogue was still a priority as the Government tries to end its seven-year insurgency that has killed thousands. “We will talk to those groups who are not against Pakistan,” he said, adding, “We are in contact with groups that have never attacked Pakistan’s interests, we have dialogue for them.”
“Those who believe in Pakistan and accept government’s writ are our friend and those do not believe in Pakistan and Government’s writ are our enemy,” the Minister declared. “There will no politics on national issues including peace and all available resources would be utilised to achieve this objective for which our people, politicians, security forces and media persons had sacrificed their lives,” he further stated.
HRCP denied permission to visit site of mass graves
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on March 3 expressed concern over Government’s refusal to allow right activists and media personnel to visit Totak area where human bodies were found in unconventional graves, reports Dawn. “Concerns and apprehensions of human rights organisations and civil society have increased after the discovery of mass graves in Totak and denial to these institutions to visit Totak and quake-hit areas of Awaran,” the meeting of the HRCP Presided over by its Balochistan Chapter Chairman Tahir Hussain Khan observed.
Separately, the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) long march participants reached the United Nations (UN) country office in Islamabad on March 3 to present a memorandum, reports The Express Tribune. VBMP leader Mama Qadeer Baloch said they now planned to return home after presenting their plea to UN. “… This is our last resort,” he said, adding, “Where are these missing people? We fail to believe the Government. We have failed to get answers from them. The positive response from the UN gave us hope.”
39 militant outfits operating in KP
The senior officials on March 3 briefed Parliamentary party leaders about the law and order situation and said 39 militant outfits were operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 20 other groups functioning in the garb of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were involved in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities, reports Dawn. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Durrani and Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Akhtar Ali Shah briefed political leadership about the Provincial Government’s counter terrorism strategy.
US backs Pakistan’s efforts against militancy
The United States (US) Principal Deputy Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Beth Jones said on March 3 that however Pakistan chooses to deal with the issue of militancy – through negotiations or the use of force – it remains an ‘internal’ issue and the United States is primarily concerned with curbing the menace of terrorism in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, reports The Express Tribune. Jones, who is also her country’s ambassador to Pakistan, said Washington is ‘supportive of the Pakistani Government’s efforts in counter-terrorism’. When asked how Washington views the dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jones said the US ‘does not take sides’. Jones said, “We are very much in support of counter-terrorism.”
Govt frees 19 ‘non combatant’ TTP prisoners
At least 19 non-combatant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan prisoners have been released by the Government, Daily Times reports on April 4. However, there was confusion on the release of the non-combatant TTP prisoners, as the Prime Minister’s (PM) Secretariat initially denied that it ordered the release of any prisoner, apparently due to massive pressure from the military establishment. The PM Secretariat, however, retracted this statement later following a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. It said Sharif had indeed ordered the release of the non-combatant TTP members.
The TTP had reportedly handed a list of prisoners to the government demanding their release, during different rounds of the peace talks. On the other hand, the military establishment is opposed to the release of TTP prisoners, both combatants and non-combatants, due to their alleged involvement in terror attacks across the country. The prisoners were released in phases. “Three prisoners were released on March 21, five on March 25 and 11 on March 28,” Federal Interior Ministry sources confided. The Interior Ministry Spokesman confirmed that all the prisoners belonged to the Mehsud tribe. Sources said that in the coming days about another 100 non-combatant detainees would also be released.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq said on April 3 that the next stage of peace talks with the TTP should be held in Islamabad, reports The Express Tribune. “Maulana Samiul Haq, 80-year-old man, cannot be expected to go into the mountains to negotiate,” he said, adding that if the Federal Government could not arrange for this, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government could facilitate the talks.
Govt and Army see TTP as existential threat, says US general
The Government and the Army both saw the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as an existential threat to their State and were committed to dealing with it, the commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan informed Congress on March 12, reports Dawn. General Joseph Dunford also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was committed to talks with the TTP but it’s not clear if conditions were right for a constructive engagement with the TTP.
At a hearing on the current situation in Afghanistan, General Dunford said the US military could wait till August for a bilateral security agreement with Kabul after which it would start preparing for a withdrawal from that country, if a pact was not signed. During the hearing, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen asked the general to explain how the situation in Pakistan could affect what happens in Afghanistan. “I find it difficult to envision success in the region without cooperation of Pakistan and without an effective relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” General Dunford said.
“I believe that Pakistan also recognises the existential threat of extremism to their own security, and they also recognise that it’s not in their best interest to have anything other than a stable, secure and unified Afghanistan.” He noted that since August, Pakistani and Afghan rulers had met four times, indicating that Prime Minister Sharif had “come to a new resolve” to improve the relationship with the neighbouring country. This cooperation focused on two areas: to have a common definition of extremism and cooperate on dealing with it and to come up with a broader border management framework that would address the political, economic and security issues between the two countries, he added.
Halt in drone attacks not part of any deal
Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on March 14 that the United States (US) had not stopped drone attacks in tribal areas as part of any reconciliation between the two countries, reports The News. He said that the US had not stopped the drone attacks as a facility for Pakistan to hold talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to US had told President Barack Obama about ineffectiveness of drone attacks. “Although the US has not announced formally to stop drone attacks and it will not do so, it seems Barrack Obama has understood Pakistan views on use of unmanned aircraft”, he added.
Political Parties in Balochistan urge Islamabad for the swift recovery of abducted ANP leader
Political parties of Balochistan on March 20 demanded of the Federal Government to include the name of the abducted Awami National Party (ANP) leader Arabab Zahir Kasi in exchange of prisoners’ list with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, reports Dawn. They urged upon Islamabad to help the Provincial Government in an unhurt recovery of Kasi. “Arbab Zahir Kasi has been shifted to a region where Balochistan Government has no writ,” Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President said. He hinted that abductors might have shifted the ANP leader to Waziristan area bordering Afghanistan after kidnapping him from Quetta. “We have also formed a committee, which will seek TTP’s help to release Arbab Kasi,” said Zehri. Kasi was abducted on October 23, 2013, from Patel Road area of Quetta. His family has received telephone calls of kidnappers demanding heavy ransom for his release.
Separately, Chief Minister of Balochistan Malik Baloch on March 20 announced the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) to arrest culprits involved in the murder of journalists in the Province, reports Dawn. Over 30 journalists were killed in the Province during the last seven years, according to the Balochistan Union of Journalists. “I order the formation of a task force to bring the killers of journalists to the book,” the Chief Minister assured the protesting journalists outside the Assembly. However, the President of Balochistan Union of Journalists Irfan Saeed said “Despite repeated assurances, the killers of journalists are still at large”.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Assembly, chaired by the Deputy Speaker Mir Quddus Bizenjo, on March 20 adopted four resolutions with its members discussing issues like job quota for locals in private companies, reports Dawn. Of these, a joint resolution seeking allocation of 70 percent job quota for local youths in private industrial units and other companies was tabled by Sardar Saleh Muhammad Bhootani. The quota would serve to ease the unemployment crisis in the Province, said the resolution.
