Terrorist Activities in Pakistan
Suicide Attacks
Two persons were killed in a suicide attack on the residence of Adezai peace Lashkar’s (tribal militia) chief Farmanullah Khan in Adezai area on the outskirts of Peshawar on June 19, reports Dawn. In addition, five others were also injured in the incident. Farmanullah Khan confirmed the incident saying two people including the suicide bomber died in the attack on his hujra (guest house). “Suicide bomber entered my hujra and exploded himself,” he added. Farmanullah took over as the chief of Adezai Peace Committee after the death of his elder brother Dilawar Khan who had survived a number of attacks on his life as well.
At least 52 persons were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion during Urs (the annual religious congregation at the shrine) celebrations at Darbar Nangay Shah Pir Badshah in Pind Parian area in the jurisdiction of Shahzad Town Police Station of Islamabad, the federal capital on June 20, reports The News. According to Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) the IED was planted underneath the internal wall of the tomb.
Bomb/IED Blasts
Four persons were injured in an explosion that occurred on May 31 near the Muhammad Khan Police checkpost in Baldia Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports Dawn. Police said that the explosive material was planted in a donkey-cart.
At least four persons were killed and three others were injured on June 3 in an explosion near a vehicle in the Khomta area of Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports The News.
Meanwhile, two soldiers were injured in a roadside blast in Dawezai area in Pandyalai tehsil (revenue unit) of Mohmand Agency on May 2, reports The News. The sources said the Security Forces (SFs) were carrying out a search operation in Shish Mahal Mamazi in Dawezai when landmines planted on the roadside went off. As a result, two soldiers Shoaib Khan and Mustafa sustained injuries.
Eight persons were killed and seven others, including a woman and two children sustained injuries, in a roadside bomb explosion in Khumasa area in Kurram Agency on June 3, reports The News. Assistant Political Agent Maqsoodul Hassan said that a van carrying passengers was heading to Parachinar from central parts of Kurram Agency when it hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Khumasa area. The dead included Janan, Taj Muhammad, Sanaullah, Said Imran, Abid Rehman, Abdul Qayyum, Said Anwar and Ibrahim.
A suspected militant and his purported accomplice were killed while four others were injured in a massive explosion outside the Al-Mustafa Mosque near Katti Pahari, Orangi Town, on Thursday, June 5 evening, police said. The explosion was so powerful that it not only destroyed a motorcycle, which was fitted with an improvised explosive device (IED), but also damaged a rickshaw and demolished the outer walls of the mosque. The explosion caused fear and panic in caused fear and panic in the area and police and Rangers rushed to the spot and supervised the relief and rescue efforts. Body of the suspected militant who was riding an IED-fitted motorbike was torn into pieces and police investigators were unable to identify him while another person, who was around 25 years of age, was also critically injured and later died in the hospital.Police suspected that the other man, was also the accomplice of bomber on the motorcycle but they were unable to identify him as no identification papers were found with him.
DIG West Captain (retd) Tahir Naveed told The News that explosion took place outside the Al-Mustafa mosque near Katti Pahari in Orangi Town and added that as per BDS report, the bomb was fitted in a motorcycle and it exploded during transportation.
He said apparently, ‘mishandling’ by the person or persons carrying the bomb resulted in the explosion that killed the carrier and critically injured another man, who later died at the hospital.He said at least three other persons were also injured in the blast and they were being treated at a public hospital.
As many as 23 Shia pilgrims were killed and many injured in bomb explosions and firing in Taftan tehsil (revenue unit) of Chaghai District in Balochistan in the night of June 8, reports The News. The attackers barged into the Al-Murtaza hotel and Hashmi hotel located in Taftan minutes after the pilgrims arrived at the hotels. They hurled hand grenades and opened indiscriminate fire with modern weapons killing 23 persons on the spot.
Targeted Killings
Unidentified militants shot dead a United States (US)-based Ahmadi doctor, identified as Mehdi Ali (50), outside the Ahmadi graveyard in Chenab Nagar (also known as Rabwah) city of Chiniot District on May 26, reports Dawn,
Two unidentified men aged between 30 and 35 were killed when unidentified militants opened fire on them in Gulshan-e-Iqbal of Gulshan Town in Karachi on May 29, reports Daily Times.
Separately, unidentified armed assailants shot dead two unidentified persons in Sachal Goth near Mosamiat in Gulshan Town on May 29, reports Daily Times.
In another incident, a man, identified as Faran Qureshi (30), was killed and another Imran (35) was injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on them in Jamshed Quarters in Jamshed Town on May 29, reports Daily Times.
In a separate incident, a Police Constable, identified as Muhammed Pervaiz Abbasi (55), was shot dead by unidentified militants near Pakistan Masjid in Ramswami Ranchore Line within Eidgah Police Station jurisdiction in Saddar Town on May 29, reports Daily Times.
Elsewhere, Police found a 10-day-old unidentified mutilated dead body in Rehmanabad area of Surjani Town in Gadap Town on May 29, reports Daily Times.
In addition, two people, identified as Khawar (25) and Sikandar Ali (30), were injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on them in Liaquatabad Underpass in Liaquatabad Town on May 29, reports Daily Times.
The dead body of a central leader of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), Munir Choliani, was found lying by the road on the outskirts of Shahdadkot in Qamber-Shahdadkot District of Sindh on May 30, reports Daily Times. A shutter-down strike was observed in Warah and Naseerabad towns in the interior of Sindh against the murder of Munir Choliani, who was kidnapped along with his wife, daughter and driver on May 29 while he was travelling to Sehwan. His wife and daughter were released by the kidnappers later.
An unidentified man was killed when armed assailants opened fire near a hotel in Khamosh Colony area of Gulbahar in Liaquatabad Town of Karachi on May 31, reported The News.
Separately, an unidentified headless body was found from near a mosque in Garden area in Saddar Town on May 31, reports The News.
Two men, identified as Abdul Ghaffar (35), and Hafeezuddin (27), were killed when unknown armed assailants opened fire on them near Karela Morr in New Karachi on June 1, reports Daily Times.
Separately, a man, identified as Khadim Hussain (40), was killed while two others, identified as Asif (35) and Atiq (40), were injured in a hand grenade attack at a shop near Tariq Road in Bahria Town near Saddar Town on June 1, reports Dawn.
In addition, a security guard was shot at and injured by unidentified armed assailants in Korangi 3 area within the limits of Awami Police Station in Korangi Town on June 1, reports Dawn.
In another incident, the driver and guard of a Deputy Commissioner were injured when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at his car near Nasir Jump in Korangi Town on May 31, reports The News. The Deputy Commissioner escaped unhurt.
At least ten persons, including seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants were killed in separate incidents in Karachi (Karachi District), the provincial capital of Sindh on June 2, reports The News. Seven TTP militants were found shot in the head in an execution style near a graveyard in Manghopir area.
Separately, a government employee from Shia community, identified as Syed Ahmed Ali Zaidi (35), was shot dead in an apparent sectarian attack on a newly-constructed bridge on Shareh e Pakistan near Dak Khana in Liaquatabad area on June 2, reports The News. Police said the murder appeared to be sectarian in nature.
In another incident, a trader from Shia community, identified as Sajid Ali Jafri (38), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bangoria Goth of Azizabad area on June 2, reports The News. Police said the murder seemed to be motivated by sectarianism.
Separately, a Sub-Inspector (SI), identified as Muhammad Saleem (40), was shot dead near Bilal Chowrangi in Korangi Industrial Area on June 2, reports The News.
Two Rangers personnel were killed while five others were injured in an attack by unidentified militants in Bhittai Colony of Kashmore town (Kashmore District) in Sindh on June 3, reports Daily Times. Police sources said that assailants opened fire at a convoy of Rangers when it was on a routine patrol in Bhittai Colony. The assailants managed to flee after the Rangers fired in retaliation.
Separately, an unidentified man (30) was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him near Nagan Masjid in Slaughter House area of Lyari town in Karachi on June 3, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, a youth, Imran (25), son of Iqbal, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him in Baldia Town on June 3, reports Daily Times.
Also, a man, Waseem Niazi (30), son of Abdul Ghafoor Niazi, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him near Ayub School in Baghdadi Mira Naka area of Lyari town on June 3, reports Daily Times.
Further, Hafiz Nasrullah (28), son of Izzat Gul, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him near Darpan Bazaar in Patel Para on June 3, reports Daily Times.
In addition, a man, Shehzad Karim (35), son of Haji Mian Guldad, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him on Bijli Nagar Road in Metroville of Orangi Town on June 3, reports Daily Times.
A Policeman and a security guard were killed in an attack on the Kohat Road near City Hospital in Peshawar, reports The News. Reports said the attackers first killed the guard and then shot dead the constable when he tried to chase the assailants. The slain were identified as Constable Mohammad Ali and Irfan.
Separately, armed motorcyclists opened fire on two traffic police sergeants, Sabz Ali and Rasheed, in Bhanamari Chowk on the Kohat Road in Peshawar on June 3, reports The News. The two, however, remained unharmed. The attackers escaped the scene.
In another incident, one of the two cops wounded in attack in Hayatabad area of Peshawar in the night of June 2 succumbed to injuries at the hospital on June 3, reports The News.
Meanwhile, the officials of the intelligence agencies said on June 3 that mostly the Afghan nationals were behind the extortion and target-killings in Peshawar, reports The News. Briefing a meeting held in the Home Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an official of the Special Branch said security situation was quite discouraging due to sporadic terrorist activities in various parts of the province, particularly in the provincial metropolis. He said die hard criminals had joined terrorist groups and carrying out terrorist activities to disturb the peaceful environment. An official of the Intelligence Bureau said Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar, Bara and Qambarkhel were the potential threat to Peshawar.
Five persons were shot dead while three others were injured in separate incidents in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, on June 7, reported The News. A person named Sajjad (32) was seriously injured when unidentified militants opened fire on him at Khyber Chowk in Tauhidi Mohalla in Ittehad Town area within the limits of Mochko Police Station in Karachi (Karachi District). He was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where he succumbed to injuries during treatment.
Meanwhile, a person identified as Yousuf (55) was shot dead by unidentified militants near Garden Signal in Garden area, reported The News. The body was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for medico-legal formalities.
