Pakistan Security Brief

Afghanistan-based TTP militants attack army checkpost in Bajaur, one soldier and 16 militants killed in clashes as Pakistani military strikes fleeing militants inside Afghanistan; Afghan government pulls out of security talks with Pakistan in protest over Pakistani incursions; Pakistani officials claim role in brokering prisoner exchange that freed U.S. soldier; Seven militants from Swat found executed in Karachi; Two militants die in army custody in Swat; Six wounded in Chaman bomb blast; Militant arrested with explosives in Swabi; Rockets fired on Bannu; News van carrying Jang Group papers attacked; Army chief visits China for first time; Finance Minister set to unveil new budget aiming to significantly increase tax base.

Cross-border Attack

• An attack launched by over 200 Afghanistan-based militants on Pakistani military outposts in Nao Top, Wara Mamund sub-district, Bajaur agency killed one Pakistani soldier and injured two more on Saturday. Sixteen militants died in the attack when Pakistani forces retaliated, using artillery fire and gunship helicopters to pursue and kill militants fleeing back into Afghanistan’s neighboring Kunar district. The TTP claimed the attack in a phone call where group spokesman Shahidullah Shahid claimed the TTP killed 10-12 Pakistani soldiers for the loss of a single fighter. Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Afghanistan lodged a formal protest with the Afghan government about the attack.[1]

• Afghan officials on Sunday declared that they were pulling out of security talks with Pakistan in anger at what they regard as Pakistani aggression in using force inside Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s National Security Council issued a statement denouncing Pakistani rocket attacks into Afghanistan that it claims are aimed at disrupting Afghanistan’s second round of elections and have resulted in over six civilian deaths over the past few days.[2]

U.S.-Taliban Prisoner Exchange

• According to a report on Monday, Pakistani officials say that while Pakistan did not play a direct role in brokering the deal that led to the U.S.-Afghan Taliban prisoner exchange on Sunday, it played its part by helping establish initial contacts between, and facilitating the travel of, mediators involved in the process. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly informed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the deal over the phone on Thursday.[3]

TTP Infighting and Peace Talks

• Haji Daud, a spokesman for the “Hakimullah Mehsud” faction of the TTP on Sunday said that if the Pakistani government was still serious about talking to the TTP, the group was willing to engage it in talks. He dismissed the idea that the splintering of the Khan Said Sajna-led Mehsud faction of the TTP from the main group would have a large impact, saying “Said only has a limited number of fighters.”[4]

Militancy

• The bodies of seven executed people were found in the Manghopir area of Karachi on Monday. Police sources report that all seven men were natives of the Swat area and were connected to a militant group.[5]

• Six children were reportedly hurt in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Chaman, Balochistan on Sunday when a consignment of scrap material carrying an IED went off. Elsewhere in Chaman, Levies forces reportedly foiled a militant attack when they defused an IED planted outside a local hospital.[6]

• Police in Swabi district on Sunday claimed to have arrested a militant carrying explosives he planned on using to target a local college.[7]

• Unidentified militants fired two rockets on Bannu city on Saturday. No casualties were reported in the attacks.[8]  

• Two militants in the custody of security forces reportedly died of “cardiac arrest” in Swat district, local sources reported on Saturday. The number of militants who have died in military custody currently stands at 225.[9]

• A van delivering Jang and The News newspapers was attacked and torched in Hassan Square, Karachi on Monday. The attack is the third one of its kind in recent weeks.[10]

Domestic

• Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is reportedly prepared to unveil the government’s second budget on Tuesday, which aims to include over $5.4 billion in newly levied taxes. The new measures endeavor to raise the revenue by documenting and taxing wealthy entities, stiffening penalties on tax dodgers and increasing income taxes in general.[11]

• Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif departed for an official visit to China on Monday. The visit is Gen. Sharif’s first to China since assuming command of the army.[12]