Pakistan Security Brief - January 22, 2010

By Brian Wolfe January 22, 2010

Pakistan Security Brief – January 22, 2010

US to provide Pakistan with unarmed drones; TTP warns locals against returning to South Waziristan; Prime Minister Gilani describes limits to preventing militant attacks; militants planned to hijack an Indian plane; India ready to resume dialogue over disputes; two militants killed in North Waziristan; nine militants arrested in Khyber Agency; security forces kill five in Swat operation.

Speaking to Pakistani reporters Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the US will provide a dozen unmanned aerial drones to Pakistan. The drones are unarmed but will provide live video feeds, greatly enhancing the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of Pakistani security forces. As Secretary Gates continued his trip in Pakistan, he also stressed that the US has no plan to obtain Pakistani territory or nuclear weapons.[1]
The Mehsud chapter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan distributed pamphlets to local tribesmen who are away from the area, urging them not to return for “their own safety.” A Mehsud tribal jirga supported the agreement made earlier this week with the Pakistani government, and the TTP fears that the tribes will surrender over to the government militants residing in Mehsud tribal areas.[2]
On Thursday Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani stated that the government is taking steps to prevent militancy in the country, but he stopped short of guaranteeing another Mumbai-style attack will not occur in India. Prime Minister Gilani said the best way to prevent major attacks is to separate the Kashmir peace process from militancy and water disputes.[3]
All Indian airports were on high alert Thursday after recent intelligence suggested militants planned to hijack an Indian plane. According to intelligence officials, a plot by militants linked to al-Qaida and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba planned to hijack either an Air India or Indian Airlines flight, though the reason was unclear. The plot was discovered following an interrogation of Amjad Khwaja, a militant leader belonging to Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.[4]
A Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman stated that India is prepared to resume dialogue over disputes, including Kashmir. The spokesman indicated that Pakistan is ready to meet as quickly as possible.[5]
Two militants were killed on Friday when Pakistani troops, supported by helicopter gunships, launched an operation on a militant hideout in North Waziristan. Six suspected militants were arrested following searches of different houses surrounding Miramshah, where the attack occurred.[6]
The Frontier Corps ran operations in the Dogra area of Bara Tehsil, located in Khyber Agency, on Friday. During the operation, security forces arrested nine militants and seized several large weapons.[7]
Security forces killed at least five militants in Madian on Thursday, located in Swat district. Security forces launched a search operation when gunfire erupted between the two sides. One commander was among the dead.[8]

[1] Elisabeth Bumiller, “U.S. Offers Pakistan Drones to Urge Cooperation,” The New York Times, January 21, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/world/asia/22gates.html?ref=asia. “Pakistan 'wants unarmed drones',” BBC, January 22, 2010. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8473900.stm. “Gates stresses common cause with Pakistan,” Dawn, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-gates-stresses-common-cause-with-pakistan-ss-01.

[2] Ismail Khan, “Militants warn Mehsuds against returning home,” Dawn, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/13+militants-warn-mehsuds-against-returning-home-210-za-08.

[3] Baqir Sajjad Syed and Iftikhar A. Khan, “'No guarantee against repeat of Mumbai-like attacks',” Dawn, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-gates-warns-of-militant-havens-ahead-of-pakistan-visit-ss-02.

[4] Ravi Nessman, “India issues terrorism alert over hijack plot,” AP, January 22, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_re_as/as_india_terror_alert. Harmeet Shah Singh, “India ups alert level, tightens air security,” CNN, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/22/india.air.security.

[5] “India’s readiness to resume dialogue hailed,” The News, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=26811.

[6] “Army attacks militant hideout in North Waziristan,” Dawn, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-army-attacks-militant-hideout-in-north-waziristan-ss-04. “Pakistan army kills militants in North Waziristan,” AP, January 22, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan.

[7] “Nine militants arrested in Bara Tehsil,” Dawn, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-nine-militants-arrested-in-bara-tehsil-ss-07.

[8] “Nine killed in Swat operation,” The News, January 22, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=26815.

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