Separately, a youth, Ali aged 25, was shot dead by unidentified militants near Jinnah Square in Malir, reported The News. The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center for an autopsy.
Further, a person named Fazal Hussain Zaidi (50) was shot dead by unidentified militants at his residential area, reported The News. The body was shifted to ASH for postmortem examination.
Also, another person, Raheel (30), was shot dead near Sindhi Hotel in Liaquatabad, reported The News. The body was shifted to ASH for an autopsy.
Elsewhere, three youths were injured in a shootout by unidentified militants near Crown Cinema on Mauripur Road, reported The News. The injured were taken to CHK for medical treatment.
At least 11 persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi on May 9, reports.
Handery Masieh, member of the Balochistan Assembly and Balochistan National Party leader was killed by his guard in the Nawan Killi area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on June 14, reports Dawn. Jan Muhammad Buledi, the spokesperson of Balochistan Government, said that Masieh’s security guard opened fire on him outside his residence as a result of which he suffered serious bullet wounds. “Masieh succumbed to his injuries in the hospital,” Buledi added. “Yes this was an act of targeted killing”, he said. Buledi stated that initially the accused opened fire at the nephew of Masieh who is also injured in the incident. “Then the accused opened indiscriminate firing at the slain legislator,” the spokesman stated.
At least five persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi on June 19, reports Daily Times. Two persons, identified as, Sameer (30), and an unidentified person, aged 35, were shot dead near Malik Bakery in Nanakwara area of Lyari Town.
Separately, a person, identified as Farhan (20), was shot dead by unidentified assailant near Supermarket in Liaquatabad on June 19, reports Daily Times.
Also, a person Saeed Ahmed (40) was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Tibet Center in Saddar town on June 19, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, suspected militants Imran alias Umar Qari was killed in an encounter with Rangers in Baldia Town on June 19, reports Daily Times.
In another incident, two persons Mehrab (10) and Arshi (43) were shot and injured by unidentified assailants in Daryabad area of Lyari Town on June 19, reports Daily Times.
Moreover, five suspected criminals were also arrested during raids in Ramswami area on June 19, reports Daily Times.
At least nine persons, including three TTP militants, were killed in separate incidents of violence and target killing in different areas of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Police killed three militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in the ongoing operation against militants in different parts of Sohrab Goth, including Pioneer Homes, Deluxe Town and Afghan Basti, reports The Express Tribune. Police arrested around a dozen suspected persons, including five foreign nationals. Police also claim to have recovered around 15 kilogrammes of explosive material, four hand grenades and a large cache of ammunition.
Separately, an unidentified person was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Qalandaria Chowk in North Nazimabad on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, one 22-year-old youth, was killed unidentified assailants in Surjani Town Sector 36-B on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Further, a 50-yearold woman, Shahmin, was shot dead near Sindh Qatar Hospital Chowrangi in Orangi Town on June 22, reports Daily Times.
In addition, a tortured body of a woman was found from Malir Nadi near Qayyumabad area on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Also, a youth, Shah Nawaz Khan (22), resident of Orangi Town, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Raja Tanveer Colony area of Ittehad Town on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Elsewhere, a youth, Manzoor (22) was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Abul Hassan Isphani Road in Teachers Society area Gulistan-e-Johar on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, one Akram (22), son of Shahi Taj, was shot at in the Pir Colony area of Orangi Town on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Separately, a man, Anwar (25), was shot at by unidentified assailants in Orangi Town No 13 on June 22, reports Daily Times.
Further, an unidentified man, aged 30, was shot at by unidentified assailants near Metro Shopping Center in Safari Park area on June 22, reports Daily Times.
At least 14 persons were killed in separate incidents in Karachi on June 23, reports Daily Times.
Karachi Police claimed to have killed seven criminals during the last 24 hours, in which 65 more criminals were also arrested in 80 different raids. According to Karachi Central Police Office (CPO) report, Police conducted 80 raids in different areas of the city and arrested 65 criminals including proclaimed offenders and absconders. The police also claimed recovering 25 handguns, six hand grenades, drugs and liquor from the arrested accused.
In a separate incident, one person, identified as Saeed Gul (40), was shot dead by unidentified assailant near Qasba Mor area in Orangi Town on June 23, reports Daily Times.
Separately, a girl Nazia (18) was killed by unidentified assailants in Lines Area of Saddar town on June 23, reports Daily Times.
In another incident, a person was killed by unidentified assailants near Babar Weight Balance Scale in Surjani Town on June 23, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, four dead bodies were recovered from Baldia Town area on June 24, reports Dawn. Nine MM shells were also discovered near the bodies. The victims could not be identified.
Earlier, Sindh Rangers arrested two alleged militants of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and recovered a motorcycle laden with explosive material and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from them in Muslimabad Colony on June 23, reports Daily Times.
At least eight persons were killed in separate incidents in Karachi on June 25, reports Daily Times. A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker, identified as Abdul Razzaq (45), was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Bilal Colony in Bangali Para area of Korangi town.
Separately, a person, identified as Nawaz (45), was shot dead near Urdu Chowk in Orangi Town on June 25, reports Daily Times.
In a separate incident, a person was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Kunwari Colony of Orangi Town on June 25, reports Daily Times.
Also a person, identified as Syed Saeed Shah (45), was killed and another, Muhammed Asif (30), was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on them on Chundrigar road on June 25, reports Daily Times.
In another incident, an unidentified man, aged 30, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Janjal Goth area of Gulshan-e-Maymar on June 25, reports Daily Times.
Also, a person, Bilal (28) was shot dead on Khayaban-e-Rumi road in Defence Housing Authority on June 25, reports Daily Times.
Meanwhile, an unidentified person, aged 23, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Netty Jetty Bridge in Keamari on June 25, reports Daily Times.
Separately, a dead body of an unidentified man, aged 35, was found near Jawedan Factory in Manghopir on June 25, reports Daily Times.
Miscellaneous
Five dead bodies were discovered in Utmanzai area in the Pandyali tehsil (revenue unit) of the Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 26, reports Dawn. The bodies were discovered in the Utmanzai area where a recent surprise attack on the Security Forces (SFs) left six soldiers dead on May 24. All of the deceased appeared to have been shot dead, however, this could not be independently verified, official sources added. The area is under curfew and the bodies could not be identified as a result.
Three ‘commanders’ of the Lyari gang war, Abdul Waheed alias Pappu (32), Zubair Baloch alias Bhaiyya and Arif Patni (30), were shot dead in an alleged encounter with the Police and Rangers near Gabol Park area within the limits of the Kalakot Police Station in Lyari Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on May 28. The Police and Rangers conducted a raid in the area after they received a tip-off. Station House Officer (SHO) Haji Sanaullah said that when they reached the alleged gangsters opened fire at them. The Police retaliated and as a result, the gangsters were killed. Police said that they were associated with Ustad Taju, Mullah Nisar and Omar Kutchi groups and were involved in murder, kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion cases.
Unidentified militants abducted five children belonging to Hindu community from Dera Allah Yar area of Jaffarabad District on May 28, reports Dawn. Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the Deputy Commissioner Jaffarabad said that the children were coming back from school when they were abducted by the militants near Dera Allah Yar and are suspected to have shifted all five of them to Ratodero area of Larkana District in Sindh Province. “The age of the children is five to 10,” said Syed Ashfaq Ahmed, the District Police Officer (DPO) Jaffarabad.
No outfit claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Separately, Law Enforcement Agencies on May 28 arrested three suspects after registration of First Information Report (FIR) against a tribal elder, identified as Mir Shafiq-ur-Rehman Mengal, and 100 others in connection with the killing of eight Levies personnel on May 25, 2014 in Wadh area of Khuzdar District, reports Dawn. “Law Enforcement Agencies have arrested three suspects, including an injured man, in connection with the deadly attack on Levies check-post,” Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said.
At least 16 militants were killed as Security Forces (SFs) backed by gunship helicopters thwarted a cross border militant attack on a checkpost situated on Nao Top in Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas on May 31, reports Dawn. During the gun battle and airstrikes, one soldier was killed and two were critically injured.
The attack came a day after the Shura Mujahideen Waziristan group, led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, in North Waziristan Agency asked local residents to move to safe locations close to the Afghan border to avoid being caught in crossfire in the event of a military operation in the area. A pamphlet issued by the group alleged that the Government had practically revoked an agreement with them without making any announcement to the effect, by attacking ‘innocent people’ and destroying property. “We continued to tolerate this repression but now it has exceeded limits,” the pamphlet had alleged.
As many as 30 separatist rebels were killed as paramilitary forces launched an operation in Dera Bugti on June 3. “The forces surrounded the militants early morning on Thursday and the operation culminated with the killing of 30 militants and arrest of three others,” Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said while giving details of the operation launched to quell the militancy in the area. He added that a paramilitary trooper was killed and five others sustained bullet wounds during the action. The injured personnel were being shifted to a nearby hospital. “We have recovered 350 kilogrammes of explosive material and 300 landmines,” he said and added that around eight hideouts of militants were also destroyed by security forces.
Bugti said the militants were members of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), whose two main commanders were also killed in the operation. “The forces also got freed two local Bugti men kidnapped for ransom by the militants,” he added.
An important commander of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), along with two other militants, was killed in the armed clash of two groups of Taliban in North Waziristan on June 5. Ashiqullah Mehsud, a key commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a so-called expert of suicide bombings was killed in a firing incident in North Waziristan tribal region Mir Ali, private news channel reported. The sources said that Ashiqullah was sitting with some members of the TTP when he was assaulted by the gunmen who escaped in a car after firing. Both official and tribal sources confirmed that Ashiqullah Mehsud was the main commander of the TTP and was considered the master trainer of suicide bombing after Qari Hussain Mehsud who was the top expert and the inventor of suicide bomb blasts.
