Bomb/IED Attacks
A man was killed and two others injured in a bomb blast in the Mamma Khel area of Mirali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District on December 28, reports Daily Times. The explosive material was attached to a water tube well.
At least four people were killed and 15 injured in an explosion near the Science College at Jinnah Road in Quetta on December 30 reports The Nation. The explosion took place near a vehicle near Saleem Complex close to Science College. Director General of Police (DGP) Syed Fida Hussain Shah said that 2.5 kilogrammes of explosives were planted on a pole.
Targetted Killings
Two people, including a Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) were killed when unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire on them in Soldier Bazaar area of Karachi on December 31, reports Geo TV. ASI Javed Baloch and another civilian Mohammad Muqaddas, were travelling on a motorcycle when four assailants on two motorcycles opened fire on the victims.
Unidentified assailants killed a Police official, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Asghar, near a fruit and vegetable market in the limits of Mandan Police Station in Bannu on January 1, reports Dawn.
Unidentified assailants shot dead a shopkeeper inside his shop near Sheegal Stop in Afghan Refugees Camp of Gandaf Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate in Swabi District on January 17, reports The Nation.
A senior journalist of a private news channel, Hasnain Shah, was shot dead outside the Lahore Press Club (LPC) near Shimla Pahari area of Lahore on January 24, reports Daily Times. Two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened firing at the vehicle of Hasnain Shah killing him on the spot.
Miscellaneous
An Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) official was killed and another sustained injury in a gun attack in Turbat town of Kech District in Balochistan on December 29, reports ARY News. The ANF spokesperson said that unidentified assailants carried out a gun attack on the officials. The dead ANF official was identified as Constable Ashraf who was a resident of Swabi.
Police on December 28 arrested two suspected terrorists associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the SITE Superhighway area of Karachi, reports ARY News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Qamar Jiskani said a raid was conducted in the SITE Superhighway area on intelligence information, which led to the arrest of the suspects. Two hand grenades and a pistol were seized from the possession of the suspects.
Four Army soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District on December 31, reports Dawn. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Security Forces (SFs) conducted an IBO on the reported presence of terrorists in the area. During the raid, an intense exchange of fire ensued between the terrorists and the troops, as a result of which four soldiers were killed.
Separately, two terrorists, identified as Shahzeb alias Zakir and Daniyal, were killed during an IBO in the Tank District on December 31, reports Dawn. SFs also recovered weapons.
Two alleged terrorists of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested during a raid by the Police in Shah Latif Town in Karachi on January 1, reports Samaa TV. According to the Police, the suspects hailed from Afghanistan and were planning attacks on multiple security officials in the city. The investigation officer said that the Police seized cracker bombs, fake passports, ball bearings, illegal arms, and detonators from their possession. The terrorists, identified as Razaullah alias Nasir and Habib Noor alias Sher Habib, had joined TTP in 2011 and 2008, respectively. Both were trained in Afghanistan and have been involved in multiple attacks on the Security Forces (SFs).
A Policeman sustained injuries in a grenade blast at Maripur Road of Karachi on January 3, reports ARY News. Police officials said that unidentified motorcyclists hurled a grenade near Policeman Imran and fled from the scene.
A leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Sardarzada Mir Zahid Khan Lehri, was shot dead in Ghazi village in Kachhi District on January 4, reports Dawn. He was on a visit to his agricultural land near Ghazi village when unidentified assailants opened fire on him.
Six terrorists of Amir Hatim faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during exchange of fire at Eastern Bypass area of Quetta, reports Ary News on January 9. The terrorists initially fired at Security Forces (SF) and in retaliation, six terrorists, identified as Sadiqullah alias Al-Qaida, Ahmed Raheem alias Saud, Samim Saeed alias Ustad, and Mustafa alias Mulla were killed. Four submachine guns, and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the terrorist hideout.
