Pakistan Security Brief - April 8, 2010

Pakistan Security Brief – April 8, 2010

Pakistani jets bombard Taliban hideouts in Orakzai; more details emerge about missing journalists, ex-ISI officers; TTP bomb NATO tanker in Khyber; militants blow up schools in Peshawar; TTP kills pro-government lashkar commander in Hangu; police kill two militants, arrest others in Bannu search operation; bomb blast damages shops in Mingora; Pakistani army training aircraft crashes outside Peshawar; explosion in Islamabad causes minor damage to buildings; Gen. Kayani promotes three generals, presides over conference at GHQ; US says no to civilian nuclear deal, donates equipment to NWFP police; two FC soldiers kidnapped, rival groups clash in Balochistan; two MQM-H activists killed in Karachi; National Assembly passes 18th Constitutional Amendment.

FATA

• On Wednesday, fighter jets bombarded Taliban positions in Orakzai as part of the military’s continuing operations there, killing 13 militants and wounding 20 others. Seven hideouts were reported destroyed along with two houses belonging to pro-Taliban elders.[1] (For detailed daily updates on Pakistani military operations in Orakzai, CLICK HERE)

• An article from The News has uncovered more details about the events leading up to the disappearance of now five people, originally believed to have been three, who went missing while on their way to North Waziristan. Among the missing persons are two high-ranking retired Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials, one of which is Brigadier Amir Sultan Tarar, better known as Colonel Imam, who has a reputation for being a Taliban sympathizer. Also missing are three journalists, two of them British passport holders, including well-known free lance journalist Asad Qureshi. Authorities believe the men may have been kidnapped by unknown persons.[2]

• Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants bombed a NATO fuel tanker near the Michni checkpoint in Khyber agency on Wednesday. A van riding behind the tanker was also caught in the explosion, killing one child and wounding eight other passengers. TTP spokesman Azam Tariq claimed responsibility for the attack.[3]

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP)

• Militants blew up three government schools on the outskirts of Peshawar. The pre-dawn explosions caused damage to a high school, a middle school, and a primary school. No casualties were reported.[4]

• At least seven people were killed, including pro-government lashkar leader Sakhi Rahman, during a shootout in Hangu district on Wednesday. The fighting began when militants from the TTP Orakzai reportedly attacked Rahman’s home in Shahu Khel.  Rahman was a former TTP commander in Orakzai who split with the Taliban eight months ago and declared his intention to aid the government at the beginning of the Orakzai operation.[5]

• Police came under fire from militants on Wednesday while conducting a search operation in the Bakka Khel area of Bannu district. Two militants were killed in the exchange of fire and about a dozen others were arrested. Police also seized a large arms and ammunition cache.[6]

• On Wednesday, a bomb blast near a cinema in Swat district’s main city of Mingora completely destroyed twelve shops and damaged about a dozen others. No casualties were reported in the attack. Police are investigating the explosion and two suspects have been arrested so far.[7]

• A Pakistani Army training aircraft crashed in the Nelavi area on the outskirts of Peshawar, killing the pilot. Officials believe the crash was a technical malfunction but an investigation into the incident is underway.[8]

Islamabad

• An explosion went off in the parking lot of a market in Islamabad on Wednesday night. The blast caused minor damage to several vehicles and a nearby building but no casualties were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast.[9]

• Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has announced the promotion of three Generals to the rank of Lieutenant General. On Wednesday, Kayani presided over the 128th Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters in Islamabad, where he gave more details on the upcoming Azm-e-Nau III war game, stating that the Air Force will be “fully integrated” with the Army as part of the exercise.[10]

US-Pakistan relations

• Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley told reporters that US-Pakistan energy cooperation will “not include civilian nuclear energy”. On Wednesday, US Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson visited Peshawar to hand over $130,000 worth of US-donated communications equipment to the NWFP police.[11]

Balochistan

• Two Frontier Corps personnel were kidnapped in Panjgur district on Wednesday while returning from a tour of duty. Unknown armed men reportedly stormed the bus the soldiers were travelling in and captured the men at gunpoint. In Quetta, rival tribal groups exchanged fire, resulting in three people killed and three others seriously wounded.[12]

Karachi

• Two activists of the Mohajir Quami Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) were gunned down by unknown assailants in different parts of Karachi on Wednesday. One of the activists was killed outside his home in Orangi Town while the other was shot dead in Liaqat Market.[13]

National politics

• The National Assembly has voted to approve the 18th Constitutional Amendment reform package. The bill will, among other things, strip the president of the power to dissolve parliament and will also rename the NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[14]