Intelligence sources believe that the incident is the result of a rivalry between Shehryar Mehsud and Khan Said Sajna groups. The latter also parted ways with the central TTP group. None of the groups have claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
Police arrested a militant, who was trying to enter Bannu District in the guise of an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Bannu Town on June 6, reports The News. District Police Officer (DPO) Abdur Rasheed Khan said that acting on a tip-off the Police party started searching the vehicles heading to Bannu District from North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Police stopped one of the vehicles (KB-7691) and after thorough search recovered two American guns, two repeater guns, two hand-grenades, several pistols, hundreds of cartridges and three kilograms of hashish. The Police arrested one Naseerullah, who was travelling along with the IDPs, the DPO said, adding, the arms were being shifted to either Karachi or Punjab
10 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants were killed in an operation by the Frontier Corps (FC) in the Kandiari area of Dera Bugti District on June 8, reports The News. Three hideouts of the militants have also been destroyed. The Security Forces (SFs) also recovered explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines from the possession of militants. According to the Inspector General (IG) FC, the militants were involved in attacks on Sui-gas installations and the railway track.
At least 25 foreign and local terrorists were killed in aerial strikes in Hasokhel area of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) in the early hours of June 18, The News reports quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. Six militants’ hideouts including a training camp and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory were destroyed. An ISPR statement said the operation is progressing as per plan. The cordon around all terrorists’ hideouts including in the town of Mir Ali and Miranshah has been further tightened and reinforced.
Separately, six militants were killed in a US drone strike in the early hours of June 18 (today) in Dargah Mandi village of Miranshah tehsil (revenue unit) in NWA, reports Dawn. Intelligence sources said six missiles fired by a drone hit a compound and a vehicle in Dargah Mandi village. The identities of those killed in the strikes have not yet been ascertained.
Earlier in the night of June 17, three militants were killed while fleeing from the cordoned off area in Miranshah, reports The News. One soldier was injured in an exchange of fire.
At least 27 persons including 25 militants and two soldiers were killed in two separate incidents during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), The News reports on June 24 quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release. In the first incident, 10 militants and two soldiers were killed during an exchange of fire while militants were trying to flee cordoned off area in Spinwam in the night of June 22. Further, 15 militants were killed in the air strikes on eight hideouts in Mir Ali in the early hours of June 23. The statement said tunnels were spotted in the area that came under attack by the aircraft. However, it didn’t mention the name of the village or the area in Mir Ali.
Pakistan
Suspects involved in murder of MQM founding member Imran Farooq are currently in Pakistan, claims UK Police
On May 27, British Police investigating the September 16, 2010, murder of the founding member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Imran Farooq in Edgware, London, named two Pakistani men, identified as Mohsin Ali Syed (29) and Muhammad Kashif Khan Kamran (34), who they want to trace in connection with the killing and are living in Pakistan, reports Daily Times. The two men left Britain hours after the murder, said Scotland Yard Police Headquarters in a statement. According to the detectives Syed was in Britain from February 2010 and Khan Kamran came to Britain in early September 2010. “The two men are believed to be in Pakistan at this time and officers continue to liaise with Pakistani authorities,” said the Scotland Yard. They also released the pictures of the two men.
However, Faisal Sabzwari, a senior MQM leader, insisted that they knew nothing of Syed or Kamran. “We don’t know about the existence of those two men whose pictures have been released,” Sabzwari said, adding, “They are not members of the MQM or any of its affiliate groups.”
Army prepared to defeat any threat, says COAS General Raheel Shari
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on May 30 said that Pakistan Army, in unison with other services, is fully prepared to deter and defeat any aggression across the entire spectrum of threat, Daily Times reported quoting a press release issued by the ISPR. The COAS said that Pakistan Army has the unique accomplishment of having been employed on various fronts against two different types of threats – conventional and sub-conventional – for the last over one decade and is respected for its achievements and sacrifices the world over. General Raheel exhorted the need for future leadership to remain abreast with the latest global and regional developments and focus on their professional grooming.
TTP’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur group revokes peace agreement with Government
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan North Waziristan chapter led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur formally revoked the peace accord with the Government, a pamphlet distributed by the group in the area said, Daily Times reports on May 31. The faction, as the pamphlet sent to media by Bahadur’s ‘spokesman’ Ahmadullah Ahmadi said, is now preparing to fight against what it said was the Security Forces’ planned operation, giving locals time until June 10, 2014 to leave the area and move to safety. The pamphlet distributed on May 30 read that the Government had broken the peace accord with the North Waziristan TTP by launching air strikes with a full-fledged operation being planned for the tribal region. “The shura Mujahideen has decided not to tolerate this aggression anymore and has opted to fight and defend Waziristan,” the pamphlet added.
Pakistan lost USD 102.51 billion in war on terror during the last 13 years, says report
During the last 13 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan on the War on Terror and the losses due to terrorist attacks amounted to USD 102.51 billion, which is equivalent to PKR 8,264.4 billion, Daily Times reported on May 2. This includes a loss of USD 24.86 billion in over two years, a Government document revealed. The Economic Survey 2013-14 reveals that Pakistan suffered economic loss of USD 28459.89 million from January 2011 to March 2013. The figures jointly compiled by the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Interior, and incorporated in the survey suggest that of the USD 102.51 billion loss, USD 23.77 billion loss was reported in 2010-11, USD 13.56 billion in 2009-10, USD 11.98 billion in 2011-12 and USD 9.97 billion in 2012-13
TTP announces to use force in response to govt attacks
Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has said that they will now use force to reciprocate any attack launched by the government. Talking to BBC on phone from an undisclosed location on Thursday, June 5, a senior TTP leader said that the outfit was interested in carrying the peace talks forward. “If the government wants to negotiate with seriousness, sincerity and will, we’re still ready for talks. But, we will respond to attacks with further attacks,” he remarked. On the other hand, the government has made it clear that if the extremists attack governmental installations and those in the tribal areas are found to be behind the assaults, the government will also resort to limited offensive.
The possibilities of progress in the talks seem to be little. The new statements clarify that the two parties are going to be at loggerheads again. As he talked to BBC a few days back, TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid had complained that the government which said that it would have talks with the negotiators and fight with those who wanted to indulge in war, was both negotiating and fighting with banned TTP.
24 persons killed In Karachi airport attack
At least 24 persons including 10 militants, seven Security personnel and civilian each were killed during a clash when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants attacked the old terminal of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh on June 8, reports The News. Authorities said all 10 militants had been killed and that the bodies of 14 victims, including security personnel and four airport workers, had been identified at the city´s main hospital. TTP accepted the responsibility of the attack. Officials said the gunmen entered from two sides of the airport the terminal used for the hajj pilgrimage, and an engineering section close to an old terminal that is no longer in use – at around 11:00 pm on June 8. After the attack was quelled, a bomb disposal expert was seen walking from the site carrying a suicide vest and a bag full of hand grenades.”Seven terrorists were killed by the security forces while three blew themselves up,” Rizwan Akhter, Director General of Sindh Rangers said.
Militants, some dressed in Army uniform, clashed with the airport´s security force who were backed by Police, paramilitary squads and elite commandos. Smoke was seen billowing from the airport as fires raged close to planes parked on the runway. A senior intelligence official said it appeared the militants had aimed to hijack a plane that passengers were boarding at the main terminal, but that when they were repelled they went on the rampage. “The passenger plane at Jinnah terminal was their target and when they failed to reach there they destroyed two private terminals in frustration,” he commented.
120 militants killed in North Waziristan Agency of FATA as Operation Zarb-e-Azb lunched
At least 120 militants were killed in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as Pakistan Army lunched aerial as well as ground offensive during the operation Zarb-e-Azb (sharp and cutting), Dawn reports on June 16. Earlier, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted that at least 105 militants had been killed on June 15. At least 15 more suspected militants were killed in the early hours of June 16 (today) in the Mir Ali area of NWA, increasing the death toll to 120.
The Pakistan Army on June 15 launched a comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists who were hiding in sanctuaries in NWA. “The operation had been named Zarb-e-Azb,” said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. “Using North Waziristan as a base, these terrorists had waged a war against the state of Pakistan and had been disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property… They had also paralysed life within the agency and had perpetually terrorized the entire peace loving and patriotic local population,” the ISPR statement quoted Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa as saying.
Meanwhile, the commencement of the military operation was welcomed by most major political parties and Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif is expected to take Parliament into confidence over the operation on June 16 (today), reports Dawn. According to sources in the PM Office, Sharif will be attending Monday’s session at the National Assembly, where he is expected to make a policy statement over Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Eight persons killed in separate incidents of violence in FATA
Fresh clashes between rival factions of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan left seven dead on June 15 in the Shawal tehsil (revenue unit) of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. Two persons were also injured in the militant infighting. Officials and tribals confirmed that the clashes erupted between Shehryar Mehsud and Khan Said alias Sajna. Over the last two months, the infighting within TTP factions has left over 100 dead and many injured.
Separately, the brother of a militant ‘commander’, who was kidnapped a few days ago, was found dead near a petrol pump in the Akakhel area of Khyber Agency on June 15, reports The News. The sources said that Khyal Mohammad, who was the brother of ‘commander’ of Tauheedul Islam (TI), had been reportedly kidnapped by another militant group a few days back. His throat-slit body was found with a note, saying those who didn’t back Kandahar, a local ‘commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), would meet the same fate.
Pakistan home to global jihadists: MQM Chief
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on June 15 said that they must accept that Pakistan has become home to terrorists from all over the world who are now entrenched in cities as well as in tribal areas of Pakistan, mounting attacks on Pakistanis as well as others, reports The News. Altaf Hussain called on civilian and military leadership to stop the charade of talks with the terrorist groups and launch military strikes against those who are challenging the writ of the state through audacious attacks on Pakistani national installations. “What have we achieved during 8 months of talks with the TTP and allies? The terrorists have used this time to train further, amass more weapons to kill more Pakistanis. They have attacked without a care and have hit every installation they wanted as seen during attack at the Karachi airport,” said Altaf calling for action against militants without any further delay.
TTP control 25% of Karachi
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Parliamentary leader, Muhammad Farooq Sattar Peerwani, on June 16 claimed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan control 25 percent of Karachi (the provincial capital of Sindh) and warned that, if immediate steps are not taken, the commercial hub of the country could slip into a bigger crisis, reports Dawn. “Taliban are running a state within the state,” he said. Peerwani further stated that militants and their sympathisers had made transactions of around PKR 1.25 billion in various banks of Karachi, but the state was not paying any heed to this important issue. “We require a national counterterrorism policy and coordination among the agencies and community,” he added.