On January 8, three people were killed and three others were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at their convoy at the Loni Road area in Sibi city of Sibi District, reports The Nation. The convoy also included Nawabzada Baru Khan Barozai, brother of Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Barozai, the ex-interim Chief Minister of Balochistan who sustained injuries. Two soldiers who lost their lives in the attack were identified as Sepoy Naseeb Ullah and Sepoy Insha’Allah.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 14 arrested one Kashif Ali aka Shaheen, a most wanted terrorist named in the Sindh Police’s Red Book, during a raid in Lines Area of Karachi, reports ARY News. According to CTD officials, “he remained associated with al Qaeda and Jundullah; and was an accomplice of terrorists who were involved in attacking Corps Commander Karachi in 2004”. He was trying to mobilize a sleeper cell and was planning to launch a major attack in the city.
Police on January 15 recovered a cache of arms and ammunition buried under a godown floor in the Old city area of Central District in Karachi, reports ARY News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Central District, Murtaza Tabassum said that “We are investigating if the arms belong to a banned outfit”. “Details also being gathered about owner of the godown and the person that hired it on rent,” he added. “Recovered arms include machine-guns, anti-aircraft gun and sten gun,” he added further.
Two terrorists were killed in a shootout with Police on January 16 after they killed a Frontier Corps (FC) soldier on January 15 and left his body in the mountains near Karmukhel village of Lakki Marwat District, reports Dawn. His bullet-riddled body was found in the mountains near Karmukhel area. Police contingent along with armed villagers reached the Karmukhel area and during search operation a group of terrorists attacked them. Police retaliated and killed two terrorists. Later, the Police recovered the bodies of two terrorists when firing stopped and seized two AK-47 assault rifles.
Separately, two children were killed and one injured when a grenade they were playing with went off in the Nemakai village of Swat District on January 17, reports ARY News.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police Chief, Moazzam Jah Ansari declared that Islamic State group’s Khorasan chapter (IS-K) is a bigger threat to peace in the province than Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dawn reports on January 21. He said both IS-K and TTP were involved in the recent acts of terrorism in Peshawar. He, however, said the IS-K’s hitmen were responsible for the recent spate of targeted killings of the police personnel in Peshawar.
PAKISTAN
NSC approves country’s ‘first-ever’ National Security Policy
The National Security Committee (NSC) on December 27 approved the country’s first-ever five-years National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026, reports Samaa TV. National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf presented NSP 2022-2026 during the 36th NSC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. The NSA briefed the participants on the salient features of the NSP. Yusuf said that Pakistan was shifting to a Comprehensive National Security Framework with the aim of ensuring the safety, security and dignity of the citizen of Pakistan. The advisor said that the policy puts economic security at the core of the policy. He said that a stronger economy would create additional resources which would then be distributed to further bolster military and human security. The meeting was told that the policy was created “through a whole of government effort over the last seven years,” read a statement issued by the Federal Government.
Pakistan-Afghan border fence ‘to keep people safe, not divide them,’ says ISPR DG Major General Babar Iftikhar
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said on January 5 that the purpose of erecting the fence along the Pak-Afghan border was to provide security to people along the border, not create divisions among them, reports The Express Tribune. ISPR Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar gave an overview of the year 2021 at a press conference. During the press conference, General Iftikhar talked about the security situation along the border with Afghanistan, especially the border fencing. According to the ISPR DG, the fencing work along the Pak-Afghan border is almost completed while over 71 percent of the work on fencing has been completed along the Pak-Iran border. Pakistan has more than 1,200 border posts along the Pak-Afghan border while there are 377 posts on the other side of the border. “This means that there is a distance of at least 7-8 km between check posts,” he said, adding that the shortage of posts has made it challenging to keep the militants in check. In 2021, 164 forts were constructed along the Pak-Afghan border and 31 forts were established along the Pak-Iran border, he said, adding that so far, a total of 673 forts/border posts have been constructed. “Pakistan has set up 67 new wings for FC Balochistan and FC KP to strengthen border security while the formation of six more wings is in the process,” he added.
