Pakistan Security Brief - July 22, 2009

Pakistan Security Brief – July 22, 2009 

Ongoing airstrikes in South Waziristan left six Pakistani Taliban militants dead according to Pakistani intelligence officials; Clashes between militants and the Pakistani military left more than two dozen dead in the Swat and neighboring districts on Wednesday; three anti-Beitullah Mehsud militant groups reportedly consolidated ties and named Ikhlas Khan as the new amir for the Abdullah Mehsud group.

• US regional envoy Richard Holbrooke is due to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Ali Zardari, as well as several other important members of Zardari’s administration. Talks are expected to center around bilateral coordination during Pakistan’s upcoming offensive in South Waziristan.[1]
   
• Two more airstrikes in the Sarwakai area of South Waziristan left six suspected Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)-affiliates dead on Wednesday. According to Pakistani military commanders, the strikes continue to pave the way for a planned ground invasion of the region. [2]
   
• Continuing clashes in the Swat Valley area saw another twenty-seven militants killed Wednesday: sixteen in Dir as part of a raid on suspected training camps and eleven more in Buner. Two soldiers were also injured during a clash over a vehicle carrying weapons and ammunitions in Dewana Baba.[3]
   
• Three leaders of the anti-Beitullah Mehsud Taliban in South Waziristan, including Turkistan Bhittani, have appointed a new amir for their Abdullah Mehsud group on Wednesday. Ikhlas Khan—also known as Waziristan Baba—restated the group’s claim that Beitullah was involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and promised to avenge the killing of Pakistani civilians.[4]