Special Emphasis on Terrorism (June-2014)

Terrorist Activities in Pakistan

Suicide Attacks
Five persons, including two Pakistan Army Officers, were killed and two soldiers sustained injuries when a suicide bomber targeted an Army vehicle at the Qutbal railway crossing near Fateh jang, some 28 kilometers from Tarnol, in Rawalpindi District of Punjab on June 4, reports The News. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa in a message said two military officers, Colonel Zahir Shah and Colonel Arshad and three civilians were killed when a suicide bomber hit their twin cabin vehicle. The Army officers were killed on the spot, while a driver and gunman were critically injured. A rickshaw driver identified as Mohammad Aslam and two unidentified passengers were also killed on the spot. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. The TTP ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid said the attack was the reaction to the killing of imprisoned TTP militants. He said a week before, seven TTP cadres were killed in Karachi.

Four soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries when Afghanistan-based militants carried out suicide attack targeting Security Forces’ (SFs) check posts on Manro Zangal and Makha Top in the Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on June 4, reports The News. The sources said the militants attacked the check posts in Monroe Zangal and Makha Top with heavy weaponry at 4am. “Two soldiers were killed and three others sustained injuries in the attack in Monroe Zangal while two soldiers were killed and another sustained injuries in an attack on a checkpost in Makha Top,” an official said. Official sources claimed several militants were killed in the retaliatory fire by the soldiers manning the check posts. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.

A suicide attack targeting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 11 killed at least five persons and injured 14 others in the Arbab Niaz Stadium of Peshawar, reports Daily Times. The bomber was believed to have been targeting a group of refugees from Tirah Valley who had gone to a government-run camp in the Arbab Niaz Stadium to fill out paperwork ahead of their journey home. The suicide bomber first opened fire at the Police guarding the registration point for the IDPs from Tirah Valley before blowing himself up. “It was a suicide attack,” Police official Najeebur Rehman said adding that around 10 kilograms of explosives were used. Senior Police official Faisal Mukhtar said the bomber blew himself up near a small mosque inside the stadium and the dead included one Khasadar (Tribal Policeman) personnel. The blast caused one of mosque’s walls to fall down.

Separately, at least four persons were injured in an explosion in Kohati Gate area of Peshawar on May 11, reports Dawn. According to Superintendent of Police (SP)-City Faisal Mukhtar, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded outside the house of a local trader.

Bomb/IED Blasts
One Frontier Corps (FC) official was killed and another was injured in a bomb explosion in the Dhadar area of Bolan District on May 3, reports Dawn. Khan Wasey, a spokesman for the FC, said that a Security Forces’ (SFs) vehicle was on routine patrolling when it was attacked. Though no outfit claimed responsibility for the attack, Wasey said he suspected that the attack was the work of Baloch separatists operating in the area.

At least four persons, including a child, were injured in an explosion at Mina Bazar in Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on May 7, reports Dawn. The Bomb Disposal Squad, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Shafqat Malik said that three hundred grams of explosives was used in a timer device. The Station House Officer of Kotwali Police Station Ihsan Marwat said the bomb was planted to target a cold drinks shop.

At least two people were killed and 16 others were injured in an explosion near a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office on Double Road in Quetta on May 8, reports The News. So far, no outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

Separately, two children were injured when they touched a bomb planted on a roadside in Muslim Ittehad Colony area of Quetta on May 8, reports Dawn.

At least four people were injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Goth Muhammad Usman area of Jaffarabad District on May 9. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

Separately, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) on May 9 defused two hand grenades in Muslim Ittehad Colony of Quetta, reported The News.

At least 19 persons, including Police personnel, were injured in a hand-held bomb blast targeting a Police checkpost at Chakar Khan Road area in Khuzdar District on May 11, reports Dawn. “The militants sped away on their motorcycle after the attack,” said Police Official Majeed Marri. No outfit claimed responsibility for the blast. However, Police suspected that Baloch separatists could be behind the attack.

A roadside bomb killed one paramilitary trooper and injured four others in the Kitkoot area of Bajaur Agency on May 11, reports Dawn. The officials said the vehicle used by the paramilitary troops was on a routine patrol when hit by the blast.

In addition, at least four security personnel were injured in a remote controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on a Security Forces vehicle near Khajuri checkpost on Mir Ali Road in North Waziristan Agency on May 12. Official sources confirmed that the vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled bomb injuring four personnel.

At least eight persons, including three Policemen were injured, when a bomb strapped on to a motorcycle exploded in Mandan Chowk area of Bannu town (Bannu District) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on May 16. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-Headquarters Sanaullah Khan said that the incident occurred while a City Police van was patrolling on Railway Road and when it reached the main square, Mandan Chowk, one of the Policemen spotted a motorbike suspiciously parked in a corner. DSP Khan said they went to check on the motorcycle and just then the bomb went off, leaving eight people injured.

Targeted Killings
A Police Constable, Siraj Gul, was killed while another constable, Akhtar Ali, injured when unidentified militant attacked them near Bakhshi Pul area under the jurisdiction of Khazana Police Station in Peshawar, the provincial capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on April 27, reports Dawn. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)-Operations, Najibur Rehman said that both Policemen were fired upon while eating out near Bakhshi Pul area. Rehman lamented that Police personnel are deployed at spots where they can become easy target of the terrorists due to lack of protective gear including helmet and bullet-proof jackets.

Three seminary students were killed and nine others were injured in a hand grenade attack that occurred inside the Jamia Masjid-wa-Madrassa Islamia Tahiria seminary located in Frontier Colony of Orangi Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on April 28. Police said that the bomb was not hurled from outside but was in someone’s possession inside the seminary. According to details, a student, identified as Salman (11), had brought grenade inside the classroom in a paper bag. The grenade exploded while he was playing with it, killing him and two other classmates, identified as Omar Khan (12) and Zahid Zada, (14).

Separately, two gangsters, identified as Bilal and Sajjad, were killed during an exchange of fire between the Rangers and criminals in Lyari Town on April 28, reported The News.

Four unidentified dead bodies were found from Memon Goth area in Gadap Town of Karachi on April 30, reports Dawn. According to the Police, the victims had been shot dead.

Separately, an unidentified dead body bearing torture marks was also recovered from Zaman Town area of Korangi Town on April 30, reports Dawn.

Elsewhere, an unidentified man was killed in a firing incident in Data Nagar of Orangi Town on April 30, reported Dawn. In another incident, an unidentified Policeman was shot dead near Sindh Government Hospital in Korangi Town on April 30, reports Dawn.

An influential pro-Government tribal elder, Malik Qader Khan, and his two guards were killed in an attack near Miranshah in North Waziristan Agency on May 1, reports Dawn. Officials said one of the attackers was also killed in retaliatory fire by Qader Khan’s gunmen. Officials said Qader Khan was travelling from Miranshah to Bannu when assailants in a non-customs paid car opened fire on his vehicle at the Chashma Bridge on the main Miranshah-Bannu road. Qader Khan was going to his village when he came under attack. Malik Qader Khan was known as chief of Waziristan and he had served as a peace committee’s member. He was one of the signatories to a peace agreement between the Government and local Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in 2007.

Three people, identified as Haqdar Khan Niazi, Sultan Khan Niazi and Yousuf Khan Niazi, were killed in a clash between two groups, following a protest call by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against extra-judicial killings of its party members, at Dariyabad area of Lyari Town in Karachi on May 2, reports Daily Times. Fear and tension gripped the area after the clash.

Separately, two unidentified dead bodies were found within the jurisdiction of the Mauripur Police Station in Musharraf Colony area of Baldia Town on May 2, reported Daily Times.

Two people, including a school principal and his son, were killed in firing near Metroville SITE graveyard in SITE Town of Karachi on May 3, reports Daily Times.

An unidentified man was shot dead near Anda Mor in North Karachi in New Karachi Town on May 3, reports Daily Times.

Further, an alleged extortionist was killed in a Police encounter in Baldia Town on May 3, reports Daily Times.

Meanwhile, Police claimed to have arrested 15 suspects, including six criminals, during raids in Badia Town and Orangi Town on May 3, reports Daily Times.

Also, Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) personnel along with Police arrested two extortionists in Gizri area of Saddar Town after receiving information of the criminals present in the area on May 3, reports Daily Times. CPLC Chief Ahmad Chinoy said the extortionists had demanded PKR 1 million from a person living in Gizri area.

In addition, Rangers arrested at least 10 suspects involved in extortion and other crimes from different areas of Karachi on May 4, reports Daily Times. According to the Rangers’ spokesman, three of the arrestees belong to a political party.

A retired army officer, identified as Rasool Khan, was shot dead by unidentified militants at Kawari Colony in Manghopir area of Gadap Town in Karachi on May 5, reported Daily Times.

