Pakistan Security Brief –April 21, 2010
US officials comment on Baradar interrogations; militants holding ex-ISI officials demand the release of detained militants; Taliban targeting of officials in Swat resumes; roadside bomb destroys Pakistani convoy in Hangu; Richard Holbrooke says US Pakistani relations have improved tremendously.
Mullah Baradar
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US officials have been actively involved in the interrogation of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar for at least the past month. Pakistani officials initially restricted US access to the Afghan Taliban’s second-in-command, but the ISI eased restrictions on US involvement during interrogations. US officials said on Tuesday that the information gathered from Baradar is producing useful intelligence on the Taliban, including its operations against US forces across the Pakistani border.[1]
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Militants who captured the two ISI officers in March are demanding the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Mullah Abdul Kabir, and Mullah Mansour Dadullah within ten days in exchange for officers. A group named the Asian Tigers is reportedly making the demands.[2]
Swat
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Taliban members based in Swat are reportedly killing people with pro-government views. Since April 13, militants have targeted and killed three anti-Taliban and pro-government locals. Local police officials say that those involved in the killings are indigenous to the district and that the killings may represent a Taliban resurgence in Swat.[3]
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Security forces conducted a search operation in Mingora city on Tuesday, capturing around 600 suspected militants. A curfew was enforced during the early hours so troops could conduct house-to-house searches.[4]
Hangu
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Militants detonated a remote-controlled roadside bomb as a military convoy passed, killing four people and injuring seven. Three security officials and one civilian were among the four killed.[5]
US-Pakistan relations
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Richard Holbrooke said on Wednesday that the US would assist Pakistan’s economic development and ensure the delivery of military equipment. Referring to US-Pakistani relations, he said they had improved tremendously within the past 15 months.[6]