Terrorist Activities In Pakistan

Suicide Bombings/Attacks

At least 13 persons were killed and 85 Injured when a suicide bomber struck February 13-evening around 6pm outside the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road of Lahore during a protest, reports Dawn. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera confirmed that six Police officials were among the dead, including two senior officers. Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Traffic, Lahore Captain (Retd) Ahmad Mobin and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Operations, Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police were among those killed In the attack. Hours earlier, DIG Mobin had been seen on television, ‘mediating with the protesters gathered at the site. A large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers were gathered In front of the provincial assembly to protest a Government crackdown against the sale of Illegal drugs. There was a significant presence of law enforcers in the area while the protest was ongoing. “The suicide attacker was on foot,” Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Chief Dr. Mohammad Iqbal said. The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least three Levies personnel were killed and eight others Injured in a suicide attack In Ghalanai Tehsil of Mohmand Agency on February 15, reports The Express Tribune. Two suicide bombers tried to enter a compound of the local political administration. When stopped, one of the attackers blew himself up out­ side the entrance, a senior official said. “The other attacker was shot down by Levies officials who were on guard,” the official added.

The Driver of a civil judge vehicle was killed when a motorcycle borne suicide bomber rammed his bike into the vehicle In Hayatabad area of Peshawar on February 15, reports Dawn. Civil Judge Asif Jadoon and three female judges of the lower judiciary were travelling in an official car In Phase 5 area when an attacker on a motorcycle struck the front of the vehicle and exploded, killing the driver and injuring the four judges. A total of six persons were injured in the explosion. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attacked “About 15 kg of explosive was used in the suicide bomb,” said Peshawar Police Chief Tahir Khan.

At least seven persons, including a lawyer and an eight-year-old boy, were killed and as many as 25 others were injured when three terrorists wearing suicide vests attacked the session’s court in Tangi Tehsil (revenue unit) of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 21, reports Daily Times. The attack begun at around 11 :40am when the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, using automatic weapons and hurled grenades at the security officials, in an attempt to enter the court. The gunfire was immediately followed by explosions of hand grenades, one of which exploded at the entrance, while another went off near the bar room where a number of lawyers were reportedly present at that time. However, timely action by Policemen stationed at the session’s court prevented the attackers from entering the premises, as they gunned down two attackers and the third one blew himself up after failing to enter the building. Charsadda District Police Officer (DPO) Sohail Khalid informed the media that all the three attackers had been kilted in retaliatory fire. Charsadda Assistant Commissioner inayatullah Khan said that the injured included six Policemen who confronted the terrorists in a gun battle that lasted for at least 14 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a statement Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), the offshoot of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was a continuation Operation Ghazi, which they initiated against Pakistan. The group released details of two of attackers – Abdul Basit of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khairullah of Kunduz province of Afghanistan.

Bomb/IED Blasts

At least nine people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were injured in a blast on Charsadda road of Peshawar on January 30, reports Dawn. A contingent of FC personnel was on its way from Mohmand Agency to Peshawar when their vehicle was targeted through a bomb planted on the roadside on Charsadda road, SSP Operations Sajjad Khan said. As a result of the explosion, six civilians and three security men sus­tained injuries. There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.

On January 31, three persons were killed and six injured in an explosion in a car near the venue of the road show of a Congress candidate at Maur Mandi in Bhatinda (Punjab) even as Police did not rule out terrorism angle in the incident that came a few days before Punjab goes to polls on February 4, reports news18.com. The blast occurred around 8:30 PM shortly after the “jan sabha” of Harminder Singh Jassi, who is contesting from Maur assembly seat, Police said. Jassi is a relative of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora said, “After initial spot inspection, an act of terror­ ism cannot be rule out. But only experts can establish the cause of the blast.” As per a preliminary probe, it was a stolen car and was bearing the registration number of a two-wheeler. The chassis number of the vehicle was also found removed, Police officials said, adding it was not running on gas.

At least two Policemen were injured, in an explosion, at the main gate of Mandan Police Station in Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on February 7, reports Dunya News. The blast was caused when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive­ laden car into the entrance gate of the Police Station. The main gate of the Police Station was completely destroyed due to explosion while the building was partially damaged. The injured Policemen were shifted to a nearby hospital.

Five persons, including four children, were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Arang Tehsi (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency on February 9, reports Daily Times. The bomb was detonated through a remote control device.

Two children were killed and another critically wounded in an accidental grenade explosion in Buner of Swat District on February 12, reports Dawn. The children of a shepherd family were playing when they found the hand grenade and accidentally set it off, local government official Zariful Maani. The two brothers, aged nine and 10, died, while their seven-year-old female cousin is in critical condition.

Three Frontier Constabulary (FCB) personnel were killed in an improvised explosives device (IED) blast in Khan Kot Zarmina area of Toe Khula Tehsil (revenue unit) in South Waziristan Agency on February 13, reports Dawn. The FCB personnel were on a cordon and search operation on motorbikes in Khan Kot Zarmina area when the planted IED went off.

Two Bomb Disposal Squad (BOS) officials were killed and 11 others injured in a roadside blast near the Sariab Bridge of Quetta, reports The News. Police said that explosives were found planted near the Sariab Bridge after which BOS was called in. However, the blast occurred while BOS personnel were defusing explosives.

Three Army personnel were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED), targeting an Army convoy, exploded in Awaran town of same District in Balochistan on February 16, reports Dawn. The killed were identified as Captain Taha, Sepoy Kamran Satti and Sepoy Mehtar Jan. Two other soldiers were also injured in the attack.

Targetted Killings

Two Policemen, including an inspector, were shot dead while another official received bullet injuries in Wapda road area of Dera Murad Jamali District in Balochistan in the evening of January 28, reports Dawn. Police officials said that unidentified militants opened fire at a Police mobile in Wapda road area, killing Inspector Hidayatullah Kolachi on the spot. His gunman succumbed to his injuries on the way to a nearby hospital. The assailants escaped unhurt from the spot.

Four Policemen and a passerby were killed on February 16 when their vehicle was attacked by unidentified militants in Mission Mor area of Dera Ismail Khan town in the same District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. The van was stationed at a filling station as part of its normal patrol duty when it was attacked by unidentified militants, said District Emergency Officer Imran Khan. The victims were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Rehmatullah, Constable Iqbal, Constable Irshad and a passerby Fazal. The driver of the vehicle sustained serious bullet wounds and was rushed to hospital by rescue officials, but he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Miscellaneous

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Bahawalpur District in Punjab on January 28 jailed two militant for 45 years for carrying explosives and illegal weapons, reports Daily Times. According to details, Riaz and Peerakh were found guilty of carrying explosives and illegal in the Kot Sabzal Police Station in 2014. After hearing arguments, ATC Judge Khalid Arshad sentenced them to 45 years. The court also ordered to confiscate their property and imposed Rs.500,000 fine each.

Security Forces on February 1 killed a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant and arrested eight other suspects during an exchange of fire in the Luni Jungle area under Kulachi Tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Daily Times. Three Army personnel Major Abbas, Captain Omer and Naik Adnan were injured during a ‘routine sanitisation operation’, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Six militants were killed in a shootout with Police on February 9 during a raid on a chicken farm off Superhighway near the Baqai Medical University in Gadap town of Karachi, reports Dawn. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar Ahmed said that the six militants belonged to Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and were involved in targeting law enforcement personnel. One of the militant was also involved in the Peshawar Army Public School attack. An ID card was found from his pocket, but the investigators are trying to verify his identity as the card he was carrying may have been faked. Another militant Ibrahim Haydri had allegedly been wanted by Police for his involvement in grenade attacks and firing on various Police officials in different areas of Karachi. “Haydri and the other militants were responsible for the death of around 25 Police personnel,” the Rao Anwar Ahmed alleged.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 15 killed at least six suspected Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) militants in an operation in Chak 10-R 98 area of Khanewal District in Punjab, reports The News. Four suspects managed to flee during the operation. The operation was carried out on a tip off regarding presence of militants in the area. JuA is an off­ shoot of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is responsible for the suicide blast in Lahore that killed 15 persons including two senior police officials on February 13.

