Suicide Attacks
At least three persons, including two children, were killed and three persons, including a Chinese national, sustained injuries in a suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals’ vehicle on the Gwadar Expressway in Gwadar District on August 20, reports ARY News. In a Twitter statement, the Balochistan Government’s spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani confirmed the blast saying it was a suicide attack.
Bomb attacks
A Policeman was killed and two passerby were injured in a hand grenade attack in Karkhano Market area of Peshawar on July 30, reports Dawn. In a statement, Police initially said that an unidentified assailant had hurled a grenade at the Police mobile during an operation against Covid-19 SOP violations. However, Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Abbas Ahsan who visited the site to inspect the damage later clarified that the mobile was on a routine patrol when it was targeted.
One soldier was killed and two others injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off when Security Forces (SFs) were carrying out a search operation near the Afghan border in the Shawal area of North Waziristan District on July 31, reports Dawn.
Separately, one soldier was killed and seven others got injuries when an IED exploded near a vehicle in the Osse Pass area of Ladha sub-division in South Waziristan District on July 30, reports Dawn.
One Policeman, Naib Subedar Raja Tahir, sustained injuries when a Police van on polio duty hit a landmine on Badar Bridge in Ladha sub-division of South Waziristan District on August 1, reports Dawn.
Two Policemen were killed and 21 others, including 12 Policemen, sustained injuries in an explosion took place near a Police van at Zarghoon Road near the University Chowk in Quetta in the evening of August 8, reports Geo TV. Police said that the explosives were planted on a motorcycle which was carried out by using a timed device. Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said four kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast.
Two soldiers suffered injuries when a landmine exploded near their vehicle in the Tangi Badanzai area of Ladha Tehsil (revenue unit) in South Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 8, reports Dawn. Police said a small convoy was passing through a narrow pass when the landmine went off, leaving two soldiers injured.
Three grenade attacks on national flag sellers took place in different parts of Quetta during the last 48 hours ending on August 10, killing one person and injuring five others, reports Dawn. Unidentified person hurled a grenade at a pushcart selling the national flags in the Sirki Road area which exploded at the roadside. However, no loss of human life was reported in the explosion which smashed windowpanes of shops and buildings.
Five people were injured in a grenade attack at a small shop where the national flags were hoisted in the Eastern Bypass area in the night. The motorcyclists escaped after lobbing grenades. One of the injured, identified as Amanullah (27), later succumbed to his injuries at hospital.
Four Policemen were injured in an explosion in Daro area of Lower Dir District in the afternoon of August 15, reports Samaa TV. According to initial reports, the explosives were planted on the roadside.
At least three people were killed and 50 others injured when a man hurled a grenade at Ashura procession passing by Jamia Masjid in Muhajir Colony of Bahawalnagar city (Bahawalnagar District) reports Samaa TV.
Targetted Killings
Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle shot dead a Police officer, belonging to the Frontier Reserve Police, while returning home after security duty with polio vaccination workers in the Duadzai area of Peshawar on August 1, reports Dawn.
A Station House Officer (SHO), Muhammad Shaifq, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Mir Ali bazaar of North Waziristan District on August 3, reports The Express Tribune. District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur said that unidentified assailants opened fire at SHO Muhammad Shaifq when he was on his way to Shiwa Police Station.
Police on August 5 recovered the handcuffed dead body of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Malik Ubedullah from Muhajir camp area of Saranan tehsil (revenue unit) in Pishin District, reports ARY News. Malik Ubedullah went missing outside his house on June 26.
Three officials of the customs department were killed after assailants riding motorcycles opened fire on them on Dera-Zhob road near Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan District on August 9, reports Dawn. Police said the gunmen attacked an anti-smuggling squad of the customs department during routine patrol near Kulachi and escaped.
Two persons were shot dead by unidentified assailants on Airport Road near Shan Hotel area of Quetta on August 19, reports The Nation. The victims were identified as Wadera Sultan-ud-Din (55), son of Wadera Ameer Khan Shahwani, resident of Spiny Road, and Raza Muhammad (25), son of Asghar Shah Khilji, resident of Spiny Road.
Miscellaneous
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel arrested two terrorists during a raid in Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on July 27, reports ARY News. The CTD spokesperson said in a statement that the terrorists namely, Nihad and Farhad are wanted to the Police in 14 and four cases respectively. Explosive material, safety fuses, detonators, hand grenades, pistols and mobiles phones were recovered from their possession. KP Government had fixed PKR seven million head money for Nihad Ali and PKR Four million for Farhad.
