Pakistan Security Brief - February 1, 2010

By Nicholas Patella February 01, 2010

Pakistan Security Brief – February 1, 2010

Reports suggest TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud may be dead; US drone strikes in North Waziristan kill 15 militants; bombing at security checkpoint in Bajaur kills at least 16; military launches offensive in Bajaur; militants attack fuel truck outside Peshawar; Taliban issues statement regarding a future military operation in North Waziristan; five militants arrested in Nowshera; bomb blast at girls’ school in Bannu; two US ‘spies’ killed by Taliban; violent weekend in Karachi.

New reports suggest that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud may have been killed. Speculation about Mehsud’s death heightened after a Pakistani news source announced that he had been buried in Orakzai agency on Friday, indicating that he could have succumbed to wounds sustained in one of the drone strikes in mid-January or possibly from a helicopter gunship attack in Orakzai early last week. Although intelligence officials in both Pakistan and Washington have not been able to confirm that Mehsud was killed, a White House spokesman said there was a “90-percent” probability that Mehsud is dead. The TTP has denied the reports of Mehsud’s death and said a video would soon be released proving that he is still alive.[1]
US drones fired three missiles in North Waziristan on Friday evening, killing 15 militants. Officials stated that a militant compound in Muhammad Khel was the target of the attack.[2]
On Saturday, at least 16 people were killed and more than 20 were injured in a suicide bombing at a market near a security checkpoint in the village of Khar in Bajaur agency. The bomber detonated his vest after being stopped by security personnel, but officials believe that the nearby military facilities were the intended target.[3]
The military continues its offensive into the Mamund sub-district of Bajaur agency, reportedly killing at least 20 militants, including an “important commander”. Fighter jets, helicopter gunships, and artillery pounded the area on Sunday, targeting militant hideouts and training facilities. Today security officials reported that ground troops had seized control of a Taliban headquarters in the Sewai area.[4]
Two people were killed when a group of militants ambushed and destroyed a NATO fuel truck outside Peshawar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.[5]
The Taliban in Miramshah has distributed pamphlets in North Waziristan accusing the government of breaking agreements and warning that a military operation in the region would result in a large scale conflict.[6]
Five militants were arrested on Sunday when local police raided a house at a refugee camp in Nowshera district. Officials said that hand grenades and ammunition were also seized in the raid but a militant commander had managed to escape.[7]
An explosion caused by militants has severely damaged a government-run girls’ school in the town of Kotka Maawia in Bannu district. No injuries were reported in the attack.[8]
The bodies of two local tribesmen were discovered outside of Miramshah on Sunday. A note found near the bodies stated that the men had been killed for being US spies and warned that anyone else caught aiding the US would also be punished.[9]
On Saturday, at least eight people were killed in various shootings in Karachi, mostly in Qasba Colony and Orangi Town. Six more people were killed in shootings on Sunday, including a former member of the Muttahida Quami Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H), and another two people were reported killed today.[10]

[1] “Army investigating reports of Hakeemullah’s death,” Dawn, February 1, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-hakeemullah-mehsud-confirmed-dead-ptv-ss-07. S.H. Khan “Mystery over fate of Pakistani Taliban leader,” AFP, February 1, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100201/wl_asia_afp/pakistanunresttalibanlead. “Pakistan Taliban Deny Leader Hakimullah Killed,” Reuters, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/01/31/world/international-us-pakistan-hakimullah.html.

[2] Pir Zubair Shah, “Missile Strikes Kill 15 in Pakistani Tribal Region, Officials Say,” New York Times, January 30, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/world/asia/31pstan.html?ref=asia.

[3] “Suicide bomber attacks checkpoint in Pakistan,” BBC, January 30, 2010. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8488888.stm.

[4] “Troops snatch key Taliban area; 20 killed,” Dawn, February 1, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-fighter-jets-helicopter-gunships-target-bajaur-ss-11. “Nine militants killed in Bajaur strikes,” Dawn, January 30, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-bajaur-airstrikes-7-killed-qs-07. Lehaz, Ali, “Fighter jets pound NW Pakistan, bomb kills 2 soldiers,” AFP, January 31, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100131/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestnorthwest.

[5] “Militants torch Nato tanker in northwest has Pakistan,” Dawn, February 1, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-nato-tanker-torched-qs-02.

[6] “Taliban warn against operation in North Waziristan,” Dawn, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-taliban-warn-against-operation-in-north-waziristan-ss-10.

[7] “Five suspects arrested in Nowshera district,” Dawn, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-five-suspects-arrested-in-nowshera-district-ss-02.

[8] “Girls’ primary school blown up in Bannu,” Dawn, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-girls-primary-school-blown-up-in-bannu-ss-06.

[9] “Taliban kill two US ‘spies’ in Miranshah,” Daily Times, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\01\31\story_31-1-2010_pg1_3.

[10] “Eight killed as violence flares up in Karachi,” Dawn, January 31, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/18-six-killed-in-political-clash-in-karachi-am-01. “No let-up in violence; six more killed,” Dawn, February 1, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/06-at-least-six-killed-in-fresh-karachi-clashes-rs-06. “Two more shot dead in Karachi,” Dawn, February 2, 1010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/03-two-more-killed-karachi-qs-03.

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