Following suicide attack on Political Agent office in Ghalanai town of Mohmand Agency on February 14-moring, Frontier Corps (FC) launched search operation in Sheikh Banda area and killed five militants, reports The News. An encounter took place between militants and FC personnel during the search raid, the FC spokesman said. As a consequence, five militants were gunned down. The deceases could not be immediately identified.

Two personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) were injured on February 16 when suspected militants attacked a post along the Pak­ Afghan border in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. Troops “effectively responded” to the attack carried out by militants from the Afghan side of the border, the Inter­ Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said. According to the ISPR, there are reports of a “few” militants killed in the ensuing exchange of fire.

Around 100 terrorists were killed while a sizeable number of others were apprehended during last 24 hours in intelligence-based and combing operations by security agencies in parts of the country including Punjab, reports Daily Times. As per orders of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, response to recent terror incidents is in progress across country, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on February 17. “IBOs and combing operations are in progress across the country including Punjab. No cross border/unauthorised entry will be allowed to Pakistan from Afghanistan. Security forces have been given special orders in this regard to have strict watch all along the border,” it read.

Police on February 17 killed nine Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants including would-be suicide bombers during exchange of fire near Super Highway in Karachi, reports The News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar said the terrorists were planning to Rangers Headquarters in Karachi. He said Police carried out raid at the alleged residence of father-in-law of TTP Karachi chapter Amir (chief), where the militants resorted to fire on the arriving police party. In retaliatory fire, nine militants including suicide bombers were killed.

The Pakistan Army on February 17 targeted militant hideouts across the Afghan border, killing several militants including a top commander of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), an off shoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports The News Nature of the attacks and areas targeted by the Pakistani military were not immediately known. However the TV channel said the terrorist sanctuaries were located across the Mohmand Agency and Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The strikes were carried out hours after the Army summoned Afghan diplomas to GQH in Rawalpindi and handed over a list of terrorists involved in staging attacks inside Pakistan.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), on February 19, claimed to have killed five terrorists in a shootout in Layyah District of Punjab, reports The News. Three suspects managed to flee during the operation that was carried out on a tip off, CTD officials said. Arms, ammunition and maps were recovered from the possession of the suspects, the CTD said. Officials’ source said the suspects were affiliated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), an offshoot of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and were planning to carry out an act of terrorism on February 19. Identities of the deceased were yet to be known.

Eleven suspected militants allegedly attempting to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan were killed in a clash with Security Forces (SFs) in Sapperkot and Para Chamkani area of Kurram Agency on February 19, reports Daily Times. Two Kurram militia members were also injured in the gun battle between SFs and the militants. The terrorists were trying to enter Kurram Agency via Khyber Agency from Afghanistan when they were intercepted by the security forces and heavy exchange of fire took place.

Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that numerous militants were killed when Pakistan Air Force fighter jets pounded militants hideouts who were regrouping in Wucha Bibi area, an Afghan bordering strip in North Waziristan Agency on February 19, reports Daily Times. However, the ISPR press release did not mention the number of militants killed in the aerial bombardment.

Seven militants were killed and one ranger’s personnel received injuries during a targeted operation between Pakistan Rangers Sindh and militants in Shah Latif Town of Karachi on February 19, reports Daily Times. A spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers Sindh revealed that the rangers launched a targeted operation after receiving intelligence reports about the possible presence of terrorists in the area. The forces were shot at by the terrorists and returned fire resulting in the death of seven members of the banned terrorist outfit, some of the terrorists managed to flee from their hideout using the dark as cover, while Police called in backup and cordoned off the area until the terrorists were found. One ranger’s personnel also received injuries in this incident. A large number of arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the hideout and it was revealed that the terrorists were planning a terrorist activity of substantial scale in the area.

Separately, a cracker attack on February 19-night injured 24 per­sons in the jurisdiction of Makki Shah Police Station in Hyderabad District, ahead of a strike called by the banned Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) against the China­ Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reports Dawn. Initial reports suggested that the cracker was lobbed from Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani flyover on a road where shops of second-hand clothes and shoes are located.

Security Forces (SFs) killed a militant in an encounter and seized arms during a search operation at Darakhshan near Eastern Bypass area of Quetta on February 19, reports Daily Times. According to a spokesman of SFs, following a tip off, security forces carried out a search operation in the area while suspect opened fire on them. The suspect was killed in retaliation by SFs. Arms were also recovered from his hideout.

Army on February 20 claimed to have conducted and intelligence based operation in Frontier Region Tank killing four suspected militants, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement in this regard, saying the operation was reportedly carried out against Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani Group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The ISPR claimed that the suspects killed in the military operation were allegedly high-profile terror­ists including the son of former TTP shura member Asmatullah Shaheen. The identities of those killed in the military operation, as provided by the ISPR, are Commander Zaman alias Toofan, Naib Commander Umar s/o Asmatullah Shaheen, Commander Wasiullah and Commander Zulam alias Zulmat. Asmatullah Shaheen was killed by another TTP faction due to an internal rift during 2014. The group was allegedly involved in target killings, extortion and kidnapping for ransom in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and surrounding areas.

Police on February 22 shot dead eight terrorists including a key militant figure affiliated with a banned organization during a raid on Bakrapeeri Road in Karachi, reports The News. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar, the suspected terrorists were killed during the raid on a tip off regarding” presence of Gul Zaman, Amir (chief) of a proscribed outfit. He said the terrorists were planning to carry. Out an act of terrorism in Karachi.

Police on February 22 neutralised 14 bombs, weighing 50 kilo­ grams, placed in ghee tins planted in a park on University Road of Loralai town of same District in Balochistan, reports Daily Times. Locals discovered the bombs and informed Police. Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel later neutralised al the bombs.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on February24- morning conducted an operation in which six militants were killed in the Patti Sultan Mahmood area of Muzaffargarh District of Punjab, reports The News. During the oper­ ation, three militants managed to escape. Five hand grenades, four rifles, three pistols and other weapons were recovered from the slain militants.

Police on February 23 shot dead two Islamic State (IS) militants, identified as Saifullah and Haneef, in Manghopir area Karachi, reports The News. According to sources, Police came under attack when it raided their hideout. One policeman received injuries during the gun battle while both the militants were killed and their accomplices managed to flee the scene. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), West Zone, Nasir Aftab said they found a hit list that included names of Police officers and other Government officials on the laptop.

Investigators probing the attack on the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, on February 24 detained four people suspected of facilitating the attack during raids conducted in different parts of Sindh, including Shikarpur, reports The Express Tribune. Source said that the suspects were affiliated with Hafeez Brohi and Abdullah Brohi, who were part of a banned sectarian outfit and were involved in various terrorist activities, particularly facilitating terrorists and suicide bombers. “Hafeez and Abdullah Brohi are on the wanted list since they have been involved in terror activities including bombings in Shikarpur and Sukkur,” said Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in-charge Raja Omar Khattab.

A suspected terrorist was arrested and weapons were seized during an intelligence-based operation carried out by the Frontier Corps (FC) in Garhi and Kandi Mashti areas of Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on February 24, reports The Express Tribune. As many as 10 Rocket Propelled Grenade-7 gun along with six chargers, one grenade launcher, a heavy machinegun with 115 rounds, a spare barrel of heavy machinegun, one 12-bore rifle along with 18 rounds, three 303 rifles along with 520 rounds, six submachine guns, magazines along with 120 rounds and two binoculars were seized during the operation.

PAKISTAN

Two militants arrested for major terrorist attacks In Sindh

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Police, on January 28 arrested a would-be suicide bomber and another militant, associated with a banned outfit, who were allegedly involved in major terrorist acts in urban and rural Sindh and operating their net­ works in four major cities of the province besides Jafferabad District of Balochistan, reports Dawn. In a targeted raid conducted in the Manghopir area of Karachi, the CTD team detained the two suspects, Shaukat (would-be suicide bomber) and Abdul Ghani, and seized explosive material, a suicide jacket, a hand grenade and two pistols from their custody. “The held militants, who belonged to the Brohi tribe and were trained in Balochistan, were operating terror networks in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Sanghar districts in Sindh and Jafferabad district in Balochistan,” said Sindh CTD chief Dr. Sanaullah Abbasi.