The Police foiled a smuggling bid by arrested an Arms smuggler and recovered a cache of arms from a pick-up vehicle on the Peshawar Bypass under Jungle Khel Police Station in Kohat District on July 29, reports Dawn. The Police were checking vehicles coming from Darra Adam Khel whey they stopped a suspicious vehicle. During search, they found two Kalashnikovs, 72 pistols and 8,800 cartridges hidden in secret cavities of the vehicle. The arrested smuggler was identified as Maazullah, who belongs to Zarghun tribe of Darra Adam Khel. He was carrying the weapons to Dera Ismail Khan.
Two militants were killed when Security Forces (SFs) on August 2 conducted an area clearance operation in Zangutai area of North Waziristan District after they received intelligence of presence of militants there, reports Geo TV. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a soldier also sustained injuries. The slain militants were actively involved in fire raids and improvised explosive device (IED) explosions against SFs, the ISPR added.
One Police constable, identified as Dilawar Khan, was killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on policemen guarding polio workers administering vaccinations near Atal Sharif area of Kalachi Tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Ismail Khan District on August 2, reports Geo TV. The gunmen managed to escape the scene.
Meanwhile, a soldier, identified as Naik Ghulam Mustafa (37), was killed after militants opened fire on a military post in Ghariom area of North Waziristan District on August 2, reports Geo TV. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the troops had responded in a befitting manner, while sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any militants.
A militant was arrested in a raid carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Naseerabad District of Balochistan on August 4, reports Samaa TV. The militant was intercepted at a checkpost while travelling to Naseerabad in a passenger van. He was carrying a cache of explosives that were recovered by the CTD.
One terrorist, identified as Ali Raza, who was accused of killing 14 persons, was arrested from near Ayesha Manzil area of Central Karachi District during a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation on August 5, reports Samaa TV. According to the CTD officials, Ali Raza was actively recruiting young men for carrying out terrorist attacks in the country. He had reportedly fled the country and his accomplices had been arrested. He had returned recently. A cache of weapons and explosives from his possession.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on August 8 shot dead three militants in Ferozewala area of Lahore, reports Geo TV. The CTD spokesperson said the militants were staying at a rented house in Ferozewala where they were planning to conduct attacks on intelligence agencies and law enforcement personnel.
One soldier, Sepoy Shahid (29), was killed when terrorists fired at a military checkpost in Ghariom area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 7, reports Geo TV.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on August 9 killed at least five militants during an exchange of fire in the Western bypass area of Quetta, reports ARY News. A cache of explosive material and arms were recovered from the compound of the killed militants.
One person was killed and four others sustained injuries in a grenade attack at Sher Jan stop in Quetta on August 9, reports The Express Tribune. The deceased person was identified as 25-year-old Amanullah. The target of the blast was a pushcart vendor selling Pakistani flags and Independence Day paraphernalia.
Security Forces (SFs) shot dead a commander of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), carrying a head money of PKR 3 million, during a joint operation on Dera-Daraban road in Dera Ismail Khan District of KP in the evening of August 8, reports Dawn.
Five Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants were killed during a search operation with the personnel of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Security Forces (SFs) in New Marri Camp area near Hazarganji suburb of the Quetta on August 12, reports Dawn. The search operation was launched on intelligence reports. Three militants managed to escape taking the benefit of darkness. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the compound, including two sub-machine guns, three pistols and as many hand grenades. Two motorcycles, maps and documents were also recovered.
The Police on August 12 arrested two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, identified as Ameer Zada and Taj Wali, from Ibrahim Hyderi Colony of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports Samaa TV. A cache of weapons and explosives, including detonators, were recovered from the possession of arrested militants. They were trained in Afghanistan, claimed Police. They confessed to have carried out attacks on NATO forces. Ameer Zada joined the group back in 2001 and is a suspect in ransom and terrorism cases. His partners Jihad Yar, Ameer Janan, Mullah Usman also known as Umme Salaama, Mir Rehman alias Haji and Fazal Rehman aka Abu Khalid have already been killed. Wali became part of the faction on local commander Qari Qayyum’s instigation back in 2009-10. He is suspected of being involved in terrorism cases in Afghanistan and South Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
One Army soldier, identified as Naik Zia ud Din, and one militant were killed during an exchange of fire with militants in Sararogha area of South Waziristan District on August 12, reports Dawn. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said that in the night a military post in Sararogha detected the suspicious movement of three to four suspected militants. “A quick reaction force was immediately dispatched to challenge the suspected terrorists; however, the troops were fired upon. Due to effective response, one terrorist was killed and another was apprehended in [an] injured condition,” the statement said.