Separately, unidentified armed assailants opened fire and killed a man in Liaquatabad Town on May 5, reports Daily Times.

Elsewhere, a dead body, identified as that of Gujjar Khan, was found at City Railway Station Colony within the limits of Mithadar Police Station in Saddar Town on May 5, reported Daily Times.

Human Rights Advocate Rashid Rehman Khan was shot dead and his two lawyer friends, identified as Nadeem Parwaz and Afzal, were injured by unidentified militants inside his office at Kachehri Chowk in Multan District on May 7, reports Dawn. Advocate Khan was a coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). He was defending a Bahauddin Zakariya University lecturer Junaid Hafeez, accused of blasphemy and had complained that he had been receiving threats on his life.

A Frontier Corps (FC) official was killed and three others were wounded when militants fired rocket propelled grenades and opened fire at their convoy in the Sunt Sar area of Gwadar District on May 7. The militants escaped after a brief exchange of fire. “The Baloch militants belonged to the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF),” said an unnamed security official in Gwadar.

A pro-Government peace committee, Tauheedul Islam (TI) shot dead one of its opponents on May 10 over suspicions that he was a spy in Landi Kotal tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 11, reports Dawn. According to sources, volunteers of the TI group kidnapped Miraj and Waris a few days ago on suspicion of their involvement in two explosions and secretly working for Lashkar-e-Islam (LI). The sources said that Waris was shot dead after he ‘confessed to his crimes’. The fate of Miraj was not known, but according to the sources, a shura of TI had ordered his killing too.

Two Shia workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), identified as Gauhar Ali Abidi and Syed Rizwan, were shot dead in North Karachi Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on May 12, reports The Express Tribune. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Altaf Hussain said both men were Shia and suspect it was a targeted attack.

Separately, a Shia Pakistan Navy officer, identified as Ghulam Akbar, was shot dead near Karsaz Market in Shahrah-e-Faisal area of Shah Faisal Town on May 12, reports Dawn. Akbar belonged to Jhang District of Punjab and was working as a cook in the Pakistan Navy. Police sources said that the incident appeared to be sectarian motivated.

In another incident, a grocery shop owner, identified as Imran, was killed while two others, identified as Pervez and Afzal, were injured when unidentified armed assailants shot at them within the jurisdiction of the Al-Falah Police Station in Shah Faisal Town on May 12, reports The Express Tribune. They also set his shop on fire.

Doctor Manzoor Memon (45), the medico-legal officer (MLO) at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), and his driver, Ashiq (40), were shot dead in Delhi Colony area of Orangi Town in provincial capital Karachi on May 13, reports Dawn.

Separately, a Police constable was killed and 13 others, including Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Adam Ali Khushk sustained injuries in a sectarian clash between two groups within the limits of City Police Station in Hyderabad District on May 13, reported The News. Police said that two groups opened fire after quarrel during a procession, taken out in connection with birth anniversary of Shia Imam Hazrat Ali.

Meanwhile, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused 25 kilogram of bomb found at a bus-stop in Saeedabad area of Baldia Town in Karachi on May 13, reports Dawn. According to the Police, if the bomb exploded it would have caused massive destruction.

Bakht Rawan, a member of the reconciliation committee was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Kas Road in Mingora town of Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the evening of May 15, reports The Express Tribune. District Police Officer (DPO) Sher Akbar Khan said that Rawan was on returning home after visiting a market when two assailants riding a motorcycle shot at him.

Seven people were killed and one teenager was injured in separate incidents of violence in Karachi on May 17, reports Daily Times. Four unidentified men, aged 25, 35, 30 and 40, were killed when some armed men opened fire on them in Khamesa Goth, New Karachi. Separately, two unknown people, aged 20 and 25, were shot dead by unidentified armed men near Singo Lane in Lyari. Meanwhile, a four-day-old mutilated body of a man, Ijaz (30) was found near Filter Plant in Steel Mill area. In another incident, a teenager identified as Rashid (17) was injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him near Siddiqui Autos in Hijrat Colony.

An unidentified man was shot dead in an incident of firing in Hussainabad area of Federal B Area of Gulberg Town in Karachi on May 18, reports Daily Times.

Separately, a dead body, identified as that of Roshan Marri (14), was found from Birohi Goth within the limits of Manghopir Police Station in Gadap Town on May 18, reports Daily Times.

Elsewhere, another bullet-riddled unidentified dead body of man was found near a graveyard at Qaddafi Town in Landhi Town on May 18, reports Daily Times. According to the Police, the man was first kidnapped and later shot dead.

Two Shia men, identified as Shaukat Sherazi (45) and Qaiser Hussain (50) were killed when unknown armed assailants opened fire on them at Mithadar near Sherazia Imambargah (Shia place of commemoration) in Saddar Town of Karachi on May 19, reports Daily Times. Superintendent of Police (SP) City Sheraz Nazir said that Shaukat Sherazi was the caretaker of the Imambargah and also a member of Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan (JAP) South Wing. Qaisar was Sherazi’s guest.

Another Shia man, identified as Mohsin Agha (50), was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants near Dak khana bus stop in Liaquatabad Town on May 19, reports Daily Times.

Separately, a man, identified as Farhan Afzal (40), was shot dead by unidentified militants at Mianwali Colony within the limits of Manghopir Police Station in Gadap Town on May 19, reports Daily Times.

In another incident, unidentified armed militants shot dead an unidentified teenager boy near Baradari in North Karachi Town on May 19, reports Daily Times.

Two persons, identified as Mohammad Ali (35), and Aleemuddin (38), were shot dead in a sectarian attack in Hasan Noman Colony of Sohrab Goth area in Gadap Town of Karachi on May 20, reports The Express Tribune. Ali was the activist of Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jama’at (ASWJ) while Aleemuddin was the supporter. ASWJ ‘spokesperson’ Umar Mauviya confirmed their affiliation.

Separately, two cadres of Sunni Tehreek (ST), identified as Amanul Haq and Aminul Haq, were shot dead on sectarian grounds in Orangi Town on May 20, reports The Express Tribune.

In another incident, a Shia man, identified as Syed Hassan Zaidi, was shot dead when unidentified militants opened fire at his car in Korangi Town on May 20, reports Daily Times.

Elsewhere, an unidentified dead body of a man was found from Surjani Town in Gadap Town on May 20, reports The Express Tribune.

In a separate incident, an unidentified woman was killed amid firing in Bihar Colony of Lyari Town on May 20, reports The Express Tribune.

Another passer-by was killed during a shoot-out between rival Lyari gangsters in Lyari Town on May 20, reports The Express Tribune.

Also, an unidentified man was injured when he was hit by a stray bullet at his home near Gole Market in North Nazimabad Town on May 20, reports Daily Times.

Miscellaneous
At least three soldiers were killed and three others sustained injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion near an unspecified area along North and South Waziristan Agency border in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on April 27. “At least three security forces personnel, including an officer embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and three others sustained critical injuries after an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists along the road went off,” the military said in a statement.

Meanwhile, on April 27, one Tawheed ul Islam (TuI) peace committee member was killed and three others were injured in a bomb blast in Zakha Khel area of Landi Kotal tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency, reports Dawn. Official sources say that the vehicle of TuI peace committee activists was targeted in Zakha Khel area destroying the vehicle completely. The peace committee holds Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) militant group responsible for the attack.

Separately, six persons were injured when a NATO container was attacked by unidentified militants on the Pak-Afghan Highway in the Khyber Agency on April 28 (today), reports Dawn. The two nearby vehicles were also damaged as a result of the incident.

A key ‘commander’ of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Hakimullah alias Matti, was killed during an encounter in the Kulachi area of Peshawar on April 27, reports Pakistan Today. Sources said Hakimullah was one of the masterminds behind the Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak of July 30, 2014. Acting District Police Officer Sadiq Baloch said that the house of Hakimullah in Rohri village of Kulachi tehsil (revenue unit) was raided on a tip-off. Baloch said Matti opened fire on the Police, injuring an Elite Force official. The encounter, Baloch said, was continued for 30 minutes.

Separately, one person was killed and two others were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at a house in Daudzai area Peshawar on April 27, reports Dawn.

Further, militants threw explosive material in front of the house of a Communication and Work Department (C&W) official in Peshawar on April 27, reports Dawn. The bomb disposal squad said that 500 grams of explosives material was used in the blast, which damaged the house.

In addition, militants fired two rockets from an area near the airport in Peshawar which exploded within the airport limits on April 27, reports Dawn. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident.

Further, Security Forces on April 27 recovered two plastic canisters, containing 30 kilograms of explosives each, and a suicide vests near Wadpaga Police checkpost in Shapur area of in Chamkani area Peshawar, reports Dawn.

