Pakistan Security Brief – February 26, 2010
Lahore High Court rules captured Taliban leaders will remain in Pakistan; Mullah Fazlullah’s nephew captured in Nowshera; most of the Swat valley free of militants; militants destroy school in Mohmand; security forces conducting search operations in Mingora city.
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The Lahore High Court ruled on Friday that all of the recently detained Taliban chiefs, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, are not to be transferred to either Afghanistan or the US. The court also decided no officials, other than Pakistani intelligence or security officers, will have access to the detained Taliban leaders. The court heard the case based on a petition that would prevent the leaders from being sent abroad.[1]
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Pakistani officials reported the capture of Mullah Fazlullah’s nephew from Nowshera District, located in the North West Frontier Provence, on Friday. Mullah Fazlullah is the Taliban leader in the Swat valley, and Fazlullah's nephew is believed to be a close aide to the leader.[2]
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Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, commander of Operation Rah-e-Rast in the Swat valley, announced on Friday that security forces have cleared a majority of the valley and only a few areas contain groups of militants. Major General Nadeem also said strikes on militants will continue in the valley when intelligence reports suggest militants are active.[3]
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On Thursday night militants blew up a boys’ school in Mohmand Agency, but no one was injured in the attack. During the month of February, militants destroyed 16 schools located in several agencies throughout the North West Frontier Provence.[4]
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Security forces continued a search operation in Mingora, located in Swat District, on Thursday. The mission is focused on the capture of suicide bombers and their leaders.[5]