Three militants and one Frontier Corps (FC) soldier, Naik Sharif, were killed during an exchange of fire in the coalmine field area of Shahrig in Loralai District on August 14, reports Dawn. Two other soldiers, including an officer Major Qasim, suffered injuries in the exchange of fire.
One Army personnel, identified as captain Kashif, was killed and two other soldiers sustained injuries after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by terrorists in Gichik area of Khuzdar District in Balochistan on August 22, reports Dawn.
PAKISTAN
Drug dealers a threat to national security, says Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa
The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa underscored the importance of the need to deal with the drug deals with an iron hand in Pakistan during his visit to the headquarters of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on July 27, reports Geo TV. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the Army chief was given a detailed operational briefing regarding the genesis of the ANF and its contributions to control drug trafficking in the country. “Drug peddlers and those involved in its production are a threat to national security and relentless enemies of humanity,” General Bajwa said while interacting with the officers and staff. “Drug money is being used for promotion of terrorism and therefore, it is important that drug dealers are dealt with iron hands,” he was quoted as saying.
Pakistan not responsible for Taliban, neither its spokesperson, says PM Imran Khan
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on July 29 said Pakistan is neither “responsible” for the actions of the Taliban and neither is the country the group’s spokesperson, reports The Express Tribune. “What the Taliban are doing or are not doing has nothing to do with us and we are not responsible, neither are we the spokesperson of the Taliban,” said the PM while speaking to a group of Afghan journalists in Islamabad. He reiterated that Islamabad wants only peace in Afghanistan. PM Imran said Pakistan was ready and willing to do anything necessary for a peaceful settlement of the Afghan issued but ruled out using force against the Taliban. “We believe that Afghanistan cannot be controlled from the outside. Our policy is to have the best relationship with whoever the people of Afghanistan choose,” said the PM. PM Imran further said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was being blamed for the Afghan crisis as it was Pakistan that convinced the Taliban to come to the negotiation table.
Taliban are normal civilians, not military outfits, says PM Imran Khan
In an interview with PBS NewsHour aired in the night of July 29, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said the Taliban are not some military outfits but normal civilians, asking how the country is supposed to hunt them down when it has three million Afghan refugees at the border. PM Khan stressed that Pakistan hosts three million Aghan refugees of which the majority are Pashtuns, the same ethnic group as the Taliban fighters. “Now, there are camps of 500,000 people; there are camps of 100,000 people. And Taliban are not some military outfits, they are normal civilians. And if there are some civilians in these camps, how is Pakistan supposed to hunt these people down? How can you call them sanctuaries?” he argued.
When asked about alleged Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, the Prime Minister responded: “Where are these safe-havens? There are three million refugees in Pakistan who are the same ethnic group as the Taliban” Pakistan has been long accused of helping the Taliban militarily, financially and with intelligence inputs in their fight against the Afghanistan Government, but Imran Khan dismissed these accusations as “extremely unfair”. He said that thousands of Pakistanis lost their lives in the aftermath of the United States war in Afghanistan when “Pakistan had nothing to do with what happened” on September 11, 2001, in New York.
90pc of border fencing completed with Afghanistan, says FC Colonel Rizwan Nazir
Frontier Corps (FC) Colonel Rizwan Nazir on August 3 said 90pc work on the fencing of the border with the Afghanistan has been completed, reports The Nation. Colonel Rizwan Nazir briefed foreign media during a facilitated visit to Torkham border. “More than 90pc of the fencing has been completed, and the rest would be completed by 2022 to stop all kinds of illegal movement from Afghanistan,” he said. “The government of Pakistan has given a clear stance of our standing on the Afghan peace process we have completely secured our border, if a situation of civil war erupts, we have a proper mechanism to control the movement at the border,” Colonel Rizwan Nazir said.
Stability in Tribal Districts critical to regional security, says USAID-KP Acting Director Altaf Afridi
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Acting Director Altaf Afridi on August 6 said that stability in Tribal Districts critical to regional security, reports The Express Tribune. USAID is supporting the KP Government in expanding governance, improving services delivery, creating economic opportunities and developing infrastructure in the province particularly in recently-merged Tribal Districts. Addressing a virtual seminar in Peshawar, Altaf Afridi, during his briefing to the press, said that stability and development in KP, particularly in the merged Districts along the border with Afghanistan, are critical to global and regional security. USAID is partnering with the Pakistanis Government to expand the presence of public entities in the newly-merged areas, provide basic services, and facilitate economic opportunities. These jointly prioritised objectives are in line with Pakistan’s Tribal Decade Strategy for 2020-2030 and the mutual goal to increase stability by delivering development to the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Taliban will not talk to Government till Ashraf Ghani is in power, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan
On August 11, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the Taliban leaders have told him that until President Ghani is in power, the group will not engage in talks with the Afghanistan Government, reports Reuters. “The condition is that as long as Ashraf Ghani is there, we (the Taliban) are not going to talk to the Afghan government,” Khan said, quoting the Taliban leaders, said, Imran Khan.
