Pakistan Security Brief – February 16, 2010
Afghan Taliban’s second in command captured in Karachi; Qari Hussain claims responsibility for attacks, professes Hakimullah Mehsud is alive; US drone attacks kill at least nine militants; Pakistani troops conducted operations in Bajaur; Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged fire in Kashmir; police arrested 18 suspected militants in Kohat.
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Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Taliban’s second in command, was captured several days ago in a joint ISI/CIA raid in the Pakistani city of Karachi. Baradar is believed to have commanded the Taliban’s military operations and leadership council. Pakistani and US officials did not disclose details of the operation until recently because of the potential for valuable intelligence following Baradar’s capture.[1]
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In a phone conversation with a reporter on Sunday, Qari Hussain of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that his suicide bombers were responsible for last Thursday’s twin bombings against police personnel in Bannu district. Hussain said that these attacks and others would come throughout Pakistan in retaliation for the military’s ongoing operations against militants in Bajaur Agency. He also added that Hakimullah Mehsud was alive and he will be revealed to the media when it becomes necessary. Qari Hussain’s interviews disprove rumors that he was killed in a drone strike targeting Hakimullah in January.[2]
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At least six militants were killed on Sunday by two missiles from US drones. The missiles struck a compound near Mir Ali, located in North Waziristan. The following day, a vehicle travelling in North Waziristan was struck by a missile, killing three militants. A US drone was suspected to have fired the missile.[3]
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Pakistani security forces engaged militants located in several areas of Bajaur area on Sunday and seized large quantities of weapons. During operations, helicopter gunships targeted suspected Taliban hideouts in Mamund and Charmang, killing three militants.[4]
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On Saturday night Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire in Kashmir, injuring one Indian soldier. Indian officials reported that Pakistani troops initiated the shooting, causing Indian forces to return fire.[5]
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Police officers in Kohat district arrested 18 suspected militants during a search operation on Sunday. Officers also recovered numerous kinds of ammunition and explosives.[6]