Govt Issues orders to place JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest

The Punjab Government on January 30 issued orders to place Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest, reports Dawn. The Government launched a crackdown against JuD and a heavy contingent of Police was deployed around the JuD head­ quarter and offices in Muridke and Lahore. “A large police team arrived (at JuD headquarters) and told us that Hafiz would be placed under house arrest,” said the secretary of information for JuD, Nadeem Awan. Awan said the Police told them they had an arrest warrant for Saeed and five others at JuD headquarters.

Hafiz Saeed was reportedly present at the Qudsia Mosque located in Chauburji area of Lahore. Contingents of Police and other law­ enforcing agencies reached the area and surrounded the premises, sources said. Police sources further informed that Saeed will be shifted to his residence In the Johar Town area of the provincial capital, Lahore, which will then be declared as a sub-jail. Saeed has been detained under Section 11-EEE (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977, a notification issued by the Interior Ministry said. Meanwhile, the District intelligence committee has suggested it to the Government to put the JuD chiefs name in fourth schedule. Moreover, national flags have been hoisted at the JuD offices in Lahore, instead of party flags, on the directives of provincial home department, it ·added. The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of Lahore.

Most wanted Lyari gangster leader Baba Ladla killed along with two associates In Rangers operation In Karachi

Sindh Rangers on February 1 claimed to have killed notorious Lyari gang war commander Noor Muhammad alias Baba Ladla in a shootout in Lyari Town area of Karachi, reports The Express Tribune. Two of Baba Ladla’s close associates, Sikandar alias Sikko and Mohammad Yaseen alias Mama, were also killed in the encounter. During the operation, Head Constable Fayyaz and Constable Tufail were also killed. One Kalashnikov, a 9mm pistol, a 9mm mouser and a hand grenade were also recovered from their pos­ session. The “most wanted” suspects were involved in numerous terrorist incidents, said Rangers in a press release. “Baba Ladla was wanted in more than 74 crimes by police,” added the press release further. The Sindh government had placed a head money of PKR Three million on Baba Ladla in 2012.

The press release also revealed that Baba Ladla had, with the help of Uzair Baloch, committed the murders of Shera Pathan, Arshad Pappu and Yasir Arafat. It also stated that in March 2013, Baba Ladla had kidnapped a group of Muhajirs and murdered them. The Rangers press release also claimed the other gangster gunned down in the operation, Sikander alias Siku, was wanted in more than 15 crimes by Police. Sikander was described by Rangers as a close aide of Baba Ladla and also his facilitator. In April 2012, Sikander had committed the murder of Station House Officer (SHO) Fawad Khan while in the same year he had also killed Constable Asif, according to the press release. In 2013, he had tor­tured and subsequently killed two other men. Sikander had also been involved in the sale and purchase of illegal weapons.

Four IS militants handed over to Afghanistan Government

Pakistan handed over four suspected cadres of Afghanistan chapter of Islamic State (IS) to Kabul as ‘a gesture of goodwill’ on February 7, reports Dawn. The four were paraded before journalists at the Michni checkpoint before being handed over to Afghan officials at the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Landi Kotal Assistant Political Agent Niaz Mohammad told reporters that Javed Khan, Safiullah, Talmeen Khan and Niamatullah, all hailing· from Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, had been arrested by intelligence agencies in Peshawar after they received information about the militants’ presence in the city.

Madrassas not teaching hate material, says Punjab Government

The Punjab Government on February 7 giving a clean chit to all educational institutes – including 15,000 madrassas has declared that no seminary or public and private institute is involved in teaching hate material to students, reports Daily Times. During the Punjab Assembly session, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah while com­menting on a resolution moved by a treasury member Ms. Hina Pervez Butt informed the House that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led Punjab Government had registered all 15,000 madrassas, including 532 existing in ‘Gray Areas’ of the province. Rana Sanaullah confirmed that as many as 1.1 million students were enrolled in madrassas in which around 0.4 million students are enjoying boarding facilities, while 1300 students belong to foreign countries.

Only 6 killers of 246 policemen convicted

Almost 248 Police officials who took part in 1992 and 1996 Karachi operations were killed however, so far only six killers of these cops have been convicted, reports The News. A total of 378 accused were arrested. Challans submitted in 121 cases out of which in six cases killers have been convicted whereas a total of 55 accused acquitted and the remaining 60 are still under trial. Official statistics show that from 1995 till 2016, almost 1,488 Policemen were killed in the Karachi Range. Although, the most number of Police officials – 261 – were killed in 1995 yet otherwise 2012, 2013 and 2014 were the worst years for the Karachi Police with 123, 165 and 136 killings respectively.

The ongoing Rangers’ led operation appears to have been a blessing even for the Karachi Police as killings of Police officials in the city had drastically reduced in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, only 29 Policemen were killed whereas this figure was 67 in 2015. The official data shows that a total of 261 Policemen were killed in 1995, 58 were murdered in 1996, 74 in 1997, 97 in 1998, 59 in 1999, 49 in 2000, 58 in 2001, 14 in 2002, 19 in 2003, 23 in 2004, 24 in 2005, 40 in 2006, 51 in 2007, 48 in 2008, 41 in 2009, 49 in 2010, 53 in 2011, 123 in 2012, 165 in 2013, 136 in 2014, 67 in 2015, and 29 in 2016.

Outside Karachi in Sindh, Larkana appears to be the most dangerous place for Policemen from 2001 till 2016. Each year’s number of Policemen killed in Larkana District during the period (from 2001 till 2016) is 8, 7, 17, 1,6, 4, 11, 21, 13, 13, 13, 8, 13, 20, 10, 9 and 5 respectively. These figures show that the most difficult time for the Larkana Police was from 2007 to 2014 – the period during which the killing of policemen remained high. Otherwise, in the Hyderabad District, the Police had a bad time really in 2014 when a total of 27 Police officials go killed.

Two militants killed and three injured in cross border attack in FATA

Two militants killed and three others injured when Army repulsed militant attack from Afghanistan on two Pakistan Army check posts in the Ulai area of Baizai Tehsil (revenue unit) in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the night of February 10, reports The Express Tribune. The Army’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Pakistan Army effectively responded to the fire, rendering it ineffective. Soon after the incident, militants fled back to Afghanistan, ISPR added. The Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stated that it lost two cadres while three others were injured after they launched an overnight attack on a Pakistani check post.

Samaa TV employee killed in attack on DSNG van in Karachi

An employee of Samaa TV was Killed on February 12 evening when unidentified assailants opened fire on a Samaa TV DSNG van at KDA Chowrangi near Dolmen Mall in North Nazimabad of Karachi, reports Dawn. An assistant camera­ man, Taimur, received a bullet wound to the head and was rushed to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The media van was in the area to cover an earlier incident, a cracker attack on a Police vehicle, when it was attacked. “Our team members along with the DSNG had gone there to cover the cracker attack on the police vehicle when they came under attack,” said Samaa TV’s Director News, Farhan Malik. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Central, Muqaddas Haider said the same suspects might be involved in both the incidents and added the cracker attack on the police vehicle did not cause any damage. “It appears that the suspects attacked the Police mobile with a cracker to attract media’s attention and when the Samaa team arrived, they chased and attacked it,” added Haider.

TTP issues second issue of Vogue-style magazine ‘Mujjallah’

In an effort to promote its ideology and update supporters about its latest actions in the country, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has brought out a high gloss, Vogue­ style magazine, The Express Tribune reported on February 13. The first issue of ‘Mujjallah’ magazine was published in November 2016 and reportedly distributed in Pakistan sometime in December 2016. The inaugural issue had 56 pages. The second issue printed a couple of weeks ago is slicker and thicker and has more pages than the first one. The paper quality of the magazine is at par with that of Vogue, besides having fine printing quality. The cover carries bulletins of the banned outfit’s activities in Pakistan and also features reports on how to make bombs and other explosives. Some experts who have known about the operations of organisation like TTP stated that the magazine has been modeled after ISIS publications which were available in Arabic and Urdu among other languages.

