Pakistan Security Brief

U.S. drone strikes kill 15; NATO Secretary General says no deal reached with Pakistan over reopening supply routes; Pakistani government officials said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had finalized security arrangements for NATO vehicles traveling through the province; Public opinion between U.S. and Pakistan remains low; Pakistani intelligence exposes unauthorized U.S. embassy travel; Pakistani anti-terrorism court acquits four men connected to 2010 Times Square bombing; Militant group asserts that Dr. Afridi did have connections to Lashkar-e-Islam; Pakistani security forces arrest five militants in FATA; Pakistani jets kill ten militants in Khyber agency; Two killed in explosion in Hangu; Pakistani Supreme Court suspends Rehman Malik’s membership in the Senate

Drone Strikes

NATO Supply Route

U.S.-Pakistani Relations

  • Public opinion in the U.S. and Pakistan reveal that the citizens of both countries increasingly see the other as an adversary, directly contributing to the deadlocked talks on re-opening NATO supply routes. Significant anti-American sentiments in Pakistan make it exceedingly difficult for the Pakistani government to take any action that may appear to be concessional to the U.S. Public opinion of Pakistan in the U.S. also remains low, with many accusing Islamabad of directly supporting militant groups and undermining counterterrorism efforts in the region.[7]

  • Following the release of an interior ministry report alleging U.S. embassy officials had taken unauthorized trips to Gilgit-Baltisan, Pakistan’s National Crisis Management Cell issued guidelines for providing security to foreign missions to all provincial home departments, police chiefs, and heads of law enforcement agencies.  The report claims that foreign missions had used diplomatic vehicles with fake number plates to meet covertly with officials and private individuals without obtaining the necessary documentation from the foreign office or interior ministry. The American officials mentioned in the report claimed to have been given permission by the Gilgit-Balistan police chief prior to travelling to the region.[8] 

Times Square Bomb Plot

Osama bin Laden Informant

Indo-Pakistan Relations

Militancy

Domestic Politics

  • The Pakistani Supreme Court on Monday suspended Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s membership in the Senate, following Malik’s failure to produce sufficient documentation that he had renounced his British citizenship. Members of parliament in Pakistan are not permitted to hold dual citizenship. The case followed the Supreme Court’s suspension of Farahnaz Isphanai’s membership in the National Assembly last month for holding U.S. citizenship. The Court notified an additional 14 parliamentarians from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to explain their cases of dual citizenship to the Court.[19]  

  • The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is planning to boycott budget proceedings to protest Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s refusal to step down following his conviction for contempt of court. Speaking to Express Tribune, PML-N Information Secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that “after detailed consultations with the PML-N’s finance team and members, our party chief Nawaz Sharif has decided to stay away from the budget proceedings.”[20]    

 

“US drone strike kills three militants in Pakistan: officials,” AFP, June 2, 2012. Available at http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcl7AMYqZu-iUt8P_Id6VDa0cSDg?docId=CNG.ac66e7c8f937136e3abf0c411af1cbff.361
Zahir Shah Shirazi, “US drone strike kills two militants in South Waziristan,” Dawn, June 4, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/06/02/us-drone-strike-in-south-waziristan/
 “Drone strike kills ten in South Waziristan,” Agencies, June 3, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/06/03/drone-strike-in-south-waziristan/
[3] “U.S. Drone Strike Kills 15 in Northwest Pakistan: Officials,” Reuters, June 3, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/06/03/world/asia/03reuters-pakistan-drone.html
Declan Walsh, “Drone Strike Kills 14 in Pakistan,” New York Times, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/world/asia/drone-strike-kills-14-in-pakistan.html
“Pakistan: U.S. drone kills 8 suspected militants,” AP, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57446352/pakistan-u.s-drone-kills-8-suspected-militants/
“US drone strike ‘kills 15’ in Pakistan,” CNN, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18320431
[4] Rod Nordland, “U.S.-Pakistan Freeze Chokes Fallback Route in Afghanistan,” New York Times, June 2, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/world/asia/us-pakistan-dispute-chokes-an-afghan-supply-route.html?ref=world
[5] “NATO strikes exit deal with three Central Asian states,” Geo News, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=52612
[6] Mushtaq Paracha, “Arrangements finalized for Nato vehicles security,” The News, June 2, 2012. Available athttp://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-111901-Arrangements-finalised-for-Nato-vehicles-security
[7] Michael Georgy, “Pakistan and U.S.: allies without trust,” Reuters, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/04/us-pakistan-usa-idUSBRE85303J20120604
[8] Asad Kharal, "Agencies concerned over trip by diplomats", Express Tribune, June 3, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388040/agencies-concerned-over-trips-by-diplomats/
“Pakistani court acquits four accused of aiding Times Square bomber,” Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2012. Available at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/06/pakistani-court-frees-four-men-charged-with-helping-times-square-bomber.html
Declan Walsh, “Pakistan Acquits Four Men in Times Square Bomb Plot,” New York Times, June 2, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/world/asia/in-pakistan-4-acquitted-in-new-york-bomb-plot.html?_r=1
[11] Riaz khan Daudzai, “AI blames Dr Afridi for murder of 250 tribesmen,” The News, June 3, 2012. Available athttp://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-112122-AI-blames-Dr-Afridi-for-murder-of-250-tribesmen
[12] Javed Aziz Khan, “Security tightened in and around Peshawar prison,” The News, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-112362-Security-tightened-in-and-around-Peshawar-prison
“To an undisclosed location: Arrangements to relocate ‘CIA doctor’ finalized,” Express Tribune, June 3, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388020/to-an-undisclosed-location-arrangements-to-relocate-cia-doctor-finalised/
[14] “Khyber Agency: Jets bomb militant hideouts, 10 killed,” Express Tribune, June 4, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388552/khyber-agency-jets-bomb-militant-hideouts-10-killed/
[15] Shehzad Baloch, “Quetta attack: Gunman kill 5 workers on lunch break,” Express Tribune, June 4, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388427/quetta-attack-gunmen-kill-5-workers-on-lunch-break/
“Policeman among six killed,” Dawn, June 3, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/06/04/policeman-among-six-killed/
[16] “Firing across Karachi claims nine lives,” Geo News, June 4, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=52583
“Four dead in Karachi firing incidents,” Geo News, June 3, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=52499
[17] “5 militants held in FR Tank areas,” The News, June 3, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-112139-5-militants-held-in-FR-Tank-areas
[18] “2 injured in Hangu blast,” The News, June 2, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-111915-2-injured-in-Hangu-blast
[19] “Dual nationality: SC suspends Rehman Malik’s Senate membership,” PPI, June 4, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388558/dual-nationality-sc-suspends-rehman-maliks-senate-membership/
“SC suspends Malik’s Senate membership,” Dawn, June 4, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/06/04/sc-suspends-maliks-senate-membership/
[20] Sumera Khan, "Budget debate: PML-N likely to boycott proceedings over PM's refusal to resign," Express Tribune, June 4, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/388399/budget-debate-pml-n-likely-to-boycott-proceedings-over-pms-refusal-to-resign/
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