Pakistan Security Brief

June 15 marks first day of North Waziristan offensive; military airstrikes target militant hideouts and suspected militants; Pakistani military creates militant surrender points; Pakistani military focus on Mir Ali, Datta Khel, and Miram Shah; troops deployed along North Waziristan borders to block the movement of militants in and out of North Waziristan Agency; Pakistani government asks Afghan forces to seal border to stop TTP militants from escaping into Afghanistan; Increased security in major cities.

North Waziristan Offensive

• On June 15, the Pakistan Army finally launched a long-awaited ground offensive into North Waziristan Agency. The offensive has been titled Operation Zarb-e-Azb. [1]

• The Pakistani military has reportedly been conducting aerial surveillance in North Waziristan Agency. Pakistani troops have cordoned off areas with militant bases, including Miram Shah and Mir Ali.  Officials estimated that 25,000-30,000 soldiers will participate in Operation Zarb-e-Azb.[2]  

• At 0130 hours on June 15, Pakistani airstrikes hit 8 militant hideouts and an ammunition dump in Degan and Datta Khel in North Waziristan Agency and killed an estimated 50 militants, mostly Uzbeks. Local sources have said that the death toll may be as high as 150 militants. These local and foreign militants were allegedly linked to the Karachi airport attack.[3]

• Intelligence and military sources report that air strikes on June 15 killed the man allegedly behind the Karachi airport attack, Abu Abdul Rehman al Maani.  Al Maani is also a key commander of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. [4]

• On the morning of June 16, Pakistani airstrikes killed 27 militants and destroyed six militant hideouts in Shawal, North Waziristan. A second airstrike killed 140 militants in the Degan and Boya areas of North Waziristan Agency.  Most of the militants were said to be Uzbeks, but the East Turkistan Islamist Movement (ETIM) and its affiliates also reportedly suffered losses.[5]

• On June 16, Pakistani ground forces killed seven militants fleeing Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Snipers from the army’s Special Services Group (SSG) killed three militants in Miram Shah after the Pakistani Army cordoned off militant bases in Mir Ali and Miram Shah. Separately, militants injured three Pakistani soldiers in a firefight in Mir Ali.[6]

• On June 16, an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion killed 6 soldiers and injured 3 others between the Afghan border and Ghulam Khan sub-district on Bane Dar road in North Waziristan Agency.[7]

• A security forces convoy was targeted after Pakistan Air Force airstrikes on suspected militant hideouts in Mir Ali sub district, North Waziristan Agency on June 15.  According to reports, a remote-controlled bomb was planted on the side of the road in Karam Kot and was detonated as the vehicle drove by injuring five.[8]

• On June 15, Pakistani forces established surrender points in North Waziristan for militants who want to surrender.[9]

Political Reactions to the North Waziristan Offensive

• On June 16, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shahidullah Shahid announced a threat against Lahore and Islamabad. On June 15, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid stressed that the TTP remains serious and sincere in pursuing peace talks. He argued that military airstrikes in North Waziristan had killed militants and civilians.[10]

• The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Pakistan (PTI) expressed its discontent with the government’s decision to go ahead with Operation Zarb-e-Azb without consulting all of the country’s political parties.[11]

• Defence Minister Khwaja Asif called Operation Zarb-e-Azb the “decision of the entire nation” and believes the Pakistan Army and the North Waziristan operation will ensure the security of the country and rid Pakistan of militants.[12]

Internally Displaced Persons

• Pakistani military troops have been deployed along the North Waziristan border with other agencies in order to block the movement of militants in and out of North Waziristan Agency. The Sindh government said that it is prepared to face a possible backlash from militants and the challenge posed by large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) moving into Sindh from North Waziristan.[13]

• IDPs from North Wazirsitan refused to stay in government-run camps after reports of threats to IDP camps from Taliban militants   Over 2,420 families migrated from the tribal areas to the settled districts of Bannu and Lakki Marwat, but the government has reportedly failed to convince them to stay in a camp in the Bakkakhel area after threats. [14]

Pak-Afghan Relations

• The Pakistani government has asked the Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police to seal the Afghan side of the border in order to stop TTP militants from escaping to Kunar, Nuristan and other parts of Afghanistan.[15]

Domestic

• According to Islamabad city police, two companies, equaling 250 soldiers, are being deployed in Islamabad to mitigate the threat of possible terrorist attacks. Security was tightened in the government quarter known as the Red Zone and around other sensitive buildings and offices on June 15. [16]

• On June 15, police and intelligence organizations in Karachi cracked down on foreigners without valid documentation. Two dozen foreigners of Uzbek and Tajik descent were reportedly arrested and moved to an unknown location for investigation.[17]

• The Pakistani Army, law enforcement agencies, and Rangers personnel provided heightened security in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. UN and foreign missions at risk of terrorism were advised to limit their activities as Operation Zarb-e-Azb commences.[18]