Bomb blasts/IEDs
One person was killed while another injured in a bomb blast that occurred near Azam Warsak area of Sararogha tehsil (revenue unit) in South Waziristan on December 26, reports ARY News. According to the Police, the bomb – planted on a roadside – exploded when two brothers were traveling on a motorbike crossed the road.
At least three people sustained injuries in a hand grenade attack by unidentified persons at a garage situated on Syed Hashmi Road in Gwadar town (Gwadar District) on December 29, reports The Express Tribune. The perpetrators managed to escape after the attack. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two persons sustained injuries in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Luni area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on December 31, reports The Khorasan Diary. The incident took place near a convoy of Security Force (SF) personnel.
Three children, aged between 5 to 15 years, were killed in a landmine blast in Khajoori Zakir Khel village of Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District on January 4, reports ARY News. The children were shepherds who were grazing their cattle in the fields near Khajoori checkpost when the explosion took place.
At least nine people, including a traffic Policeman and three children, were injured in a blast on Zarghoon Road in Quetta on January 17, reports Dawn. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Jawad Tariq said that explosive material was planted in a heap of trash that had been lying for some time. The explosion occurred when children, who were picking trash, were sifting through the garbage, he said. It was unclear what kind of explosive device was used, Tariq said. “The explosion was not a security lapse,” he asserted.
Targetted Killings
A religious party worker was shot dead in ‘targeted attack’ near Chamra Chowrangi in Korangi area of Karachi on December 26, reports ARY News. The victim – identified as Saleem – was sitting at his workplace near Chamra Chowrangi when armed pillion riders arrived there and opened indiscriminate firing on him and fled.
At least two Policemen were injured in a terrorist attack on Abba Shaheed checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan District on December 28, reports ARY News. The terrorists fled the scene after retaliatory fire by the Police.
The central deputy secretary general of Sunni Ulema Council of Pakistan, and spokesman of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama’at (ASWJ), Allama Masood-u-Rehman Usmani, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Ghori Town area of Islamabad on January 5.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local leader Shah Khalid was shot dead by unknown assailants in Swabi District on January 11, reports ARY News. Two armed motorcyclists opened fire on the vehicle of PTI leader, killing him on the spot. The attackers managed to escape from the scene.
A polio programme official was killed and a Policeman sustained injuries on January 19 after unidentified assailants opened fire on a vehicle in the Tarkhoo area of Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District, reports Dawn. Station House Officer (SHO) of Mamond Police Station Dilawar Khan said that unidentified assailants opened fire on Dr Abdul Rehman’s vehicle when he was coming back from the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Khar. The doctor was the coordinator of the polio immunisation programme in Bajaur.
Miscellaneous
Five terrorists, including terrorist ‘commander’, identified as Rahzaib alias Khuray, were killed during an exchange of fire when Security Forces (SFs) conducted an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District on December 29, reports The Khorasan Diary. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operation. The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against SFs as well as extortion and target killings of innocent civilians, saidInter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.
Three terrorists were killed when Security Forces (SFs) detected the movement of terrorists attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Batwar area of Bajaur District on December 31, reports ARY News. SFs recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the possession of terrorists.
One Army soldier, identified as Naik Abdul Rauf (31), a resident of Rahim Yar Khan District of Punjab, was killed when terrorists from inside Afghanistan targeted a Pakistani border post in Spinwarm area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on December 31, reports ARY News. In response, Army troops retaliated effectively, causing considerable losses to the attackers. However, the number of terrorists’ causalities are not known.
A person was injured when terrorist ambushed a Parachinar-bound passenger coach in Hangu District on December 30, reports The Express Tribune. However, the terrorists were forced to flee when a passenger opened fire on them with his handgun.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy came under gun attack near Yarik interchange in Dera Ismail Khan District on December 31, reports ARY News. However Fazlur Rehman remained safe with no loss of life reported in the attack.