NACTA remains dormant as terrorism flourishes
The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Act was passed in March 2013 but not a single meeting of the authority’s high-powered Board of Governors (BoG), headed by the Prime Minister and comprising all the key Government players including spymasters, has been held as yet, The News reports on June 18. With terrorism haunting the country, NACTA direly needs a push from its board of Governors to take major counter-terrorism policy decisions besides ensuring close coordination of agencies and improving the capacity of law enforcing agencies to check the terror attacks. The implementation of the recently-approved National Internal Security Policy (NISP), which envisages multi-dimensional measures to effectively address the incapacity of the state to counter terrorism, is also dependent on the authority’s decisions and approvals. Even otherwise, legally speaking, the NACTA BoG is bound under the law to meet at least once in each quarter of a year — four times a year. Ironically, despite this legal position, the NACTA BoG never met before or during the present Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) regime, which has completed one year.
Ulema declare operation Zarb-e-Azb as Jihad
Over 100 ulema from various schools of thought on June 22 declared Operation Arab-e-Azb (sharp and cutting), the ongoing military operation against terrorists and militants in North Waziristan Agency, as Jihad (Holy war), reports Daily Times. The meeting of ulema, which was organised by the Sunni Ulema Board, in its decree (fatwa) referring to the verse No 33 of Surah-e-Al-maidah of the holy Quran, which says: “Crushing of the attempts to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in a Muslim state is jihad.” The decree said the nation was bound to support the ongoing operation in North Waziristan Agency and the people opposing the operation were rebels as per Islamic Shariah. It added that the state had the right to deal rebels with iron hands as the militants had murdered hundreds of innocent people and targeted various schools, shrines, hospitals, and innocent people. Islam, it said, did not allow individual jihad.
REGIONAL
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
PBCP-ML ‘regional commander’ killed in Satkhira District
A ‘regional commander’ of Purba Bangla Communist Party-Marxist-Leninist identified as Gaffar Par was killed and his associate injured in a shootout with Police in Tala upazila (sub-district) of Satkhira District on May 27, reports Daily Star. Gaffar was an accused in four cases including murder, Police said. The injured, Saiful Islam, 42, was the prime accused in a case filed in connection with the murder of SM Alauddin, editor of the daily Patradoot.
Earlier, on May 25, Police arrested a Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Red Flag faction) operative, identified as Mohammad Alam from Kacharipara area of Pabna District, reports Daily Star. “Alam is accused in 14 cases including nine for murders. He was one of the most wanted criminals in the district”, according to Police.
Sarbahara Party leader killed in Pabna District
On May 29, ‘second-in-command’ of Sarbahara Party, Hamidur Rahman alias Hamidur was killed and two Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials were injured in a gunfight between RAB and outlaws in Ishwardi sub-district of Pabna District, reports Daily Star. One pistol and two bullets were also recovered by RAB team. Hamidur was an accused in several criminal cases, according to Police.
Dead body of PBCP cadre recovered
Police recovered the body of an underground operative of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP- Jana juddho faction) from Gopal nagar village in Gangni sub-district of Meherpur District on May 29, reports Daily Star. The dead is identified as Ashraful Islam. Reazul Islam, Officer in-Charge (OC) of Gangni Police Station said locals found throat-slit body of Ashraful at Bholardar field of the village around 8:30am and informed the Police. Ashraful was accused in four cases, including two for murder, filed with the Police Station, the OC said, adding that he might have been killed by his rival party man.
Government to enact a new law to constrict foreign donation and eliminate militant financing
The government has decided to enact a new law, titled ‘Foreign Donations Regulation Act 2014’, to ensure transparency in the process of receiving funds from abroad and to eliminate militant financing, The Independent reports on June 2. For enacting the new law, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has prepared a draft of the Act, which is likely to be placed before the Cabinet meeting, sources in the PMO said.
Under the draft Act, candidates to Parliament and local government bodies, Members of Parliament (MPs), elected representatives of the local government councils, political parties, officials working in different constitutional bodies and Justices of the Supreme Court, officials and employees of government organisations and officials and employees of registered Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) cannot receive any foreign donations.
The Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau, Mohammad Nurun Nabi Talukder, said that they are enacting the new Act to ensure transparency and impart dynamism to the government’s development programme. “If we can ensure transparency while receiving foreign funds, we can check terror and militant financing,” he said. Further, sources in the Social Welfare Ministry and the NGO Affairs Bureau said, “So many NGOs have mobilised a huge amount of funds from donor agencies and persons, which are involved in various disruptive activities worldwide, including militancy. Most of the funds are being used for militancy and terror financing.” Activities of over 500 suspect NGOs are also under surveillance by different intelligence agencies as the organisations were involved in militancy and other anti-people activities in the country.
Arms and ammunition recovered in Habiganj
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on June 3 recovered a large cache of ammunition, including anti-tank rocket shells and chargers of launchers, from a bunker inside the Satchari National Park in Chunarughat sub-District of Habiganj District, reports Daily Star. RAB spotted six more underground bunkers there, but found nothing in those so far. Officials said they recovered 184 rocket shells (40mm) and 153 chargers abandoned in one bunker at the hillock of the reserve forest, some 130km off the capital, during the raid. The ammos were wrapped in polythene and there was nothing written about the manufacturing country on the shells, said Colonel Ziaul Ahsan, Additional Director General (operations) of RAB, who took part in the drive.
TripuraInfo reports that it is suspected that the National Front of Tripura (NLFT) had buried the weaponry. RAB sources added that there might be more ammunition. The source of the ammunition will be known after further investigation, said sources adding that the RAB officials were preparing to conduct the drive for several days in Satchhari area.
One person killed and 10 others injured in sub-District election violence in Sirajganj District
An activist of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was killed and 10 others injured when they clashed with the activists of Awami League (AL) at Bhangabari Chardhul Khagrakhali village of Belkuchi sub-District in Sirajganj District on June 9, reports The Independent. The deceased was identified as Alamgir Hossain (35). Police said JeI activists were having disputes with local AL activists over the results of the local sub-District election.
Meanwhile, the Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested three militants of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) along with seven crude bombs in Dasherhat area under Sadar sub-District of the Kurigram District on April 10, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are Anwar Hossain, Jobed Ali and Manwar Hossain Biplab. Police said that the JMB militants were planning to carry out sabotage acts on the Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) celebration programme in the Sadar sub-District.
PBCP-Janajudhha Extortionists demands money from bankers in Sirajganj District
Extortionists in the name of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party-Janayudhha faction demanded huge amounts from several managers of Sonali Bank and Agrani Bank branches in Sirajganj District, reports Daily Star. The extortionists also warned of dire consequences to the bank managers and their families in case of failure to give the money, he said. “The so-called Janayuddha ‘commander’ demanded Tk 2 lakh [BDT 2,00,000] from me on June 2. We the bank officials are worried due to the repeated threat from outlaws,” said Ratan Kumar Sarkar, manager of Shahzadpur branch of Agrani Bank.
‘BNP is an illegal organization founded by a military ruler who had seized power illegally’, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Wajed on June 12 termed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as an illegal organization founded by a military ruler who had seized power illegally, reports New Age. She said, “It is unfortunate for the people of Bangladesh to hear theories from those who have been illegal. The higher court has declared illegal the rule of Ziaur Rahman who grabbing power illegally and formed his party BNP. So, a party formed by such an illegal grabber of power is also illegal.”
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on June 13 challenged before the High Court her indictment in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases, reports New Age. A Special Judge’s Court on March 19, 2014 framed charges against Khaleda and eight others in the two cases. About the charges, the petitions said that the Zia Orphanage Trust and the Zia Charitable Trust were private trusts and Khaleda was not a trustee or anyway involved in the management of any of the trusts. As Khaleda signed no file or document as PM to sanction or disburse any money to the trusts, she had no involvement in the trust, said the petitions.
Separately, Awami League (AL) Publications and Publicity Affairs Secretary Hasan Mahmud on June 13 said that the next general election will be held on time as per the constitutional provisions, reports The Independent. He said “No elections will be held due to threats from any quarters. The next Parliamentary elections will be held on time as per the country’s constitution.” He further said that his party is not concerned by the threats made by Khaleda Zia as the BNP does not have the power to wage a successful movement against the current Government of Sheikh Hasina.
One person injured by PBCP
A youth identified as Abdul Razzak Mollah (35), was shot at and injured by cadres of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) at Surjanagar Bazaar in Rajbari District on June 25, reports The Independent. Razzak came under attack by the PBCP cadres while he was going to his house from Surjanagar Bazaar riding on a human hauler as he refused to give them toll earlier.
India – Internal Dynamics
Police constable killed in Chhattisgarh
A Police Constable, identified as Budhram Mudma (29) was on May 28 stabbed to death by Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District, reports Zee News. Mudma posted at Timed Police Camp, located in Bhopal pattanam region was stabbed to death by a group of Maoists under Toynar Police Station, Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukhnandan Rathore said. Budhram had fled from the Timed Police Camp without informing anyone on May 27 night to attend a local fair in Toynar. When he was returning from the fair, the Maoists attacked him.
Two civilians killed in IED blast
Two migrant workers were killed and 18 injured in a remote controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in a crowded mini market shed of Singjamei Chinga makhong in Imphal on May 29, reports The Sangai Express. The dead have been identified as Arvind Rai and Shyam Shanker Rai, both from Bihar. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said the bomb blast was guided by an intention to attack non-local people. Police sources pointed a militant group frequently targeting non-locals in the past behind the blast even though none of the groups so far owned up the responsibility for the same till the filing of this report, adds Nagaland Post.
Meanwhile, a gunfight occurred in Kachouphung village under Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul District between Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland and Assam Rifles (AR) on May 29. The incident occurred when NSCN-IM militants tried to stop the vehicle in which AR personnel’s in plain clothes were entering the village. No causality has been reported.
Two BSF personnel injured in landmine blast in Odisha
Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a trooper, were injured in a landmine blast carried out by suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Malkangiri District on May 28, reports Zee News. Officials said that a BSF team was on an anti-Maoist operation task in the jungles of the District when an encounter took place between the personnel and the Maoists.