Three militants were killed and two Frontier Corps (FC) officials injured in an encounter in Khujal Khel area of Landi Kotal tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on April 29. A Security Forces (SFs) official said that after receiving intelligence reports, an operation was carried out around midnight in Khujal Khel when SFs came under fire. A cache of explosives was also recovered from the militants’ hideout. According to the official, the slain militants were wanted for the attack in April, 2014 on the Landikotal cantonment.

Meanwhile, Army helicopters and artillery attacked militants’ hideouts in the Bobar area of South Waziristan Agency on April 28, reports Dawn. According to sources, three helicopters carried out the attack on the hideouts from 3 pm to 4 pm. However, SFs did not confirm the attack till late April 28-midnight. Sources said SFs also used artillery to shell the area from Mir Ali and Sara Rogha camps at 6 pm. No casualty was reported from the remote area where the media has no access. Tribal people said several hideouts had been destroyed by the shelling.

Frontier Corps (FC) personnel on May 5 claimed to have killed at least 10 militants during an operation in Panjgur District on May 5, reported Dawn. Tree FC soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire. FC spokesman, Khan Wasey confirmed the incident. Khan said that the FC also destroyed three suspected militant hideouts and two vehicles. He said the forces initially faced resistance from the militants who were hiding in the mountains adding that the exchange of fire between the Security Forces and militants continued for more than two hours.

The News adds that the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). According to details, the operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation-Azad (BSO-A), went on a hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group’s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

Two people, including the driver, identified as Tariq, and the cleaner Rehman Ali, of a NATO truck carrying goods for the NATO forces in Afghanistan were killed and two others were injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on the vehicles near Wazir Dhand area in Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 5, reports The News. There were reports that two truckers were also missing after the attack and were feared to have been kidnapped by the militants.

Ten (10) militants were killed while at least 50 suspects were taken into custody on June 4 when Security Forces (SFs) launched an operation in Jani Bheeri village of Kashmore District in Sindh to arrest the militants who had killed two Rangers and wounded seven others, including a Rangers Colonel, near the Bhittai Colony Road in the limits of the Tangwani Police Station in Kandhkot town on June 3, reports The News.

Meanwhile, Police rescued five abducted persons from Shikarpur town (Shikarpur District) on June 4, reports The News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shikarpur, Javed Sonharo Jiskani said Police after a successful raid recovered Farman Leghari, Bilawal, Ramzan Kakepoto, Noor Muhammad Mahar and Waheed Leghari. Four of the victims had been kidnapped from Ghotki District by unidentified persons while one of them was abducted from the limits of Hyderabad 20 days ago.

Frontier Corps (FC) personnel on May 5 at least 10 militants during an operation in Panjgur District on May 5, reported Dawn. Tree FC soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire. FC spokesman, Khan Wasey confirmed the incident. Khan said that the FC also destroyed three suspected militant hideouts and two vehicles. He said the forces initially faced resistance from the militants who were hiding in the mountains adding that the exchange of fire between the Security Forces and militants continued for more than two hours. “The dead militants belong to a banned Baloch militant group”, he said.

The News adds that the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). According to details, the operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation-Azad (BSO-A), went on a hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group’s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

At least 13 militants were killed as infighting between rival Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan groups restarted in Shawal tehsil (revenue unit) of North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 6, reported Dawn. Official and tribal sources confirmed that clashes started between Shehryar Mehsud and Khan Said alias Sajna. According to official sources, the infighting between the two groups has claimed more than 50 lives during the last few weeks. Sources said that the death toll is likely to rise.

According to details, the rival factions have accused each other of grabbing power in order to control South Waziristan’s Mehsud tribal area. Sajna had been considered the right hand man of Waliur Rehman, whereas Shehryar was a confidant of Hakimullah Mehsud. Their slain leaders were reportedly at loggerheads after the death of TTP founder Baitullah Mehsud.

Two militants belonging to TTP Punjab chapter were killed and one person was injured when a bomb exploded in Miranshah bazaar of North Waziristan Agency on My 6, reports Dawn. Intelligence sources confirmed the identity of the victims.

Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police on May 19 intercepted a truck carrying a stockpile of weapons and ammunition during a raid in Jungle Pir Alizai area of Qila Abdullah District, reports The Express Tribune. The security personnel impounded the truck and seized its illicit cargo. According to the FC, Police and Security Forces in a joint search operation recovered 100 SMGs, three G-3 pistols, 136 single-barrel shot guns and one Kalashnikov, telescopes, and thousands of bullets.

The FC Balochistan said that credible intelligence has led them to conclude that Afghan intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS) is supporting miscreants in Balochistan. “After receiving information from the Intelligence Fusion Cell that a huge quantity of arms and ammunitions are being smuggled to Balochistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the FC and Police carried out successful raids near bordering areas,” Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said. Mir Sarfaraz Bugti further alleged that neighbouring countries, including India and Afghanistan, were trying to carry out terror activities to weaken Pakistan, reports Dawn. He further claimed that Afghan Intelligence Agencies had set up at least 34 insurgent camps in this regard.

At least 60 militants including foreign fighters were killed when Air Force warplanes bombarded militant hideouts in Mir Ali and other areas of North Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the early hours of May 21, reports The News.

As many as eight officials of Balochistan Levies were killed and three others injured as unidentified assailants attacked Jauhar check-post along Quetta-Karachi Highway in Wadh tehsil (revenue unit) of Khuzdar District in Balochistan on May 25, reports Daily Times. According to Wadh assistant commissioner, unidentified armed assailants attacked with heavy weapons the Jauhar post of Levies in the area, leaving eight officials killed and three injured. The assailants escaped after the attack

Pakistan

Dialogue and violence cannot go hand in hand, Nawaz Sharif
During a meeting of Government functionaries and Army high command, including Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam, in Islamabad on April 28 Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that dialogue and violence cannot go hand in hand, reports Daily Times. The meeting expressed the resolve to continue with dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan with a “concise agenda” under “well-defined parameters”. The meeting, however, cautioned at the same time that talks without an effective ceasefire and immediate end to violent activities would not achieve any tangible result.

Nawaz Sharif lauded the role and efforts of the ISI in protecting the country and ensuring its defence. An official at the Interior Ministry revealed that the Prime Minister said that the Government was determined to carry on talks with the Taliban, but any violent activity would be paid in the same coin and that the talks without a ceasefire would not be possible. “Dialogue and violence cannot go hand in hand,” the Prime Minister said.

According to official sources, the Federal Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said, “It is high time to make talks with the TTP successful.” There was consensus among the participants of the meeting that the dialogue process with the Taliban should have a concise agenda and dialogue should take place under well-defined parameters. However, serious apprehensions were expressed over recent incidents of terrorism, and commitment to take effective action against the perpetrators of these attacks was reiterated.

Fearing military operation

TTP militants shifting to Afghan border areas, claim unnamed TTP sources
According to unnamed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan sources, many TTP militants, fearing that a military offensive will finally be launched, have vacated the areas surrounding Mir Ali and Miranshah towns of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and shifted towards the border with Afghanistan and into the Afghan Provinces where anti-Pakistan elements are strong, reports Daily Times.

“Around 6,000 militants, including locals, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Chechen and Turkmens, shifted towards the border with Afghanistan and into the Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Nuristan and Kunar,” sources said, adding that nearly 400 fighters have left for jihad in Syria. “While focusing on shifting to safe havens on the border and beyond, the Taliban fighters have also restricted their movement in main towns of NWA. About 4,000 militants, most of them locals, still reside in Mir Ali and Miranshah towns and its suburbs,” sources revealed.

The unnamed sources also said that expectations of the militant leaders of talks succeeding are too low. Although the ‘commanders’ of the TTP have not formally refused to call off the dialogue, but they are convinced that it would lead nowhere, and finally a military operation will be imposed .n them, the sources said.

30 journalists killed as a direct consequence of their work since March 2008, reveals Amnesty Internal report
An Amnesty International report, titled ‘A bullet has been chosen for you: Attacks on journalists in Pakistan’, is being released on April 30 (today), revealing that at least 34 journalists have been killed as a direct consequence of their work since the democratically elected government was restored in March 2008.

It further states that the violence is not limited to killings, many more journalists have escaped assassination attempts or been threatened, harassed, abducted or tortured. The threat by the militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, spreads from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas. In those conflict-ridden regions as well as Balochistan, these groups and ethnic Baloch armed groups openly threaten reporters with death and attack them.

The report describes how the Pakistani authorities have almost completely failed to stem human rights abuses against media workers or to bring those responsible to account. “The government has promised to improve the dire situation for journalists, including by establishing a public prosecutor tasked with investigating attacks against journalists. But few concrete steps have been taken,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.

Griffiths added, “The range of threats means that journalists are placed in an impossible position, where virtually every story could put them at risk of reprisal from several sides. It also has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and is increasingly leading to self-censorship”.