Speaking about the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, General Iftikhar said the operation was different from other operations as it was not area-specific or military-specific. At least 60,000 IBOs were conducted under Radd-ul-Fasaad. The measures taken by the Security Forces (SFs) busted terrorist networks across the country, he added. Over 800 security alerts were issued during the year that managed to thwart terrorism incidents by 70 per cent, the ISPR chief added.
Three persons killed and 33 others injured in bomb blast in Lahore city of Punjab
Three persons were killed and over 33 others injured in a bomb explosion near Pan Mandi of New Anarkali Bazar area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, in the afternoon of January 20, reports Dawn. The explosion left a crater at the site. A newly formed (date of formation unknown) Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) on twitter claimed the responsibility for the attack. The group was formed earlier this month when two separatist groups Balochistan Republican Army and United Baloch Army merged.
Afghanistan – Internal Dynamics
Two Taliban soldiers injured in Kabul Province
On December 27, two soldiers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) were injured in a roadside bomb explosion in the Gul Surkh area of Police District 4 (PD4) of Kabul city, reports Twitter handle of Kabul News.
Islamic Emirate recognized ‘in practice’, says Russian Special Envoy Zamir Kabulov
The Russian Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in an interview, said that the Islamic Emirate Government is being recognized in practice, if not formally, reports Tolo News on December 30. Referring to the Islamic Emirate officials’ visits to regional countries and their participation in various summits, Zamir Kabulov said that the recognition process is continuing step by step. “I believe political recognition will be more like a symbolic act. As you see, the recognition is happening in practice. A delegation of the Taliban attended a summit within the Moscow structure here with us and they had the opportunity to talk face to face with the (envoys) of ten countries,” Kabulov told the Russian news outlet Sputnik when asked whether Russia will recognize the “Taliban.”
Former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani says his biggest mistake was trusting foreign partners
On December 30, Former President Ashraf Ghani said that his biggest mistake had been to trust the United States and Afghanistan’s other foreign partners, reports Ariana News on December 30. The former President Ashraf Ghani told BBC Radio 4 that leaving Afghanistan had not been planned and that only after takeoff in a helicopter did this course of action become clear. “Two different factions of the Taliban (IEA) were closing in from two different directions,” Ghani said. “And the possibility of a massive conflict between them that would destroy the city of five million and bring havoc to the people was enormous. “He said he agreed to let his national security adviser and wife leave Kabul, but then the “terrified” chief of presidential security came to him to say that if he took a stand, “they will all be killed”. “He did not give me more than two minutes,” Ghani said. “My instructions had been to prepare for departure for [the city of] Khost. He told me that Khost had fallen and so had Jalalabad. “I did not know where we will go. Only when we took off, it became clear that we were leaving [Afghanistan]. So this really was sudden.”
Iran will not recognize Kabul until Government is inclusive, says Ambassador Bahadur Aminian
Iran’s Ambassador in Afghanistan Bahadur Aminian said that his country will not recognize the current Afghan government unless its government is inclusive, reports Tolo News on January 2. Ambassador Bahadur Aminian further said that Tehran might persuade other countries to recognize the Afghan government if the Islamic Emirate brings reforms to its government structure. “If a group comes (to power) and the group is (comprised) of a single ethnic group and all other ethnic groups are not included in the government, we don’t accept it, and, therefore, we benevolently call on the Taliban rulers to form an inclusive government,” Bahadur Aminian said.
Taliban to include suicide bombers in their army
Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said that they will create a special battalion of suicide attackers to be part of their future army, reports Khamma News on January 4. Deputy Minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be part of their special forces and will be active under Defense Ministry. Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be used during special operations.