Six non-local young barbers were killed by unidentified assailants in an incident of target killing in Moski village of Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District on January 2, reports The Express Tribune. The bodies of the six men were discovered in the fields of Moski village. Preliminary investigation reveals that the victims, all of whom hailed from Punjab, were shot dead execution style. The victims, all below 30 years of age, included two youths less than 18 years’ old, hence without national identity cards (NICs). All of them were barbers, who owned barber shops in Mir Ali Bazaar, recently migrated to North Waziristan to pursue their trade. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials believe that the killings are aimed at causing fear as letters to barbers for not digressing from specific hairstyles and forbidding shaving beards had been distributed in the form of pamphlets in the area in the last few months, adds The Khorasan Diary.
Four terrorists, including a suicide bomber, were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan on January 2, reports Dawn. A press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said SFs conducted the operation based on the reported presence of terrorists. “During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and the terrorists, as a result of which four terrorists were sent to hell, including a suicide bomber,” the ISPR said. The ISPR added that arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists.
Security Forces (SFs) on January 5 shot dead two terrorists, including one ‘high value terrorist’ during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Tank District, reports ARY News. During an intense exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, adding that weapons and ammunition were recovered from their possession. The ISPR said Gul Yousaf, one of the killed terrorists, was wanted in many heinous crimes and PKR 2.5 million was fixed on his head by the Government.
Four persons, including two security personnel, were killed and three others were injured in a firing on a passenger coach and a vehicle near Sadda Bazaar in the Kurram District on January 7, reports Dawn. District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran said that the vehicles were targeted by gunmen with automated weapons.
One tribal elder Kaleemullah Khan, an independent candidate contesting for the upcoming general elections from PK-104, was killed along with two of his bodyguards in firing on his vehicle in the Tappi area of North Waziristan on January 10, reports Dawn. North Waziristan District Police Officer (DPO) Rohan Zeb said that Kaleemullah was on his way back home from Miranshah when his convoy was attacked by unknown assailants.
Two Army soldiers and two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 10, reports ARY News. Two soldiers were identified as Sepoy Muhammad Afzal (resident of Bhimber District, PoJK) and Sepoy Ibrar Hussain (resident of Mansehra District, KP), whereas two terrorists were identified as Aftab aka Malang and Masood Shah. Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the possession of killed terrorist.
Former Senator (Member of Upper house of Parliament) and Provincial Minister Aslam Buledi, candidate for the upcoming General Elections for National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), came under attack in the Qami Park area of Turbat town in Kech District on January 10, reports Dawn. Buledi who is contesting for the polls from NA-258, was walking in a park when unknown persons opened fire and wounded him, said Kech Superintendent of Police (SP) Zia Mandokhail.
On January 20, Police and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) arrested a most wanted terrorist of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), identified as Abdul Ghaffar alias Amjad, from Ittehad Town of Karachi and recovered explosives from his possession, reports ARY News. Police stated that the arrested terrorist was a close associate of TTP ‘commander’, Muhammad Ali alias Mufti. He was involved in planning a suicide attack at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in October 2011. It was further revealed that Abdul Ghaffar had returned to Karachi with the intent to re-establish a network for TTP.
On January 20, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested a terrorist, identified as Syed Mehdi, involved in the attack on Mufti Taqi Usmani, from Soldier Bazar area in Karachi, reports ARY News. During the investigation, the arrested terrorist disclosed that he provided the details of the targets to his accomplices Raza Jafri and Abid Raza, both actively involved in targeting and carrying out fatal attacks and was found harbouring arms and ammunition obtained from hostile agencies within his residence. He was also involved in the illegal sale of weapons.
