Pakistan Security Brief - May 3, 2010

May 03, 2010

Pakistan Security Brief - May 3, 2010

TTP video claims responsibility for failed NYC car bomb attack; TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud shown alive in video, threatens US with terror attacks; third TTP video repeats threats against American cities; military operations continue in Orakzai; US drones strike kills four in North Waziristan; Mullah Omar sends jirga to facilitate release of Colonel Imam; Defense Minister indicates military in talks about North Waziristan operation; security forces kill 18 militants in Bajaur; South Waziristan prepares to recruit 4,000 levies; Pakistani Army distributes pamphlets in Khyber; seven killed in Mingora gunfight, suicide bombing; one killed in grenade attack on peace committee leader’s home in Swat; Indian court convicts Mumbai gunman, home minister criticizes Pakistan; six injured in Quetta bombing; IED in Karachi wounds six.

TTP videos

A video released by the TTP on Sunday appeared on YouTube shortly after Saturday’s failed car bomb attempt in New York City’s Times Square. In the one-minute video, the voice of a man believed to be Qari Hussain Mehsud, the TTP’s top trainer of suicide bombers, claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it revenge for the recent killings of two al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq, the US imprisonment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and the US drone strikes in Pakistan, including one which killed former TTP leader Beitullah Mehsud in August.[1]
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has also released a video of its leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, warning that terrorist attacks will soon take place on American soil. In the nine-minute video, which intelligence sources believe is authentic, Mehsud also indicated the date as April 4, 2010, providing evidence that he was not killed in a US drone strike in January as was initially thought.[2]
In a third video released by the TTP allegedly produced on April 19, Hakimullah details threats against targets on American soil, stating that, “From now on, the main targest [sic] of our Fidaeen are American cities.” The video displays graphical explosions occurring over a Google Map of the United States. [Source: SITE Intelligence Group]

FATA

Military operations continued in Orakzai over the weekend, with 21 militants reported killed in helicopter gunship attacks on Sunday; 15 militants killed in jet fighter air strikes on Saturday; and 21 killed, along with two soldiers wounded, on Friday during an ambush on a security forces convoy. Clashes today resulted in at least eleven Taliban fighters killed in Lower Orakzai while militants also set fire to a health unit in the Kasha area.[3] (For detailed daily updates on Pakistani military operations in Orakzai, CLICK HERE)
A US drone strike has killed at least six people near Mir Ali in the Marsi Khel area of North Waziristan. Three missiles were reportedly fired; one struck a building and two more hit a moving vehicle. The Los Angeles Times reports that drone strikes in the tribal areas continues to be a divisive issue in Pakistan: some citizens openly denounce the attacks, which have claimed civilian lives, while others support the attacks as a way to drive out the hated Taliban presence.[4]
A reports has suggested that a jirga representing Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar arrived in North Waziristan on Saturday to facilitate the release of the pro-Taliban ex-ISI officer Colonel Imam, who was recently captured by a group calling itself the Asian Tigers. However, the report could not be independently confirmed. Speculation continues over who exactly is behind the capture of Colonel Imam as well as the recent execution of another captured ex-ISI officer, Khalid Khawaja.[5]
On Sunday, Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar indicated that a military operation in North Waziristan was “probable” and that internal discussions about such an operation are already taking place.[6]
As many as 18 militants were killed when security forces raided several militant hideouts in Bajaur Agency. Army commandos supported by mortar and artillery fire conducted the raid in Ghundo village in Khar sub-district. In a separate incident in the Shandai Mor area, troops shot and killed a suicide bomber as he approached vehicles belonging to security forces. Also in Khar sub-district, militants detonated explosives at two boys’ schools, completely destroying the buildings.[7]
The political agent for South Waziristan has said that the government has allocated funds for the recruitment of 4,000 levies in order to maintain security in the agency following last year’s military operation there.[8]
The Pakistani Army has begun distributing pamphlets in Khyber Agency’s Jamrud sub-district apologizing for the April 10 airstrikes in Sara Vela, which killed more than 50 civilians.[9]

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP)

At least seven people were killed and more than a dozen wounded during a Frontier Corps raid in Swat district’s Mingora city on Saturday. Security forces, acting information provided by two captured militants, conducted a raid in a market area of Mingora. The ensuing firefight ended when one of the militants detonated his suicide vest, killing himself, three other militants, and three civilians. At least seven FC soldiers, including an officer, and five civilians were also injured in the incident.[10]
On Sunday night, militants carried out a grenade attack on the home of a local peace committee member in Swat’s Kabal sub-district, killing one woman and injuring three other people in the house.[11]