Over 6,000 militants located in the northeast part of Afghanistan, says President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon
On January 10, President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, in the online meeting of the Collective Security Council (CSTO) said that over 6,000 militants located in the northeastern part of Afghanistan, reports Aamaj News 24. He further suggested the establishment of a belt of security around Afghanistan. “Overall, according to the intelligence of Tajikistan, there are over 40 camps and terrorist training centers in Afghanistan’s northeastern provinces, which house over 6,000 militants,” the Tajikistan president said during the CSTO emergency online summit on Kazakhstan.
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Large cache of explosives and ammunitions recovered in Habiganj District
Members of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Police on December 27 recovered a large cache of military-grade explosives and ammunition at Satchhari National Park in Habiganj District, reports Dhaka Tribune. Some 15 rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), 510 rounds of machine gun ammunition and 25 boosters (used as a propelling charge in RPG launchers) were found during the special drive at a place that is around 3-4km off the border with Tripura.
Neo-JMB cadre arrested in Chittagong District
Police on December 29 arrested a cadre of Neo-Jama’at-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) from Bangla bazar area of Chittagong District, reports Dhaka Tribune. He is believed to have masterminded the bomb attack on the Gate No 2 Traffic Police Box in Sholashahar area Chittagong district in 2020. The arrestee is identified as Mohamad Selim (33). On February 28, 2020, five people including two Policemen and a child were injured in a bomb blast inside a Traffic Police Box in Chittagong city.
Government will amend DSA if there is any discontent, says Law Minister Anisul Huq
Law Minister Anis-ul-Huq while replying to questions from reporters at a function titled “Meet the OACB” organised by Overseas Correspondent Association Bangladesh (OCAB) at Abdus Salam Hall in Jatiya Press Club, Dhaka city on December 30 said that Government will amend the Digital Security Act (DSA) if there is any discontent, as the law has been abused and misused in some cases, reports The Daily Star. He said “We are working to address the discontent, if there is any, in the DSA. A six-member team has been formed comprising representatives from relevant ministries including those of law, information and communication technology, and home. The team has been engaged with the office of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) to find out whether human rights have been violated due to enforcement of the law. If they find so, we will take necessary steps to correct it.
2021 was wrapped in a veil of fear, says Ain O Salish Kendra
Rights body Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) on December 31 said the human rights situation of Bangladesh in the year of 2021 was like barbarism and the whole county was wrapped in a veil of fear, reports The Daily Star. “The society was in a feared situation for the absence of rule of law, death in the name of shootout, abduction, enforced disappearance, rape and gang rape and so on,” said Secretary General of ASK Mohamad Nur Khan said in a press conference. According to the report, at least 80 people died in extra judicial killings including 51 in so-called shootouts or crossfires with the law enforcer agencies. The rights situation of minorities in 2021 was ‘very worrying’, according to the report. “At least 204 idols, mandaps or temples were attacked and 184 households, 50 business establishments were vandalized and looted in this year,” the report said. The freedom of expression has been curtailed and repression increased during the pandemic, ASK said in its report. At least 210 journalists faced harassment including the cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA). The rights group recorded 1134 cases under the DSA in the country in the outgoing year of 2021. At least 883 out of 1,134 DSA cases were filed with different police stations and 251 with the court, it said. At least 127 journalists were injured and 20 others arrested in 173 attacks while 189 people were arrested in 221 DSA cases.
Government mulls scrapping passports for anti-state comments, says Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque while talking to journalists on January 12 said that the Government has taken initiatives to scrap the passports of those engaged in anti-state activities and making anti-Bangladesh comments while living abroad, reports The Daily Star. He said “There are some people who are spreading propaganda abroad they can do it against any person but when it goes against the state it is sedition. These two are different things. One person can say something against me, but the latter causes damage to the state. We have recommended revoking the passports of those who are spreading propaganda against the state. A decision has been taken to revoke passports of those who have been doing it continuously.”