PAKISTAN
TTP aimed to control former FATA, says official
Strongly refuting the Afghanistan Foreign Minister’s claims that Pakistan withdrew from a deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at the last minute, a high-ranking Pakistani official, under the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the terrorist outfit sought to assert control over parts of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), The Express Tribune reported on December 28. During an informal exchange between Afghanistan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayyed at the Palestine Conference in Tehran on December 23, Muttaqi alleged that most of the issues between Pakistan and the TTP were resolved in 2022. He contended that the only remaining point of contention was regarding the merger of the former FATA. According to -custody of the Taliban’s 40th Division intelligence unit without a trial, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily on December 27. Local sources said that the Taliban have denied these two education activists the right to have a lawyer during this period.
Islamabad turns down Indian call to hand over Jud ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed
The Foreign Office on December 29 officially declined India’s demand for the extradition of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed after New Delhi announced it had formally requested Islamabad to extradite him in a money laundering case, reports Dawn. Responding to media inquiries about India’s extradition request, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch pointed out that “no bilateral extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and India”. Saeed is currently serving a jail sentence after being convicted of terror financing in multiple cases. He has received various prison sentences, ranging from over 15 to 31 years. Although India accuses him of being behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Saeed has denied any involvement. Saeed was arrested in 2019 when Pakistan was struggling to get out of the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list comprising countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CFT), and proliferation financing regimes. In 2012, the United States announced a USD 10 million bounty on Saeed. Both the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and JuD are banned entities in the US and under UN sanctions.
At least 566 terrorists neutralised in 18,736 IBOs in 2023, says report
At least 566 terrorists were neutralised during 18,736 intelligence-based operations (IBO) executed by Security Forces across the country in 2023, The Express Tribune reported on December 30. The IBOs also resulted in the arrest of 5,161 terrorists. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Sindh emerged as focal points for extensive operations. A total of 15,063 intelligence-based operations were executed in Balochistan, resulting in the killing of 109 terrorists. In KP, 1,942 intelligence-based operations were conducted, leading to the elimination of 447 terrorists, while Punjab witnessed 190 operations. Additionally, 14 IBOs occurred in Gilgit Baltistan, and 1,987 took place in Sindh, with 10 terrorists meeting their demise in Sindh. Over 1,000 individuals, including more than 260 officers and soldiers of the Army, sacrificed their lives for the motherland in the face of terror attacks.
Twenty-one Policemen martyred in shootouts across Sindh during 2023
According to the performance report presented to the Sindh Police chief Rifat Mukhtar Raja, at least 21 Police personnel from the Sindh Police have lost their lives in the line of duty in encounters during coordinated efforts against street crimes and terrorism, The Express Tribune reported on January 2. The report highlighted the significant impact of the Police’s actions, resulting in the elimination of 1,726 criminal gangs through 3,158 Police encounters across various Police ranges in the Province. The breakdown of the encounters revealed that a total of 19,803 dacoits/accused, 93 terrorists, eight target killers, 28 notified dacoits, 26 highway robbers, and 38 kidnappers, including 26,914 fugitives, were apprehended.
Moreover, 16,135 wanted suspects were arrested during police encounters and raids conducted between law enforcement and criminal elements in districts such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana Police range. Similarly, 278 dacoits, criminals, three terrorists, four dacoits, three highway dacoits, and one kidnapper were neutralised during Police encounters and raids. In Karachi range, 10,449 suspects, one terrorist, one target killer, one robber, 20 highway robbers, 23 kidnappers, along with 1,515 criminals and 9,090 fugitives, were arrested in 1,080 Police encounters.
TTP, IS-K, BLA behind 82pc deaths in terror attacks in 2023, says PIPS security report
According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ Pakistan (PIPS) security report for 2023, the banned outfits like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) accounted for over 82 per cent of terrorism-related deaths and conducted 78 per cent of terrorist attacks recorded in 2023, reports Dawn. The report said militants’ intensifying attacks indicate that the TTP and its affiliates will continue to resort to an intensified terrorism onslaught with a view to ‘force’ Pakistan to reinstate the process of dialogue.