REGIONAL
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Two persons arrested in separate incidents
Police arrested a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) from Sadar sub-District in Jessore District on February 26, reports The Independent. The arrested person is identified as Moulana Abdul Hannan, Secretary of JeI of Narendrapur union unit. Police said that Hannan was accused in several cases including torching bus, attack on law enforcers, toll collection and bomb blasting.
Meanwhile, Police on February 27 arrested Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh militant, Sabbir Ahmed (55) and the father in-law of Zakaria Islam, the driver of one of the two microbuses some JMB operatives used to snatch three top JMB militants from Police in Trishal sub-District of Mymensingh District on February 23, reports The Daily Star. Ahmed was arrested in Kaliakoir sub-District of Gazipur District.
PBCP ‘regional commander’ killed in Chuadanga
A ‘regional commander’ Meherpur District of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), identified as Abul Kashem was killed in a ‘shootout’ with Police in Damurhuda sub-District of Chuadanga District on March 5 (today), reports The Daily Star. Kashem was a most wanted criminal on Police list accused in 12 cases. Three Policemen sustained splinter injuries as the PBCP cadres hurled crude bombs targeting Police during the gunfight.
ICS cadre killed in Bagerhat district
Manzarul Islam of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the students’ wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), was killed by assailants on the day of sub-district polling in Bagerhat District, bdnews24.com reports on March 15. Another person was also injured in Megnitola of the same District on March 15 (today).
Meanwhile, detectives have arrested five suspects (from undisclosed location) possibly linked to the February 23, 2014 snatching incident of three convicted militants from a Police van in Mymensingh. Two of those picked up are Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh militants and garment merchants, who are suspected for financing the ambush. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Detective Branch) Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sanowar Hossain commented, “Altogether eleven people including these five have been arrested in connection with the incident. Two of them are businessmen, who, police suspect financed the ambush in Mymensingh.” Police also recovered more than 4 kilograms of explosives, 14 rounds of ammunition, a manual on staging an ambush and a motorcycle from those detained, he said.
Ban on JeL by June 2014, asserts Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Huq
The Bangladesh Government on March 13 said it will take steps to ban Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) by June, 2014 for its involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, reports Gulf Times. Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Huq said, “The government is planning of banning the anti-liberation force Jamaat, but it has no plan to ban other religion-based political parties”. Earlier in August, 2013, a High Court bench declared JeI’s registration with the Election Commission illegal. A three-member special bench of Justice M Moazzam Husain, Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, by a majority view, declared illegal and void the registration given to JeI by the Election Commission. Later on the election commission executed the court verdict after it got the certified copy of the ruling that had declared the registration of JeI illegal.
Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Secretary General Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, and 24 leaders of the federation, Zaker Party and Sammilita Islami Jote had filed the writ petitions on January 25, 2009 challenging the constitutionality of Jamaat’s registration with the election commission.
Dhaka court indicts former Prime Minister BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia in corruption charge
A Dhaka Court on March 19 indicted former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, in charge of corruption for allegedly using an illegal fund to buy land for a charity named after her late husband, Ziaur Rahman, reports Times of India. The charge is that Ms. Zia had illegally collected more than USD 1 million in donations for the charity named after her husband. Khaleda Zia heads the charity, which she established during her latest premiership, in 2001-2006.
Meanwhile, the United States (US) on March 19 handed over Nazmul Maksud alias Murad, accused of attempting to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on August 11, 1989, reports The Independent. A gang of seven to eight assailants had opened fire and hurled grenades at the house of Bangabandhu in Dhaka city. A case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station in the city and Murad was made accused No. 13. He fled the country and took shelter in the US on October 3, 1996. Interpol issued a red notice in 2011 following a request by the Bangladesh Government. Murad was arrested by the US Homeland Security Service from Atlanta on February 2, 2012.
India – Internal Dynamics
Civilian injured in bomb explosion in Punjab
A man, identified as Sajawal, sustained injuries when an explosive device detonated outside the house of one Jahangir Khan, in the Ratta Amral area of Rawalpindi District on February 26, reported The Express Tribune. Ratta Amral Police Station House Officer (SHO) Chaudhry Zulfiqar said that between 100 and 150 grams of explosives was used in the blast, which was later confirmed by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS).
Eastern Uttar Pradesh is hub of illegal trade in explosives
The arrest of four accused in connection with the Patna serial blasts has again pointed towards the region (Uttar Pradesh) as a hub of flourishing illegal trade in explosives, The Times of India reports on February 27. The arrest clearly indicates that terrorist groups like Indian Mujahideen (IM) are turning towards Maoist-infested Districts of the region to procure easily available explosives. Explosives are easily available in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur due to mining works. Mirzapur District administration’s records reveal action was initiated in 150 cases of illegal mining in June and July in 2013.
Maoists kill 5 Policemen
Five Policemen, including a Police Sub-Inspector, were killed and three others injured in a Communist Party of India-Maoist ambush in Dantewada District on February 28, reports The Times of India. The 12-member team led by Station House Officer (SHO) Vivek Shukla was on a patrol mission at a road construction site in Kowakonda-Bacheli area of Chhattisgarh when they were attacked. The Maoists set Police motorcycles ablaze, looted an AK-47 rifles, two SLR and an INSAS rifle before fleeing to Shyam Giri hills area under Korukonda Police Station. Additional Director-General of Police Rajinder Kumar Vij said “The patrol team comprising 12 Police personnel was moving on six motorcycles in Shyam Giri hills region, around five km from Korukonda Police Station, when about 100 armed rebels attacked them, resulting in the death of the Sub-Inspector and four other Policemen on the spot.” The others killed included Chhavilal Kashi, Sandeep Sahu, Dhaneshwar Mandavi and Naval Kishore Shandiya.
Maoists kill villager
A band of Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed a villager, identified as Channu Madavi (58), in Kuthegaon village in Dhanora sub-division in Gadchiroli District in the night on March 1, reports The Times of India. Maoists dragged Madavi out of his house during midnight hours and slit his throat with a knife. It is suspected that Madavi was killed for being a ‘police informer’.