Afghanistan – Internal Dynamics
Nine member Taliban delegation visited China: Wardak
The Taliban’s political office spokesperson Naeem Wardak in a Twitter post said that a nine-member delegation led by the head of political office Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar visited China on July 27-28, reports Khamma News. As per the tweet posted by Naeem Wardak, the Taliban delegation met with the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi. Reuters adds that according to an account of the meeting given by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Minister Wang Yi told the Taliban that the group is expected to “play an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan”.
Taliban conduct 22 thousand attacks against ANDSF in four months, says a report by State Ministry in Peace Affairs
Afghanistan’s State Ministry in Peace Affairs on July 29 published its four-month report on civilian casualty which states that the Taliban have conducted 22 thousand attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), reports Khamma News. As per the report, a total number of 5587 civilian people were killed and wounded as a result of 93 suicide attacks, 650 rocket shells, 1675 mine explosions, and 844 assassinations by the Taliban. Also, 24609 Taliban fighters have been killed and wounded as a result of ANDSF operations in the period mentioned, reads the report.
Two Security Guards killed during an attack on UN mission in Herat Province
The United Nations (UN) mission in Afghanistan on July 30 confirmed an attack on its office by “anti-government elements” that led to the death of two security guards in Herat city in Herat Province, reports Tolo News. The fighting between Afghan Security Forces, Public Uprising Forces, and Taliban continues for the 2nd day in Heart city.
Afghanistan Government faces ‘existential crisis’, says latest SIGAR report
The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconciliation (SIGAR) in a new report released on July 30 said that Afghanistan Government faces an “existential crisis” after a continuing rise in Taliban attacks that began well ahead of the withdrawal of US and coalition troops from the country, reports Tolo News. The SIGAR latest report said the ANDSF has retaken some Districts and the Afghan government still controls all 34 provincial capitals, including Kabul, but from public reporting, the ANDSF appeared surprised and unready and is now on its back foot.“ The overall trend is clearly unfavorable to the Afghan Government, which could face an existential crisis if it isn’t addressed and reversed,” said the report.
War in Afghanistan is over, declares Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem
The spokesman for the Taliban’s political office Mohammad Naeem on August 15 declared the war was over in Afghanistan and called for peaceful relations with the international community, reports Reuters.”We ask all countries and entities to sit with us to settle any issues”, Naeem said in an interview with Al Jazeera TV.
Taliban spokesman says new Government will include non-Taliban Afghans
On August 15, Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen said that a new Taliban Government will include non-Taliban Afghans, reports CNN. Taliban spokesperson told CNN’s Nic Robertson in a video interview when asked whether members of the former Afghan Government will be part of the Government, said it would be “premature” right now to name who the officials will be, but he said that they are trying to have some “well known figures” to be part of the Government. On Afghan Army and Police, Sohail Shaheen said that all those handing over their weapons and joining Taliban forces will be granted amnesty, and that their lives and property would be secure. He added that their names are in a registry and they would be used as a “reserve” force and called upon as needed.
Hekmatyar warns New Delhi: India should not use Afghan soil against Pakistan
Former prime minister of Afghanistan and Hezb-e-Islami chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Sunday, Aug 22 said India should focus on its internal issues instead of issuing statements about the future of Afghanistan.
“India should refrain from using the Afghan soil against Pakistan to take revenge for Kashmiris’ struggle in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said while talking to the state-run Pakistan Radio.
Hekmatyar said some “hostile agencies of foreign countries are busy instigating the Afghan people to revolt.” He also said formal talks among the Afghan groups to form a negotiated government will start after complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in the next few days.
Hekmatyar also commended Prime Minister Imran Khan’s longstanding stance on peace in Afghanistan. He said he hoped there would soon be a government in Kabul, which would be acceptable to the Afghan people and the international community.
He said all the stakeholders were aware that the Afghan political leaders and the Taliban should formally sit at the negotiating table to form a new government in Afghanistan, adding that informal interactions were taking place in this regard and soon these contacts will convert into formal talks.