The PIPS report highlights Pakistan’s inadequate response to the rising terrorism and militancy challenge, exacerbated by negotiation attempts with the TTP and waning political focus due to ongoing crises. Escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, fuelled by issues like TTP and Afghan refugees, demand a comprehensive and sustainable counterterrorism strategy, report added. The report correlates a surge in terrorist violence with the Taliban’s ascendancy in Afghanistan, noting the Afghan Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to control TTP’s cross-border activities.
In 2023, security and law enforcement agencies intensified anti-militant kinetic actions with 129 operational strikes, compared to 87 in 2022, resulting in 425 deaths and 51 injuries. Of these strikes, 97 occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 28 in Balochistan, three in Punjab, and one in Karachi, Sindh. A total of 306 terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan in the year — including 23 suicide bombings — which killed 693 people (330 security personnel, 260 civilians, and 103 militants) and injured 1,124 others. These attacks marked an increase of 17pc from the year before, and the number of people killed in these attacks also represented an increase of 65pc from those killed in similar attacks during the previous year.
That comparative upsurge of 17 per cent in terrorist violence was contributed by an increase in the number of attacks reported from all four provinces. Compared to 2022, the frequency of terrorist incidents in the Balochistan province increased by 39 per cent, in KP by 3 per cent, in Sindh by 87 per cent and in Punjab by 100 percent.
Two children killed AND three women injured as Iran lunches cross border attack inside Balochistan
At least two children were killed and three women critically injured as Iran launched attacks in Pakistan on January 16 targeting the bases of a terrorist outfit Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur District in Balochistan, reports Dawn. “Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan” were “specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks”, Dawn reported quoting Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Jaish al-Adl has previously mounted attacks on Iranian Security Forces in the border area with Pakistan. Tuesday’s attack in Balochistan came a day after Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles. Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that the strike inside Pakistani territory. “This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” the ministry said in a statement. The statement didn’t mention the location of the attacks. Tasnim reported that the “focal point of this operation was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain)” in Balochistan.
At least nine persons killed as Pakistan hits terrorist hideouts inside Iran
At least nine persons were killed as Pakistan struck terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province in the morning of January 18, less than 48 hours after Iran violated its airspace, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), “hideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)” were struck in an intelligence-based operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’. Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that nine people were killed in the attack targeting a village in the city of Saravan, with Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi saying all the dead “were foreign nationals”.
In its statement, issued hours after the Foreign Office (FO) announced that Pakistan had carried out “precision military strikes” in Iran, the ISPR said “effective strikes” were carried out against hideouts inside Iran used by terrorists responsible for recent attacks in Pakistan. “The precision strikes were carried out using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions and stand-off weapons. Maximum care was taken to avoid collateral damage,” it said. The ISPR said hideouts used by BLA and BLF were successfully struck in the operation. “The targeted hideouts were being used by notorious terrorists including Dosta alias Chairman, Bajjar alias Soghat, Sahil alias Shafaq, Asghar alias Basham and Wazir alias Wazi, amongst others,” it said.
Afghanistan – Internal Dynamics
Russia won’t remove Taliban from banned group list, says Russian official
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, stated that while he respects Kazakhstan’s decision to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups, Russia has no intention of doing the same, reports The Khaama Press News Agency on December 31. He emphasized that the Taliban has not changed, and Russia is not negotiating the removal of the Taliban from the list of banned groups.
Gun battle breaks out in Kulgam District of Jammu and Kashmir
A gun battle started between militants and Security Forces (SFs) in Hadigam area of Kulgam District of Jammu and Kashmir in the evening of January 3, reports Daily Excelsior. A police official said that a joint team of police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Hadigam. As the SFs approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering off a gunfight.The encounter was going on at the time of reporting.
Former military officer killed by Taliban in Uruzgan Province
On January 4, a former military officer from the previous government, identified as Akhtar Mohammad was killed by Taliban fighters in the village of Kandugak in Gizab District of Uruzgan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily.