Meanwhile, Maoists attacked a Police Outpost in Hedri village in Etapalli tehsil (revenue unit) in Gadchiroli District on March 2, reports The Times of India. They threw hand-grenades and opened fire at the newly established outpost. However, no causalities have been reported in the attack. Sources said that Hedri outpost, located 15 km from Etapalli on Gatta-Etapalli road, was established only a month back.
AKRSU renews Kamatapur demand in Assam
The Assam Tribune reports on April 3 that ahead of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) elections, the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) has renewed its demands for a separate Kamatapur State and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the ethnic community. A four-page memorandum in this regard was also submitted to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri District on March 31. The memorandum of the student organisation gave a detailed data from the past for its claim to have a separate State of Kamatapur and the inclusion of the community in the list of ST.
Meanwhile, the student organisation has started its protest campaign called ‘Pratibadi Janajagaran Sabha’ from April 3 in all the District headquarters of the State to raise its various demands. The campaign will continue till April 20.
CPI-Marxist activist shot dead by suspected Maoists in Andhra Pradesh
A Kommu Koya (tribal) dance troupe organiser Patra Mutyam (55), an activist of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-Marxist), was allegedly shot dead by suspected cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist at the remote Tummala village in Chintur mandal of Khammam District early on March 10, reports The Hindu. Sources said that Mutyam, who also worked as a postman in the past, was whisked away from his house by a group of suspected Maoists around midnight on March 9. He was shot dead by the assailants at a secluded place close to his house next morning. In a letter left behind by the Maoists in the name of Maoist ‘Sabari Area Committee’ it was alleged that Mutyam was acting as a police informer and harassing gullible Adivasis.
Maoists kill 16 including including 15 Security Force personnel in Chhattisgarh
Fifteen Security Force (SF) personnel were killed in a Communist Party of India-Maoist ambush on March 11 in Sukma District of south Chhattisgarh, reports The Hindu. One civilian, Vikram Nishad, also died in the crossfire, while three were injured. Additional Director-General of Police Mukesh Gupta said 11 of the personnel who died belonged to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while four were from the Chhattisgarh Police. The incident took place when a joint team of the CRPF and the Police, about 50 personnel divided into two platoons were moving from Tongpal village to Jeeram Ghati, the same area where a Maoist ambush had killed 27 people last year on May, 25. The team was engaged in an area domination exercise to sanitise the area for troop movements and also to provide security to road construction workers. About 100 Maoists surrounded them and opened fire.
Sources in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi said an alert had been sounded last month in view of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) elections.
Two Assam Rifles personnel killed in IED attack by militants in Manipur
The Sangai Express reports that two Assam Rifles personnel, identified as Warrant Officer Murli and Rifleman MT Santosh have been killed while two others survived with injuries in a bomb attack carried out by suspected Peoples Liberation Army cadres at Kambang Khullen in interior Chandel District in the afternoon of March 11. However it is yet to be officially confirmed which group was responsible for the attack. The militants triggered an IED targeting the pilot vehicle (Gypsy) of a convoy of 24th Assam Rifles. Two other Riflemen who sustained injuries were identified as Ngamei Abhi and Pramod Kalai. Unconfirmed reports say that the militants took away four AK rifles, one LMG and one Insas rifle.
Seven SFs injured in separate incidents of violence in Jharkhand
Five Security Forces (SFs), including one Police official, three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, and a Special Police Officer (SPO) suffered injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was triggered while they were trying to remove it in Chatra District on March 13, reports The Hindu. “We had received information that Maoist squads have moved into Palamu and Chatra Districts and they had planted IEDs in a location near river Dhulki in Partapur (Chatra District). The Police and CRPF team had left and remove the IED, a cane bomb. It was triggered while they were trying to remove it at a spot 1.5 km from CRPF picket at Chak,” said Chatra Superintendent of Police (SP) Prashant Karan. Jharkhand has a sanctioned strength of 6400 SPOs for helping Police gather intelligence, though officials put the current number at 3,000.
Meanwhile, two SFs personnel were injured when two teams of security personnel engaged in combing operation at Kuku forest, near Saryu village of Latehar District fired upon each other on mistaken identity on March 13, reports The Times of India. Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Michael Raj said one group of troopers was in the middle of their operations when they chanced upon their fellow mates. Suspecting them to be CPI-Maoists in camouflage they opened fired at each other. Latehar SP said that an investigation has been launched as to whose confusion led to the cross fire.
Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period Feb 26, 2014 to March 25 2014:
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Assam | 01 | 00 | 03 | 04 |
| Arunachal P | 02 | 00 | 02 | 04 |
| Manipur | 01 | 02 | 00 | 03 |
| Meghalaya | 03 | 00 | 02 | 05 |
| Left-wing | 10 | 21 | 06 | 37 |
| Total | 17 | 23 | 13 | 53 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist sign two-point deal opposing Government preparation for local elections and arrest of individuals for rights violation during armed conflict
Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) Chairperson, Mohan Baidya signed a two-point deal on March 13 opposing the Government preparation for local elections and arrest of individuals alleged of rights violation during armed conflict, reports Nepal News. “The local elections have to be held once a new constitution is promulgated. Such an election would be unconstitutional as per Article 138 of the constitution. If the local elections are conducted, we will firmly stand against them,” said a statement inked by Dahal and Baidya together. On the issue of war-era (1996-2006) cases of rights violation, the two Maoist leaders said they have to be investigated and prosecuted only after forming a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Neel Kantha Uprety on March 14 (today) said the Election Commission (EC) should be given autonomy to fix dates for periodic elections and hold them independently to make democracy fully functional, reports The Himalayan Times. Uprety told “Democracy cannot sustain unless the EC is allowed to exercise its power to fix dates and hold elections under its own calendar, free from Government decision.” He further said the general and local elections, which are the backbone of democracy, cannot be held on time unless the EC is given autonomy.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
SL Govt’s inaction led to US to bring another resolution at UNHRC
The United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry releasing the 2013 Annual Country Report Human Rights on February 27 said that the Sri Lankan Government’s failure to answer the basic demands for accountability and reconciliation has led the US to sponsor another resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, reports Colombo Page. Kerry said the Government still has not answered basic demands for accountability and reconciliation and attacks on civil society activists, journalists, and religious minorities, still continue. The report accused that the Sri Lankan security forces committed human rights abuses during the last stages of the war. The report also said there was no significant progress made with regard to the thousands of disappearances from past years.
SL family finds mass grave in garden
A Sri Lankan family has stumbled upon the remains of at least nine bodies buried in the garden of their home, police said on Saturday, March 1 the latest mass grave to be discovered in the country’s former war zone. The family made the grisly find on Friday while clearing out their garden in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the northern district of Mullaitivu, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said. “Remains of nine people had been found so far and the skeletal remains were taken for analysis by the judicial medical officer in the area,” Rohana told reporters.