He said the Taliban, in their statements, had been saying that they did not want to impose an Islamic emirate of their own choice and would prefer to establish a dispensation in consultation with all stakeholders. In an interview with the APP, Hekmatyar said an inclusive government comprising all the other political groups was the need of the hour. “Such a government could stop further bloodshed in Afghanistan and steer the war-ravaged country out of the present crisis,” he said.
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Neo-JMB’s ‘bomb expert’ is at top of wanted list, say CTTC officials
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) officials said that Ismail Hasan Furkanalias Zahid Hasan alias Raju, the ‘bomb expert’ of Neo-Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) is at the top of the law enforcers’ wanted list as he continues to make most of its members efficient in producing bombs, reports The Daily Star on July 30. Dubbed ‘explosives guru’ by the law enforcers, Furkan has been leading three cells with 20 members each since 2018 and training them online on how to make Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with materials easily available in the market, say CTTC officials. Furkan was born in October 1994 in an impoverished family in Borguna District. He got admitted to Jahangirnagar University in 2012. He completed honours, but could not finish his masters. He used to earn by tutoring students, said a CTTC official. After receiving an invitation from the militant group in 2016, he opened a FaceBook ID under the name Ismail Hasan. He makes manuals and videos on manufacturing IEDs and then shares those with the members of the cells through end-to-end encrypted apps.
Four UPDF-Prosit cadres arrested in Rangamati District
Four armed cadres of the United People’s Democratic Front-Prosit (UPDF-Prosit) were arrested on July 30 during a drive by the Army at Choto Kattali area of Rangamati District, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestees were identified as Suren Cakma (36), Annasang Chakma (45), Anil Chakma (19) and Symon Chakma (40). One AK-22 rifle, 77 rounds of ammunition, 1 magazine 1 walkie-talkie set, one solar charger, four mobile sets, fake ID card, banners with anti-state slogans and BDT 63,592 was recovered from the arrestees. The four belong to the armed branch of the UPDF-Prosit and were involved in terrorist activities at different places of Rangamati, said the Army sources.
Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan might encourage militancy in Bangladesh, says DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Shafiqul Islam while talking to reporters at his office on August 16 said that the Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan might encourage militancy in Bangladesh and other countries in the sub-continent, reports New Age. He said that a resurgence of militancy in Bangladesh was always connected with such international major events, adding that the current development in Afghanistan might encourage some youths in Bangladesh to get involved in militancy. The DMP chief said that coordinated efforts among the Police and other state agencies are essential to prevent such militant resurgence in the country.
India – Internal Dynamics
CPI-Maoist inducting children, giving military training, Government told Parliament
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) are inducting children in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and using them for cooking, carrying daily use materials apart from giving them military training, the Government told Parliament on July 27, reports Odisha TV. In a written reply to parliamentarian Vishnu Dayal Ram, Minister of State for Home Affairs (MoSHA), Nityanand Rai, said that there have been some reports of CPI-Maoist inducting children into the organisation in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. He said that they are using them for cooking, carrying daily use materials and collecting information on the movement of Security Forces (SFs). “They are also imparted military training,” the minister said.
Naxals using drones for surveillance along border with Chhattisgarh, says Maharashtra Police
Naxals[Left Wing Extremists, LWEs] in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli District are using drones to keep an eye on the movement of Police, reports News 18 on July 30. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Gadchiroli range, Sandip Patil, said, drones or unmanned aerial vehicles have been sighted near armed outposts and sub-Police Stations along the State’s border with Chhattisgarh in the last few months. The rebels use these devices for surveillance of Police movement, he said, adding, in the last two days, drones were sighted at Pipripata area of Gondia District and Venkatapur in Gadchiroli District.
Two injured in a bomb attack at Police Officer’s residence in Manipur
On July 31, unknown miscreants hurled bomb at the residence of second Officer-in-charge (OC) of Moreh Police Station (PS), L Premjit, at Turel Wangma of Moreh Ward No VII in Moreh of Tengnoupal District in Manipur, leaving two injured, reports Imphal Free Press. Laishom Babita, wife of the Police officer sustained injuries at her left chest and both legs while their seven-year-old minor son L Austin was hit by a splinter in the bomb attack. Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) and All Community Development Organisation Moreh (ACODOM), Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO)-Moreh block and Hill Tribal Council (HTC) strongly condemned the bomb attack.