Mumbai conviction

An Indian court has convicted Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. India’s home minister called the conviction a message to Pakistan that “they should not export terror.”[12]

Balochistan

On Saturday, a bomb explosion in Quetta injured four police officers, including a police superintendent, as well as two other civilians. The bomb was reportedly planted in a rickshaw on Qambrani Road and was detonated by remote control as a police patrol passed.[13]

Karachi

Six people were injured in a bomb blast in a Karachi bazaar on Friday evening. Investigators said the IED, which caused a low-intensity blast, was planted in a pile of rubble in a crowded area outside of the police station in Soldier Bazaar.[14]

[1] Ryan Lucas, “Pakistani Taliban claims NYC car bomb,” AP, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvkQCyOOEuuk_Hdfq1j5lzGCEgXQD9FESCK80. “Pakistan Taliban claims NY bomb, credibility doubted,” AFP, May 2, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100502/pl_afp/usattacksnewyorkclaim.

[2] Michael Gregory, “Pakistan Taliban leader alive, threatens U.S. attacks,” Reuters, May 3, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100503/ts_nm/us_pakistan_taliban_mehsud. Zarar Khan, “Videos appear to show Pakistan Taliban chief alive,” AP, May 3, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_militant_chief. Karin Brulliard, “Web video shows Pakistani militant leader thought to be dead,” Washington Post, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/03/AR2010050300502.html?wprss=rss_world/asia.

[3] “Twenty one militants killed in Orakzai pounding,” Dawn, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/19-four-militants-killed-in-orakzai-pounding-hh-03. “15 terrorists killed in Orakzai operation,” Daily Times, May 2, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\05\02\story_2-5-2010_pg7_4. “21 militants killed in Orakzai,” The News, May 1, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28586. “At least 11 militants killed in Orakzai,” Dawn, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-orakzai-clashes-casualties-qs-07.

[4] “Drone strike in North Waziristan kills six,” Express Tribune, May 3, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/10516/drone-strike-in-north-waziristan-2/. “US missiles kill 4 in northwest Pakistan,” AP, May 3, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan. Alex Rodriguez and David Zucchino, “U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan get mixed response,” Los Angeles Times, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-drones-civilians-20100502,0,2292664,print.story.

[5] “Mullah Omer sends jirga to negotiate Col Imam’s release?” Daily Times, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/02/AR2010050202801.html?wprss=rss_world/asia. Karin Brulliard, “In Pakistan, ex-spy Khalid Khawaja’s killing is surrounded by mystery,” Washington Post, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/02/AR2010050202801.html?wprss=rss_world/asia.

[6] “Operation in North Waziristan probable: Mukhtar,” Express Tribune, May 2, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/10409/operation-in-north-waziristan-probable-mukhtar/.

[7] “Troops kill 18 militants in Bajaur,” Dawn, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-bajaur-militants-killed-qs-10?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dawn%2Fnews%2Fpakistan+%28DAWN.COM+-+Pakistan+News%29. “Suspected suicide bomber shot dead in Bajaur,” Dawn, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/22-suspected-suicide-bomber-shot-dead-in-bajaur-aj-08. “2 boys’ schools blown up in Bajaur Agency,” Daily Times, May 3, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\05\03\story_3-5-2010_pg7_2.

[8] “SWA to commission 4,000-men Levies force,” The News, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=237278.

[9] Said Nazir Afridi, “Army circulates pamphlets to apologise for killings in air strikes,” The News, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=237272.

[10] Sheren Zada, “3 civilians, 3 militants killed in Pakistan blast,” AP, May 1, 2010. Available at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD9FE2IV80. Hameedullah Khan, “Suicide bomb attack claims six lives in Swat,” Dawn, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-swat-blast-wounded-qs-05. “Seven killed in Mingora gun, bomb attacks,” The News, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28588.

[11] “One killed, three injured in Swat grenade attack,” Daily Times, May 3, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\05\03\story_3-5-2010_pg7_3.

[12] Phil Hazelwood, “Indian court convicts gunman in Mumbai attacks,” AFP, May 3, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100503/wl_afp/indiaattackstrial. “Mumbai attacks conviction a message to Pakistan,” Dawn, May 3, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/16-mumbai+attacks+conviction+a+message+to+pakistan-hs-01?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dawn%2Fnews%2Fworld+%28DAWN.COM+-+World+News%29.

[13] “SP among six injured in Quetta blast,” Dawn, May 2, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/14-three-policemen-injured-in-quetta-blast-zj-05. “Six, including SP, injured in Quetta blast,” Daily Times, May 2, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\05\02\story_2-5-2010_pg7_8.

[14] “Six injured in Karachi blast,” Dawn, May 1, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/six-injured-in-karachi-blast-150.

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