Maoists kill policeman in Chhattisgarh
Constable Pankaj Suryawanshi (22) was killed and another injured in an encounter with Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Narayanpur District on May 30, reports The Hindu. The encounter took place when the joint party of Special Task Force (STF) and District force was patrolling the forests in Orchha Police Station area, Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) OP Sharma said. The incident occurred when a group of armed Maoists ambushed the Security Forces (SFs) between forests of Becha and Ilam villages.
Maoists kill former aide
The Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed a former colleague, Jeetu Madhavi at Belgaon village in Dhanora tehsil (revenue unit) in Gadchiroli District on May 31, reports The Times of India. The Maoists claimed that Madavi was killed because he had started working as a Police informer. Jeetu Madhavi was killed a day after the State Government increased compensation amount for kin of the victims of Maoist violence. It’s learnt that Madavi was killed by Maoists after they lured him away on the pretext of some work.
Civilian killed by Maoists in Bihar
About 20-25 Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres allegedly killed Devendra Modem (20), a tribal youth when he refused to join their movement in Bijapur District on June 1, reports The Times of India. Modem was brutally beaten and then axed to death by the Maoists at his native place Baiguda under Awapalli Police Station limits, Bijapur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukhnandan Rathore said.
Two persons arrested with arms in Nagaland
Nagaland Post reports that based on information regarding presence of individuals with weapons at Forest Colony, Kohima, a joint operation was carried out by Security Forces which led to the arrests of Lokesh Kumar Modi (25) of Jaipur (Rajasthan) and BB Gurung (50), resident of Forest Colony, Kohima. One Mauser 9mm Pistol, INR 2,05,320, driving license, ATM card and seven mobile handsets were recovered from them.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah has reiterated its position on the ban imposed on “night clubs and brothels” in Dimapur District, reports Nagaland Post on June 4. In a statement, NSCN-I-M warned that vehicles found parking outside the “night club and restaurant” after 10 pm would be destroyed/damaged.
Nagaland Post reports on June 4 that NSCN-Khaplang ‘People’s Army of Nagaland’ ‘Lieutenant General’ Niki Sumi has blamed the State Government agencies, “especially the police and bureaucracy” for victimizing “hundreds of NSCN workers” merely on grounds of law and order situation. In a statement, Niki said, polarization of “Naga political groups” and “diabolic cease-fire engagement” of Centre with various groups regardless of authenticity of their stand on the Naga political issue, has created significant “anti-incumbency environment” in the “Indo-Naga” political standoff. He said the State Government was only a facilitator and not a party to Ceasefire agreement between Government of India and NSCN. However instead of facilitating, the State Government and its agencies without discretion victimized hundreds of workers.
Superintendent of Police and his PSO killed by KPLT militants in Assam
The Telegraph reports that Superintendent of Police (SP), Nityananda Goswami of Hamren Police Station in Karbi Anglong Hill District and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Ratul Nunisa were killed in an ambush by suspected Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers in the night of June 5 at Rongfu along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Karbi Anglong District. Their bodies were recovered in the morning of June 6. The SP and 18 others, including additional SP, Vedanta Borkakoty, and Hamren Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Kamal Bora, had gone to the area on a counter-insurgency operation when they came under heavy fire from a large number of militants.
Huge bomb haul in Jharkhand
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recovered a cache of 18 live bombs, explosives and detonators in Ranchi District on June 7, following information from two suspected aides of alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) militants, arrested in connection with Patna blasts in 2013, reported The Hindu. While one of the suspects has been arrested, the other is being interrogated. “At the instance of one Iftikhar, we have seized 18 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) bundled into six clusters. The bombs had been buried in Sithio village, in the outskirts of Ranchi. Four of the accused in the blasts belong to the same village,” an NIA official said. The breakthrough came following the recent arrests of alleged IM suspects Haidar Ali, Mojibullah Ansari and Numan Ansari. “Another person named Feroze Aslam led us to a shop at Hindpiri in Ranchi, from where we have seized a consignment of explosives and about a dozen detonators,” the official said, adding that Feroze had been arrested.
Civilian shot dead by Garo militants
The Shillong Times reports that an auto-rickshaw driver was shot dead in the morning of June 8 after he expressed reluctance to ferry two suspected Garo militants in his vehicle in Ampati region in South West Garo Hills District.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, on June 6, urged all Northeastern States to jointly take up the issue of militancy in the region with the Centre. Noting that various States of the region including Tripura, Nagaland and Manipur have got their own history of militancy, the Chief Minister claimed that the United Liberated Front of Assam (ULFA) and the anti talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) had connections with the militant groups in Garo Hills.
Maoists distribute books, pen among poor in Bihar
The Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres are distributing books, notebooks, pens and pencils to the children of the poorest of poor in a bid to win over the confidence and sympathy of the people in rural areas of Bihar’s Jamui and Lakhisarai District, reports firstpost.com on June 12. “It may be part of their move to win over the poor people, who are not happy with them,” said Jamui Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Rana.
Ammonium nitrate seized in UP
A Maruti car with more than 140 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate was seized on June 14 by Uttar Pradesh Police on the national highway in Varanasi, reports The Indian Express. According to the Police, the abandoned Maruti 800 car, having a Varanasi registration number, was spotted near a toll plaza on the National Highway from Allahabad to Varanasi in the afternoon. “On searching the car, we recovered three gunny bags in which some chemicals were kept. Prima facie, it appeared to be ammonium nitrate. An analysis would establish the exact nature of the chemicals,” said Circle Officer, Bhelupur, Shalini.
Three persons injured in an IED blast in Manipur
Three persons, identified as Bachaspatimayum Govind, Amakcham Anil and Phurailatpam Ibomcha were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in a laundry shop run by a non-Manipuri at Moirangkhom Sougaijam Leikai in Imphal West District on June 14, reports The Sangai Express.
Meanwhile, a hand grenade wrapped inside a doll was planted at the gate of Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) Chairman Hamom Nabachandra residence at Sega Road Thouda Bhabok Leikai in Imphal West District on June 15. The Grenade was later retrieved by the Police.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik admits to rise in Maoist activities in Odisha
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on June 16 admitted in the Odisha Assembly that the Communist Party of India-Maoist activities in the State increased from five Districts in 2000 to 19 Districts, reports The New Indian Express. The Chief Minister said parts of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj Districts were considered Maoist affected in 2000. However, in the current scenario, parts of 19 Districts: Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam (including Berhampur Police District), Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh are considered to be affected by CPI-Maoist activities in varying intensities, he said.
Maoists learning to escape air raids
The Communist Party of India-Maoist’s military wing units have been undergoing training in the forests of Abujhmad, extending from Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar region to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, to develop skills to escape air raids, if launched by the Security Forces (SFs) in the future, intelligence sources said on June 10, reports The Asian Age. Sources said the first batch was given training in Abujhmad forests on April 23, 2013. Members of different military wings of the CPI-Maoist have been imparted training in phases since then in the area. “Prominent among the leaders who were spotted taking training in the first training session included local District janata sarkar (peoples’ government) ‘president’ Radhika, ‘Maoist intelligence wing in-charge’ in north Bastar division Sunil, Kutul ‘area committee secretary’ Renita, and ‘local agriculture division chief’ Ranader. ‘Madh-North Bastar division committee secretary’ Rajman, alias Keye, was given the charge of organising the training camp,” intelligence sources said. “A booklet titled Jawabi Karwai Ke Liye Madh Mein Training (training on counter-attack in Madh) has been circulated among the trainees in the camp. Another book Air Defence Class Notes have been in the curriculum of training classes,” sources further disclosed.
Four persons abducted by NLFT militants in Mizoram
Three traders and their driver were abducted by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura militants from Phaileng village in Mamit District, 20 kilometers from the Tripura-Mizoram border on June 14, reports The Assam Tribune. “Five businessmen from northern Tripura went to adjoining western Mizoram on Saturday (June 14) in connection with their trade. Armed militants waylaid their vehicle and kidnapped three traders and the driver of the car,” a Tripura Police Spokesman told reporters. Two traders however managed to escape.
Tripura Police have asked their Mizoram counterparts to rescue the hostages. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also been alerted to arrest the militants if they tried to cross the India-Bangladesh border. The NLFT have been abducting people in Tripura and Mizoram to collect ransom.
Maoist sabotage suspected in train derailment
At least four passengers were killed and eight injured as twelve coaches of New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailed near Golden Ganj station in Chapra in Saran District on June 25, reports Zee News. Railway suspected “sabotage” by Communist Party of India-Maoist behind the derailment as there was a blast on the track. “Prima facie, it appears to be a case of sabotage. There was a blast on the track, which could have caused the derailment,” Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar told PTI. “Another goods train, 60 kms away from the station, also got derailed due to a blast. 18 wagons got derailed in the accident,” Kumar said. The Maoists have given bandh (general shut down) call to protest security forces’ “strong armed” action against “innocent people” in the area on suspicion of being Maoists’ sympathiser. Meanwhile, a live bomb fitted with a timer device has been found near tracks, which has given credence to reports of Maoists having a role in the incident.
Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period May 26, 2014 to June 25, 2014:
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Assam | 01 | 02 | 07 | 10 |
| Arunachal P | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Manipur | 03 | 01 | 00 | 04 |
| Meghalaya | 03 | 00 | 03 | 06 |
| Nagaland | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Tripura | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Left-wing | 08 | 02 | 04 | 14 |
| Total | 19 | 05 | 15 | 39 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
Explosives recovered
Police recovered nine kilograms of explosive materials from the forest in Nipane in Daha Village Development Committees (VDC)-1 of Jajarkot District on June 1, reports Republica. The explosive material found has been taken into control and further investigation initiated, Chief District Officer Chakra Pani Pandey said.
