Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistan Security Brief – April 15, 2010

Security forces kill at least six militants in Orakzai, ICRC comments on IDPs; US drone hits militant vehicle in North Waziristan; LI asks to hold talks with government; four militants arrested in Kurram; Pakistan calls on US to do more in Bajaur; Gilani praises outcome of US nuclear summit; Azm-e-Nau 3 war game continues; senate passes  18th amendment; UN report on Bhutto assassination due to be released; Iranian border troops fire on Pakistani vehicle in Balochistan; police set up bomb detectors on roads into Islamabad.

FATA

• At least six militants have been killed in clashes with security forces in the Shireen Dara and Goeen areas of Lower Orakzai as part of the military’s continuing operations there. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is making concerted efforts to help IDPs who have fled the fighting in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies.[1] (For detailed daily updates on Pakistani military operations in Orakzai, CLICK HERE).

• Two missiles fired from a US drone struck a vehicle in the Amboor Shaga area of North Waziristan on Wednesday, killing 3-4 militants. Although one report suggests that those killed in the strike may have been foreign militants, the victims’ identities have not yet been confirmed.[2]

• Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) spokesman Zarr Khan has appealed to the government to hold talks with LI and has also asked that the military stop its operations in Khyber Agency’s Bara sub-district. In his statement, Khan also added that LI is not involved in ‘anti-state activities’ and has not engaged in clashes with security forces.[3]

• Security forces arrested four Afghan militants in Kurram Agency on Wednesday. Lieutenant Colonel Akbar Butt said that the militants were plotting to target a passenger convoy travelling to Parachinar but were apprehended before they could carry out the attack.[4]

• Colonel Nauman Saeed, the commander overseeing military operations in Bajaur Agency, has criticized the US of not doing enough to fight militants in the area, saying that US forces failed to stop more than 700 militants who had fled Bajaur into the Kunar province of Afghanistan.[5]

 Nuclear summit

• Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has hailed the two-day nuclear summit in Washington as a success and indicated that President Obama  was “totally convinced” that Pakistan’s nuclear program was safe and secure. Gilani further added that the fact that none of the 47 countries at the conference raised concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear program was a “great victory” and that there was no pressure from the US for Pakistan to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), be subjected to IAEA inspections, or support sanctions on Iran.[6]

War game

• The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement on Wednesday that the Azm-e-Nau 3 war game is continuing with “professional zeal”. The exercise has reportedly been successful so far in implementing capabilities such as UAVs and other aerial imaging to make the Pakistani military a network-enabled force capable of providing commanders at all levels with up to date intelligence and surveillance. [7]

Constitutional amendment

• The Pakistani Senate has approved all clauses of the 18th amendment to the constitution. The amendment, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, will rename the NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and will also shift certain presidential authorities into the hands of the prime minister. President Asif Ali Zardari threw his support behind the amendment prior to the vote and is expected to sign the bill into effect.[8]

Bhutto report

• An independent UN commission is set to release this afternoon its report on the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Pakistani officials asked to delay the reports initial release date of March 30 so that officials from the United States, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia could give their input as well. Bhutto was killed at a rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007 shortly after returning to Pakistan after eight years in self-imposed exile.[9]

Balochistan

• Iranian border security forces fired opened fire on a vehicle travelling along the border between Iran and Balochistan on Wednesday after the driver allegedly refused to comply with warnings given by Iranian security personnel to stop the vehicle. Four Pakistani nationals were wounded and the as of yet unidentified driver was also killed. Iranian security forces captured those in the vehicle and later handed them over to the Pakistani Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).[10]

Bomb detectors

• As part of efforts to stop suicide truck bombers, police are now utilizing two giant Chinese-built bomb scanners set up on roads leading into Islamabad. Although Pakistani security officials claim the scanners are 100 percent accurate, each device has the capacity to only scan 30 to 35 trucks per day.[11]