While declining to be named, they said, the magazine is being printed in Afghanistan, most likely in Jalalabad, and allegedly distributed throughout Pakistan amongst hard­ core followers and also has a limited circulation in Afghanistan. Judging from the kind of language used in the magazine, the articles and features were probably written by non-native Urdu speakers, possibly Arabic-speaking people. The articles have not been attributed to anyone. Since TTP has lost ground in Pakistan, the magazine is most likely an attempt to spread its propaganda. It may also be an effort to defame the country, they added. To illustrate their point, they said that when TTP held a strong position in Pakistan it had never attempted to bring out such a magazine but now after it had lost ground such a publication was released.

JuA launching terrorist attacks from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) met Afghan Deputy Head of Mission Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi in Islamabad on February 15 to address militant attacks in Pakistan by Jama’at-ul­ Ahrar (JuA), an offshoot of Tehreek­ e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in Afghanistan, Dawn reported on February 16 quoting a press release from MoFA. United Nations and European Commission (UN&EC) Additional Secretary Tasnim Aslam raised the “grave concern [Pakistan has] about the continuing terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil by the terrorist outfit Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) [operating] from its sanctuaries inside Afghanistan,” the release read. Aslam also informed Yousafi that Afghan authorities had been informed “earlier” about “actionable intelligence” where Pakistan pressed Afghanistan “to take urgent measures to eliminate the terrorists and their sanctuaries, financiers and [facilitators] operating from its territory,” the statement read.

76 persons killed and 250 others injured in suicide attack at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sindh

At least 76 people were killed on February 16 when a suicide bomber attacked the crowded Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan Sharif town of Sehwan District in Sindh, injuring up to 250 others, reports The News. The blast took place inside the premises of the shrine as a dhamaal was taking place, with a large number of women and children said to be among the casualties. Devotees throng the shrine of the revered Sufi saint every Thursday to pa1iicipate in a dhamaal and prayers. The Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sehwan said a suicide bomber entered the shrine through its Golden gate. The attacker blew him­ self-up after throwing a grenade, which failed to explode, he added. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack through Amaq, the group’s affiliated news agency.

Meanwhile, at least 35 terrorists were killed in encounter with the law enforcement agencies as Pakistan launched a nationwide security crackdown after suicide attack, reports The News. A statement from the Sindh Rangers said at least 18 terrorists had been killed in operations in Karachi overnight, while in separate security operations, six were killed in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) four in Bakka Khel area of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) two killed in a Police encounter in Dera Ismail Khan of KP three shot dead in Peshawar during search operation and two were killed in Sargodha. “Both the federal and provincial law enforcement authorities and Police started a crackdown across the country before dawn, and scores of suspects have been arrested from different cities,” a Government official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP. He said the Sweeping operation continue for the coming days.

Afghan officials summoned to GHQ, asked to hand over 76 ‘most wanted’ terrorists

Pakistan on February 16 summoned officials of the Afghanistan embassy to. The General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to lodge protest against the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to carry out attacks in Pakistan, reports Dawn. The Afghan officials were handed over a list of 76 “most wanted” terrorists by the Pakistan Army, Inter­ Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a Tweet. Afghanistan was asked to either take “immediate action” against the named terrorists or hand them over to Pakistan, he said. The move comes two days after a senior Afghan diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office in Islamabad to receive protest over the use of territory of his country for launching terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan diplomat was given a demarche containing details of the recent terrorist attacks and supporting information.

NAP held 198 terrorists, 217 facilitators in two years, says report

As many as 26000 combing operations were conducted and 198 hardcore terrorists and 217 facilitators nabbed while 2.3 million persons were questioned since December 17, 2014 to February 14, 2017 under National Action Plan (NAP) introduced with consensus among all the political parties of the country, The News reported on February 18. According to a comprehensive report presented to Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif about implementation of NAP to curb terrorism in Pakistan, some 210467 operations were conducted in Lahore where 1.3 million persons were asked questions during investigation. Similarly, 5784 operations were carried out in Sheikhupura during this period and 151825 per­ sons were questioned on the basis of suspicion and intelligence reports. In all, 1275 cases were registered on alleged involvement in terror related activities.

In Gujranwala division a total of 6865 operations were conducted and 88815 persons were subjected to questioning while 1514 cases were registered on various counts. Some 1305 cases were registered under Foreign Act and lethal weapons were recovered from 9662 persons during general hold-ups. A total of 7437 cases were registered on display of weapons and licenses of 38 Kalashnikovs, 63 rifles, 71 guns and 83 pistols were suspend­ ed. The Police have registered 13975 cases for violation of Sound System Regulation Ordinance and 260 under MPO 1960.

National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has made con­ siderable progress in drafting a robust national narrative on terrorism and extremism. The first ever National Internal Security Policy (NISP) has been formulated to protect Pakistan’s national interests by addressing critical security issues. Initially, the combing operations were thoroughly conducted in various districts including Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Multan, Bahawalpur, Jhang, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakkar;. Bahawalnagar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Okara, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Dera Bugti, Qila Abdullah, Kohlu, Khuzdar, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Naushehro Feroze, Karachi, Kohat, Karak, Tank, Kohistan and FATA. There is a marked and undeniable reduction in sectarian violence across Pakistan while not completely eliminated his level of mitigation is a positive sign.

Army launches ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad’ across the country

Pakistan Army on February 22 launched ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad’ across the country, Dawn reported quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Radd-ul-Fasaad which translates roughly to ‘elimination of discord’ will aim at indiscriminately eliminating the “residual/ latent threat of terrorism”, consolidating the gains, made in other military operations, and further ensuring the security of Pakistan’s borders, read the statement. The announcement followed a meeting in Lahore between Chief of Armed Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, the corps commanders of Punjab, the Director General of Pakistan Rangers Punjab, and the heads of intelligence agencies. Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Civil Armed Forces (CAF) and other security and law enforcing agencies (LEAs) will actively participate in and ‘intimately support’ the armed forces’ efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country, the statement added. “The effort entails conduct of Broad Spectrum Security I Counter­ Terrorism (CT) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country, and focus on more effective border security management,” the ISPR said. “Countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control are additional cardinals of the effort. Pursuance of National Action Plan wiil be the hallmark of this operation,” it added.

Earlier, the Federal Government had approved a request forwarded by the Government of Punjab for the deployment of Rangers personnel in the province, reports Dawn. The decision was taken by Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during a high-level meeting attended by National Security Adviser Nasir Khan Janjua, Federal Secretary Interior Arif Ahmad Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed and other officials of the Punjab Government. Punjab had requested the Federal Government to deploy over 2,000 Rangers personnel in. the province, who would be given policing powers to conduct intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against militants, wherever required and with full authority. The Rangers will ‘assist’ Punjab Police and law enforcement agencies in their fight against terror for a period of 60 days, initial reports suggested.

REGIONAL

Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics

JMB leader Gaffar shown arrested

Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) ‘leader’ Abdul Gaffar (resident of Tangail) was on January 26 shown arrested in the case filed over carrying out grenade attacks at two mosques inside Bangladeshi Navy’s Issa Khan Base in Chittagong District during Juma prayers (Friday Prayers) in December 2015, reports Daily Star. Earlier, on January 15, Police lodged a petition with the Court seeking permission to show him arrested in the grenade attack case, said Court sources.

Meanwhile, Field-level Police Officials were instructed to keep an eye on the Rohingyas, following allegation that some of them are being motivated to join the Islamic State (IS), reports Daily Star. Inspector General of Police AKM Shahid-ul Hoque issued the instruction after a top police official raised the matter at a meeting on January 26, said sources at the meeting. “We have information that some Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh are being motivated and tricked into joining the IS. Again, some of them have already been motivated and are trying to join the militant outfit,” the source quoted the top Police official as saying. The Rohingya Muslims refuges are state less people from the Rakhine (Arakan) State of Myanmar.

