Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistan Security Brief – September 21, 2010

New wave of target killings rocks Karachi; Eight militants killed and seven wounded in Kurram; Roadside bomb kills two paramilitary soldiers; China confirms it will build two new nuclear reactors at Chashma; UNICEF warns that millions of children face threat from malnutrition; Flood victim commits suicide outside home of Prime Minister Gilani. 

Karachi Target Killings

• At least nine more people were killed in Karachi on Tuesday, where targeted killings have claimed the lives of 18 people in the last 72 hours. This latest wave of killings comes just days after senior MQM official Imran Farooq was stabled to death outside his home in London.  The leader of the MQM in Pakistan, Dr Farooq Sattar, and senior members of the rival ANP party, have both denied any involvement in the attacks.  Instead, the political parties have blamed the Sindh government for the recent wave of violence, claiming that security forces have inadequately secured funeral processions for victims of the bloodshed.  On Tuesday many shops and business were closed across the city, while public transportation was halted and schoolchildren were kept home for the second straight day.[1]

Pakistan-China Nuclear Faciility

• A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that China will help Pakistan expand its nuclear energy facility at Chashma in the Punjab province. Jiang Yu told reporters that Beijing will allow Chinese companies to construct two new nuclear reactors at the facility.  Yu also confirmed that discussions to build a 1-gigawatt nuclear reactor at Chashma were ongoing between the two governments.  It is unclear whether or not the two reactors approved for construction will be brought under the purview of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). [2]

   

FATA

•  Eight militants were killed and another seven were wounded after government helicopters shelled their positions in Kurram.  The incident occurred on Monday in the Spairket area, located in the center of the tribal agency.  According to government officials, three militant hideouts were destroyed as a result of the attack by security forces.   Meanwhile, in the Shelozan and Shelozan Tangi areas of the Kurram agency, another 5 tribesmen were killed in an ongoing dispute over water rights.  Fighting between the Mangal and Bangash tribes have left over 130 people dead in the last two weeks. [3]

• A roadside bomb killed two paramilitary soldiers on Tuesday in the Khyber Agency. The soldiers were on a routine patrol when a bomb struck their vehicle.  Government officials confirm that the attack occurred in the Shin Qamar area of agency. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the blast. [4]

Flooding

• The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that recent flooding in Pakistan has left children particularly susceptible to malnutrition throughout the country.  Officials report that while the risk of widespread disease outbreak has been partly mitigated; the looming threat of malnutrition warrants immediate and “robust” attention.  Speaking from UNICIF headquarters in Geneva, UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado cautioned, “The risk of malnutrition looms large with the very young extremely vulnerable.” According to the UN, 10 million children have been impacted by flooding, 2.5 million of which are under the age five.[5] 

• A man committed suicide outside Prime Minister Gilani’s home in Multan, Punjab on Sunday.  The victim, Mohammad Akram, was a father of five who had lost his home to flood waters in the town of Jampur in the Punjab province.  According to reports, the victim was having trouble meeting the needs of his family and was unable to find work for many months.  Prime Minister Gilani called the family of the victim to offer his condolences. [6]