Pakistan Security Brief

Drone strikes’ death toll rises to 16; Anonymous senior Pakistani officials claim drone strikes carried out with Pakistani permission, partnership; Foreign Office condemns drone strike as hit on sovereignty; Prime minister presented options for responding to TTP attacks; U.S. Congress decides to limit aid to Pakistan; Militant group claims it killed 25+ NATO soldiers just across from Bajaur and Mohmand districts; Police station damaged in Dera Bugti class; Pakistan expects more attacks on sensitive locations; Gunmen kill three in attack on peace committee militia member; Gunmen kill two in an attack on pro-government tribesman; Dera Bugti police station attacked, no casualties; Lashkar-e-Islam wants uniform system of sharia education in Bara; Musharraf’s name stricke from Exit Control List.

Drone Strikes

• On Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson condemned the recent U.S. drone strikes inside Pakistan, calling them a violation of sovereignty, and saying drones have negative impact on peace efforts. The condemnation contrasts with a Reuters report quoting “top” Pakistani officials as saying that the strikes were a “joint” operation between the U.S. and Pakistan, conducted with Pakistan’s “express approval” and even implying the strikes were undertaken on Pakistan’s request, the first such admission of its kind. One official claimed it was “now [Pakistani government] policy” that drone strikes will come with the approval of, and in coordination with, the Pakistani government and will be an “important part” of Pakistan’s fight against Taliban.[1]

• The number of fighters killed in Thursday morning’s drone strike rose to 16. The second strike targeting Haqqani Network militants reportedly killed 10 Haqqani militants and a “key” Haqqani Network field commander, Haji Gul.[2]

Airport Attack and Military Operations

• According to a report describing a high-level security meeting that took place on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was presented options by senior civilian and military advisors for responses to recent TTP attacks across the country. Prime Minister Sharif reportedly favors waiting to see the results of the Khyber-Pakhtunlhwa governor’s attempts to use local tribal jirgas in North Waziristan to deal with the militants, in opposition to the army’s calls for a stern military response.[3]

• According to a Thursday report, security forces increased their presence at sensitive sites across the country as the Pakistani government expects fresh TTP attacks on government, military and civilian targets in the coming days. Security officials at Peshawar airport have reportedly been authorized to shoot suspected militants on-sight.[4]

• On Wednesday, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said that a military operation in North Waziristan can be delayed “no longer” and that talks with the TTP have borne no fruit.[5]

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

• On Wednesday, the U.S. Congress set further restrictions on U.S. military aid to Pakistan. As part of the National Defense Authorization Act 2015, up to $300 million of coalition support fund (CSF) payments can be withheld from Pakistan unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that the Pakistani military is conducting operations in North Waziristan that are effectively impact the activities of the Haqqani Network.[6]

Militancy

• On Wednesday, a group calling itself the “Al Qaeda Taliban Tanzim, Mohmand and Bajaur chapter” claimed killing 25 NATO soldiers in Afghanistan in an area adjacent to Bajaur agency in revenge for alleged deaths of 11 Taliban in prison in Afghanistan.[7]

• On Wednesday, unknown gunmen shot and killed three people and wounded two others in an attack on anti-Taliban militia members in Bara Bandai, Swat district.[8]

• On Thursday, unknown gunmen shot and killed a pro-government tribal elder and his son in Kitkoot, Bajaur agency.[9]

• On Tuesday, a bomb attack damaged a police station in Dera Bugti, Balochistan but caused no casualties.[10]

• On Wednesday, Khyber-based militant group Lashkar-e-Islam called for uniform system of Islamic education to be implemented across Bara sub-district of Khyber agency.[11]

Domestic

• In a major legal victory, the Sindh High Court on Thursday struck former President General Pervez Musharraf’s name off a government no-fly list, potentially clearing the way for him to leave the country. Musharraf immediately submitted a petition to the Ministry of Interior for permission to travel abroad. The government has 15 days to appeal the decision. The government fears that if Musharraf, who is out on bail in several criminal cases including one for treason, leaves the country, he will not return to see through the remainder of the trial process.[12]