Bangladesh authorities disregard alleged rights abuse, says HRW
International rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its annual report on January 13 said that the ruling Awami League (AL) Government dismissed concerns expressed by the United Nations (UN), donors, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in 2021 over extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances, reports New Age. In the Bangladesh chapter of its 752-page world report 2022, the New York-based rights group said that the authorities in Bangladesh cracked down on activists, journalists, and even children, who criticised the government or its response to the Covid19 pandemic.
Prisons not preventing militant activities, says Intelligence report
An intelligence report said that prison seems to have deterred militants little as they are continuing with their malicious activities with the help of a section of unscrupulous guards, reports The Daily Star on January 22. Due to the company, they keep, some inmates have also become more radical in prison than they were when they were outside. From holding meetings, propagating their ideology, recruiting members, issuing directives to activists over the phone to providing financial support to families of arrested members, they are doing it all from behind bars, said Police officials. More worryingly, the prison guards helping the inmates are not doing it for money, they are doing it for ideological reasons, they added. 13 prison guards were found working for militant outfits. The guards provide inmates with phones and carry messages, the report said. As many as 1,963 militant suspects were arrested between January 2016 and August 2021, according to the Police Headquarters. Officials said some who got arrested for their links to radical websites or for sharing radical thoughts on social media became fully-fledged members of militant outfits in prison.
European Parliament member asks EU to impose sanctions against RAB
European Parliament member Ivan Stefanec on January 20 asked the European Union (EU) to impose sanctions against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), saying it has been involved in numerous extrajudicial killings and disappearances, reports The Daily Star. Stefanec in a letter to Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the human rights, freedom of speech, civil and political rights situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating. He also cited the US sanctions against RAB and seven of its current and former officials.
India – Internal Dynamics
AFSPA extended in Nagaland for another six months
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has extended Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) in Nagaland for another six months from December 30 (Today) onwards, reports Northeast Now on December 30. Referring the entire state as “disturbed area”, UMHA in a notification stated, “Whereas, the Central Government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of the state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No.28 of 1958) the Central Government hereby declares that whole of the State of Nagaland to be ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from 30th December, 2021 for the purpose of the said Act.” Earlier in June, 2021, the Centre had declared Nagaland as “Disturbed Area” and further extended the operation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for 6 more months. This notification comes at a time when demand for AFSPA following the December 4 incident compelled UMHA to form a seven-member panel to suggest withdrawal of AFSPA. The panel has been asked to submit its reports within three months.
SFs recover huge cache of explosives in Mizoram
Security Forces (SFs) of Inspector General of Assam Rifles-East (IGAR-E) under Spear Corps, along with local Police, launched an operation and recovered large quantity of explosives and stores three kilometers south of Mawhre village in Siaha District of Mizoram on December 31, 2021, reports East Mojo. The recoveries include 81 kilograms of liquid explosives, 94 kilograms of Belox granular explosives, 395 kilograms of Gelatin rods, 356 rounds of 12-gauge, 70 mm cartridges, 01 IED (Improvised Explosive Device) mechanism, Lead-acid batteries, two Detonators and other stores including foreign origin communication equipment. The recoveries have been handed over to Police for further proceedings.
Maoist attack on ex-BJP MLA leaves his two bodyguards dead in Jharkhand
Former Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Manoharpur, Gurucharan Nayak, on January 4 narrowly escaped a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) attack, but the Maoists slit the throats of his two Policemen bodyguards and snatched three AK-47 rifles before escaping from the spot in Jheelruwa village in Goilkera Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, reports outlookindia.com. Chakradharpur, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Dilip Khalkho said that the attack by CPI-Maoist outfit took place in Jheelruwa village in Goilkera Police Station area after a football match in which Nayak was the chief guest. Earlier also, Nayak had a close shave in a Maoist attack at Anandpur in Harta region. The Maoists had also pasted posters at his residence giving life threats to him a few years back.