Two BSF personnel killed in ambush along India-Bangladesh border in Tripura
On August 3, two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed in an ambush with suspected militants of banned Biswamohan faction of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT-BM) at RC Nath Border Outpost (BOP) near the India-Bangladesh border in Dhalai District of Tripura, reports East Mojo. Around 10 armed militants of NLFT-BM ambushed a team of Security Personnel who was out for checking of border fencing. The two martyred BSF personnel were identified as Sub-inspector (SI) Bhuru Singh and Constable Raj Kumar. Earlier, a team of ‘Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal’ of the Union Home Ministry (UMHA) had visited Tripura in February to record evidence against the NLFT and ATTF. Tripura shares an 856-km long international border with neighbouring Bangladesh, of which about 67-km area is unfenced.
LTT ‘commander-in-chief’ and two others shot dead in Manipur
On August 5, a Liberation Tiger of Tribal (LTT) ‘commander-in-chief’, Khaikhohao alias Haopu Khongsai and two others were reportedly shot dead unknown armed men at their hideout in Maojang village’s paddy field in Saikul subdivision in Kangpokpi District of Manipur, reports Imphal Free Press. According to sources, among the two other militants, one of them has been identified as Naolun Khongsai, son of the slain LTT chief. Further investigation is going on.
25 militants of different groups join NSCN – IM
At least 25 militants from different militant groups joined National Socialist Council of Nagaland -Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), reports E Pao. In a press release, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim/ National Socialist Council of Nagaland (GPRN/NSCN) on August 6 claimed that the 25 militants joined the outfit as they were unhappy with the leadership of their parent organizations and NNPGs (Naga National Political Groups).
Petrol bombs hurled at Meghalaya CM’s residence in Meghalaya
On August 15, unidentified miscreants lobbed two petrol bombs at Meghalaya Chief Minister (CM) Conrad K Sangma’s private residence in Third Mile of Shillong in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, reports Imphal Free Press. However, no one was injured. The incident took place amid curfew being imposed by the State Government in the District following a massive surge in violent protests in Shillong against the killing of former HNLC leader Chesterfield Thangkhiew in an encounter on August 13.
India maintaining detailed watch on JMB leaders contesting Bangladesh polls on BNP price ticket
India is conserving a detailed watch at the political trends all through the Bangladesh polls as round 25 Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders are contesting the polls on Bangladesh Nationalist Birthday celebration (BNP) price ticket and 20 from constituencies with reference to West Bengal border, thenewstrace.com reports on August 22. These kinds of constituencies are inside of 100km from West Bengal border, whilst two others are preventing from Comilla, positioned with reference to Tripura border and two JMB leaders are from Sylhet, which is adjacent Assam. Resources mentioned that the utmost focus of JMB leaders are discovered inside of a spread of 50-100km from West Bengal border.
Monthly Fatalities:
The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period July 26, 2021 to August 25, 2021:
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Assam | 05 | 01 | 02 | 08 |
| Manipur | 01 | 00 | 02 | 03 |
| Left Wing | 06 | 06 | 04 | 16 |
| Total | 12 | 07 | 08 | 27 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
CPN-UML revives militant wing Youth Force
In yet another show of power, the KP Sharma Oli faction of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) revived the once dissolved militant youth wing, Youth Force on July 24 amid a rally in the capital Kathmandu, reports The Himalayan Times. Hundreds of youths, also ardent supporters of Oli, wearing red t-shirts and cap marched through the street from Baneshwor to Maitighar where they converged into a corner meeting. Following this, a gathering was held at Karki Banquet where a 1,101-member Valley Command Force was formed under the command of Youth Force Deputy Chief Pushpa Raj Shrestha. Youths under the leadership of CPM-UML lawmaker Mahesh Basnet have been staging discourteous protests and spitting venom at the party’s senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal after its Chairman Oli was ousted from the office of the Prime Minister.
EC scraps 41 political parties
The Election Commission (EC) scrapped registration of 41 political parties, reports My Republica on August 4. With this, there are now 95 political parties in the country. Earlier, 136 political parties were registered at the EC. The EC dismissed 41 political parties after they failed to submit audit reports for three consecutive years. The EC has maintained that Names, Flags and Symbols used by these parties cannot be used by any other political parties for one year. According to EC Spokesperson Raj Kumar Shrestha, the EC has scrapped these political parties and office bearers of their working committee have also faced action. These parties will now need to file Rs 50,000 each. “In order to prevent the central office bearers and members of the dismissed parties from becoming office bearers of other parties for a period until the fine is collected, it has been decided to proceed with the proceedings in accordance with the law only after registering a new party and updating the existing parties,” said Shrestha. The EC had earlier sought clarification from 86 political parties failing to submit audit reports for three consecutive years.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
UK reduces risk of terror attacks in Sri Lanka
The United Kingdom (UK) has reduced the risk of terrorist attacks from very likely, to likely in Sri Lanka, in its most recent travel advice, reports Colombo Gazette on July 26. It says attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners such as hotels, tourist sites and places of worship. “There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time,” the UK Foreign Office said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International demand release of Hejaaz Hizbullah, currently detained under the PTA
Ten human rights groups including the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International issued a statement on July 28 calling for the release of Lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and several other currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports Ada Derana. The organizations state that in the absence of any credible evidence presented before a court of law, Hizbullah should be released immediately and unconditionally.
“Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested on April 14, 2020 under the PTA. He was accused by the police of aiding and abetting Inshaf Ahamed (who was involved in the April 21, 2019 bombings), an accusation that has since been withdrawn. The latest allegation on which an indictment was filed against Hejaaz Hizbullah in the High Court on February 18, 2021, is a speech-related offence of “causing communal disharmony,” one of a number of overly broad offences provided under the PTA. The indictment is based on a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department of the police made by a child regarding a speech allegedly made by Hizbullah in Puttalam. Other children who were questioned at the same time by the same officers filed fundamental rights cases claiming they were coerced by police officers to falsely implicate Hejaaz Hizbullah. Combined with the repeated changes in the allegations, this leads us to believe the allegations against him are unsupported by any credible evidence” the statement reads.
US Ambassador Alaina Teplitz called on Sri Lanka Government to abide by its commitments to human rights and take decisive steps to repeal or amend PTA
Speaking at a media conference, United States (US) Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, called on the Government of Sri Lanka to abide by its international commitments to human rights and take decisive steps to either repeal or amend Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports Tamil Guardian on August 2. Commenting on the recent pardoning of 16 alleged former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members detained under the PTA, Tepliz applauded the measure and encouraged for more people to be released “who have been detained under that legislation that no longer conforms to international norms and does need to be revised”.
Teplitz’s statement was met with criticism from a journalist at Sri Lanka’s state-run Hiru TV news, who claimed her statement overlooked the release of former LTTE cadres by condemning the pardon of Duminda Silva. Responding to this criticism, she stated “I encouraged the government to continue its review, which it said that it’s doing, it is also my prerogative as a representative of the United States to express the views and the policy concerns of my country.”
Commenting on her discussions with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Teplitz maintains that she was keen to hear “their concerns related to needed changes in the political process and some of the challenges that people face in the north and the east”.
Supreme Court suspends the implementation of regulations issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the PTA
The Supreme Court on August 5 issued an interim order suspending the implementation of regulations issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), regulations No. 01 of 2021 which was published on March 12, 2021, reports Colombo Page. This Interim Order will be effective until the next hearing date on August 24. The Supreme Court issued the interim order after considering three fundamental rights petitions filed by a group of journalists and human rights activists seeking an injunction restraining the implementation of the regulations.
The petitioners allege that the regulations pose a serious threat to their personal freedom as they are in direct violation of Articles 10, 11, 12.1, 12.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.1 (b), 14.1 (d) and 17 of the Constitution.
Army donates Rs 100,000 to former LTTE members recently pardoned by the President for their self-employment ventures
In an event held at the Jetwing Hotel in Jaffna on August 7, the Army offered Rs.100,000 cash gifts to each of the 15 ex- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants, recently pardoned by the President for starting their own self-employment ventures and continuing with their peaceful lives as law-abiding citizens, reports Daily News. The event was presided over by Chief of Defence Staff, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva.
Two Sri Lankan nationals captured off Kerala coast in March 2020 are associated with LTTE, says NIA
National Investigation Agency (NIA), India probing the capture of six Sri Lankan nationals along with five AK-47 rifles and almost 80 billion Sri Lankan Rupees worth of heroin from a boat off the Kerala coast on March 25, 2020 has found that two Sri Lankan nationals who had been residing in Chennai allegedly have associations with members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Daily Mirror on August 14. The NIA got these details while questioning Suresh Raj and Soundarajan in the past 13 days. “Suresh is a Sri Lankan national who had been staying illegally in India for the past several years without any visa or passport. He managed to obtain a PAN card, Aadhaar card, driving license, voter ID card and passport of India using forged documents. He was arrested by the Q Branch from Angamaly last month,” a source has said.
INTERNATIONAL
42 killed in extrajudicial killings in South Sudan
The United Nations on Monday, July 26 demanded an end to extrajudicial killings in South Sudan after the grisly execution of at least 42 people, including boys, in lawless parts of the troubled country.