The discovery comes just days after officials raised the number of bodies found in December in an unmarked mass grave in the adjoining district of Mannar to 80. It was the first grave uncovered in the ex-war zone since troops defeated Tamil rebels nearly five years ago following a decades-long conflict for a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.
The final battles between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were fought in the Mullaitivu district which was a stronghold of the separatist’s guerrillas for over two decades. The United Nations estimates the ethnic war between 1972 and 2009 in Sri Lanka claimed at least 100,000 lives.
Friday’s discovery comes ahead of a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session starting Monday in Geneva where Sri Lanka faces a US-led censure resolution criticising Colombo for its alleged failure to probe war crimes. It would be the third such motion.
Last month, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Australia accused Sri Lankan authorities of exhuming mass graves and destroying evidence of civilian killings, a charge denied by Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he is committed to ensuring investigations into any allegations of wrongdoing by his security forces and challenged his accusers to provide evidence.
Last year, construction workers stumbled on another mass grave in central Sri Lanka, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the conflict zone. At least 154 people were found in Matale district, the scene of an anti-government uprising between 1987 and 1990 unrelated to the Tamil separatist conflict. Remains from that grave have been sent to China for further tests.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterates her call for UNHRC to establish its own international inquiry mechanism
The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on March 6 reiterated her call for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to establish its own international inquiry mechanism into Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Presenting her final annual report as High Commissioner for Human Rights to the 25th session of UNHRC in Geneva, Pillay said the nearly five years after the end of the conflict, the Sri Lankan Government has failed to satisfy the Council’s call for a credible and independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations. “I therefore recommend that the time has come for the Council to establish its own international inquiry mechanism which I believe can play a positive role where domestic mechanisms have failed,” she said.
Meanwhile, delivering the national statement at the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva and rejecting a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the country’s post-war progress as “fundamentally flawed” in its entirety, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris on March 5 said judging the country by the initiatives of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is a “travesty of justice”, reports Colombo Page. Peiris said the initiatives of the report as well as the Resolution 22/1 disregard the substantial progress made by the Government during the five years since ending the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Negative attention placed on the island nation makes achieving reconciliation among ethnic communities’ even harder, says External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris
External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris on March 6 told the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the negative attention placed on Sri Lanka makes achieving reconciliation among ethnic communities’ even harder, reports Colombo Page. Minister Peiris made the remark when he met with the High Commissioner and briefed her in Geneva on the continuing efforts on reconciliation and development in the country. He said “The highly prejudiced actions taken by a few countries and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to give disproportionate negative attention to Sri Lanka, has made the separatist Tamil elements in Sri Lanka and abroad more intransigent making the intensely difficult task of reconciliation in Sri Lanka, even harder.”
New video clip released by Channel 4 accuses Sri Lankan Armed Forces of having ‘underlying culture of systematic brutality and sexual violence’
A new video clip released on March 10 by British public-service television broadcaster Channel 4 has accused the Sri Lankan Armed Forces of having an “underlying culture of systematic brutality and sexual violence”, reports The Hindu. Channel 4 journalist Callum Macrae said, “On the new visual that has emerged, it was unclear when the video was filmed but suggests it was at some point in the last two or three years of the war, possibly by a soldier using a mobile phone. The disturbing visuals show Sinhala-speaking, uniformed men apparently celebrating over bodies that the report identifies as those of female Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fighters.”
Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a rally held in Gampaha District on March 9 said that Sri Lanka has strength to face any international challenge and will never give into imperialists or their followers in reference to the resolution tabled by the US at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports Colombo Page. The President further said that only the citizens of the country have the power to change the Government and no outside force at the UN can oust the Government without public support. “We are prepared to bow our heads to the people. We will not do so to imperialists or their henchmen betraying the hard won peace and freedom. We believe in the judgment of the people,” the President said addressing the massive audience.
Separately, welcoming the draft of the US-sponsored resolution that seeks an international probe led by the UNHRC, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on March 9 said it looked forward to a resolution with stronger scope after revisions ahead of the voting day at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports The Hindu. “We look forward to the co-sponsors effecting revisions to the draft over the following weeks that will clarify and strengthen the scope of the forthcoming investigation,” the TNA said in a statement signed by its leader R. Sampanthan and Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. The statement went on to say “We will remain engaged with the international community to this end, and also to ensure that the outcome of the resolution will be overwhelmingly positive for all Sri Lankans, particularly for victims of grave abuses committed during and after the war.”
We only fought brutal LTTE not Tamils, says President Mahinda Rajapaksa
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on March 12, “The war was not against the Tamils. We only fought a brutal terrorist outfit that was the LTTE”, reports Times of India. “If our war was against Tamils how could the Tamils live happily and peacefully among the Sinhalese in the south of the country,” Rajapaksa added. He further stressed “I am aware that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with foreign help are trying to show there is religious disharmony.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe in Geneva on March 13 said that Sri Lanka’s decision to fight the resolution moved by the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and a few other countries was a fight on a matter of principle and that Sri Lanka would not compromise on it, reports Colombo Page. Mahinda further said what is happening to Sri Lanka today, could happen to any other NAM country tomorrow and called upon all NAM member states to continue to show solidarity with Sri Lanka.
Former LTTE intelligence agent injured
A Sub Inspector of the Terrorist Investigation Unit was shot at and injured when a Police team including the officer went to a suspect’s residence at Dharmapuram in Kilinochchi District to arrest him for his involvement in subversive activities on March 13, reports Colombo Page. The suspect, who was a temporary resident in the Indian Housing scheme for resettled people, is a former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam intelligence officer.
Later in the day, Police arrested a Tamil activist and her daughter for allegedly sheltering the former LTTE ‘intelligence officer’, reports The Hindu. The Police arrested Balendran Jeyakumari, a widow and her 13-year-old daughter Vidushika from Dharmapuram in the Kilinochchi District.
Separately, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa, addressing an election rally in Colombo on March 14 said that despite the military defeat of the LTTE, members of the LTTE Diaspora were still trying to establish an Eelam, reports Colombo Page. He noted that although peace has been ushered into the country following the defeat of the LTTE, the activities of the LTTE affiliated Tamil Diaspora against the Government are being guided and assisted by International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs) and imperialist camps which hold ulterior motives of dividing the country.