Suspected pressure cooker bomb found
A suspected pressure cooker bomb was found at gate no. 3 of Constituent Assembly (CA) building, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu on June 4, reports Republica. According to Police, the suspected pressure cooker bomb was planted warped with polythene. Leaflets printed in the name of Dalit Mukti Force have been recovered near by the incident site. However, the bomb disposal team found out that the pressure cooker was just a hoax and was planted there to spread fear, said New Baneshwor Police Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramesh Kumar Tamang, adds Ekantipur.com. “There was no explosive material inside the cooker,” said Tamang.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
LTTE suspects arrested in Malaysia are under Sri Lankan custody, says SSP Ajith Rohana
Sri Lanka Police Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana, on may 27 said that the three most wanted Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leaders, identified as Sandal Inga Raja Dushyanthan, Mahadevan Kirubakaran and Selvthurai Kiribavan arrested by the Malaysian Police have been brought to the country and are now in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities, reports Colombo Page. He also added that the three suspects have been placed under the custody of the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) and they are being questioned now. According to the Police spokesman Interpol Red Notices have been issued for two out of the three LTTE members.
Ex-policemen request Missing Persons Commission to revisit massacre of 600 Policemen by LTTE
The Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association members have urged the ‘Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons’ to pursue the matter regarding the murder of 600 Policemen in June 1990, reports Daily News on June 4. The Association led by its President C.R. Abeygunawardena requested the Commission Chairman, Retired Justice Maxwell Paranagama to ascertain from the Police Department whether the 600 Policemen who were killed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Ampara District in Eastern Province have been duly honoured by posthumous promotions, payments of salaries until the age of retirement, payment of widows and orphans pensions to the kith and kin and any other compensation to the dependents of the slain officers.
SL rejects devolving police powers
Sri Lanka on Wednesday, June 4 again rejected devolving police powers to the provinces as requested by new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and required by the constitution as a means to ease tension with minority Tamils.
Sri Lanka agreed with India in 1987 to devolve powers, including over police and land, to a regional level as a means to improve relations between Tamils and majority Sinhalese.
A war between the military and Tamil rebels, seeking a homeland in the north and northeast, lasted a quarter of a century and killed more than 100,000 people before it ended in 2009.
“Police power is important for provinces to maintain law and order,” Primus Siraiva, a northern provincial councillor, told Reuters. “Otherwise, there could be lawlessness in provinces and the Provincial Council won’t be able to control it.
“India has demanded successive Sri Lankan governments to implement the 13th amendment to the constitution which came as a result of 1987 India-Sri Lanka accord. Modi repeated that demand after being sworn in last week.
Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris told parliament that President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not have an in depth discussion on constitutional issues with Modi.
“But we made it crystal clear that devolution of police power is not acceptable,” Peiris told parliament, responding to a question raised by the opposition. He did not gave a reason.
Sri Lanka is facing heavy pressure from rights groups and the West for alleged human rights violations during the final phase of the war.
One person arrested along with explosives in Mannar District
Police on June 4 arrested an individual, identified as Nandarasa Soundranayagam in the possession of nearly 15 kilograms of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosives in the Madhu area of Mannar in Mannar District in Northern Province, reports Colombo Page. According to Police media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana, a second suspect believed to be an explosive expert of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, identified as Gunasekara Mudiyanselage Nilanka Jude Anthony alias Cyril Nilangam Jude Anthony alias Villango had escaped during the Police operation and remains at large. Rohana added that the suspect has knowledge of the landmines buried by the LTTE during the war in the area between Madhu and Kanagarayankulam as a protective barrier. He has dismantled buried land mines to collect the explosives and sell them to local fishermen for illegal fishing. Later on June 8 Rohana requested public assistance to arrest Villango.
One person arrested along with explosives in North Central Province
A special Police team led by North Central Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranjith Padmasiri arrested a suspect on June 13 from a location close to the clock tower in the Anuradhapura Town, North Central Province while he was allegedly transporting 10 kilogrammes of explosives, 500 detonators and 40 meters of fuse cord, reports Daily Mirror. The suspect was a 52-year-old man from Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura District. The explosives were being transported to Trincomalee and had been hidden underneath the seat adjacent to the driver’s seat in a lorry.
SL to dig up suspected Muslim mass grave
Sri Lankan authorities are to dig up the site of a suspected mass grave next week after claims it contains the bodies of scores of Muslims killed by Tamil rebels 24 years ago, police said on Tuesday, June 24. The move comes amid criticism that Sri Lankan authorities have been turning a blind eye to recent attacks against Muslims carried out by Buddhist militants. At least four Muslims were killed and hundreds of homes destroyed in rioting last week at two southern resort towns.
“The site will be exhumed on July 1,” a police statement said adding that security has been tightened in the area ahead of the exhumation. “According to the complainant, the bodies of nearly 100 Muslims killed by the Tigers are buried there.” The announcement came the day after a judge ordered the dig to be carried out following a complaint from a local resident that nearly 100 Muslims were killed by Tamil Tiger rebels in the east coast town of Kaluwanchikudy in 1990 before then being buried on the beach.
Sri Lanka’s 37-year civil war, which ended in 2009, mainly pitted the majority ethnic Sinhalese, who are Buddhists, against the minority Tamils, who are mainly Hindus and live in the north. The Muslim community, which accounts for around 10 percent of the island’s population and is concentrated in the east, largely avoided being caught up in the fighting.
But there have been allegations that the Tigers carried out several massacres of Muslims in the east as part of their push to create a separate Tamil homeland. Several mass graves have been found in Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict, mainly inside the former war zone but also in areas which were largely unaffected by the conflict which claimed around 100,000 lives.
Sri Lanka’s government, whose troops are accused of the mass killing of civilians in the latter stages of the war, has been heavily criticised for failing to prevent last week’s anti-Muslim riots.
Three people dead in communal violence
Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem said that violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in Kalutara District of Western Province on June 15 has left three people dead and at least another 78 injured, reports Colombo Page. Clashes erupted between the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the area after the extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) held a demonstration in the town to denounce the attack on a Buddhist monk and his driver by a Muslim youth. Police said that the curfew imposed on June 15 has been extended indefinitely in the two areas.
Meanwhile, local media reports said the communal violence was spreading to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, as an unidentified gang attacked a pharmacy in Dehiwala area.
‘Intelligence unit’ member Subramaniyam Ravichandran among two LTTE cadres arrested in separate incidents
Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on June 25 said that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ‘Intelligence Unit’ member Subramaniyam Ravichandran was arrested on June 17, when he was hiding in Raigamwatte in Horana, Kalutara District of Western Province, reports Daily News. He added that he is being detained for questioning. Subramaniyam Ravichandran had joined the LTTE in 2002.
Also, an LTTE ‘Sea Tiger Force’ member, Thirunaukarasu Pradeepan was arrested on June 19 at the Katunayake Airport in Western Province when he was to take a flight to Qatar, said SSP Rohana. Rohana further said, after the reorganization attempts of the LTTE led by Gopi, Appan and Thevian were exposed on March 8, 2014, the Police had arrested 51 suspects in connection with LTTE activities and there had been five females among them. He said as of today (June 25), a total of 110 suspects with LTTE links are in jail.
INTERNATIONAL
Afghans told to pass anti-money laundering law or face blacklist in June
Western countries have told Afghanistan its banks will be put on an international blacklist if it does not pass an anti-money laundering law within the next few weeks, the central bank governor told Reuters on Monday, May 26. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that sets standards on how countries combat money laundering, is due to decide at its meeting on June 22 on whether to blacklist Afghanistan.
That would cut Afghan banks off from most international financial institutions, causing a potentially devastating impact on the country’s already weak economy. Afghan banks were dealt another blow last week when Chinese banks halted dollar transactions with most Afghan banks without warning, making it difficult for businesses to pay for imports.
Western officials say Afghanistan has had plenty of time to meet the deadline and decisions by the regulator cannot be delayed for legal reasons.
FATF has previously told Afghanistan to pass laws meeting global standards against money laundering and terrorist financing or face the blacklist at its June meeting. The central bank has drafted a law but it has been held up by discussions in cabinet for months, leading to some key provisions being removed from the draft.
As a result, in its current form even if it is passed, it will not save Afghanistan from the blacklist, the central bank and Western diplomats say. It is unclear why some provisions were removed. Diplomats and analysts say it is possible that certain provisions were removed by Afghan officials worried about being targeted by international money-laundering laws.
Afghan banks have been struggling since FATF put Afghanistan on a dark grey list early this year. They say the move has affected their ability to process transactions such as families sending money to students’ abroad.
S Arabia arrests 9 professors for Brotherhood ties
Saudi Arabia has arrested nine university professors for their alleged links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood movement, media reported on Monday, May 26.
Investigators found the professors, two Saudis and the rest from neighbouring countries, had been involved with “foreign organisations” based on “voice recordings and emails” linked to them, Okaz daily reported.
It identified the organisation as the Muslim Brotherhood, designated by the interior ministry in March as a “terror” group.
The investigation should be completed by mid-June, said the daily which is close to the government.
If convicted, the group could be jailed for 10-15 years, after which the foreigners would be deported, it added.
Saudi Arabia and its neighbour the United Arab Emirates have cracked down on Islamists accused of links to the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups.
Riyadh had hailed the Egyptian military’s ouster of Mohammed Mursi, the Islamist president who hails from the Brotherhood. It has also pledged billions of dollars to the army-installed government in Cairo.
The kingdom, along with other absolute monarchies of the Gulf, fears the Brotherhood brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine its own authority.
US training elite anti-terror troops in four African nations
United States Special Operations troops are forming elite counterterrorism units in four countries in North and West Africa that American officials say are pivotal in the widening war against al-Qaeda’s affiliates and associates on the continent, even as they acknowledge the difficulties of working with weak allies.
The secretive programme, financed in part with millions of dollars in classified Pentagon spending and carried out by trainers, including members of the Army’s Green Berets and Delta Force, was begun last year to instruct and equip hundreds of handpicked commandos in Libya, Niger, Mauritania and Mali.
The goal over the next few years is to build homegrown African counterterrorism teams capable of combating fighters like those in Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist group that abducted nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls last month.
American military specialists are helping Nigerian officers in their efforts to rescue the girls. “Training indigenous forces to go after threats in their own country is what we need to be doing,” said Michael A. Sheehan, who advocated the counterterrorism program last year when he was the senior Pentagon official in charge of Special Operations policy. Mr. Sheehan now holds the distinguished chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
27 killed in Iraq bombing
A wave of attacks in Iraq, including a suicide bombing at a mosque in Baghdad, killed 27 people on Tuesday, May 27 the latest in a protracted surge in bloodshed.
