Pakistan Security Brief - April 20, 2010

Pakistan Security Brief – April 20, 2010

Relief package announced for April 10 airstrike victims; three killed, one kidnapped in FATA; spy plane violates Pakistani airspace, Mehsuds to help government maintain peace in South Waziristan, reporters taken to Bajaur; new constitutional amendment challenged in Supreme Court; search operation launched in Swat; Jamaat-e-Islami politician blames U.S. for suicide attack, K-P Information Minister condemns attack; humanitarian programs in danger of being cut; two security personnel killed by landmine; grenade thrown into school.

FATA

• The Pakistani Army announced a relief package for the victims of the April 10 airstrikes in Khyber’s Tirah Valley and their families. The package totals around Rs20 million ($238,000). Rs200,000 ($2,400) will be given to families of the deceased and Rs100,000 ($1,200) will be given to those who were injured in the air strikes. As many as 61 civilians were killed and many were injured.[1]

• Two Frontier Corps personnel were injured in Mohmand when a remote controlled bomb was detonated near their convoy on Monday. A child was killed in a mortar attack in Landi Kotal on Monday. Security forces retaliated by firing on suspected militant hideouts in Toro Ghar. Militants kidnapped a member of a khasadar force from his home in the Zakha Khel area on Tuesday.[2]

• A NATO spy plane violated Pakistani airspace on Monday for the second time in 48 hours. The spy plane flew over Landi Kotal, Torkham, an FC check post, and other areas before returning to Afghanistan. The Mehsud tribe agreed to help the government maintain peace and order in South Waziristan on Monday. Talks between tribal elders and the government are set to continue. A group of reporters are taken into the Bajaur Agency and see a peaceful side of FATA, “breaking the myths” about the tribal areas.[3]
  

Constitutional Amendment

• Petitions against the 18th Amendment of the Pakistani Constitution were filed with the Supreme Court on Monday. Objections were raised regarding the appointment of Supreme Court judges, the abolishment of mandatory intra-party elections, and the term limit placed on the premiership. President Zardari signed the Amendment into law on Monday.[4]

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP)

• Security forces began a search operation in the Koza Bandai village of Swat on Monday. The operation was launched after the head of a peace jirga and two of its members were killed. [5]

• Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the war against terrorism would continue until they were completely eliminated, calling it an undeclared third world war. He condemned Monday’s attacks and warned people against gathering in large numbers, giving “an opportunity to terrorists to strike.” A politician belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami party blamed Monday’s suicide attack on Pakistan’s cooperation with the U.S. and urged Pakistan to break ties with the war on terror. Monday’s attack killed 23 people in Peshawar, many of whom were members of Jamaat-e-Islami.[6]
  

Humanitarian Aid

• UN aid distribution was suspended in Kohat and Hangu after Saturday’s twin suicide bombing, which killed 43 IDPs. Officials said that aid distribution is set to resume by the end of the week. Other humanitarian programs run by the UN and NGOs are in danger of being cut or closed due to lack of funding. Humanitarian programs have received approximately $170 million to help 1.3 million displaced persons and 2 million people who recently returned to their homes.[7]

Balochistan

• On Tuesday, two security personnel were killed in the Margutt area of Balochistan when their vehicle hit a landmine. One other was injured.[8]

• A hand grenade was thrown into Sir Syed Educational School in Loralai by unknown attackers in Monday. The grenade landed among students and teachers but no one was hurt due to the quick thinking of a teacher who threw the grenade outside before it exploded.[9]