Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistan Security Brief – May 25, 2010

Mehsud militants start leaving North Waziristan after Pakistan’s military threatens military action, Afghan intelligence agency accuses ISI of role in suicide bombing,; alleged Mumbai mastermind cleared by Pakistan’s Supreme Court; security forces kill thirteen militants in clashes in Orakzai Agency, NATO installs surveillance system along Af-Pak border; United Nations Chief calls for increased donor contributions to meet funding shortfall in Pakistan,  militant leaders houses destroyed and five arrested in Minglawar area, Indian Premier wants improved economic and diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

Mehsud militants agree to leave NWA

• Following successful talks between Hafiz Gul Bahadur and the Hakimullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Mehsud militants along with some Punjabi Taliban have started leaving North Waziristan for the adjoining South Waziristan tribal region. The government and military authorities had made it clear to Hafiz Gul Bahadur and his men that they faced a military operation if they refused to voluntarily leave North Waziristan.[1]

Afghan spy agency accuses Pakistan

• Saeed Ansari, an Afghan intelligence official, accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency of involvement in last week’s suicide bombings that killed six NATO troops and twelve Afghan civilians. The remarks came during a news conference on Monday announcing the arrest of seven suspects involved in the attack. “When we say that those attacks were plotted from the other side of the border, the intelligence service of our neighboring country has definitely had its role in equipping and training of this group,” Mr Ansari Said.[2]

Mumbai “mastermind” released

• Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government lacks the evidence to imprison Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed heads the charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa and founded Lashkar-e-Taiba, the terrorist group blamed by India and the United States for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was found not guilty in the  Lahore High Court last year, but the government had petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the previous decision. A three judge bench at Pakistan's supreme court headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk rejected the appeal and upheld the June 2009 order from the high court in Lahore, defence lawyer A.K. Dogar told AFP."We cannot usurp the right of freedom of a person on mere assumption," Dogar quoted the short order from the court as saying. India’s External Affairs Ministry said it was disappointed by the decision.[3]

FATA

• Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have killed 12 militants and injured several others as clashes between militants and armed forces continued in Orakzai Agency on Tuesday. The Pakistani air force also bombed targets in Sun Bagh, Shabsh Qamar and Dabori areas of the Upper Orakzai Agency.[4]

NATO installs border surveillance

• The Afghan government has finished installing an aerial surveillance system that will allow Afghan and Pakistani security forces to monitor activity on the border, especially during impending NATO operations against the Taliban in Kandahar. The system, consisting of a blimp with multiple mounted cameras, is located near the Spin Boldak border crossing in Kandahar. NATO officials are working in conjunction with Pakistani security forces to facilitate sharing of surveillance imagery collected from the blimps.[5]

 UN to meet IDPs’ needs in Pakistan

• Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed his concern about funding shortfalls in UN humanitarian programs assisting the growing number of displaced persons in Pakistan and urged further contributions. UN officials have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Pakistan if further funding is not made available. Food and health, clean water supplies and sanitation are at risk because of inadequate funding,” said Martin Mogwanja, UN humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan.[6]

Swat

• Security forces arrested five wanted terrorists in the Minglawar area and destroyed the houses of two prominent terrorists on Monday. Sources said that the houses belonged to two terrorist commanders, Daud Khan and Shahi Roomi, while the five terrorists surrendered to security forces. The men were wanted by police for “various crimes.”[7]

Indian PM stresses economy and diplomacy

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday that a major diplomatic effort was under way to improves relations between India and Pakistan. These remarks come three weeks after he and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to resume peace talks and work toward restoring trust between their countries."A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan," Singh told reporters at a news conference.[8]