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

 

 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP)

 

Mumbai conviction

 

Balochistan

 

Karachi

 


[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/.
[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.
[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.
View Citations