Taliban detains radio chief for airing UNAMA’s pro-education message amid media crackdown in Ghor Province
On January 3, Taliban detained the chief of a private Radio Station, ‘Seda-ye Adalat’ (Voice of Justice), identified as Abdul Salam Samim, for dissemination of messages from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Ghor Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily.As of now, local Taliban officials have not provided any comments on this incident.
Two persons killed in explosion in Kabul
Two persons were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in an explosion at Qala-e Nazir Station in the Dasht-e Barchi area within the sixth security district of Kabul on January 6, reports Hasht-e Subh. Khalid Zadran, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s security command in the city, has confirmed that two individuals lost their lives and 14 others sustained injuries when the explosion occurred targeting a civilian vehicle. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for that particular act of violence.
Three civilians killed in an explosion in Kabul
On January 9, at least three civilians were killed and four others were injured in an explosion in the Alwkhil area in 16th Police District (PD) in Kabul, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. The Taliban’s security command spokesperson, Khalid Zadran, mentioned that the explosive device was planted in the back side of a vehicle (Mercedes), and no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Civilian killed by Rohingya terrorists in Cox’s Bazar
On December 29, a Rohingya civilian, identified as Dil Mohammad, was killed by 10-12 unidentified Rohingya terrorists in Ukhia Upazila (Sub-District) in Cox’s Bazar District of Chittagong Division, reports Daily Bangladesh.
Rohingya terrorist arrested along with weapons in Cox’s Bazar District
14 Armed Police Battalion (APBN) arrested Rohingya terrorist, identified as Syed Alam along with weapons at Camp No. 4 in Madhurchhara of Ukhiya sub-Distirct of Cox’s Bazar District on January 4, reports Daily Bangladesh. A one-shooter gun and a shotgun cartridge were recovered at that time. Syed Alam is the son of Noor Hussain of Camp No. 4 of Ukhiya. Deputy Commander of 14 APBN, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arefin Jewel said that Syed Alam was arrested for conducting a joint operation based on secret information. A case under Arms Act has been filed against him in this incident and handed over to Ukhiya Police Station. Besides, there are five more cases against him in Ukhiya Police Station.
ARSA terrorist arrested in Cox’s Bazar
On January 19, Armed Police Battalion (APBN) arrested an Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) terrorist, identified as Amir Hussain, along with arms and bullets from Ukhiya camp in Cox’s Bazar, reports Daily Bangladesh. A country-made One Shooter Gun (LG) and one round of bullets were recovered from him. Assistant commander of 8 APBN, ASP Salah Uddin Quader, stated that there are four cases including murder against the arrested terrorist Amir.
India – Internal Dynamics
Low-intensity blast near Israel Embassy in New Delhi
A low intensity blast took place on December 26, evening near the Embassy of Israel on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi, Police said, adding that shrapnel and ball-bearings were recovered from the spot, reports The Indian Express. Police also recovered an “abusive” threat letter by a previously unknown group, Sir Allah Resistance, addressed “to Israel Embassy ambassador” at the spot. No one was injured in the explosion. Police found a one-page letter in a white envelope outside the Central Hindi Training Institute located near the embassy. “They have mentioned about zionist and abused Israelis…It’s a one-page letter written in English and they have mentioned their outfit name as – ‘Sir Allah Resistance’. But even after checking our database, we have not found any such existing outfit,” an unnamed source stated.
Cache of arms, ammunition and explosives recovered in Manipur
On December 27, Security forces in Manipur recovered a large cache of weapons and explosives during coordinated search operations in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. During the search operations, 5 country Pistols with magazines, 4 Colt Machine Gun (CMG) with magazines, 3 country-made AK-47 without magazines, 3 bayonets of AK, 2 Bayonets of 5.56 INSAS rifles, three 36 Highly Explosive (HE) Grenade, 3 Chinese Walkie Talkie, 3 Stun Shell (normal) and two 9mm magazine were recovered from Gwarok Maring in Thoubal District. In the follow-up actions, the forces also recovered 1 Tube Launching 1A, twelve 9mm ammunition, 1 HE 36 Hand Grenade, 1 stun grenade, 1 smoke grenade, 1 Radio set with charger from Lilong Laiphrakpam inter village road in Thoubal District.