In the deadliest attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to a mosque in central Baghdad’s Shorja neighbourhood as worshippers were performing ablutions ahead of mid-day prayers. At least 19 people were killed and 34 wounded in the blast at the Abu al-timan husseiniyah, near the headquarters of the Baghdad mayoralty, security and medical officials said. Security forces barred journalists from taking photographs or videos of the aftermath of the scene, a common occurrence in the wake of deadly violence in the capital.
Elsewhere in the capital, roadside bombs in the neighbourhoods of Sadr City and Dura left two people dead. And a series of shootings and bombings in the main northern city of Mosul killed six others. Mosul and surrounding Nineveh province are among the most violent parts of Iraq, and security officials say Sunni militant groups including ISIL hold significant sway there.
Tuesday’s incidents pushed the death toll for the year above 4,000 as near-daily violence and battles with militants in western Iraq have fuelled fears the country is slipping back into the all-out conflict that plagued it in 2006 and 2007.
Two British men plead guilty in terrorism case
Two British brothers have pleaded guilty to conspiracy for planning to attend a terrorist training camp in Syria.
Hamza Nawaz, 24, and 30-year-old Mohammad Nawaz were arrested in September in Dover after arriving in England from France. Police say they were carrying ammunition.
Prosecutors said they had driven from their home in the London area to France and then flown to Turkey before entering Syria.
The brothers admitted guilt Tuesday, May 27 and will be sentenced June 9. British officials have warned of an increasing risk of Britons traveling to Syria to take part in the fighting there and then returning home to launch attacks.
Iranians use fake FB accounts to spy on USA
In an unprecedented, three-year cyber espionage campaign, Iranian hackers created false social networking accounts and a fake news website to spy on military and political leaders in the United States, Israel and other countries, a cyber intelligence firm said on Thursday, May 29.
ISight Partners, which uncovered the operation, said the hackers´ targets include a four-star US Navy admiral, US lawmakers and ambassadors, members of the US-Israeli lobby, and personnel from Britain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The firm declined to identify the victims and said it could not say what data had been stolen by the hackers, who were seeking credentials to access government and corporate networks, as well as infect machines with malicious software.
“If it’s been going on for so long, clearly they have had success,” iSight Executive Vice President Tiffany Jones told Reuters. The privately held company is based in Dallas, Texas and provides intelligence on cyber threats.
ISight dubbed the operation “Newscaster” because it said the Iranian hackers created six “personas” who appeared to work for a fake news site, NewsOnAir.org, which used content from the Associated Press, BBC, Reuters and other media outlets. The hackers created another eight personas who purported to work for defence contractors and other organizations, iSight said.
Tunnel bomb in Aleppo kills 40 Syrian soldiers
At least 40 Syrian soldiers were killed on Saturday, May 31 when rebels detonated explosives packed beneath an army base in Aleppo, activists and rebels said.
The Islamic Front, an umbrella rebel organisation, claimed responsibility for the bombing, though the claim could not be immediately verified. A video posted on the internet showed a massive blast sending clouds of dust and debris into the air as gunshots rang out in the old Zahrawi area of Aleppo.
The front said 40 government soldiers were killed. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 died in the blast and added that fierce clashes had erupted along the divided city’s frontlines, where fighting between rebels and troops has escalated in recent days.
Rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad regularly carry out guerrilla attacks but have only recently begun using large tunnel bombs on military targets. Last week they claimed responsibility for blowing up a hillside army base and a hotel used by soldiers in Aleppo.
The government has vastly superior firepower and has intensified air strikes using crude barrel bombs on residential areas in rebel-held Aleppo, killing at least 132 civilians in the last three days, a local medical group said.
Gunbattles, air strikes, car bombs, shelling and executions regularly kill more than 200 people a day in Syria, where a conflict that started as a peaceful protest movement has killed over 150,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Despite the carnage and loss of swathes of territory in the north and east to insurgents, Syria plans to hold a presidential election next Tuesday that is all but certain to give Assad a third term. Opponents have dismissed the vote as a farce.
Florida man named as Syrian suicide bomber
An American who travelled to fight in the Syrian civil war, has been identified by Washington as being responsible for a suicide bombing over the weekend. Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha is understood to be the first US citizen confirmed to have taken part in a suicide attack on Syrian government forces. His identity was verified by Jen Psaki, a State Department spokesman. “The American citizen involved in the suicide bombing in Syria is believed to be Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha,” Mr Psaki said.
Raised in Florida Abu-Salha, who fought under the name of Abu Huraira al-Amriki, drove an explosive-laden lorry at Syrian troops at a mountaintop restaurant in the northern province of Idib. Abu-Salha, who was in his 20s, is understood to have spent two months at a training camp, run by the Nusra Front, having travelled to Syrian to fight in the civil war.
Photos had been circulating on social media showing a man in his 20s holding a cat, who was identified as the bomber.
The New York Times reported that the picture on a Facebook page belonging to Moner Abu salha – in which he said he liked basketball, American football and Eggo Waffles – appeared to match that of the bomber. He is understood to have lived in Fort Pierce, about 130 miles north of Miami.
The confirmation of his identity will heighten concern about other young Americans could become radicalised as a result of joining the rebels who are fighting to bring down the Assad regime.
A Syrian fighter from the Al-Nusra Front told the Times that Abu-Salha was an Arab-American who spoke only poor Arabic, but was dedicated to the extremists cause.
41 killed in Sudan clashes
At least 41 people have been killed in clashes between rival Sudanese clans over the ownership of land being explored for oil in West Kordofan state, a tribal source said on June 2
Another 13 people were seriously wounded in the fighting that raged through to Sunday between the Zurug and Awlad Amran clans of the powerful Misseriya tribe, the source told AFP. Those involved in the clashes used Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket propelled-grenades.
A witness, who declined to be named, said the fighting broke out as each group claimed ownership of a plot of land where drilling for oil is underway. Oil-rich West Kordofan state borders the province of South Kordofan where Sudanese government forces have been battling rebels for nearly three years. It also neighbours the western region of Darfur, where the army and allied tribes have since 2003 battled rebels demanding an end to economic marginalisation and power sharing with the Khartoum government.
Militias, rebel splinter groups and armed tribes operate in the region, where gunmen abducted two Chinese and an Algerian from an oilfield in April.
White House defends release of Taliban detainees; Afghans upset
The White House on Monday, June 2 defended the release of five Guantanamo detainees in exchange for a US soldier held by the Taliban, as many ordinary Afghans criticised the deal for emboldening the militants. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl — the only US soldier held by the Taliban after being captured in Afghanistan — was freed on Saturday in a dramatic deal brokered by Qatar. In exchange, five Taliban prisoners were turned over to the Arab emirate where they will remain for a year, raising hopes for peace as the US prepares to leave Afghanistan. But the deal has also sparked sparked criticism from some Republicans, who claimed they could return to the battlefield and pose a threat to Americans abroad, as well as revulsion among Afghans in those parts of the country traditionally opposed to the Islamists.
Of the five men, Norullah Noori, the ex-governor of the northern province of Balkh, was seen as the most controversial among the people AFP spoke to in the area, where he is accused of taking part in the 1998 genocide of thousands of Shias. The allegations around Noori centre on an August 1998 massacre of up to 8,000 Shias at the hands of the Taliban, who in turn had set out to avenge the killing of 2,000 of their own men the year earlier. Noori’s Guantanamo Bay detention file notes he is “wanted by the United Nations for possible war crimes including the murder of thousands of Shias”, though the Afghanistan Analysts Network said no clear evidence has been presented to back up the allegation.
But the move has been hailed by some, particularly in Pashtun-dominated parts of the country, and by a senior government negotiator.
Facing growing criticism in the United States, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney took to the US morning talk shows to play down the threat posed by the men.
Clashes, bombings kill 18 people in Libya
Helicopters attacked camps and strongholds of Islamist militias on Monday, June 2 in eastern Libya as part of a nearly three-week offensive by a renegade general, violence that killed at least 18 people and sent civilians fleeing in panic, authorities said.
Militiamen responded by firing rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns at the attacking troops allied with Gen. Khalifa Hifter. A former Qadhafi-era army chief, Hifter has rallied support from the country’s weakened military, its anti-Islamist politicians, tribes and diplomats, vowing to crush the Islamist militias he blames for Libya’s instability. The clashes started late on Sunday and continued overnight, forcing the Education Ministry to cancel high school exams. Witnesses said the clashes were near Benghazi University and that gunfire and grenades damaged homes, witnesses said. In Benghazi’s southern districts, citizens set up checkpoints to prevent rival forces from taking shelter as shops closed, witnesses said.
Residents have also been unable to leave as the airport has been closed since Hifter’s offensive began three weeks ago. Traveling by road has become risky because of the violence. Mohammed al-Hegazi, a spokesman for Hifter, called on residents to stay away from the fighting. He accused Islamist militias of firing at houses and civilians.
“This is not a football match. This is a war. People must stay away so they won’t be used as human shields,” he said. The clashes have killed at least 18 people and wounded at least 81, said Abdullah al-Fitori, a Health Ministry official. Hospitals called for blood donations. Military officials said helicopter gunships flown by pilots loyal to Hifter have been attacking the base of the February 17 militia and camps belonging to the militant group Ansar al-Shariah.
Erdogan accuses media of spying
Turkey’s embattled prime minister lashed out at international media on Tuesday, June 3 accusing news outlets of stirring unrest during the one-year anniversary of mass anti-government protests.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan singled out CNN International, whose reporter was arrested live on air last Saturday while covering street clashes, accusing the network of spying. “International media organisations who came to Istanbul for provocative and exaggerated broadcasts were left empty-handed,” Erdogan told members of his ruling AKP party in an apparent reference to the incident.
On Saturday, police violently dispersed demonstrators in Istanbul and Ankara as they marked a year since the start of nationwide protests denouncing Erdogan’s authoritarian rule. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters on Istanbul’s side streets to prevent them reaching the city’s iconic Taksim Square, the epicentre of last year’s uprising.
News outlets were also targeted, with Turkish police briefly detaining a CNN team in the middle of a live broadcast from the square. “Turkish police released CNN team after half an hour. Officer apologised for another officer who kneed me while I was being detained,” CNN’s Ivan Watson said on Twitter. On Tuesday, Erdogan called Watson a “lackey” who had been “caught red-handed” trying to bring chaos to Turkey.