Four JMB militants arrested in Dhaka city

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on February 1 arrested four Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants from Jatrabari area of Dhaka city, reports The Independent. The arrestees were identified as Ashfaq-e-Azam Apel, Shahinuzzaman, Ashraf Ali and Mahbubur Rahman. The arrestees are members of Neo JMB’s Sarwar Tamim group while Ashfaq-e-Azam Apel is the chief of IT section of the militant group. RAB also recovered two pistols, 21 bullets, four sharp weapons, huge explosives, mobile phone sets and other electronic devices from their possessions.

AL leader hacked to death in Narial sadar

Unidentified assailants hacked a local leader of ruling Awami League (AL) to death in Narail Sadar upazila (sub-district) of Narail District on February 1, reports New Age. The deceased was identified as Prabash Roy (50), president of Bhadrabila union unit of Awami League under sadar upazila. Sadar Police officer-in-charge Delwar Hossain Khan said a group of four to five assailants hacked Prabash near his residence at Mirapara while he was on his way to home. Police arrested five people including the union parishad chairman Shahid-ur Rahman Minar, and his son Ashik for their suspected involvement in the killing.

Dhaka still “high threat” location, says US State Department report

The United States of America’s (USA) State Department has assessed Dhaka as a “high-threat” location for political violence, terrorist activities and crimes directed at or affecting Washington’s “official interests”, reports Daily Star. The department, which deals with America’s global policies, made the assessment on Bangladesh in the 2017 Crime and Safety Report pre­ pared and released by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) on February 1. On terror­ism threats, the report says the State Department alerts US citizens to concerns about ongoing potential for extremist violence in Bangladesh. It urges the US citizens who travel to Bangladesh to exercise appropriate cautions and maintain a high level of vigilance in light of the recent violent attacks.

PBCP ‘regional’ leader killed in Khulna

A ‘regional leader’ of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) was killed at Bejerdanga in Khulna District on February 3, reports New Age. The victim was Jony Molla (31), a fugitive PBCP top leader in the Khulna region. Police said that two or three unidentified assailants hurled two or three bombs targeting Jony while he was near Tarun Sangha Club at Bejerdanga.

Militant groups are using social media to inspire people towards militancy, says IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahid-ul Hoque talking at freshers’ reception programme of Dhaka University’s Social Welfare and Research Institute on February 9 said that militant groups are using social media to inspire people towards militancy, reports The Daily Star. He said “Till now, most people arrested for militancy were found to have been motivated through Facebook.” Cautioning the social media users, Shahid-ul Hoque said Police were not only bringing people to justice but rather trying to bring them back on the right track from radicalization. Bangladesh is a global role model in preventing militancy, he claimed.

JMP ‘regional coordinator’ killed in gunfight in Bogra

A ‘regional coordinator’ of Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was killed in a gunfight with Police at Kahalu in Bogra District on February 14, reports New Age. Police identified the man, Abu Musa alias Abujar alias Abu Talha alias Robin alias Samiul (32), the chief of Pabna, Kushtia, Natore and Sirajganj region and a close aide to Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Ghandhi, one of the ‘planners’ of Gulshan cafe attack on July 1, 2016 which left killed 29 people including 17 foreign nationals. Police recovered a pistol, three bullets and several sharp weapons from the spot.

Sarbahara Party ‘regional leader’ killed in gunfight With Police in Pabna District

A ‘regional leader’ of Sarbahara Party has been killed in a gunfight with Police at Aminpur of Pabna District on February 15, reports Dhaka Tribune. The deceased was identifiedas Nistar alias Jahid alias Nizam (40), accused in 12 cases, including the sensational murder of three Policemen in Dhalarchar. Three Constables of Police were injured in the gunfight. Police also recovered two shutter guns, two machetes and three rounds of bullets from the spot.

India –Internal Dynamics

Several serial bomb blasts by ULFA-l on Republic Day in Assam

All total seven bombs were exploded by the Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-1) militant, during the day of celebration of India’s Republic Day on January 26 in different places of Sivasagar, Charideo, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh Districts, reports The Telegraph. However no casualties were reported. According to the Police sources low intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) were used in the blasts. Earlier, on January 26, the four bomb blasts in Charideo and Dibrugarh District were reported in SATP. According to the sources, in Sibsagar District the blast took place in Majpani area and in Tinsukia District two blasts took place at Sisimi village and Sukan pukhuri area.

Police recover huge cache of arms and ammunition from Andhra Pradesh

The Prakasam District Police unearthed huge cache of arms and ammunition in the Nallamala Forest near Palutla village in Yerragondapa lem mandal (administrative unit) in Prakasam District on January 27, reports Hans India. Security Forces (SFs) observed a few electrical wires popped out from earth. After digging at the place, they found 79 rounds of Self Loading Rifles (SLR), 330 rounds of .303 rifle, 87 rounds of 0.500 rifle, and three barrels of double barrel guns, two barrels of single barrel guns, two double trigger tapanchas and one charger in the dump. The Police suspect that the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres made the dump around 2003, after inspection of the contents.

CRPF jawan killed in Chhattisgarh

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed in an explosion of a pressure bomb allegedly planted by the Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres near Kottacheru village under Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma District on January 28, reports Indian Express. The deceased, Havaldar Parasnath Saroj, was posted with the 219^th battalion of CRPF, senior Police officials said. “A road construction work was going on in the area and a CRPF team was patrolling when Saroj accidentally stepped on the pressure bomb and suffered serious injuries,” the Police officials said. Later, he succumbed to his injuries.

8 police personnel killed in Maoist’s landmine explosion in Odisha

At least eight Police personnel were killed and five others injured in a landmine explosion suspected to have been triggered by the Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres near Mungarbhumi on Sunki ghat in Koraput District on February 1, reports prameyanews7.com. The van carrying 13 Police personnel was on its way to Angul. They were going to the Police Training College, Angul to get special Police driving training when the Maoists blasted them off at around 2 pm. The number of deaths of Police personnel in the Maoists’ Sunki landmine explosion rose to eight with the body of lone missing driver Tulasi Ram Majhi found on February 2, informed Koraput Superintendent of Police (SP), Charan Singh Meena. Seven Police personnel died and five oth­ ers sustained injuries on February 1 as the landmine planted under­ ground at Sunki ghati in Koraput District on Andhra Pradesh-Odisha Border (AOB) exploded. Tulasi Ram was missing, he said. The identities of the slain personnel are Somnath Sisa, Sanjay Kumar Das, Arun Kumar Nayak, Subarna Kumar Raj, Pradipta Kumar Rout, Ganesh Prasad Das, Harekrushna Prushti and Tulasi Ram Majhi.

IS posters emerge in Himachal Pradesh

Ten posters and five painted messages highlighting Islamic State (IS) were found in Solan town of Himachal Pradesh on February 1, reports tribuneindia.com. Police interrogated about 20 persons sus­pected to be involved in the case. Their handwriting samples were also taken and will be compared with the writing on the posters. It was interesting to note that spray paint had been used while writing the IS on various buildings of the Subathu cantonment board while no private building was targeted. The Police were trying to collect clues about the sale of black paint from three hardware shops in Subathu as well as 4-5 such shops at Dharampur. Since xeroxed copies of handwritten posters had been put up in the town, the Police were also making inquiries from such shops.

IS Chennai module received funds from unknown sources in Syria, says report

The suspected Islamic State (IS) Chennai module, which had a Telangana native in its ranks, received funds from unknown sources in Syria at the behest of the banned outfit, The Times of India reports on February 8. National Investigation Agency (NIA) had registered a case in the last week of January against nine members of the module on the charge of working for Islamic State. Of the nine-member module, only one per­ son actually joined the terrorist out­ fit, while the rest failed to reach Syria, NIA officials said.

The IS sympathisers had reportedly organised several meetings and even chalked out plans to reach the terror hinterland to work in the so-called caliphate. “Based on information available with us, only one person from Chennai reached Syria. Prima facie, we have information that the module got funding from abroad and they were at an advanced stage of executing their plans to reach Syria,” the NIA officials told. They were still in the process of identifying the place where they undertook training in Tamil Nadu. The IS module member from the state is suspected to be from Karimnagar in North Telangana and the state Police was unwilling to disclose his identify. Though he hails from Telangana, he had been working in Chennai. It is through social media the nine came to know each other.