Four civilians shot dead in Manipur
On January 1, unidentified gunmen shot dead four civilians and injured fourteen others in Lilong in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports The Hindu. As per reports, the armed miscreants came wearing Police uniforms in four vehicles and opened fire on people, adds India TodayNE. Lilong is a Meitei Pangal (Meitei Muslim)-dominated locality. This was the first incident of violence not involving tribal communities since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023.Soon after the killings, the local authorities reimposed curfew in Thoubal and the adjoining Imphal East and Imphal West Districts. The relaxation of curfew in two other Imphal Valley districts – Kakching and Bishnupur – was shortened.
India faces growing IS threat with increasing radicalization, says report
Islamic State (IS) threat is increasing with growing radicalisation in India and terror group’s entry into the war theatre in West Asia is dangerous for Indian youth, top intelligence sources stated on January 5, reports news18.com. India has a huge number of IS sympathisers and the neighbourhood has seen many attacks by operatives linked to the group like in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, they said, adding that such attacks are ongoing and continuous in these countries. “India also faces a strong ISIS threat but due to continuous interventions we have been able to avert these attacks so far,” said an unnamed official. “Though we have not seen major ISIS cadres in India, we can’t rule it out.” “But we have seen the Coimbatore attack by Jamesha Mubeen who was influenced by Sri Lanka ISIS attacker Zehran Hashim in 2019,” an official said. “He was not successful, but he could have killed 50 people easily. Mangaluru attempt by Shariq who wanted to create a blast through a pressure cooker to attack Kadri Temple could have also killed around 20 people.
Four civilians killed by Kuki militants in Manipur’
On January 10, four civilians identified as Oinam Romen Meitei (45), Ahanthem Dara Meitei (56), Thoudam Ibomcha Meitei (53) and Thoudam Anand Meitei (27) were killed by Kuki militants at Haotak Phailen village in Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports India TodayNE.All four belong to Meitei community and were from Tampha Khunou Village in Bishnupur District, adjacent to Haotak Phailen. Locals in the Tampha Khunou claim that the four dead were innocent civilians who had gone to harvest ginger near the area where they were killed. SATP earlier citing India TodayNE had reported that the killed persons were militants.
Policeman killed in Manipur
On January 17, one state policeman was killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked a Security Forces (SFs) vehicle in the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur on January 17, police said, reports Indian Express. The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit, an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) trooper, attached to state police commando in Moreh.
Monthly Fatalities
The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period December 26, 2023 to January 25, 2024
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militants | Total | |
| Andhra Pradesh | 02 | 00 | 01 | 03 |
| Chhattisgarh | 06 | 01 | 02 | 09 |
| Jharkhand | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Manipur | 14 | 02 | 02 | 18 |
| Odisha | 01 | 00 | 03 | 04 |
| TOTAL | 25 | 03 | 08 | 36 |
INTERNATIONAL
Dozens’ dead in week of Burkina attacks: security sources
Suspected jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso have killed dozens of soldiers and civilians in a week, security and local sources told AFP on Sunday, Dec 31, 2023.
They said at least four attacks have targeted military contingents since last Sunday, leaving “dozens dead” mostly in the restive north of the country.
One local source said “a large group of heavily armed terrorists attacked the military base at Nouna” in the north west on Saturday, with the clash leaving “several victims,” both military and civilian.
A security source contacted by AFP confirmed an attack which was repelled and added that “another almost simultaneous attack targeted another northern detachment” but was likewise beaten back.
Kim tells army to ‘annihilate’ S Korea, US if they initiate conflict
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told his top military officers to use maximum force against South Korea and the United States if they initiate a military confrontation, state media reported on Monday, Jan 01, 2024.
Seoul and Washington have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang over the past year.