“(CNN) doesn’t care about a free, impartial and independent press. They are assigned to work like spies,” Erdogan said.
Last year’s wave of protests was sparked by government plans to uproot trees at Istanbul’s central Gezi Park and erect a shopping mall on the site.
At least eight people were killed and thousands were left injured during three weeks of unrest that followed. Erdogan has branded demonstrators “extremists” and “looters” and accuses them of seeking to derail his government’s economic achievements over the last decade.
Qatar allowing Taliban to move freely
Qatar has moved five Afghan Taliban prisoners freed in exchange for a US soldier to a residential compound and will let them move freely in the country, a senior Gulf official said on Tuesday, June 3 a step likely to be scrutinised by Washington.
US officials have referred to the release of the Islamist militants as a transfer and said they would be subject to certain restrictions in Qatar. One of the officials said that would include a minimum one-year ban on them travelling outside of Qatar as well as monitoring of their activities.
Following the deal under which freed the last American soldier held in Afghanistan was freed, concerns have been expressed by some US intelligence officials and congressional advisers over the role of the Gulf Arab state as a bridge between Washington and the world of radical Islam.
The Gulf official said the Taliban men, who have been granted Qatari residency permits, will not be treated like prisoners while in Doha and no US officials will be involved in monitoring their movement while in the country.
“Under the deal they have to stay in Qatar for a year and then they will be allowed to travel outside the country… They can go back to Afghanistan if they want to,” the official said. The five, who had been held at the US Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba since 2002, arrived in Qatar on Sunday where US security personnel handed them over to Qatari authorities in the Al Udeid area west of Doha, site of a US military base.
US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl had been held for nearly five years by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan and his release followed years of on-off negotiations.
A diplomatic source said Qatar has flown in family members of the five released Taliban men and gave them accommodation paid for by the government. On Sunday, Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah told a news conference that Doha got involved in the case because it was a “humanitarian cause”. He did not elaborate.
Boko Haram militants slaughter hundreds
Boko Haram militants dressed as soldiers slaughtered at least 200 civilians in three villages in northeastern Nigeria and the military failed to intervene even though it was warned that an attack was imminent, witnesses said on Thursday, Jun 5.
A community leader who witnessed the killings on Monday said residents of the Gwoza local government district in Borno state had pleaded for the military to send soldiers to protect the area after they heard that militants were about to attack, but help didn’t arrive.
The killings occurred in Danjara, Agapalwa, and Antagara. “We all thought they were the soldiers that we earlier reported to that the insurgents might attack us,” said the community leader who escaped the massacre and fled to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The militants arrived in Toyota Hilux pickup trucks — commonly used by the military — and told the civilians they were soldiers and that they had come “to protect you all,” the same tactic used by the group when they kidnapped more than 300 girls from a school in the town of Chibok on April 15.
After people gathered in the centre on the orders of the militants, “they began to shout ´Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar,´ then they began to fire at the people continuously for a very long time until all who had gathered were all dead,” said the witness, who didn’t want to be named out of fear for his safety. Allahu akbar means God is great.
The slaughter was confirmed by both Mohammed Ali Ndume, a senator representing Borno whose hometown is Gwoza, and by a top security official in Maiduguri who insisted on anonymity because he isn’t allowed to speak to the media.
It took a few days for survivors to get word of the massacres to Maiduguri because travel on the roads is extremely dangerous and phone connections are poor or nonexistent. Ndume said the military has assured the Borno state governor that they will send soldiers to the area immediately.
59 killed in Iraq clashes
Jihadists took students and staff hostage at Anbar University in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Saturday, June 7 while fighting between security forces and militants in a northern city killed 59 people. Iraq is suffering its worst violence in years, and militants have launched major operations in three provinces in recent days that have killed well over 100 people and highlighted their long reach.
In Ramadi, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant gunmen infiltrated the university from the nearby Al-Tasha area, killed its guards and then blew up a bridge leading to its main gate, police said.
An AFP journalist said special forces later spearheaded an assault to retake the campus, with heavy gunfire heard.
Security forces “liberated all of the male and female student hostages from the dormitories in Anbar University” and regained control of checkpoints at its entrances, Deputy Interior Minister Adnan al-Assadi said in an emailed statement. But he did not refer to the fate of university staff, and it was unclear if the assault was over or if some other areas remained under militant control.
Before the military assault began, a student told AFP by telephone from inside the university that she and other women were ordered to gather in one place, after which the leader of the militants addressed them.
“We will teach you a lesson you will never forget,” he said, according to the student’s account. In the northern city of Mosul, heavy fighting between militants and security forces entered its second day on Saturday, killing 21 police and 38 militants, an officer and mortuary employee said. Fighting erupted in Mosul on Friday morning and continued into the night, while twin suicide bombings targeted a minority group east of the city, and soldiers shot dead suicide bombers to its south.
Pro-Russian rebels attack Lugansk airport
Pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukraine’s Western-backed government have launched their most serious attacks yet on Lugansk International Airport in the east of the country, a military source said on Sunday, June 8. The assaults, which took place Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the immediate wake of the inauguration of Ukraine’s new President Petro Poroshenko, did not result in any injuries among the defenders, he said.
The two districts have been the scene of ceaseless fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian insurgents that have killed more than 200 people since mid-April.
When approached by AFP, a spokesman for the “Lugansk People’s Republic” could not confirm the assaults on the airport, which has been closed for the past month because of the instability in the region.The airport is one among very few areas in the Lugansk not controlled by the separatists, who have taken over most of the cities, set up numerous roadblocks and recently seized several checkpoints on the border with Russia.
The international airport at the nearby city of Donetsk briefly came under rebel control late last month.
The Ukrainian authorities took it back in severe fighting that cost the lives of dozens of fighters, mostly of Russian nationality, according to a report issued by Donetsk insurgents.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s new Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko got down on Sunday to the Herculean task of pacifying a deadly pro-Kremlin insurgency and averting a devastating Russian gas cut.
The 48-year-old candy magnate—dubbed the “chocolate king” delivered a forceful inauguration address Saturday in which he vowed to never accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea and pursue Ukraine’s new pro-European course.
And he flatly rejected dialogue with “gangsters and killers” who have declared independence in two heavily-Russified eastern regions and are waging a bloody campaign against Ukrainian forces that Kiev and the West accuse the Kremlin of choreographing. Europe’s worst security crisis in decades has now plunged East-West relations into a Cold War-style standoff and left the ex-Soviet country of 46 million facing disintegration and economic collapse.
But a sudden chink in the diplomatic ice emerged Friday when Russian President Vladimir Putin—nudged by German Chancellor Angela Merkel—shook hands with Poroshenko on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in Normandy and conducted what he described as a “very positive” exchange of views.
Putin followed that up Saturday by bowing to US pressure and demanding extra protection of Russia’s western border in order to stem the flow of militants and weapons into Ukraine.
Bombs against Kurds, other attacks kill 39
A double bombing tore through Kurdish political party offices in northern Iraq in the deadliest of a series of attacks nationwide that killed at least 39 people, officials said. It was the second such assault in as many days. Nobody claimed responsibility for Monday’s (June 9) attack. But an al-Qaeda splinter group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the previous double bombing Sunday against Kurdish offices in Jalula, northwest of Baghdad, killing 19 people. The group said in an Internet statement that the bombings in Jalula were in response to the detention of Muslim women by authorities in the self-rule Kurdish region in northern Iraq.
Iraq is grappling with its worst surge in violence since the sectarian bloodletting of 2006 and 2007, when the country was pushed to the brink of civil war despite the presence of tens of thousands of US troops. The Americans withdrew at the end of 2011.
Monday’s attack took place in the town of Tuz Khormato, about 200-km north of Baghdad, when a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden truck into a checkpoint leading up to the offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the nearby Kurdistan Communist Party.
Mayor Shalal Abdoul said another truck bomb exploded, presumably detonated by remote control, as people rushed to the scene of the first attack.
The blasts killed 22 people, wounded as many as 150 and destroyed several houses and cars, he said.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is one of the main parties governing the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and maintains offices in other areas that are heavily dominated by the ethnic minority. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is composed of Sunni insurgents who stage frequent high-profile bombings aimed at derailing the government and its Kurdish allies.
Attacks have spiked as ISIL and other insurgents have strengthened their control over parts of Iraq’s western Anbar province and exploited widespread Sunni anger over alleged mistreatment by the government. Also on Monday, gunmen opened fire on a security checkpoint in the town of Kanaan, about 75-km northeast of Baghdad, killing four soldiers and two police officers, police said.
And in the Iraqi capital, gunmen killed a real estate agent after spraying his office with bullets in a western neighborhood, police said. A bomb blast also killed a government employee in eastern Baghdad, police said.
Seven al-Qaeda activists jailed in UAE
Seven men arrested last year on suspicion of planning attacks on the United Arab Emirates were jailed on Monday, June 23 for belonging to an al-Qaeda network and aiding its affiliate in Syria. The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi acquitted two others on trial in the same case, the official news agency WAM said, adding that they were Arabs rather than Emirati citizens.
The UAE, an important military and business partner of the West, said at the time of the arrests in April 2013 that the men were Arab nationals who had been helping al-Qaeda with recruitment, financing and logistical support.
The nine men on trial were accused of supporting al Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate fighting Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria. Other charges included forming an al-Qaeda cell in the UAE while two of the defendants were accused of setting up websites to spread al-Qaeda’s ideology, WAM said.
Six were jailed for seven years, one was given life. Two of the defendants sentenced to seven years were also fined 1 million UAE dirhams ($272,300). All of them will be deported from the country once their sentences are served.
The sentences were handed down in absentia to one of the defendants, WAM said. Local media said the man jailed for life was the one not present at the trial.
The Gulf country, a federation of seven emirates including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has been spared an attack by al-Qaeda and other militants. Some analysts say the groups find it too useful as a communications and financial hub.
One of the region’s most politically stable nations, largely thanks to its oil wealth and cradle-to-grave welfare system, the UAE has seen none of the violent turmoil that has shaken other parts of the Middle East and North Africa in the past years.
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.