Two Human Right activists arrested in Kilinochchi District
Two Human Right activists were arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Unit (TID) of Police in Kilinochchi District on March 16 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports Colombo Page. Police said Ruki Fernando, who works for Rights Now Collective for Democracy and a Catholic priest, Father Praveen are charged with attempting to create ethnic discord among communities and to promote separatism.
Separately, the Government on March 18 explained to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) the investigations that led to the arrest and detention of three activists suspected of supporting subversive activities in violation of the PTA in the conflict-affected North, reports Colombo Page. The Government said Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari was placed under arrest [on March 13] on suspicion of aiding and abetting K.P. Selvanayagam aka ‘Gobi’ who is believed to be leading the revival of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, while Fernando and Praveen have been detained as it has been revealed that they have been in Kilinochchi engaging with persons connected to Gobi.
In another incident, Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera on March 18 said that the Government and the Defense Forces would not allow the re-emergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants, reports Daily Mirror. He said “Defence forces are on alert about several groups who are trying to destroy peace in the Northern Province, including Jaffna. The Sri Lankan Army is willing provide the maximum support according to the requirements of Government officials, civil community and the Government forces.”
INTERNATIONAL
Dozens injured as rival groups clash in Crimea
President Vladimir Putin ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of the armed forces across western Russia on Wednesday, Feb 26 news agencies reported, flexing Moscow’s military muscle amid tension with the West over Ukraine. “In accordance with an order from the president of the Russian Federation, forces of the Western Military District were put on alert at 1400 (1000 GMT) today,” Interfax quoted Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.
Putin has ordered several such surprise drills in various parts of Russia since he returned to the presidency in 2012, saying the military must be kept on its toes, but the geopolitical overtones could hardly have been clearer this time. The western district borders Ukraine, which lies between Nato nations and Russia. Shoigu said the drill would be conducted in two stages, ending on March 3, and also involved some forces in central Russia.
The United States and European nations have warned Russia against military intervention in Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that Putin has called a “brother nation”, and wants to be part of a Eurasian Union he is building in the region. Russian officials have said Moscow will not interfere in Ukraine, while accusing the West of doing so, and Interfax cited the speaker of the upper parliament house, Valentina Matviyenko, as saying on Wednesday it would not use force.
Meanwhile, fistfights broke out between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in Ukraine’s strategic Crimea region on Wednesday. In Kiev, opposition leaders who took charge after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych fled were working on forming a new government to chart a path forward for the country and its ailing economy.
In Crimea’s regional capital of Simferopol, about 20,000 Muslim Tatars who rallied in support of the interim government clashed with a smaller pro-Russian rally. One health official said at least 33 people were injured, while the local health ministry said one person died from an apparent heart attack. The protesters shouted and attacked each other with stones, bottles and punches, as police and leaders of both rallies struggled to keep the two groups apart. They started to disperse after the speaker of the regional legislature announced it would postpone a crisis session, which many Tatars feared would have taken steps toward seceding from Ukraine.
Crimean Tatars are Turkic Muslim ethnic groups who have lived in Crimea for centuries. They were brutally deported in 1944 by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, but returned after Ukraine’s independence.
The tensions in Crimea — a peninsula in southern Ukraine that is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet — highlight the divisions that run through this country of 46 million, and underscore fears the country’s mainly Russian-speaking east and south won’t recognise the interim authorities’ legitimacy.”Only Russia can defend us from fascists in Kiev and from Islamic radicals in Crimea,” said Anton Lyakhov, a 52-year-old pro-Russian protester
Syrian army kills 175 rebels
Syrian army troops killed 175 rebels in an ambush on Wednesday, Feb 6 south of Damascus, state media reported, a major attack targeting mostly al-Qaida-linked fighters as part of a government effort to secure the capital. The dawn attack by President Bashar Assad’s forces in the opposition-held area of eastern Ghouta likely will push rebel groups against his rule further away from Damascus, his seat of power.
The capital’s suburbs have been opposition strongholds since March 2011, when the revolt against the ruling family began. If confirmed, it would be one of the deadliest attacks by government forces against rebels in the area.
Syrian state news agency SANA quoted a field commander in the eastern Ghouta area saying most of rebels killed in the assault near Otaibah Lake southeast of Damascus belonged to the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front rebel group.
The report said several of those killed were foreign fighters who came to Syria from Saudi Arabia, Chechnya and Qatar to fight. SANA said the army’s operation dealt “a smashing blow to terrorists,” a term Syrian state media uses for rebels.
SANA posted several photographs on its website showing dozens of bodies of men lying in a dirt track of an open field, some wearing fatigues, but most wearing civilian clothes. Some appeared to have been carrying bags of clothes and bottles of water which were scattered on the ground, suggesting they were moving locations when they were ambushed.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the killings, saying that 70 rebels were killed in Wednesday’s assault. The Observatory, which has been documenting Syria’s nearly 3-year-old conflict by relying on activists’ reports on the ground, says the number of those killed likely will rise because 89 rebels have been reported missing.
Under US pressure, Iraq denies Iran arms deals
Iraq, facing heavy pressure from the United States, has denied signing deals for weapons and ammunition with Iran in apparent violation of international sanctions. The defence ministry said a variety of international firms had sought to supply Iraq with ammunition and night vision equipment, including one company from Iran. But contrary to media reports, “no contract was signed with the Iranian company”, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, Feb 26.
Washington has piled pressure on Baghdad after reports that it had signed multiple deals for weapons, gear and ammunition emerged earlier this week. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that “any transfer of arms from Iran to a third country is in direct violation” of United Nations sanctions on the Islamic republic.
“We are seeking clarification on this matter from the government of Iraq and to ensure that Iraqi officials understand the limits that international law places on arms trade with Iran,” she added. America is by far the largest supplier of military equipment to Iraq, with Psaki saying the US has provided more than $15 billion (11 billion euros) in equipment, services and training.
The US has speeded up delivery of equipment including Hellfire missiles to Iraq to help Baghdad battle militants who seized one city near Baghdad and parts of another in January. But officials have complained about the pace of delivery of some American weapons, providing an opening for other countries to make gains in diplomatic and military ties — a situation Baghdad could also seek to use as leverage with Washington. Both the Russian and Chinese foreign ministers discussed arms sales during recent visits to Baghdad.
North Korea test-fires four short-range missiles
North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles into the sea on Thursday, Feb 27 Seoul’s defence ministry said, in an apparent show of force to coincide with South Korea-US joint military exercises. A ministry spokesman told AFP the missiles, with an estimated range of around 200-km, were fired off the east coast of North Korea.