British PM Cameron says Pakistan’s enemy is his foe
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron on April 30 described Pakistan’s enemy as his enemy and that Pakistan’s progress is in the interest of the world, reports The News. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is on a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom on the invitation of Prime Minister David Cameron had a meeting with his British counterpart here at 10 Downing Street and discussed matters of bilateral interest, the regional situation as well as other issues of international importance. David Cameron warmly welcomed Nawaz Sharif and reiterated UK’s all out support to Pakistan in its pursuit to strengthen economy and achieving socio economic development.

Seminaries operating in Islamabad
According to sources in civil and military intelligence agencies, seminaries operating inside the capital are reportedly assisting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan with the collection of extortion and ransom money by arranging deals between militants and their victims, Dawn reports on May 1. The sources also revealed that the seminaries are providing courier services to the TTP by arranging for the money to be transported to pre-determined locations easily accessible for TTP militants.

Intelligence officials said that an analysis of the calls made in cases of extortion and ransom demands revealed that most of them came from Miranshah in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). While citing instances the officials said that the role of the religious seminaries in collecting extortion for the TTP was established and action against them has been suggested. “It was decided to mount intelligence and vigilance around the victims and the religious seminaries which would help trace and arrest those who are behind the extortions.” The vigilance will spot them whenever they contact the victims for finalising the deal, they added. The officials further stated that the groups of TTP involved in generating funds through extortion and kidnapping-for- ransom, also stay at the seminaries and get assistance from there.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to set up combat unit similar to US Marines, says KP IGP Nasir Khan Durrani
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General Police (IGP), Nasir Khan Durrani said on May 1 that a specialised combat unit, based on the pattern of Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) and the US Marines, would be set up in the province by the end of 2014, reports Dawn. The Nasir Khan Durrani said that an elite Anti-Terrorist Force comprising 1,050 elite commandoes had been set up while the combat unit would be set up for anti-terror operations. He said that KP Police had proposed the recruitment of tribal youth in the Police force, at the lower and higher level, adding “it would help bring the tribal youth to the mainstream and help build confidence in them.”

Speaking about tracking down the terrorists and foreign elements, Durrani said the KP Government had legislated to track down illegal residents living in rented houses and hotels. He said the police was also assessing the establishment of fortress like pickets along the border to ward off militants. “About 150 of the militant operators arrested in the last six months have helped in tracing these terrorists groups,” he said, adding “in the last five years the Police have unearthed about 39 different militant groups who had been involved in the terrorist activities in the province.” He also said that the Police force have identified about nine militant groups which were involved in terrorist activities in the provincial capital city of Peshawar.

IED blast kills 9 FC personne
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded on May 8 killing at least nine Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and injuring several others near the Miranshah road in Ghulam Khan Tehsil (revenue unit) of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. The IED was planted on the roadside which was detonated as the Security Force (SF) convoy came near the Miranshah road. A statement issued by the Inter Services Public relations (ISPR) confirmed that at least nine SF personnel were killed and several others were critically injured.

Separately, a roadside bomb was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) in Khyber Agency on May 8, reports Dawn. According to the sources, the bomb was targeted at the polio team.

Meanwhile, within hours of the killing of nine FC soldiers, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif held a meeting to discuss the security situation, reports The Express Turbine. Officials said the Army Chief conveyed his decision to the PM about the likely response from the military. A senior military official said that the Army would respond to the provocation by militants as “terrorism and peace talks cannot go hand in hand…The attack is a clear act of provocation and is a serious blow to the peace process. This will have serious repercussions.” He added, “Naturally there will be a response from our side. We will go after those who are responsible for the terrorist attacks”. The Army is likely to launch ‘massive air strikes’ in the militant strongholds in retaliation for the roadside blast.

‘Talks or no talks, bloodshed has to stop’ says Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and COAS General Raheel Sharif unanimously
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on May 8 stressed that irrespective of whether peace talks are held or not, violence and bloodshed by militants must stop, reports Daily Times. General Sharif said that the recent attacks on the Security Forces are not likely to stop unless some hostile groups of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan are neutralised. Amid no let-up in the terror attacks, the military establishment has reportedly told Nawaz Sharif that the use of force against the miscreants has become unavoidable. “The policy of inaction costs us dearly,” said an intelligence insider while quoting the CoAS in the briefing to the Prime Minister, adding, “Soon, there would be a change (in policy), a visible one”.

The Prime Minister and the Army Chief shared unanimity in the view that the terrorists would not be allowed to keep striking with impunity. “Peace talks or no peace talks. Bloodshed has to stop,” the intelligence insider said while disclosing the meeting’s agenda. The source said that certain TTP factions were against the peace talks. “They need to be neutralised even if the peace talks are to be proceeded ahead,” the source said.

‘Militant wings of political parties present in Karachi’, says Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat
Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat on May 9 said that militant wings of political parties are present in Karachi, reports The News. He said that the Supreme Court had also mentioned involvement of political parties in terrorism.

KP police to put head money on TTP, LI leaders
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police recommended the Home and Tribal Affairs Department to put head money on key terrorist commanders, Central Asia Online reports on May 15. Nine known militant outfits are operating in the province, KP Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani told that investigators during the past six months have detected about 150 militants operating just in Peshawar. The Police recommended placing about 430 terrorists, including key Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Islam and other militant leaders who had been charged under the Anti-Terrorist Act on the head money list, he said. “The Police submitted the request about a month ago and are awaiting proper notification,” he said. Once the Home Department approves the list, authorities will disclose the names. “It will help in [their] trials, and the rate of conviction of militants will definitely increase,” he stated.

Private schools closed after threats from militant outfit in Balochistan
Due to threats and intimidation, all private educational institutions have remained closed for the past eight days in Panjgur District on May 15, reports Dawn. Earlier on May 7, 2014, the private schools were shut down in the aftermath of threats by a newly surfaced militant outfit Tanzeem-ul-Islami-ul-Furqan (TIF). It had threatened to target private educational institutions, especially the English Learning Centers imparting co-education in Panjgur. “For the first time, we have heard about this militant organisation,” a Police Officer said on condition of anonymity.

Haji Islam Baloch, a legislator from the ruling National Party, said that under a pre-planned conspiracy, children of Panjgur were being deprived of education. “They are destroying the future of our young generation,” Baloch lamented during the session of the Balochistan Assembly on May 14 2014. An office bearer of the Panjgur Private Schools Association said, “We strongly condemn fanaticism and stand for a tolerant society.” There were protesters who demanded that the Government provide security for male and female students studying in educational institutions.

Over 360 suspects shot dead by LEAs n eight months of Operation in Karachi, reveal figures released by Karachi Police
According to the figures released by the Karachi Police on May 15 to share their ‘performance’ from September 5, 2013 to May 5, 2014, at least 360 suspects have been killed by the Law-Enforcement Agencies (LEA) during the operation in Karachi since September 5, 2013, reports Dawn. It stated that at least 60 Policemen were killed in the line of duty. They were mostly targeted when they were on patrol though a few were killed in encounters with militants, bandits, gangsters and other criminals. The figures showed a total of 1,277 ‘encounters’ leading to the arrest of some 1,000 ‘heinous crime’ suspects and killing of 253 others. Suspects shot dead by paramilitary Rangers numbered 115. The suspects were wanted in ‘heinous crimes’ from murders to ‘terrorism acts’ and kidnapping-for ransom-to extortion.

“The situation describes police strategy,” said the Spokesman for the Karachi Police when asked about the reasons behind an unprecedented surge in deadly encounters which left 253 suspects dead. “The current leadership of the Karachi and Sindh Police has focused more on training and capacity building of the serving Policemen, considering the challenges and ongoing targeted operation, which has resulted in better firing skills and much better reaction time of our Policemen challenging the criminals,” he said. “There is no shoot-at-sight order. The number of killings in encounters rose only because criminals face much stronger and quicker reaction from the Police party whenever they challenge it. The encounters were also held in the past but a sluggish response from the police party helped suspects to escape unhurt,” he added.

While the Police ‘performance’ has brought down the number of killings on sectarian, ethnic and political grounds to a large extent, it has raised questions about the growing number of deadly encounters drawing criticism from human rights activists. Zohra Yusuf of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that such a high figure of killings in ‘encounters’ acknowledged by the LEAs was highly alarming. The killings also confirmed our worst fears over the Karachi operation, she said.

REGIONAL

Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics

ICS leader killed
A leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was killed and seven other cadres were injured during a Police raid at a house in Satkhira town of Satkhira District on April 27, reports The Daily Star. The deceased is Aminur Rahman (30), town unit ‘president’ of ICS. Police raided a house near Kamal nagar graveyard while 50-60 ICS cadres were holding a meeting to carry out violence. Two firearms and a bullet were recovered from the house.