Indian Mujahideen taking shelter in Nepal and preparing more than 200 sleeper cells in 2022 in Bihar-Bengal
Indian Mujahideen (IM) has set a target of taking shelter in Nepal and preparing more than 200 sleeper cells as members in 2022 in some areas of Bihar-Bengal, apart from the border areas of Indo-Nepal, according to intelligence inputs, newstracklive.com reports on January 4. The report has been sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) after receiving such intelligence inputs. The list of some suspects on the Indo-Nepal border has also been sent to UMHA by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). After receiving such information, vigil has been stepped up in border areas. The unemployed and minors of Seemai area are being lured into being groomed as sleeper cell members.
AR trooper killed and another injured in IED blast in Manipur
On January 5, one jawan identified as Rifleman L Wangshu of 16 Assam Rifles (AR) was killed in an Improvised Explosive device (IED) blast at Lilong Ushoipokpi Sangomsang along the Imphal-Moreh Road in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. Another jawan identified as Pinku Das was injured in the blast. The attack is suspected to be the handiwork of People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-progressive (PREPAK-pro) and came just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the State capital.
One SSB soldier injured in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Chhattisgarh
One soldier of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on January 14, reports timesnownews.com. Maoist targeted the security personnel in the Kanker area of Chhattisgarh, where SSB soldiers were deployed on the Rao Ghat railway project.
Monthly Fatalities
The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period December 26, 2021 to Jan 25, 2022
| Civilian | Indian Security | Militant | Total | |
| Manipur | 03 | 00 | 00 | 03 |
| Left Wing | 16 | 05 | 08 | 29 |
| Total | 19 | 05 | 08 | 32 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
Six women farmers injured in course of nationwide Farmers Movement in Saptari District
Six women farmers were injured on December 30 from Police beatings in course of nationwide Farmers Movement in Saptari District, reports Khabar Hub. A ‘Farmers Movement’ is ongoing across several Terai Districts putting forth a charter of demands to address the plights of farmers across the country. Farmers are staging demonstrations in Bardia, Banke, Kapilvastu, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, Sunsari and Morang Districts to draw attention of authorities. Security Forces intervened in farmers’ movement in several Districts and arrested nine farmers in Banke and six in Saptari in the past one week since the movement started. Clashes have occurred in Saptari and Banke Districts as well.
16 persons injured in clash between security personnel and Janamat Party cadres in Dhanusa District
16 persons were injured in a clash between security personnel and cadres of Janamat Party after the latter tried to obstruct the East-West Highway at Godar Chowk in Ganeshman Charnath Municipality, Dhanusa District on January 1, reports The Kathmandu Post. According to Police, eight security personnel including seven Police personnel and one Armed Police Force personnel were injured in the clash. Likewise, eight cadres of the CK Raut-led party have also been injured. The Janamat Party cadres had taken to the streets armed with canes obstructing vehicular movement along the highway when the police intervened leading to the clashes.CK Raut led Janamat Party, expressing solidarity with the ‘Farmers Movement’, called an indefinite strike on East-West Highway in Tarai districts during day time from December 30.
World Hindu Federation calls to reinstate Nepal as Hindu state
World Hindu Federation during a gathering at Bharatpur of Chitwan District on January 5 called to reinstate Nepal as Hindu state, reports Khabar Hub. Federation Chairman Dr. Ramchandra Adhikari said the movement to restore the Hindu state should be launched from Chitwan and made nationwide. Federation General Secretary Ganesh Prasad Neupane called for unity among like-minded people for the protection of the religion. He accused that Nepal was dismissed as the Hindu state due to the vested interests of political parties. Federation Secretary Netranath Poudel urged the masses to vote for the party carrying the agenda of Nepal as a Hindu state in the upcoming election.