Observers said the tests were unlikely to trigger a significant rise in military tensions. “It seems fairly routine,” said Kim Yong-Hyun, an expert on North Korean affairs at Seoul’s Dongguk University. “It’s mainly about sending a message — about the drills and also its anger over the recent UN rights report,” Kim said. A UN-mandated commission published a damning report earlier this month, detailing horrific human rights abuses in North Korea and concluding that they could comprise crimes against humanity.
Despite the start of the South Korea-US drills on Monday, which the North routinely condemns as rehearsals for invasion, relations between Seoul and Pyongyang are currently enjoying something of a thaw.
This year’s drills overlapped with the end of the first reunion for more than three years of families divided by the Korean War — an event that has raised hopes of greater cross-border cooperation.
Pyongyang had initially insisted that the joint exercises be postponed until after the reunion finished on Tuesday. But Seoul refused and — in a rare concession — the North allowed the family gathering on its territory to go ahead as scheduled.
Iraq violence kills 35
Two bombings in north of Baghdad and other attacks killed at least 35 people on Thursday, Feb 27 officials said, as Iraq struggles with its worst violence in years.
The government has failed to curb a year-long surge in violence that has reached levels not seen since 2008, when Iraq was just emerging from a brutal period of sectarian killings in which tens of thousands died.
In the deadliest attack on Thursday, an explosives-rigged motorcycle ripped through an area of motorcycle shops in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, killing at least 25 people and wounding 45.
And a car bomb in Sadr City killed at least one person and wounded five. The capital is hit by near-daily bombings and shootings, including periodic coordinated vehicle bomb attacks that leave dozens of people dead.
In Mishahada, north of Baghdad, a car bomb exploded near an army patrol, killing at least two soldiers and wounding three. Other attacks hit areas in northern Iraq. A roadside bomb exploded near a Sahwa anti-al-Qaeda militia patrol in the Sharqat area, killing two fighters and wounding four, while a roadside bomb near a police station in Tuz Khurmatu killed two people and wounded 15.
‘Syria leads HR violations’
A chemicals weapons attack in Syria last summer that the U.S. says killed more than 1,400 people was the world’s worst human rights violation of 2013, the Obama administration concluded on Thursday, Feb 27.
The report by the State Department also foreshadowed the unrest that has gripped the Ukraine in recent weeks and toppled its government. The survey singled out some usual suspects in its annual roundup of abuses:
Iran, for manipulation of elections and civil liberties restrictions; North Korea, for rampant reports of extrajudicial killings, detentions, and torture; and Belarus, for beatings of protesters and lack of checks and balances by the authoritarian government.
But the department it said the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack on the Damascus suburbs in Syria was “one of many horrors in a civil war filled with countless crimes against humanity, from the torture and murder of prisoners to the targeting of civilians with barrel bombs and Scud missiles, which has claimed more than 100,000 lives.”
“The tragedy that has befallen the Syrian people stands apart in its scope and human cost,” the report concluded.
The U.S. has said at least 1,429 people, including more than 400 children, were killed in the attacks. The U.S. cites intelligence reports, but has not provided specifics on how the figure was obtained.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information from a network of anti-regime activists in Syria, has reported a far lower death toll. In a sign of things to come, the report also highlighted government crackdowns on peaceful protests in Ukraine and Russia’s refusal to punish human rights abusers during 2013.
Brooks paid official for Saddam anthrax story
Rebekah Brooks, the ex-chief executive of News Corp.’s British newspaper arm, told a London court on Friday, Feb 28 she had paid a public official for a story about former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein planning to attack Britain with the poison anthrax. Brooks, who is on trial on charges of sanctioning such illegal payments, said she agreed to pay for the 1998 report when she was deputy editor of Rupert Murdoch’s Sun tabloid because there was an “overwhelming public interest” to do so. However, she denies approving almost 40,000 pounds ($66,700) in payments to a Ministry of Defence official for a series of stories for which she on trial. She also denies charges of conspiracy to hack phones and perverting the course of justice.
On Thursday, Brooks admitted she had authorised payments to public officials, something which is illegal, on a “half a dozen” occasions from 1998 to 2009, a period which covered her time as time as editor or deputy of Murdoch’s British tabloids, the Sun and News of the World.
Appearing for a sixth day in the witness box at London’s Old Bailey court, Brooks said the public official, who was later revealed to be a chief petty officer in the Royal Navy, had called the paper about the threat from Saddam and the deadly poison anthrax.
It subsequently dominated the British news agenda for months, leading to the resignation of lawmakers and in some cases their imprisonment. Brooks, who said it featured “quite high of her list” of judgment errors, noted to the court that neither the police nor prosecutors took any action because of the high-level of public interest. Her trial and that of six other continues.
Jihadists retreat in north Syria after ultimatum
Jihadists begin withdrawing from parts of northern Syria on Friday, Feb 28 after a threat from rivals, in a bid to protect their stronghold in the east of the war-ravaged country. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front has threatened the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with all-out war if it does not submit by Saturday to mediation by an Islamic court over allegations ISIL assassinated an Islamist commander with close al-Qaeda links.
Since January, ISIL has been battling a coalition of moderate and Islamist rebels angered over its abuses of rival fighters and civilians, but Al-Nusra had largely stayed out of the fray. The prospect of the powerful Al-Nusra joining forces with ISIL´s opponents appears to have prompted the group to pull back to its stronghold in the eastern city of Raqa, the only provincial capital lost by the regime in the three-year civil war.
In the wake of the withdrawal from Aazaz, which ISIL seized in September, the Observatory said a possible mass grave was found in the city. The withdrawal was confirmed by the opposition Aazaz Media Centre, which claimed it as a victory for rival rebel fighters. “God is greatest. The heroes of the Free Syrian Army and the Northern Storm (Brigade) have liberated the town of Azaz from the dogs of Baghdadi,” the centre wrote on its Facebook page, referring to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Video footage posted online showed a demonstration of local residents chanting “the Free Syrian Army forever” after ISIL´s withdrawal.
Charles Lister, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, said ISIL appeared to have withdrawn from several locations without a fight. “It looks like ISIL has made the strategic decision to reinforce existing strongholds in eastern Aleppo, all of which lie on valuable routes towards the jewel in ISIL´s crown, the city of Raqa,” he said.
Rebels accuse ISIL of killing the commander, and Al-Nusra chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani warned the group would be pushed out of Syria if it refused arbitration before an Islamic court. Lister said a major offensive against ISIL could seriously affect the opposition’s ability to hold territory against the regime, and that casualties in such an offensive would be high.