Jel activist killed in Satkhira district
A Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) activist, Sirajul Islam was killed in a Police raid at Keortola in Debhata sub-District of Satkhira District on April 29, reports Daily Star. Two Police Constables were also injured in the gunfight. Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin of Debhata Police said they had raided Keortola following information that JeI-ICS cadres led by Sirajul were holding a secret meeting to carry out subversive activities. As Police reached the spot, the cadres started hurling hand-made bombs on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate by opening fire, Jalal claimed. Sirajul was wanted in three murder cases, including one for the murder of ruling Awami League leader Abu Raihan.

Meanwhile, JeI District unit on April 29 enforced a-dawn-to-dusk hartal (shut down) in Satkhira protesting against the Police raid.

Separately, ICS general secretary of Jessore western division, Ruhul Amin and Abul Kashem, president of Benapole municipality unit, were injured in a gunfight with Police at Sikri village of Jessore District on April 29. Apurba Hasan, officer-in-charge of Benapole Port Police, said they had conducted a drive at Mahishdanga village and arrested Ruhul and Kashem at midnight. He claimed a Police van carrying the two had come under attack of ICS cadres at Shikri Battola. As the force returned the fire, a ‘gunfight’ ensued, leaving Ruhul and Kashem injured.

Arms and ammunition recovered from Dhaka
Police on April 29 found a bag with an AK-22 rifle, two magazines seven bullets, 10 detonators and 10 packets of powerful explosive materials in Dhaka city’s Kamalapur Railway Station, reports Daily Star. The bag was left on a pile of slippers at the station, said Abdul Mazid, Officer-in-Charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station. An identity card was found in the bag, which belonged to Shamim alias Abdullah arrested the day before along with Nurul Islam after a similar bag was recovered from their overhead luggage rack in a Dhaka-bound train from Chittagong. Abdul said he suspected there was a connection between the two bags recovered in the two consecutive days. Meanwhile, a Dhaka court granted Police 10 days’ remand of the arrestees.

Meanwhile, Jhenidah Police on April 29 found five cocktail bombs at a place near the Tennis Club in Jhenidah town, reports The Independent. Sub-Inspector of Jhenidah Police Station Uzzal Maitra said that acting on a tip-off, a contingent of Police raided the area and seized the cocktails. None was arrested in this connection as the criminals fled the spot sensing the presence of Police. However, a case was filed with Jhenaidah Police Station in this connection.

20 suspected terrorists arrested in Bhola
Police arrested 20 suspected militants from Bapta Pilot area in Sadar sub-District of Bhola District on April 29, reports The Independent. Police said acting on a tip-off, they arrested the members of ‘Kalema Dawat’ for their suspicious movement in the area. Six of the arrestees were identified as Abdul Baki, Maulana Akram Hossain, Abdus Salam, Abdur Razzaq, Masum Hawaldar and Mohammad Belal. They hail from different Districts including Bhola, Sirajganj and Noakhali. The arrestees said they are followers of ‘Kalema Dawat’ ‘chief’ Majid Professor. Bhola sadar circle Superintendent of Police Ramananda Majumder said they have been arrested for their suspicious movement.

Search drives cause more arms and ammunition recovery in Habiganj District
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on June 4 found two more bunkers at Satchari National Park in Chunarughat sub-District of Habiganj District, reports Daily Star. The cache included 38 rocket shells, four machine guns, 95 rocket chargers, 1,300 ammos of machine guns and over 13,000 bullets of different guns. No one was arrested this time either.

Altogether nine bunkers have been discovered in the reserve forest in a joint drive carried out by members of the RAB headquarters and RAB-9 with the help of a dog squad and a bomb disposal unit. “We could not ascertain who had kept the arms and ammos [in the bunkers] and the manufacturing country,” according to investigation officer.

Cadres of PBCP-Jana juddho and GMF trying to regroup in Kushtia and Chuadanga District, says Police
The operatives of outlawed Purbo Bangla Communist party (PBCP-Jana juddho) and Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) are trying to regroup in Kushtia and Chuadanga Districts, Police sources revealed, Daily Star reports on June 5. Police conducted drives in different areas of the two Districts on May 29-30 and arrested so far arrested five cadres of the two banned outfits. Of them, three were arrested in Kushtia while the rest in Chuadanga.“Some members of the outlawed parties reappeared in few areas of the districts to regroup their cadres,” said Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, Superintendent of Police (SP) in Kushtia. Law enforcers will foil any such attempt of the outlaws, Ahmed added.

Jel Leader killed in shootout
A leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was killed in a shootout with Police in Satkhira District on May 7, reports The Daily Star. The deceased identified as Ashraf ul Islam was the JeI secretary of Kushalia union in the Kaliganj sub-District. As the Police team reached there, the criminals opened fire and hurled several crude bombs targeting the law enforcers forcing them to retaliate by firing. Five Policemen were also sustained minor injuries during the gunfight.

PBCP cadre arrested in Chuadanga
Police arrested a leader of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan from Sultanpur village in Damurhuda sub-District of Chuadanga District on May 8, reports The Independent.

RAB is being used as hired killers for committing murders and enforced disappearances, says BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on May 11 called for disbanding the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as it was now being used as ‘hired killers’ for committing ‘murders’ and ‘enforced disappearances’, reports New Age. She made the demand while talking to journalists after visiting the family of BNP’s missing activist, Sajedul Islam Sumon, at his house in Dhaka city. She further said that there was no need to keep RAB for killing people. There is Police in the country and the Police should be well trained to tackle law and order and the RAB should be disbanded.

India – Internal Dynamics

Two civilians killed by Maoists in Odisha
Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed two civilians in Mathili of Malkangiri District on April 27, reports orissadiary.com. About 20 Maoists barged into Kopara and Udayagiri villages under Mathili Police Station limits and killed the two villagers. The bodies of these two deceased were found on the outskirts of their villages on April 28.

Maoists kill police trooper in Maharashtra
The Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres axed a Police trooper, identified as Lalsu Pungati and then shot him dead from close range in a weekly market in Gyrapatti village in Korchi tehsil (revenue unit) of Gadchiroli District on April 27, reports The Times of India. The Maoist then fled with the weapon of the trooper. Pungati was on a routine patrol in the market with other Police personnel. The Maoists suddenly attacked Pungati with an axe while he was away from his companions. They heaved two blows on his neck from behind and then struck again on his ribs. As Pungati fell down, they shot eight bullets from close range to kill him.

One killed, 2 injured in Chennai railway station blast
One passenger, identified as Swathi died and nine others were injured in a bomb blast in the Guwahati-Bangalore Express train stationed at the Chennai Central Station on May 1 reports The Times of India. The blast took place at around 7.30 am. Police said it was a terror attack while the train was at platform no 9. Investigators who visited the spot said it appeared to have been two explosions, below seat number 70 of S4 compartment and seat number 30 of S5 compartment.

Witnesses told Police the bomb exploded with a huge noise. On information, Railway Protection Force personnel and Government Railway Police rushed the injured to the nearby Government General Hospital (GGH). Police personnel cordoned off the platform and called on for the experts to collect the samples of debris from the train. The other passengers were evacuated from the train safely. “The matter is still under investigation. The cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained.

10 persons killed by NDFB-IKS militants in two separate incidents of violence in Assam
The Hindu reports that seven people, including two children and four women, were killed in an attack by suspected IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland militants in Balaparajan Village-1 under Goreswar Police Station in Kokrajhar District under Bodoland Territorial Administrative District (BTAD) of Assam on May 2. A group of heavily armed extremists swooped down on two houses in the village at around 1 am and opened indiscriminate fire, killing seven persons on the spot. Two persons were seriously injured.

Also, in the night of May 1, another group of NDFB-IKS militants in Baksa District of BTAD shot dead three persons, including two women, and injured an infant. According to Police sources, a group of the extremists entered the house of the family near Ananda Bazar area in the night and opened indiscriminate fire, killing the three. The assailants fled after committing the crime.

Meanwhile, militants attacked Dhananjoy Nath, District correspondent of a Guwahati-based Assamese daily Dainik Janasadharan in Kokrajhar District, reports The Hindu on May 2. Superintendent of Police Kokrajhar District stated that this could be a case of extortion as the victim owned a shop and the attack was a bid to extort money from him.

