Pakistan Security Brief – March 18, 2010

Top al-Qaeda leader killed in North Waziristan drone strike; CIA director says attacks in Pakistan tribal area have severely disrupted al-Qaeda; Taliban group in North Waziristan promises to adhere to peace accord; six Taliban killed, five arrested in clash with local lashkar in Kurram; gun battle with militants near Darra Adam Khel, civilians killed by security forces; Paksitani foreign minister calls on US to “do more”; US Muslims plead not guilty to terror charges; two Pakistani generals promoted; Taliban commanders killed in Swat; several violent incidents in Quetta.

 

North Waziristan

Kurram

Kohat

US-Pakistan relations

US terror suspects on trial

  • Five Muslim men from the Washington, DC area have pleaded not guilty in a Punjab court to the charges that they had travelled to the country to engage in militant activity. Their lawyer claims the men were in the country to provide financial and medical aid to Muslims in Afghanistan. The next hearing is set for March 31 when the prosecution will present evidence and witnesses to the court.[7]

Army promotions

Swat Valley

Balochistan



[1] “Al-Qaeda leader ‘killed in drone strike’,” Dawn, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/14-al-qaeda-leader-killed-in-drone-strike-830-zj-01. David E. Sanger, “Drone  Strike Is Said to Kill a Leader of Al Qaeda,” New York Times, March 17, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/world/asia/18terror.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
[2] Joby Warrick and Peter Finn, “CIA director says secret attacks in Pakistan have hobbled al-Qaeda,” Washington Post, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031702558.html?wprss=rss_world/asia. Siobham Gorman and Jonathan Weisman, “Drone Kills Suspect in CIA Suicide Bombing,” Wall Street Journal, March 18, 2010. Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704059004575128123449551524.html.
[3] Malik Mumtaz Khan, “NWA Taliban  pledge adherence to accord,” The News, March 17, 2010. Available at http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=229661.
[4] “Lashkar kills six more Taliban in Kurram Agency,” Daily Times, March 18, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\18\story_18-3-2010_pg7_4. “Lashkar guns down 10 Taliban in Kurram,” Daily Times, March 17, 2010. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\17\story_17-3-2010_pg7_15.
[5] “Six militants killed, five security men hurt in Darra Adam Khel,” Geo, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.geo.tv/3-18-2010/61291.htm. “Civilians shot dead by Pakistani security forces,” BBC, March 18, 2010. Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8574889.stm.
[6] “US should also do more: FM Qureshi,” Dawn, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-us-do-more-smq-qs-11.
[7] “US Muslims plead not guilty to Pakistan terror plot,” The Guardian, March 17, 2010. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/17/us-muslims-court-pakistan-terror.
[8] “2 major generals promoted,” Daily Times, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\18\story_18-3-2010_pg7_11.
[9] “Pakistan  kills wanted Swat Taliban commanders,” Dawn, March 17, 2010.  Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/22-pakistani-security-forces-kills-wanted-swat-taliban-commanders-aj-01. “Pakistan kills wanted Swat Taliban commanders: official,” AFP, March 17, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100317/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestswat.
[10] “Four FC soldiers injured, one attacker killed in Quetta shootout,” Daily Times, March 18, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\18\story_18-3-2010_pg7_8. Saleem Shahid, “Retired SP among three shot dead in Quetta,” Dawn, March 18, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/retired-sp-among-3-shot-dead-in-quetta-830. “One killed in Quetta blast: police,” Dawn, March 17, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/14-one-killed-in-quetta-blast-police-zj-02.
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