Clashes in Syria kill 23
Eight civilians including several children were among 23 people killed on Thursday, July 29 in the fiercest clashes to rock Syria’s Daraa province since it was captured by the government, a war monitor said.
China accuses BBC of ‘fake news’
Beijing on Thursday, July 29 launched a scathing attack on the BBC, accusing it of broadcasting “fake news” and saying the organisation was “naturally unpopular” over its coverage of devastating floods in central China.
Egypt’s army kills 89 insurgents
Egypt’s military said on Sunday, Aug 01 it has killed 89 suspected insurgents in operations in North Sinai, a region where an affiliate of the Islamic State group has been active for nearly a decade.
Sixteen killed in DR Congo
At least 16 people were killed in an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict-plagued east, believed to be the work of armed Islamists, military and local sources said on Tuesday, Aug 03.
Sudan sentences six paramilitaries to death
A Sudanese court on Thursday, Aug 5 sentenced six members of a feared paramilitary force to death for killing six protesters during a 2019 demonstration over food and fuel shortages.
The protesters, including four schoolchildren, were shot dead in July 2019 in the city of Al-Obeid in North Kordofan, sparking outrage across Sudan. Days later, nine members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary unity were arrested.
At their trial on Thursday, broadcast on Sudan TV, Judge Mohamed Rahma sentenced six of the defendants to death, acquitted two others, and referred one to a juvenile court, as he was under 18.
Clashes kill 30 Sudanese soldiers
At least 30 South Sudanese soldiers were killed and 13 injured in clashes between forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar and a splinter group, Machar’s party spokesman said in a statement on Saturday, Aug 07.
In a move that risks derailing the country’s already fragile peace process, rival military leaders of Machar’s party SPLM/A-IO, announced on Wednesday that the vice president was ousted as head of his party and its armed forces. As a result, the party’s chief of staff, First Lieutenant General Simon Gatwech Dual, was nominated interim party leader from the military wing.
The latest clashes occurred in Magenis, in the country’s Upper Nile region, between forces loyal to General Dual and those backing Machar. Machar’s party’s spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said the party’s forces responded “in self defence” and killed two major Generals and over 27 soldiers.
Reuters could not independently verify the report of killings. The military wing was not immediately available for comment and communication networks are patchy in the Upper Nile region.
51 villagers killed in Mali
Suspected jihadists massacred 51 civilians in northern Mali and killed 12 troops in an ambush in neighbouring Burkina Faso, the authorities said on Monday, Aug 09 highlighting the security crisis gripping the two fragile states.
“Terrorists” on Sunday invaded the villages of Karou, Ouatagouna and Daoutegeft near Mali’s border with Niger, a military officer told AFP, using a term officials use to designate jihadists. “(They) massacred everyone,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A document by the local prefecture, seen by AFP, said 51 people had been killed in the coordinated attacks, homes had been looted and cattle stolen. A local official, who also asked not to be identified for security reasons, said “20 civilians were massacred in Karou. Fourteen civilians were killed in Ouatagouna, and other civilians were killed in the hamlet of Daoutegeft”.
Calls to impeach Biden grow
As the Taliban are negotiating a new government in Kabul after the Afghan National Defence Forces folded up amidst a lingering but disorderly US withdrawal from Afghanistan, scheduled to be completed by Aug 31, US President Joe Biden has come in for increasing criticism from international allies and domestic politicians, several of whom are calling for impeachment proceedings against the 46th president of the US.
Speaking on ‘War Room Pandemic’ podcast with host Steve Bannon, Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, MTG, confirmed, “I have my team right now working on articles of impeachment. You know I’ve already filed one set of articles of impeachment. “But his failure as a president is unspeakable,” she added, reported foreign media.
The remarks about the president by prominent politicians come as the #ImpeachBiden hashtag went viral on social media and became one of the highest trends on Twitter on Monday morning. Candace Owens, one of the most prominent political spokespeople on the platform with 2.8 million followers, shared a photo comparing America’s exit by helicopter from Vietnam and from Afghanistan with the words, “Biden’s Saigon. #ImpeachBiden.”
Jerome Bell, a Trump-supporting Republican who is running for Congress in Virginia’s Congressional District, tweeted with a screenshot alleging that Biden lied about military intelligence on Afghanistan. Biden said in a July 8 press conference that the Afghanistan military was capable of subverting the Taliban. “Boom. #ImpeachBiden,” Jerome Bell wrote on Twitter as the Taliban stormed into the presidential palace and declared the war in Afghanistan to be over.
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.