Maoist hit areas saw 21% rise in IED blasts in 2016, says NBDC annual report

According to data collated by the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) of the National Security Guard (NSG), the areas affected by Naxalism [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] saw a 21 per cent increase in bomb blast incidents in 2016 as com­ pared to 2015, reports The Indian Express, on February 13. Casualties in such incidents went up by almost60 per cent, the NBDC said in its annual report. 65 percent of all improvised explosive device (IED) blast casualties occurred in LWE­ affected areas. According to the report, the figures available till December 15, 2016 1,420 Naxals surrendered last year as compared to 570 in 2015. In Chhattisgarh, the IED incidents increased by 50 per cent and Andhra Pradesh saw a five-fold increase over 2015. Odisha witnessed an almost 100 per cent jump in IED incidents -from 15 blasts in 2015 to 29 blasts in 2016. Only Jharkhand and Bihar witnessed a decrease in IED incidents. Jharkhand witnessed nine IED explosions _in 2016 as compared to 15 in 2015. In Bihar, it was 10 against 12 in 2015.

16 cases of train sabotage in the last 40 days in 2017, Indian Railways suspect ‘terror angle’

Indian Railways suspect that sudden rise in the number of train accidents in the recent past are the act of sabotage, Zee News reports on February 13. ‘In 2017, in the first 40 days, there have already been 16 cases and this is abnormally high,’ Mohammed Jamshed, Member Traffic, Railway Board stated. Terming it an ‘abnormally high’, a top railways official said that most of these 16 instances of rail sabotage in 2017 have occurred in non-traditional Left­ wing extremism (LWE)- affected areas, and does not carry the sig­ nature of Maoist subversive activities. ‘There were 45 incidents in 2016, including seven blasts, three instances of track tampering, 27 cases of sabotage and attempt to sabotage and eight agitation related incidents. Moreover, Shamsul Hoda, who was arrested in Nepal in a murder case is wanted by for allegedly funding terror plots that led to train derailments in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Hirakhand in Andhra Pradesh and a foiled attempt in Bihra’s Ghorasan.

Two STF personnel killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh

Two personnel of the Chhattisgarh Special Task Force (STF) were killed in an encounter with the Communist Party of India­ Maoist cadres at Mardapal in Kondagaon District on February 15, reports New Indian Express. The Police claimed to have killed at least four CPI-Maoist cadres but their bodies could not be recovered by the Security Forces (SFs). The killed SFs are identified as Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Assistant Platoon Commander from Madhya Pradesh, and constable Krishna Tingu from Surguja in Chhattisgarh.

Monthly Fatalities The following deaths, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism Occurred during period to Jan 26 2017 to Feb 25, 2017:
	Civilian	Indian Security Personnel	Militant	Total
Assam	03	00	00	03
Manipur	02	00	01	03
Meghalaya	00	00	02	02
Nagaland	00	00	02	02
Left wing	13	12	21	46
Total	18	12	26	56

Nepal – Internal Dynamics

MJF-D threatens to boycott elections

Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum­ Democratic (MJF-D) Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, on February 3, said his party would not participate in civic polls with­out passage of a revised the Constitution amendment bill from the Parliament, reports The Himalayan Times. Addressing party cadres in Rajbiraj, Gachhadar accused the Government of trying to announce the election dates without amending the statute amendment bill. Accusing the leaders of major parties of not being serious towards problems facing the country, Gachhadar said, “Leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist) and CPN-Maoist Centre (Communist Party of Nepal­ Maoist Centre) are power hungry and are not concerned about the country’s problems,” he said. Stating that the people’s long­ cherished dream of writing the constitution through the Constituent Assembly was yet to be realised, he said, “The constitution was written, but the big leaders of the big parties are not serious about its implementation.”

Nepal extends deadline for war crimes investigations

Nepal on Thursday, Feb 9 extended the mandates for two commissions tasked with probing crimes committed during the bloody civil war, hours before a deadline was due to lapse without a single case being investigated.

The commissions had been given two years to look into the murders, rapes and forced disappearances perpetrated by government forces and Maoist rebels during the decade-long conflict, which ended in 2006.

Their mandates were to expire at midnight on Feb 9, leaving thousands of victims in limbo, but in an eleventh-hour decision Kathmandu agreed to extend the investigation period.

Not a single case was investigated during the two-year mandate, with critics blaming a lack of funds and political inertia.

The government was criticised for not granting the commissions the legal powers afforded under international law to prosecute war crimes, or repealing a provision granting amnesty to perpetrators.

DPM Bimalendra Nidhi accuses main opposition CPN-UML of sowing seed of secession in country

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bimalendra Nidhi accused the main opposition CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist) of sowing the seed of secession in the country, reports .The Himalayan Times on February 11. Nidhi charged that the CPN-UML had influenced the Constitution promulgation process with a condition to make its party Chairman KP Sharma Oil to make the Prime Minister subsequently, and now it was preventing the implementation of Constitution.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML Vice­ Chairman Bhim Rawal on February 11 said that the CPN-UML was ready to provide constructive sup­port to the incumbent Government if it announced the date for local polls immediately, reports Republica. Rawal said that his party was ready to extend cooperation and support to the Government if it holds election as per the proposal prepared by the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC). He said that The Government was not in mood of implementing the decision of the Commission and holding election at the present context.

Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics

Four ex-LTTE cadres arrested for plotting to assassinate Sri Lanka Tamil legislator

Four ex-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in the Tamil-majority Northern Province were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) officials, for plotting to assassinate Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran earlier this month, reports Colombo Page on January 28. The TIO officials reportedly received the information about the plot from one rehabilitated Tamil youth who was approached by the four suspects to carry out the assassination. A TIO team arrested Murugiah Thavavaenthan (32), an ex-LTTE cadre from a house in Kilinochchi on January 14, and another ex-LITE cadre Karalasingham Kulendran alias Master (37), at his work place in  Kilinochchi. Subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of two other ex-LTTE cadres in Trincomalee and Thaalayadi. TIO officials later raided a house belonging to a relative of Kulendran in Ootrupulam, Kilinochchi and recovered two claymore mines one of which was particularly powerful. Confirming that he received a security threat, Sumanthiran said, the Government informed him about it, sharing some specific details. On January 13, the parliamentarian, who was to be in Jaffna to participate in an event, cancelled his trip at the last minute.

War crime perpetrators should be punished irrespective of their status, says Minister for Regional Development and former Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka

Minister for Regional Development and former Army commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka speaking to the media after participating in a function at the Hadabima Authority on January 28 said that war crime perpetrators should be punished irrespective of their status, reports Colombo Page. He said “Any government institution would have one or two thugs, rapists and other miscreants. But they should not be shielded from punishment if they are guilty of any crime regardless of their status.”

Tamil Peoples Council calls for international investigation on war crimes allegations

Tamil People’s ·council (TPC) comprising Tamil political parties and civil society groups in a res adopted at the “Eluga Thamil (Rise up Tamils)” rally held on February 10 in Batticaloa District called for an international investigation on war crimes allegations, reports Daily Mirror. TPC said Sri Lankan Government should not be given any more time. Reiterating that the North and East is the traditional homeland of the Tamils, the TPC said the distinct socio-cultural and political identity of the Tamil nation. Could only be guaranteed and safe­ guarded by setting up a non-divided, autonomous unit of self-government in the North and East and that this was nonnegotiable.

Australian PM offers Practical aid for reconciliation measures in Sri Lanka

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, in a joint state­ ment issued by two Governments at the end of the visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Australia, has Offered practical aid for reconciliation measures in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror on February 16. Turnbull commended Sri Lanka on its strong economic growth and considerable progress toward national reconciliation since the end of the conflict in 2009. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe paid an official visit to Australia from February 13-17 at the invitation of Prime Minister Turnbull.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull must ask the visiting Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe some hard questions about how the Sri Lankan Government will provide accountability to victims of war and their families, reports Colombo Page on February 15. Elaine Pearson, Australia Director of HRW said “Let’s hope that beyond friendly cricket matches, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asks some hard questions about how the Sri Lankan government will provide accountability to victims and their families, still awaiting justice seven years after the horrific end to the country’s long civil war.”