But the two have never merged, with Jolani rejecting a union proposed by ISIL, and al-Qaeda´s Zawahiri urging ISIL to return to Iraq after its fighters moved into Syria. Elsewhere in Syria, state news agency SANA said the army had killed 20 rebels in an ambush near Damascus, two days after state media reported the deaths of 175 rebels in a similar ambush nearby. And the army said three rockets fired from inside neighbouring Syria struck eastern Lebanon, causing no injuries.
13 killed in Yemen clashes
At least 13 people died when fighters clashed with security forces in northern Yemen on Saturday, March 1 government sources said, underlining the chaos still gripping the country two years after mass protests ousted its leader. The fighters were from the Houthi movement which is seeking to strengthen its hold on the north – one of a string of challenges facing an interim government also battling southern separatists, al -Qaeda-linked militants and an economic crisis.
Local authorities said two soldiers were killed in the attack and four others were wounded when Houthis attacked a security checkpoint in the northwestern al Jawf province, according to state news agency Saba.
An exchange of fire took place as a result of the attack and three of the Houthi attackers were killed and several others were then arrested, a statement by the local authorities said. The security situation in Yemen is closely watched in Gulf Arab states and Washington given the impoverished country’s strategic position next to top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and to main shipping lanes.
Security sources had told Reuters violence erupted after members of the Houthi group staged a protest in al Hazm, the provincial capital of al Jawf province, against what they said was the government’s failure to boost the economy and end violence.
Suicide bomber kills 39 at crowded Iraq checkpoint
A suicide bomber killed 39 people, including two state television employees, at a checkpoint near Baghdad Sunday, March 9 after Iraq’s premier accused Riyadh and Doha of fuelling bloodshed in the country.
The suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged minibus during morning rush hour at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Hilla, the confessionally mixed capital of Babil province south of Baghdad. The attack killed 34 people and wounded 167, a police captain and medical sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Among the fatalities were five policemen, two women and five children. Iraqiya state television said two of its employees, Muthanna Abdulhussein and Khaled Abed Thamer, were among the dead. Militants carry out frequent attacks on security forces, and also target areas where crowds gather.
In Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, gunmen shot dead at least two soldiers and wounded one at an army checkpoint, while six attacks north of the capital killed three policemen and two soldiers and wounded nearly 40.
In an interview broadcast on Saturday, Maliki accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of backing militant groups in Iraq, saying they have effectively declared war on the country. The two Gulf states “are attacking Iraq, through Syria and in a direct way, and they announced war on Iraq, as they announced it on Syria, and unfortunately it is on a sectarian and political basis,” the premier told France 24 television.” These two countries are primarily responsible for the sectarian and terrorist and security crisis of Iraq.” Saudi Arabia and Qatar have emerged as regional rivals. The two countries support fighters opposed to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and in recent weeks they have sparred over Doha’s backing for the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi.Baghdad has long complained that support for militant groups fighting in Syria’s civil war finds its way through to Iraq, with weapons in particular ending up in jihadist hands. In the interview, Maliki said Riyadh and Doha provide political, financial and media support to militant groups, and accused them of “buying weapons for the benefit of these terrorist organisations.”
He also accused Saudi Arabia of supporting global “terrorism”. Maliki condemned “the dangerous Saudi stance” of supporting “terrorism in the world — it supports it in Syria and Iraq and Lebanon and Egypt and Libya, and even in countries outside” the Arab world. Violence in Iraq has reached a level not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a brutal period of sectarian killings in which tens of thousands of people died.
Sudan rebel chiefs sentenced to death in absentia
A Sudanese court on Thursday, March 13 sentenced to death in absentia a former governor who is now a rebel leader, along with another insurgent chief, a lawyer said.
Rebels dismissed the verdict as meaningless. “Seventeen people were sentenced in absentia to be executed by hanging. These include Malik Agar and Yasir Arman,” said Al-Tigani Hassan, a lawyer who was present for the verdict in Singa town, the capital of Sennar state.
Agar, formerly the elected governor of Blue Nile state, is chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), and Arman is secretary general of the movement. The rebels have been fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile for almost three years. “It is a drama, baseless drama,” SPLM-N spokesman Arnu Ngutulu Lodi told AFP after the verdict. “Nobody will recognise this.”
The sentences came at the end of a nine-month trial, but also followed by 12 days the adjournment of African Union-mediated peace talks between Khartoum and the SPLM-N in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two sides were deadlocked, said the AU. It gave them until April 30 to reach a peace deal in the conflict which, according to the United Nations, has displaced or otherwise affected an estimated 1.2 million people.
Arman heads the SPLM-N delegation at the talks. All the accused belonged to the SPLM-N and were convicted of terrorism, weapons and other criminal charges stemming from the September 2011 start of the war in Blue Nile, Hassan said. Shortly after fighting began, authorities rounded up SPLM-N members across Sudan and banned the organisation which was then the country’s main opposition party. The 17 sentenced to death had no legal representation in court, said Hassan. He was part of the defence team for another 78 SPLM-N accused who were in custody. Of these, 31 were acquitted, 46 were given life sentences and one was sentenced to death along with the 17 convicted in absentia, the lawyer said. Lodi agreed that the accused were SPLM-N members but said that this was not a crime in itself.
Talks between the government and SPLM-N resumed in February for the first time in nearly a year, after President Omar al-Bashir called for a wide-ranging national dialogue, including with rebels in the country ravaged by poverty, insurgency and political turmoil.
Venezuela accuses US of seeking to fund violence
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor on Friday, March 14 accused Washington of seeking to stoke violence in her country, after US lawmakers called for funding for activist groups there. “There’s no doubt that this is to fund the violent actions taking place in Venezuela,” Luisa Ortega Diaz told reporters in Geneva. Diaz said the money would be used to buy C4, a kind of explosive. She had said earlier that authorities had seized a kilo of C4, 200 fire-bombs and 25 firearms during a wave of protests in Venezuela.
Speaking on the sidelines of the session of the UN Human Rights Council, she said any individual receiving foreign money to fund political activity would face punishment.
On Thursday, US senators tabled a bipartisan law to pave the way for sanctions against Venezuelan authorities involved in human rights abuses and unlock $15 million (10.8 million euros) in funding for organisations defending rights, journalists, activists and demonstrators facing legal action in the country. The law could be up for discussion within two weeks at the Senate foreign relations committee. Ortega Diaz said that “the United States act like the world’s policeman”.
“Who gave them the authority to sanction countries? Are they the world’s court?” she said. “If that’s how it is, I’ll sanction the United States for violating human rights in Guantanamo, for invading Vietnam and Afghanistan, for human rights abuses in South America and Central America, for the coup in Chile, in Nicaragua,” she said.