Death toll rises to 32 as more bodies recovered in BTAD area of Assam
The Hindu reports that nine more bodies were recovered from a village in Baksa District in the morning of May 3 (today), taking the toll to 32 in the violence unleashed by IK Songbijit faction of National democratic Front of Bodoland militants in Bodoland Territorial Administration Districts (BTAD) area in Assam. The bodies of the victims, including four children and two women, were recovered from Khagrabari village under Salbari sub-division adjacent to the Manas National Park, official sources said. Bodies of two children were identified as Ilina Khatun and Ariful Islam. Besides Chirang and parts of Dhubri Districts, indefinite curfew has also been imposed in Kokrajhar and Baksa Districts where 23 people were killed. The violence started when heavily armed NDFB-IKS militants entered a house and shot dead three members of a family, including two women, and injured an infant of a minority community near Ananda Bazar area in Baksa District on May 1. This was followed by indiscriminate firing by the insurgents at Balapara-I village in neighbouring Kokrajhar District in the early hours on May 2 which left eight persons dead and injuring several others in their own houses. Again, in the night of May 2, 12 bullet-riddled bodies, including those of five women and a child, were recovered from Nankekhadrabari and Nayanguri villages in Baksa District where nearly 100 houses and a wooden bridge were set ablaze by the militants. The Army has been staging flag marches in the violence-hit areas to instill confidence among people and to bring the situation under control, sources said.

Maoists kill two persons in Chhattisgarh
The Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed two persons including a Sarpanch (head of Panchayat, village level local self-government institution) in two separate incidents in Dantewada District, Police said on May 5, reports The Pioneer. Police officials said that a group of armed Maoists raided Tikanpal village in the night of May 4 and took a few people as hostages. They took them to a nearby place and assaulted them so severely that one of them died. The person died is identified as Ayatu Budu. Other two persons sustained critical injuries. In the other incident the Maoists raided Kaurgaon village under Bangpal Police Station and dragged Sarpanch Mani Ram from his home and took him to the nearby forest. After killing him with a sharp weapon, the Maoists threw his body on the road.

Six people injured in blast in Manipur
The Shillong Times reports on May 6 that six women workers were injured on May 5 when a bomb exploded in a stone crushing factory in Thoubal Kiyam Siphai area in the Thoubal District of Manipur. Although it is not clear who is responsible for the blast, the militants who demanded money from the owner is said to be behind the blast. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Sangai Express on May 6 reports that shots were fired by armed men at a railway construction site in under Nungba police station in Tamenglong District and injured a truck driver. Meanwhile Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup on May 5 denied any relation with Sanjoy Shahu and Mohammed Ayub Khan, who were arrested on May 1 by Imphal West commandos.

Israel seeks security for its citizens in India
Israel has sought security for its citizens and assets in India during the months of May and June according to senior intelligence sources, India Today reports on May 8. The request came in view of the festival season which sees a large amount of Israeli arrivals in India. The Israelis fear threats from Al Qaeda and its affiliated organisations AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), AQAP (Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula), Al-Nasr Al Sharia, which have carried out terrorist attacks in Africa against Israeli citizens. Israel has sought additional security at Jewish centres such as synagogues.

Seven policemen killed in Maoist blast
Seven C-60 anti-Communist Party of India-Maoist Police Commandos were killed and two critically injured when Maoists blew up a Police vehicle in the Chamorshi division of Gadchiroli District on May 11, reports The Times of India. The incident occurred early morning of May 11, when the specialized C-60 anti-Maoist operations force were moving for an operational task in the forest between Pavimuranda and Murmuri villages in Chamorshi taluka (administrative unit) of the District. After the landmine blast, there was an exchange of fire between the Police and Maoists.

KPLT ‘commander in chief’ among six militants killed in encounter in Assam
Indian Army and Assam Police personnel killed six militants of Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger, including its ‘commander-in-chief’, Bikash Teron alias Kangthur in a gun battle on May 14 at Langtibuk, of the Singhason hill in Karbi Anglong District, reports The Assam Tribune. The other cadres are yet to be identified. Two AK 47 rifles and one 12 bore repeater gun, two 9mm pistols, two hand grenades, 453 ammunition of AK 47 rifle, 40 ammunition of Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) and 84 ammunition of 9mm pistol have been recovered from the slain militants, adds The Nagaland Post. In recent times the outfit unlashed massive drive for extortion and abduction in several parts of the District which become a cause of concern for the Police and army. The outfit had also disrupted the process of election campaigning in the hill Districts of Assam in the recently concluded parliamentary election by imposing general strike for indefinite period which was withdrawn only on the day of polling i.e. on April 12.

Meanwhile, two 303 rifles with ammunition were taken away from the Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Bhakta Hira, a trader, in the night of may 13 at Kherbari in Sonitpur District, reports The Telegraph.

The Telegraph reports on May 14 that security agencies trying to cleanse the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) of illegal arms say the flow of arms and involvement of militants make the job tough. “The challenge before us is that many of those supplying arms in the BTAD are either members of a militant group or former militants who are well trained in transporting weapons by concealing them to avoid our glare. They use these techniques even after they surrender and get into arms supplies. This makes our job tough,” a senior Police officer said. The officer said nearly 300 illegal arms and over 200 grenades had been seized from the BTAD since 2012 but the problem was far from over since the flow of weapons through Nagaland and Mizoram was still on. “Most of these arms, like the AK-series rifles and M20 rifles, come from South East Asian countries such as Myanmar and China. Of late, we have found small arms coming in from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as well. We are in constant touch with Nagaland and Mizoram Police to check the supply of arms,” he added.

Two army men injured in an ambush by PLA in Manipur
The Sangai Express reports that two Security Forces (SF’s), Subedar Murugan Dan and Naik Guru Swami were injured during an attack by People’s Liberation Army along the Indo-Myanmar border near Theikhothang village under Singngat Subdivision in Churachandpur District on May 14. According to a source, the suspected PLA cadres launched an attack where Border Pillar No 45 and 46 are erected when the Army personnel were machinating handing-taking activities between 25 Madras Regiment and 1/11 Gorkha Rifles.

India extends ban on LTTE for 5 years
As Sri Lanka is getting ready to commemorate the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Ministry of Home Affairs, India on May 14 has extended its ban on the LTTE for five more years, reports Colombo Page. The Ministry said despite the ban in force, attempts have been made by pro-LTTE organizations and individuals to extend their support to the LTTE. It also fear that LTTE’s objective for a separate homeland (Tamil Eelam) for all Tamils threatens the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and amounts to cession and secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union. Ministry noted that the remnant LTTE leaders or cadres have also initiated the efforts to regroup the scattered activists and resurrect the outfit locally and internationally.

India initially banned the Tamil Tigers in 1992 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) following the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber. The Central Government since then has been extending the ban every two years.

Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period April 26, 2014 to May 25, 2014:

	Civilian	Indian Security Personnel	Militant	Total
Assam	48	00	14	62
Manipur	00	02	02	04
Meghalaya	00	01	01	02
Left-wing	08	08	05	21
Total	56	11	22	89

Nepal – Internal Dynamics

Interpol issues Red Notice on LTTE operative in Norway
Interpol has issued a Red Notice for the arrest of Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan, who is believed to be the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization in Norway, reports Colombo Page on April 26. He was listed in the Interpol Red Notice as Sivaparan, Perinbanayagam, 37 years old, and wanted by the judicial authorities of Sri Lanka for prosecution. Sri Lanka Police on April 17 obtained Interpol Red Notices on 40 suspected LTTE operatives active in foreign countries. Two of the Red Notices were for Nediyavan who is believed to be in Oslo, Norway and Vinayagam, who is living in France.

Pressure cooker bomb recovered
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered from the premises of Shree Janakalyan Higher Secondary School in Purandhara village development committee (VDC) in the western part of Dang District on May 7, reports Nepal News. The pressure cooker bomb targeting the school was detected at 9:30 am, according to the Area Police Office, Purandhara. It is yet to be ascertained who planted the bomb and the motive behind it.

Tarai armed outfits tamed, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam
On May 8, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam has claimed that the government has contained the criminal activities of armed outfit’s operating in Tarai and Eastern Hills, reports Ekantipur.com. Minister Gautam said that the number of armed outfit’s active in the two regions has come down “significantly” and that security agencies are arresting the heads of such armed groups. After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006, the number of armed outfit’s operating in Tarai and Hilly Districts grew considerably, prompting the Home Ministry to publicise a list of 120 armed outfit’s operating across the country. “But the number has come down significantly now,” Gautam said without specifying it.

Police recover 323 pieces of sockets used in bomb-making in Jajarkot District
The Police recovered 323 pieces of sockets used in making bombs from Jaya Bahadur Thapa at Suwaunali-3 in Jajarkot District on May 18, reports Ekantipur.com. According to Chief District Office Chakrapani Pandey, Thapa was displaced during the decade-long conflict at the hands of then rebel Maoists, came across the explosives while dismantling his old house to build a new one.

Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics

Ministry of Defence and Urban Development denies sending Intelligence Officers to foreign countries as part of an International operation
The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development on April 30 denied that Intelligence Officers being sent to other countries to educate officials of those countries as part of an international operation, reports News.lk. Earlier, a Sinhala daily newspaper quoting the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development had reported that 18 Intelligence Officers had been sent to 18 countries as part of an international operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rump organizations. The Defence Ministry added that the officials of the Ministry of Defence visited relevant countries on official duties and diplomats of the Ministry of External Affairs have educated relevant authorities in respective countries about the threats posed by those organizations and persons listed in recent gazette notification that listed the organizations.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Counterterrorism of the United States Department of State in its Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 released on April 29 said that although no arrests related to terrorism were made in 2013, the Sri Lankan Government remained concerned of the LTTE’s international network of financial support, reports Colombo Page. According to the report before its defeat in 2009, the LTTE had used a number of non-profit organizations for fundraising purposes. Sri Lanka continued its efforts to search for other financial links to the LTTE, even many years after the war ended to the extent that the search for terrorist financing was criticized as a utility to target legitimate political opponents of the government, the report noted.

Muslims raise fears of hate attacks in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Muslim legislators on Friday, May 2 asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to protect their minority community from “Buddhist extremist elements” blamed for a recent spate of hate attacks. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella organisation of Muslim groups, said 16 out of the 18 Muslim parliamentarians had asked the president to intervene and halt the attacks.

“Muslim parliamentarians wish to bring to your excellency’s kind attention the continued hate campaign, intimidation and threats to Muslims, carried out by some Buddhist extremist elements,” the MPs said in a joint letter.

It was sent after police on Monday established a new unit to investigate hate crimes after attacks by Buddhist monks on churches and mosques last year raised concerns about religious freedom. Nationalist Buddhist groups have accused religious minorities of having undue political and economic influence on the island.

Videos posted on YouTube have shown mobs led by Buddhist monks throwing stones and smashing a Christian prayer centre in southern Sri Lanka in January this year and attacking mosques while police looked on. Senior Buddhist monks have also been caught on video threatening violence against their moderate colleagues who advocate tolerance.

The country is emerging from nearly four decades of ethnic war which according to UN estimates claimed at least 100,000 lives between 1972 and 2009.

Tamil rebels were fighting for a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, who are Hindu, on the Sinhalese-majority island.

Malaysians unwittingly gave enough money for warships, says Malaysian Deputy Home Minister
Deputy Home Minister of Malaysia, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that Malaysians who gave donations to refugees may have unknowingly helped Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam raise enough money to buy warships and weapons, reports themalaymailonline.com on May 4. Sources said that those trying to revive the now-defunct LTTE had hidden behind their identity as refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to tap at the public’s sympathy when asking for donations.

Security forces launch extensive search in Trincomalee District
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Army, Navy and the Police have launched an extensive search in the general area of Ichchilampattai in Trincomalee District after the recovery of a T56 weapon with several rounds of ammunition in a bag at Lanka Patuna beach near a Naval detachment on May 5, reports Colombo Page. He further added that a joint Army, Navy and Police investigation and search is underway and so far no arrests have been made. The Military authorities also said that there is a renewed attempt to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the North and investigations into the activities of former LTTE operatives have resulted in several arrests which in turn have led to recovery of arms, ammunitions, explosives and other material that were in their possession.

Meanwhile, President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), John W. Ashe, on May 7 acknowledged the progress of the country in the recent past after the nearly 30 years of civil war ended in 2009, reports Colombo Page.

Navy recovers large stock of LTTE Pistol Ammunition
The Naval troops attached to the Sri Lanka Navy Ship (SLNS) Gotabhaya of the Eastern Naval Command on May 9 recovered the largest stock of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam pistol ammunition containing 120,000 of 9 x 19 mm KOPP ammunition, 2,750 of SG 12 Bore ammunition and 5,600 of 357 Magnum (Blazer) ammunition buried at Vellamullivaikkal area in Mullaitivu District in Northern Province, reports Colombo Page. Vellamullivaikkal is the town where LTTE’s three decade old armed campaign ended with the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran on May 18, 2009 and LTTE was believed to have hidden most of their weaponry in the area when the outfit was trapped by the advancing Army.

Hundreds protest against Norway in SL
Hundreds of Sri Lankans marched on the Norwegian embassy in Colombo, Western Province on May 16 to protest against Oslo’s support for remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam living abroad, reports Colombo Page. Earlier, Norway acted as peace broker but failed to secure agreement from the parties to a peaceful end to the conflict. Sinhalese nationalists accuse it of supporting the LTTE, a charge Oslo has repeatedly rejected. The Sri Lankan Government at the end of April, 2014 sent out an alert over Interpol demanding that Norway’s Government arrest Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, an Oslo-based Tamil, claiming that he is the new leader of the LTTE.

NFF urges action against Tamil MPs who commemorated the LTTE
Mohamed Muzammil, the media spokesman of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a coalition party of the Sri Lankan Government on May 20 urged the Government to take stern action against the legislators of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for commemorating the deaths of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadres last week, reports Colombo Page. He said media had reported that several Member of Parliaments (MPs) of the TNA and some members of the TNA-controlled Northern Provincial Council (NPC) had organized several events to commemorate the dead terrorists at several places including, Mannar, Mullivaikkal, Jaffna and Vavuniya on May 18. He named the TNA legislators Selvam Adaikalanathan, Pon Selvarasa, P. Ariyanethran, S. Yoheswaran, Shivasakthi Anandan and the Fisheries Minister of the NPC, B. Deniswaran as the chief guests of the events. He also criticized the Government for taking a sleepy attitude towards the Tamil MPs who are involved in anti-Sri Lankan activities.

INTERNATIONAL

54 Syrians killed in attacks
Two car bombs exploded in a pro-government neighborhood in the central Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, April 29 killing at least 40 people just hours after one of the deadliest mortar strikes in the heart of the capital, Damascus, killed 14, officials and state media said.

The attacks came a day after President Bashar Assad declared his candidacy for the June 3 presidential elections, a race he is likely to win amid a raging civil war that initially started as an uprising against his rule. Such attacks are common in Homs and Damascus, and there was no immediate indication that Tuesday’s violence was directly related to Assad´s announcement.

State news agency SANA said the attack in Homs struck in the Abbasiyeh neighborhood — a predominantly Christian and Alawite area. It said at least 40 people were killed and another 116 wounded.

‘Xinjiang is front line on terrorism’
Police are the “fists and daggers” in the fight against terrorism, China’s President Xi Jinping said on a trip to the western Xinjiang region where authorities say members of a Muslim minority are waging a violent separatist campaign.

Xi´s tour, reported in state media late on Monday, April 28 was his first to the region since a ruling Communist Party conclave in November in which he ushered in a national security commission to combat foreign and domestic threats.

Xi has raised the pitch of his warnings on security threats after a spate of deadly attacks, including one in the southwestern city of Kunming in March in which 29 people were killed and 140 injured by knife-wielding attackers who the government said were militants from Xinjiang.

“The Kashgar region is the front line in anti-terrorism and maintaining social stability,” the official Xinhua news agency citied Xi as telling paramilitary police in the Silk Road city of Kashgar in western Xinjiang that has been at the centre of much of the unrest.

“The situation is grim and complicated. The local level police stations are fists and daggers,” Xi said. The report, carried widely in state media, showed photographs of Xi touring police facilities.

“You must have the most effective means to deal with violent terrorists,” Xi said at a police station where he was pictured inspecting a wall of various kinds of truncheons.

Israeli spying on US ‘rising’
Israel spies on the United States more than any other ally does and these activities have reached an alarming level, Newsweek magazine reported on Wednesday, May 7.

The main targets are US industrial and technical secrets, the weekly said, quoting classified briefings on legislation that would make it easier for Israeli citizens to get visas to enter America.

Newsweek said a congressional staffer familiar with a briefing last January called the testimony “very sobering … alarming … even terrifying”, and quoted another as saying the behavior was “damaging.”

“No other country close to the United States continues to cross the line on espionage like the Israelis do,” said a former congressional staffer who attended another classified briefing in late 2013, according to Newsweek.

It said that briefing was one of several in recent months given by the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, the FBI and the National Counterintelligence Directorate.

The former congressional staffer said the intelligence agencies did not give specifics, but cited “industrial espionage — folks coming over here on trade missions or with Israeli companies working in collaboration with American companies, (or) intelligence operatives being run directly by the government, which I assume meant out of the (Israeli) Embassy.”

‘Boko Haram attack kills hundreds’
A new Boko Haram massacre has killed hundreds in Nigeria’s northeast, a senator said on Wednesday, May 7 as police offered $300,000 for information leading to the rescue of more than 200 schoolgirls held hostage by the Islamists.

The latest insurgent attack targeted the town of Gamboru Ngala on the border with Cameroon, where gunmen this week razed scores of buildings and fired on civilians as they tried to flee.