CPN-UML Secretary demands Prime Minister to relieve Minister for Physical Infrastructure from her post over controversial remarks
Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai on January 21 demanded Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to relieve Minister for Physical Infrastructure Renu Kumari Yadav from her post over her controversial remarks that sought to glorify violence, reports Republica. The demand of Bhattarai comes in the wake of Minister Yadav threatening to kill Chairman of Janmat Party CK Raut during the party’s function held in Rautahat on January 19. While venting her ire against the obstruction created by cadres belonging to the CK Raut-led Janamat Party on her way to Rautahat, Minister Yadav had threatened to repeat the Gaur massacre in which 28 Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) cadres were killed. “Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba should dismiss Minister Renu Yadav, who has been inciting violence and giving speeches against the constitution. Else, it will be considered that the Nepali Congress (NC) justifies the politics of violence. There is no other way,” he said.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
Another senior military official barred from entering USA
The US has categorised another senior military official, Major General Udaya Perera, who was Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner in Malaysia (2009-2011) as a war crime suspect, reports The Island on December 27. The wartime Director of Operations, Perera, has been denied entry to the US recently although he has a five-year multiple entry visa issued in August 2019. Perera had been informed of the US decision after he, along with his wife and his teenage son, on the night of December 5, proceeded to the immigration counter to board the Colombo-Singapore Singapore Airline flight. Perera has successfully followed top military courses in NDU (National Defence University in 2004) and USAWC (United States Army War College in 2012) and is a frequent traveller.
Charges filed against former Jaffna University student representatives
Charges have been filed against former Jaffna University Students’ Union President M. Divakaran and Secretary S. Papilraj in Colombo’s High Court, reports Tamil Guardian on December 29. Divakaran and Papilraj were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on May 3, 2019, when the Sri Lankan Army conducted a large-scale search of the Jaffna University campus premises and the residence halls. A photo of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and other posters related to the Tamil genocide were recovered in the Students Union chamber. Divakaran and Papilraj were produced in front of the Jaffna Magistrate. They were placed under investigation until the Jaffna High Court granted them bail 13 days later on May 16, 2021.
Five slain Tamil students remembered in Trincomalee District
Five Tamil students summarily executed by Sri Lankan Special Task Force troops 16 years ago were remembered on January 2 at Trincomalee beach of Trincomalee District, where they were murdered, reports Tamil Guardian. The case known as the ‘Trinco 5′ remains one of the highest-profile killings in Sri Lanka to receive international attention, listed in 2014 by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report on the island as one of four ‘emblematic cases’ of the Government’s failure to ensure accountability and having been raised repeatedly in international forums. The five slain students, who were all 20-years-old when killed, are: Manoharan Ragihar, Yogarajah Hemachchandra, Logitharajah Rohan, Thangathurai Sivanantha and Shanmugarajah Gajendran. To date, no one has been held accountable for the murder.
INTERNATIONAL
50 killed in DR Congo fighting
Twelve civilians and 38 rebels have died in four days of fighting in northeast DR Congo, where the armed forces are carrying out a crackdown on militias, military and local sources said on Monday, Dec 27.
45 journalists killed in 2021
A total of 45 journalists were killed worldwide in 2021, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said on Friday, Dec 31 “one of the lowest death tolls” it has recorded for any year.
The figure tracked closely with a toll of 46 killings of journalists given two weeks ago by another media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (known by its initials RSF), which also noted it as its lowest-ever since starting its tallies in 1995.
“While this decrease is welcome news, it is small comfort in the face of continued violence,” the Brussels-based IFJ said in statement. Elsewhere, eight died in Mexico, four in India.
The IFJ said the media workers “more often than not are killed for exposing corruption, crime and abuse of power in their communities, cities and countries”. According to the group’s count, the Asia-Pacific region which includes Afghanistan was the deadliest, with 20 killings. Then came the Americas, with 10, Africa, with eight, Europe with six, and the Middle East and Arab countries with just one. It also mentioned the death of two journalists in a “deadly accident” in Iran.
Iran vows revenge unless Trump tried for Soleimani’s killing
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi vowed revenge against Donald Trump if the former US president is not tried over the killing of Qassem Soleimani, as Tehran marked two years since the commander’s death.