Sri Lanka arrests army spies over editor’s murder

Sri Lankan police have arrested five military intelligence officers on suspicion of assassinating a prominent anti-establishment newspaper editor and orchestrating attacks on other journalists and dissidents under the former regime, a legal source said on Monday, Feb 20.

The 2009 killing of Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of then-president Mahinda Rajapakse, sparked an international outcry and shone a spotlight on violence against Sri Lanka’s media.

Wickrematunga had accused Rajapakse’s defence secretary and brother Gotabhaya of taking kickbacks in arms purchases, and was due to testify in court when he was killed.

A legal source involved with the investigation said the five men were taken into custody over the weekend, initially over the May 2008 abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr, who had criticised military leaders.

Detectives told a magistrate that the five accused had operated a military death squad led by a top defence official who has not yet been named.

More senior people are likely to be arrested in the coming months, the source said.

Rajapakse and several members of his family are under investigation for large-scale financial fraud and murder during his 10 years as president, in which 17 journalists and media workers were killed. All deny any wrongdoing and in turn accuse the new government of a political vendetta.

Free Media Movement, a rights group, gave a cautious welcome to the arrests, urging the government to ensure an independent investigation into the allegations and resist “undue influence” from the powerful military.

INTERNATIONAL

US warns over anti-American violence risk in Turkey

The United States embassy in Turkey on Thursday, Jan 26 warned against the risk of attacks against its citizens in the country after a rise in anti-American rhetoric.

Turkey has been hit by a slew of attacks over the last months claimed by jihadists and Kurdish militants that have left the country on edge. In the latest strikes, 39 people were gunned down in an attack on New Year’s night claimed by Islamic State (IS) jihadists at an Istanbul nightclub.

The attacks prompted claims in the radical conservative press that the United States had a hand in the violence, although the allegations have been repeatedly and angrily denied by the embassy.

“An increase in anti-American rhetoric has the potential to inspire independent actors to carry out acts of violence against US citi­zens,” the embassy said in a travel warning. It said new attacks could occur at major events, tourist sites, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping centres, places of worship, and transportation hubs.

Meanwhile, all US government travel to Istanbul is subject to State Department approval, it said. This is based on intelligence “indicating extremist groups are continuing frequent and aggressive efforts to attack US citizens and foreign expatriates in areas of Istanbul where they reside or frequent,” it said.

Several Turkish officials and media outlets blamed the United States for the failed July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, allegations ridiculed by Washington.

Syria rebels merge with ex-Qaeda affiliate

Several Syrian rebel factions merged with the Fateh al-Sham Front on Saturday, Jan 28 after days of clashes between armed opposition groups and the former al­ Qaeda affiliate, they said. The Jihadist group and four rebel factions including the influential Nureddin al-Zinki faction – labelled the new alliance Tahrir al-Sham.

lslamist factions Liwa al-Haq, the Ansar al-Din Front and Jaish al­-Sunna also signed the declaration. The new alliance, whose name means “Liberation of Syria”, emerged days after other rebel factions joined the powerful Ahrar al­ Sham group.

Fateh al-Sham and Ahrar ,al­ Sham have for years battled side by side against President Bashar al­ Assad’s forces in the northern province of ldlib, the last major bastion of the armed opposition.

But the former al-Qaeda affiliate which is listed as a “terrorist” group by the United Nations and Western governments – has clashed with its erstwhile allies in recent days across Idlib and the neighbouring Aleppo province.

Suspects held in Morocco ‘planned to attack embassies’

A top Moroccan security official said on Sunday, Jan 29 Jihadists linked to the Islamic State group arrested this week had planned to attack embassies and tourist sites in the North African country.

Seven members of a “dangerous cell” were arrested in a dawn operation on Friday in five different cities and “other suspects are on the run”, said Abdelhak Khiam who heads Morocco’s anti-terrorism security service.

He told a press conference that the group’s chief, calling him­ self an “emir” was among those arrested, and that he had sought to set up a branch of IS in the kingdom. Khiam said the man had received “financing and weapons from members of the Libyan branch of IS”.

This cell was “determined to take action” against “diplomatic repre­sentations, tourist sites and public figures”, he said, in “coordination with IS members from the Syria-Iraq area and Libya”.

Turkey puts Gulen, 269 others on trial

Turkey on Monday, Jan 30 opened the biggest trial yet over the failed July coup aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, trying 270 suspects including, in absentia, the alleged mastermind Fethullah Gulen.

The suspects, 152 of whom are in pre-trial detention, include .ex high-ranking military officials like former Aegean Army Command Chief of Staff Major General Memduh Hakbilen, the state news agency Anadolu reported. Also going on trial was ex-Nata Land Commander Chief of Staff Major General Salih Sevil.

The “number one” suspect is US-based Islamic preacher Gulen who is charged with ordering the failed July 15 coup, an accusation he strongly denies.

Ankara also accuses the movement Gulen leads of being a “terror organisation” although the group insists it is a peaceful organisation promoting moderate Islam. Those on trial in the western city of Izmir face multiple charges including being a member of the “armed terror group”.

Indonesian women seeking to become IS suicide bombers

Indonesian women are taking on a more active role in violent extremism, with some seeking to become Islamic State (IS) group suicide bombers, a leading security think tank has warned. The growing problem was highlighted after the arrest in December of two women with links to IS allegedly planning suicide attacks in the world’s most Muslim­ majority country, according to a report from the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC).

Many from Indonesia – which has long struggled with Islamic militancy – have flocked to join IS in the Middle East, while radicals in the country have pledged allegiance to the group and attacks and plots have been linked to the jihadists.

But the increasing eagerness of Indonesian women to get involved in radicalism themselves, rather than merely support their extremist husbands, poses new risks, said the report from IPAC, which is headed by veteran Indonesian security analyst Sidney Jones.

The most high-profile cases were the arrest of two former domestic workers, Dian Yulia Novi and lka Puspitasari, who had allegedly volunteered to become suicide bombers in Jakarta and Bali. Leading Indonesian IS radical Bahrun Nairn, who has been accused of directing a series of mostly botched terror plots in his home­ land from Syria, had given them instructions and financial support, the report said.

Myanmar’s mly crackdown on Rohingya killed hundreds: UN

Myanmar’s military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims has likely killed hundreds of people, with children slaughtered and women gang-raped in a campaign that may amount to ethnic cleansing, the UN said on Friday, Feb 3. Soldiers have fired on civilians from helicopters while bands of troops have gone door-to-door in northern Rakhine state, terrorising Rohingya and torching their homes, according to a report from the United Nations human rights office. It was “very likely” that crimes against humanity have been committed in Myanmar, said the report, echoing previous UN accusations.

Rights office researchers inter­ viewed 204 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, where nearly 70,000 people have fled during the four­ month crisis. The Rohingya Muslims are loathed by many among Myanmar’s Buddhist majority and have faced persecution for years.

Violence has surged since the October 9 attacks on border guard posts that Myanmar and independent experts say was carried out by foreign-backed militants. Myanmar’s military launched “area clearance operations” the next day, which the UN report said “have likely resulted in several hundred deaths”.

Myanmar’s government spokesman Zaw Htay called the allegations “extremely serious” and said an existing Rohingya-focused com­ mission led by Vice President U Myint Swe would investigate the UN claims.

Amnesty accuses Syria of mass hangings in infamous jail

Amnesty International on Tuesday, Feb 7 accused Syria’s government of hanging up to 13,000 people at a notorious prison over five years in a “policy of extermination”, two weeks before planned peace talks. The damning report, titled  “Human Slaughterhouse: Mass hanging and extermination at Saydnaya prison” near Damascus, goes into excruciating detail about the gruesome ritual of mass hangings between 2011 and 2015.