Area Senator Ahmed Zanna put the death toll at 300, citing information provided by locals, in an account supported by numerous residents.

Zanna said the town had been left unguarded because the soldiers based there had been redeployed north towards Lake Chad in an effort to rescue more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14. The shocking mass abduction has sparked global outrage and offers of help from the United States, Britain, France and China. Nigeria’s response to the kidnappings has been widely criticised, including by activists and parents of the hostages who say the military’s search operation has been inept so far.

The police on Monday offered 50 million naira ($300,000, 215,000 euros) for any information leading to the girls’ rescue. President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has sought to appear more engaged with the plight of the hostages in recent days, especially after Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau released a video threatening to sell the girls as “slaves.”

In a second kidnapping, eleven more girls aged 12 to 15 years were seized Sunday from Gwoza, an area not far from Chibok and also in Borno state, Boko Haram’s base. The group’s five-year uprising has killed thousands across Africa’s most populous country and top economy, with many questioning whether Nigeria has the capacity to contain the violence.

Islamist fighters riding in armoured trucks and on motorcycles stormed Gamboru Ngala after midday on Monday. Survivors said the extremists overran the town making it too dangerous for locals to immediately return.

When the Islamists left, residents went back to a town that was “littered” with dead bodies, Musa Abba, a witness, told AFP. “All economic and business centres have been burnt. The market in the town which attracts traders from all over the area… has been completely burnt,” the senator said.

Gamboru Ngala has been attacked repeatedly in the past, but Abba said “this (was) the worst Boko Haram attack (the town) has seen.”

US President Barack Obama has described the Chibok abductions as “heartbreaking” and “outrageous”, and announced that a team of military experts had been sent to help Nigeria’s rescue mission.

Somalia bombing
At least 22 people were killed on Monday, May 12 in a huge explosion targeting a senior official in the southern Somali town of Baidoa, police and hospital staff said.

“The target was a pick-up truck transporting a senior local official,” police spokesman Mohamed Moalim Abdirahman said of the blast.

Saudi Arabia sacks Friday preachers
Saudi Arabia has sacked “for life” three Friday, May 12 preachers, banning them from delivering sermons or speeches at mosques or in religious camps.

The decision was taken after the authorities ascertained they belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood and had direct contacts with the movement in some Arab countries, local daily Okaz reported on Monday.

Saudi Arabia on March 7 blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, along with the kingdom’s branch of Hizbullah and Syria-based militant groups the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) and Al Qaida linked Al Nusra Front.

The daily did not name the preachers, but said they were well-known and wielded huge influence in their areas. It added that the three had been blamed for their “constant abuses on social networks.”

Sources said that the authorities were determined to confront extremism under all its forms and not to allow mosques to be used for partisan calls.

According to the sources, 76 imams (prayer leaders), religious figures and lecturers are being monitored for suspected Brotherhood-linked activities.

The religious authorities have repeatedly warned of a zero-tolerance policy towards people who did not comply with the regulations on sermons and contacts with banned groups.

Qaradawi warns of Egypt ‘catastrophe’
A Qatar-based Islamist whose sermons have caused tension between Arabian Gulf states said on Monday, May 12 that Egyptian presidential front-runner Abdel Fattah El Sisi will only bring downfall to the country.

Youssef Al Qaradawi, an Egyptian-born cleric and a spiritual guide the Muslim Brotherhood, has always been critical of Egypt’s military rule and El Sisi, who as army chief was behind the bloody ousting of Islamist Mohammed Mursi from the presidency last July after a popular uprising. He said Israeli leaders supported having El Sisi win the upcoming presidential elections, saying that he protects Israel’s interests and will not go into confrontation with them over the Palestinian issue.

Sisi is expected to easily win the presidential election late this month. The only other candidate is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who came third in the 2012 election won by Mursi.

Qardawi’s comments have contributed to a major rift in political relations between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours.

On March 5, in an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar, accusing Doha of failing to abide by an accord not to interfere in each others’ internal affairs. Qatar denies the charge.

The three states were especially angry over Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that reveres Qaradawi.

Since then, Qaradawi has refrained from delivering sermons on Fridays. However, Sunday’s conference proved that the ageing cleric has not been deterred from criticising Egypt’s affairs.

In April, asked if he had plans to leave Qatar to ease pressure on the government, Qaradawi, a naturalised Qatari citizen, said he would do no such thing.

Syria war forces a family to flee every minute
The war in Syria is driving one family from their home every minute, pushing the number of people internally displaced by conflict to a new global high, the UN´s former aid chief said on Wednesday, May 14. A total of 8.2 million people were forced to flee their homes by violence last year, nearly half of them in Syria, Jan Egeland told reporters. The global total of displaced people reached 33.3 million in 2013, including people affected by protracted crises lasting for decades.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) are those who flee their homes but stay in their country, as opposed to those who cross a border and are considered refugees. While refugees benefit from protection under international law, IDPs are the responsibility of their country’s authorities, which are often unable to help them or outright unwilling.

“In many situations, that is not an effective protection,” said United Nations refugee chief Antonio Guterres. “This of course is a serious problem in relation to the capacity to protect the rights of people internally displaced,” he added.

It can be near-impossible for aid workers to reach IDPs, who may end up being forced to move on again just as they rebuild their lives, can find it hard to flee abroad to rebuild their lives and often live in poverty. Each one of the globe’s 33.3 million IDPs has on average been displaced for 17 years.

After Syria, the two countries with the highest number of people fleeing their homes in 2013 were the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with nearly a million each.

The IDMC study also showed that Syria and four other countries — Colombia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan — accounted for two-thirds of the global total. The Colombia, Congo and Sudan crises have been the most drawn out due to long-running insurgencies or ethnic conflict. Their IDP totals were 5.7 million, 2.9 million and 2.4 million respectively.

29 Syrians killed
A car bomb killed at least 29 civilians and wounded dozens more on the Syrian side of the Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey on Thursday, May 15 a monitoring group said. Five women and three children were among the dead in the blast in an area used as a car park, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Gruesome photographs posted online by activists showed shocked men standing over charred, blackened bodies, some missing limbs. A video of the scene posted on YouTube showed smoke rising from the tangled remains of a blown-up car and luggage lying abandoned amid the chaos. The area around the crossing has been targeted by car bombs before.

In February, a blast on the Syrian side killed six people and wounded 45. The Syrian side of the crossing is under the control of Islamist rebels who have been battling Jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant since early January.

Other border crossings between Turkey and Syria have also been targeted, including the Bab al-Hawa post in the northwest, where two suicide bombers killed 16 people in January.

Meanwhile, Western and Arab nations vowed on Thursday to step up assistance for Syria’s moderate opposition, while the US said “raw data” suggested chlorine had been used as a chemical weapon in the conflict. The Friends of Syria group meeting in London poured scorn on Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime’s plan to hold presidential elections in June, saying it was an “insult” while the civil war was still raging.

A joint statement from the 11 countries at the London talks described the election as “illegitimate”. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius suggested this week that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons 14 times since October, including chlorine.

The UN’s director of aid operations in Syria, John Ging, last week accused the government of blockading medical supplies bound for opposition areas, calling it an “abomination”.

Attacks around Iraq kill 21
Bombings and shootings around Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, killed at least 21 people and wounded dozens on Thursday, May 15 officials said. The first blast came from an explosives-laden car left in a parking lot in Karrada, a busy commercial area home to several government offices, as well as courts and a hospital. The explosion killed four civilians and three police officers and wounded 21, a police officer said.

A few minutes later, a suicide bomber with an explosives belt blew himself up at the main gate of an office affiliated with the Higher Education Ministry, killing two police officers and two civilians, the police officer said. The attack wounded 12, he said.

Shortly before nightfall, police said a car bomb near an outdoor market killed five people and wounded 15 in Baghdad’s neighbourhood of Sadr City.

Meanwhile, police said gunmen stormed the house of an anti-al-Qaeda fighter in the town of Youssifiyah, killing the fighter along with his wife, son, sister and a cousin.
Youssifiyah is 20-km south of Baghdad. Insurgents frequently attack members of the Sunni militia, known also as Sahwa, which joined forces with US troops at the height of the Iraq war to fight al-Qaeda.

A medical official confirmed the casualty figures for the attacks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.

Algeria closes Libyan embassy over ‘real and imminent threat’
Algeria has closed its embassy and its consulate in Tripoli because of a “real and imminent threat” to its diplomats, the foreign ministry announced on Friday, May 16. The decision was taken in coordination with the Libyan authorities, after information was received “about the existence of a real and imminent threat targeting our diplomats and consular staff.”

The ministry said the “temporary measure” was “dictated by the difficult security conditions” in Libya, while emphasising Algeria’s support for the authorities in Tripoli and their “efforts to build the rule of law and establish peace and security throughout the country.”

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.