“The aggressor and the main assassin, the then president of the United States, must face justice and retribution,” Raisi said. “It would be ok if the trial of Mr. Trump, (former secretary of State Mike) Pompeo and other criminals was held in a fair court where their horrible crimes were addressed and they faced justice for their actions,” he added. “Otherwise, I will tell all US leaders that without a doubt the hand of revenge will emerge from the sleeve of the Muslim nation.” Raisi was addressing thousands at Tehran’s biggest prayer hall, at Iran’s main event to mark Soleimani’s death anniversary during a week of commemorations.
Participants held national flags and portraits of the slain commander, state TV showed. Raisi called Soleimani a symbol of the Iranian revolution and of “bravery and rationality”. Soleimani, former commander of the Quds’ force, the foreign operations’ arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was killed along with his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in a US drone strike near Bagdad’s airport on January 3, 2020.
North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into sea
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday, Jan 05 South Korea and Japan said, in the first such launch by Pyongyang this year.
In the decade since Kim Jong Un took power, North Korea has made rapid progress in its military technology at the cost of international sanctions. The nuclear-armed nation’s first apparent weapons launch of 2022 follows a year of major arms tests despite the severe economic hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gunmen kill 140 in NW Nigeria
Gunmen known locally as “bandits” killed at least 140 people in multiple raids this week in northwest Nigeria, four residents told AFP on Saturday, Jan 08. Northwest and central Nigeria have been plagued by criminal gangs for years but violence has become more widespread now. The Nigerian government officially labelled bandits as terrorists.
“We buried a total of 143 people killed by the bandits in the attacks,” said Balarabe Alhaji, a community leader in one of the affected villages in Zamfara state.
Hundreds of motorcycle-riding gunmen rampaged through ten villages in Anka and Bukkuyum districts on Wednesday through Thursday, shooting residents, looting and burning homes, locals said.
Taiwan grounds F-16 fighters
Taiwan grounded its F16 fleet as a search was underway to locate a fighter jet that plunged into the sea, the air force said on Tuesday, Jan 11.
The F-16V, one of Taiwan’s most advanced fighter jets, disappeared from radar screens around half an hour after taking off for a routine training flight from a base in the city of Chiayi, the air force said. The pilot was identified as 28 year old captain Chen Yi, who joined the air force in 2020. Taiwan’s national rescue centre reported that people saw the jet “crashing into the sea”, which the air force confirmed at a press briefing.
UK suspects Chinese spy active in parliament
British security services have warned MPs that a suspected Chinese agent “knowingly engaged in political interference activities” inside parliament, authorities said on Thursday, Jan 13.
The office of House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle confirmed that it had emailed MPs to tell them of the incident, in consultation with the security services. “The Speaker takes the security of members and the democratic process very seriously, which is why he issued this notice in consultation with the security services,” a spokeswoman for Hoyle said.
The notice named the suspect as Christine Lee, saying she had “knowingly engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party”.
Burkina attack kills 10 people
At least 10 civilians were killed in an attack blamed on the IS in northern Burkina Faso, an area in the grip of a six-year insurgency, security sources said on Sunday, Jan 16.
Coalition denies Yemen prison air strike that killed 70
The Saudi-led coalition on Saturday, Jan 22 denied carrying out an air strike on a prison in Yemen’s rebel-held north that aid groups said killed at least 70 people, including migrants, women and children. Claims the military coalition ordered the raid, which reduced buildings to rubble and left rescuers scrabbling for survivors with their bare hands, were “groundless”, the alliance said.
The latest violence in Yemen’s intractable, seven-year war came after the Iran-backed Huthis on Monday claimed their first deadly attack on Abu Dhabi, capital of coalition partner the United Arab Emirates. The Huthis took the war into a new phase by claiming the drone and missile attack that killed three people, the first deadly assault the UAE has acknowledged inside its borders and prompting threats of reprisals.
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.