Venezuela has been rocked by a wave of anti-government protests that first erupted on February 4 in the western city of San Cristobal. They reached the capital Caracas on February 12, when three people were killed in clashes with security forces. The demonstrations have been fuelled by public fury over deteriorating living conditions in the oil-rich South American country. Violent crime, inflation and shortages of essential goods have combined to create the most serious challenge yet for leftist President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro has dubbed the protests an attempted coup stoked by the United States. Since the protests began, opposition leaders and students, as well as government authorities, have accused each other of backing radical groups that attack demonstrations with firearms. On Thursday, Ortega Diaz said that 28 people had been killed and 365 injured in the protests.
Venezuela’s foreign minister lambasted US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday as a “murderer” fomenting unrest that has killed 28 people in the South American OPEC member nation.
Saudi Arabia demands Qatar to shut down Al-Jazeera
Saudi Arabia demanded that Qatar shutdown Al-Jazeera and two think tanks during a recent meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a source close to someone who attended the talks told AFP on Friday, March 14. Riyadh demanded the closure of the pan-Arab broadcaster as well as the Brookings Doha Centre and the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, the source said on condition of anonymity.
After the reportedly heated March 5 GCC meeting, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recalled their ambassadors from fellow member Qatar, which they accuse of interfering in their internal affairs and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
The source said Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal had demanded three things of Doha — “to close the (Qatari-owned) Al-Jazeera network, which stirs sedition; close the research centres in Doha, and turn over all outlaws” on its territory.
Doha’s foreign minister replied that the demand constituted “interference in Qatar’s internal affairs,” the same source said. Gulf officials do not usually comment on closed-door meetings. Qatar is seen as a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates across the region, which are banned in most Gulf states.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have long been hostile toward the Brotherhood, fearing that its brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine their authority. Saudi Arabia and the other two states accused Doha of giving refuge to opposition figures and of even giving some of them citizenship.
Critics have long accused the influential pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera of biased coverage in favour of the Brotherhood, and several of its journalists are on trial in Egypt for allegedly supporting the group.
Gunmen kill six army officers near Cairo
Gunmen shot dead six army officers near Cairo on Saturday, March 15the second attack on Egyptian security forces in three days that the military has blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed president Mohammed Mursi.
Egypt has been hit by an insurgency that has mainly targeted the police and army since the military overthrew Mursi in July, and about 300 security officers have been killed in the wave of violence.
Saturday’s attack on a military police checkpoint was carried out by unidentified gunmen who then fled, according to state media. A senior security source told state TV that two bombs found near the checkpoint had also been defused.
The army released a statement shortly after, blaming the Brotherhood, but the outlawed movement’s leader Amr Darrag denied the accusation. “I condemn the killing of Egyptian soldiers. How can the Muslim Brotherhood be accused a few minutes after the attack with no evidence or investigation,” he said on Twitter.
The military-backed government condemned the attack and said it was determined to combat militant attacks.
Analysts expect attacks on security forces to increase in the coming months when a presidential vote is due to take place which is widely expected to be won by army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.
Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bayt Al Maqdis has claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks on senior security officials, including an assassination attempt on the interior minister last year.
Iran says sabotage prevented at N-facility
Iranian authorities have prevented attempted sabotage at the country’s heavy water nuclear reactor, a senior official said on Saturday, March 15 without giving specifics as to the nature of the attempted disruption or its suspected initiator. Asghar Zarean, who heads security at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said domestic intelligence agencies were instrumental in uncovering the plot, which has not been the first attempt to disrupt the contentious nuclear programme.
“Several cases of industrial sabotage have been neutralized in the past few months before achieving the intended damage, including sabotage at a part of the IR-40 facility at Arak,” he said in a statement issued by his organisation on Saturday.
In the past, computer viruses have attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. While Zarean did not say whether that was the case this time, his comments coincided with the opening of a specialized lab Tehran says will fight industrial sabotage and neutralise cyberattacks. This specialized lab has been launched to identify, prevent and fight threats including modern software viruses,” Zarean said. In 2010, the so-called Stuxnet virus temporarily disrupted operation of thousands of centrifuges, key components in nuclear fuel production, at Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
Iran says it and other computer virus attacks are part of a concerted effort by Israel, the US and their allies to undermine its nuclear program through covert operations. Some Iranian officials have also suggested in the past that specific European companies may have sold faulty equipment to Iran with the knowledge of American intelligence agencies and their own governments, since the sales would have harmed, rather than helped, the country’s nuclear program.
Since then, Iran has also said that it discovered tiny timed explosives planted on centrifuges but disabled them before they could go off. Authorities now claim the Islamic Republic is immune to cyber attacks.
Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for 9/11 on the night of the attack, claims his son-in-law Suleiman Abu Ghaith during his trial
Slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for masterminding September 11, 2001 (also known as 9/11) attacks on the night of the incident, his son-in-law Suleiman Abu Ghaith (48) said on March 19 as he testified at his federal trial in New York city on terror charges, reports Dawn. Abu Ghaith, who married bin Laden’s daughter Fatima, recounted a meeting with Laden in an Afghanistan cave complex on the night of September 11, 2001. “Did you learn what happened? We are the ones who did it,” Bin Laden declared, according to Abu Ghaith.
Abu Ghaith also denied trying to recruit people for al Qaeda, as prosecutors have alleged. “There is no one recruiting, but Osama Bin Laden. My intention was not recruiting anyone,” he said. And, asked by his lawyer if he ever wanted to kill Americans, he responded “No.” “My intention was to deliver a message I believed in,” he said.
Syrian army kills 93 rebels
A Syrian army commander who led the assault on rebels held up in a famed Crusader castle says his men killed 93 of the opposition fighters as they fled to neighboring Lebanon.
The commander said Friday, March 21 that the slain rebels were part of a group of 300 who government troops ousted the day before from Crac des Chevaliers, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Syria. He did not say how many were killed in the several hours of fighting it took to take the castle.
Russian media rejects US claims on civilian deaths in drone attacks
Number of civilian’s deaths from US drone attacks in Pakistan is far bigger than Washington admits, Russian media said on March 23, reports The News. In a documentary on US drones, the Russian media said over 3000 people half of them civilians have been killed in 350 aerial strikes in Pakistan. The Russian media called US term ‘Signature Strikes’ as worrying since in this procedure suspects are killed in US drone attacks without any substantial evidence. They said the US drone attacks are tantamount to war crimes and sheer violation of international laws.
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 2 | ** |
| Upper Balochistan | Level 3 | *** |
| Lower Balochistan | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper / Rural Sindh | Level 2 | ** |
| 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.