At a meeting with North Korea´s major commanding officers in Pyongyang on New Year´s Eve, Kim said his military should “annihilate” the enemy if provoked, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
“If the enemy opt for military confrontation and provocation against the DPRK, our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without moment´s hesitation,” Kim said.
Kim´s comments echo his threats made during year-end party meetings of a nuclear attack on Seoul and orders for a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that he said could “break out any time” on the peninsula.
During the meetings to set the policy agenda for 2024, the North Korean leader accused the United States of posing “various forms of military threat”.
He also called on armed forces to “suppress the whole territory of south Korea mobilizing all physical means… including nuclear forces” in case of a “great event”, referring to an armed conflict.
Kim told the meeting he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, noting the “uncontrollable crisis” that he said was triggered by Seoul and Washington.
IS kills 14 Syrian soldiers
An Islamic State group attack killed at least 14 soldiers aboard a military bus in the Syrian desert on Tuesday, Jan 02 a war monitor said, in the second such attack this year.
“At least 14 members of the regime forces were killed” and several others wounded “in a bloody IS attack on a military bus,” in the desert near the ancient city of Palmyra, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Five Turkish soldiers killed in attack on Iraq base
Five Turkish soldiers were killed and eight others were injured in an attack on a Turkish military base in northern Iraq, Turkiye´s defence ministry said on Friday, Jan 12.
The ministry said the soldiers were killed during a clash with “terrorists” following “an attempted intrusion” of the base near Metina in northern Iraq.
The assailants were presumed to be members of the Kurdistan Workers´ Party (PKK) which Ankara and its Western allies classify as a terrorist group, private Turkish channel NTV reported.
Turkish authorities announced a military operation was under way in the area in response.
12 Turkish soldiers were killed late last month in two separate attacks on Turkish military bases in northern Iraq.
The Turkish army regularly launches military ground and air operations against PKK fighters and their positions in northern Iraq, as well as autonomous Kurdistan or in the mountainous Iraqi region of Sinjar close to the Turkish border.
Turkiye bombs Kurdish ‘targets’ in Syria
Turkiye carried out another slew of airstrikes against Kurdish sites in northern Syria in response for the deaths of nine Turkish soldiers, the official Anadolu news agency reported on Sunday, Jan 14.
“In total, 23 targets, including vehicles… were destroyed,” said Anadolu, citing military sources.
The sites struck included military bases, arms depots and logistical warehouses, the state agency said.
Turkiye on Saturday said it had hit 54 “targets” in northern Syria and Iraq belonging to the Kurdistan Workers´ Party (PKK) and the People´s Protection Units (YPG).
Three dead in Somalia suicide bombing
A suicide bomber killed at least three people and injured two others on Tuesday, Jan 16 after detonating an explosive near the mayoral offices in Somalia´s capital, Mogadishu, police and witnesses said.
The attacker detonated the device in front of a restaurant, Somali police said in a statement.
“The casualties include three dead and two wounded. The victims were in the vicinity of the blast,” police said.
Witnesses at the scene said the bomber, who was also killed, was running away from police before the blast.
A vehicle parked in the area caught fire after the blast, witness Mohamud Halane said.
“People were shocked,” he said, adding that there were some bodies on the ground. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks by the Al-Shabaab militant group, which has fought for more than a decade to topple the internationally-backed government.
10 killed in Sudan landmine explosion
A landmine has killed 10 civilians on a bus in northern Sudan, a medical source said on Sunday, Jan 21 in what appeared to be the first such incident during the country´s war.
The conflict pitting the regular army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April, and has led to thousands of people being killed and millions displaced. A medical source at a hospital in Shendi city in River Nile state, who requested anonymity, told AFP that “10 civilians were killed as a result of a mine explosion on a bus” on Saturday.
The vehicle was transporting the passengers from eastern Al-Jazira state to Shendi, 180-kms from Khartoum, when the blast happened, the source said.
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.