At least once a week, up to 50 prisoners were taken out of their cells for arbitrary trials, beaten, then hanged “in the middle of the night and in total secrecy”, the report said. “Throughout this process, they remain blindfolded. They do not know when or how they will die until the noose was placed around their necks.”

Most of the victims were civilians believed to be opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

“They kept them (hanging) there for 10 to 15 minutes,” a former judge who witnessed the executions said. “For the young ones, their weight wouldn’t kill them. The officers’ assistants would pull them down and break their necks.” Amnesty said the mass executions amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity, but were likely still taking place.

In comments published on Tuesday, Assad insisted that “defending” his country in a time of war was more important than a potential case against his government at the highest UN court in The Hague.

“We have to defend our country by every mean, and when we have to defend it by every mean, we don’t care about this court, or any other international institution,” he said.

The watchdog has previously said that more than 17,700 people were estimated to have died in government custody in Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011.

IS executes five Egyptians accused of spying

The Islamic State group in Egypt claims to have executed five men it accuses of spying for the army, which is battling the Jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula. In a series of photos published on Friday, Feb 10 on the secure messaging app Telegram, five men presented as “spies” are seen lying face down on the ground before a militant shoots them in the back of their heads with an assault rifle.

Jihadists have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen since the military overthrow of lslamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013 unleashed a bloody crackdown on his supporters. The crackdown decimated the lslamist movement and killed hundreds of his followers, and set off a Jihadist insurgency that has killed hundreds of security personnel.

Most of the attacks have taken place in the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, but attacks have also been carried out in other areas including Cairo.

The Egyptian army announced on Friday that it had killed “500 terrorists” since it launched a wide­ ranging security operation in the Sinai in September 2015.

‘lslamophobia’ fuelling terrorism:

UN chief “lslamophobia” in parts of the world is fuelling terrorism, the head of the United Nations said on a visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Feb 12 as anti-immigrant sentiment rises in some countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the comment to reporters after talks with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“One of the things that fuel terrorism is the expression in some parts of the world of lslamophobic feelings and lslamophobic policies and lslamophobic hate speeches,” Guterres said at a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

“This is the best support that Daesh can have to make its own propaganda,” Guterres said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group of Sunni extremists in Syria and Iraq. The jihadist group has also claimed deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia and in Europe.

Anti-immigration politicians including France’s Marine Le Pen have seen their popularity rise after an influx to Europe of migrants many of them Muslims fleeing wars in Syria and elsewhere.

US President Donald issued an order in late January that denied entry to all refugees for 120 days. It also blocked travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely. But the order has faced obstacles and on Thursday an appellate court decided unanimously to maintain a block on Trump’s order.

Baghdad car bomb kills at least 18, wounds about 50

A car packed with explosives blew up on Thursday, Feb 16 in southern Baghdad, killing at least 18 people and wounding about 50, security and medical sources said.

The vehicle was parked in a crowded street full of garages and used car dealers, in Hayy al-Shurta, security sources said. The death toll could climb further as many of the wounded are in critical condition, a doctor said. The bombing, the dead- liest so far this year in Baghdad, is the second to hit car markets this week, after one on Wednesday.

Turkey steps up scrutiny on Muslim migrants from Russia

Turkey has increased scrutiny of Russian-speaking Muslim com­ munities in the past few months following a series of attacks blamed on Islamic State, a concrete example of the renewed relationship between the two countries.

Turkish police have raided the homes of Russian-speaking immigrants in Istanbul, detained many and expelled others, according to interviews with Russian Muslims living in the city.

At least some of those targeted by Turkish authorities are known to be sympathetic to radical lslamist movements.

The security activity indicates that Russia and Turkey are sharing intelligence, part of a newly-forged alliance that has also seen Moscow and Ankara work together on a peace deal for Syria. The cooperation comes as a resurgent Russia, already active in Ukraine and keen to boost its diplomatic influence in the Middle East, has been playing a greater role in Syria in the vacuum left by the United States under Barack Obama.

The roundups mark a change for Turkey, which has historically welcomed Muslims fleeing what they say is repression  in countries including Russia, among them com­ munities who fought government forces in Russia’s North Caucasus.

Turkey has been criticised by some Western allies for being too slow to stop the flow of foreign fighters crossing its borders to join Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in the early Years of the jihadist group’s rise.

Turkey has rejected such suggestions, saying it needed greater intelligence sharing from its allies in order to intercept would-be jihadists.

41 fighters executed in Syria

A Jihadist group has executed 41 fighters from al-Qaeda’s former Syria affiliate and allied factions in infighting between the extremists in Syria’s ldlib province, a monitor said on Friday, Feb 17.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Jund al­ Aqsa group had captured the fighters and shot them to death in the town of Khan Sheikhun on Monday. The deaths were only confirmed on Friday amid fierce fighting between the Jihadist factions, said the Britain-based monitoring group.

Jund al-Aqsa has been locked in clashes with former al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham since Monday, after tensions erupted between them over influence in the rebel­ held province of ldlib. Fateh al­-Sham is fighting alongside several allied groups in a coalition dubbed Tahrir al-Sham, and the clashes have spread beyond ldlib to neigh­bouring Hama province.

The Observatory said the clashes had killed 125 fighters from both sides, including the 41 executed by Jund al-Aqsa. Jund al-Aqsa is reviled by most rebels in the region, and is designed a “terrorist group” by Washington.

Despite that, in October Fateh al-Sham announced it had taken Jund al-Aqsa under its wing, although clashes between the two groups erupted shortly afterwards.

The fighting reflects the increasingly strained relations between different factions in ldlib province that once fought alongside each other against President Bashar al­ Assad’s forces.

20 arrested as Bahrain approves mly trial of civilians

Bahrain police have arrested 20 people in a crackdown on villages, as legislators approved a constitutional amendment that could see civilians tried in military courts in the kingdom.

The lower house of parliament on Tuesday, Feb 21 voted in favour of a constitutional amendment which drops a clause restricting military trials to offences committed by members of the army, police or other security branches.

Under the amendment to Article 105, which also needs approval in Bahrain’s appointed upper house, civilians charged with “damaging public interest” or with terrorism – broadly defined – could now face trial in a military court.

Bahraini authorities have made sweeping use of counter-terrorism legislation in past weeks as they tighten their grip on political protests, which have entered their seventh year.

Between February 9 and February 19, police arrested 20 residents of villages, aged between 20 and 65 and including four women, in what the government described as a crackdown on “terror cells”.

Those arrested face charges including “plotting acts of terrorism and aiding and abetting fugitives.

Yemen clashes, suicide bombing kill 43

A suicide bomber killed eight people at a Yemeni army base on Friday, Feb 24 as clashes between pro-government fighters and Huthi rebels left 35 dead, security sources and a local official said.

The bomber blew up his vehicle at the entrance to Najda Camp in Abyan province’s capital Zinjibar, just 55 kilometres from second city Aden where the government is based. The attacker failed to get through the gate and heavy exchanges of fire ensued as other assailants tried to penetrate it.

The explosives were concealed in the back of a pick-up truck under a pile of firewood, the sources said.

The Jihadist network has taken advantage of nearly two years of fighting between government forces and Shiite rebels who control the capital Sanaa to entrench its presence in swathes of the south.

Suicide bomber kills 51 near Syrian town

A suicide bomber attacked Turkish-backed rebels just outside the Syrian town of A-Bab on Friday, Feb 24 killing 51 people in a major blow just hours after trey hailed its capture from the Islamic Sate group.

The bomber blew up a vehicle packed with explosives outside a rebel command centre in the village of Susian, eight kilometres northeast of Al-Bab, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The blast devastated the twin command posts and also seriously wounded a large number of fighters, the Britain-based monitoring group said. It had earlier said that 42 people, mainly rebels, had died, but later clarified to say the majority of those killed were civilians.

There was no immediate claim for the attack, but rebels blamed it on IS, which had put up fierce resistance in Al-Bab for weeks.

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 References

Threat Level 1                                                                                * 

No threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required.

Threat Level 2                                                                                **

No specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling.

Threat Level 3                                                             ***

Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation.

Threat Level 4                                                                        **** 

Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners 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.