Pakistan Security Brief – June 3, 2010

Haqqani network fleeing North Waziristan ahead of “imminent” military operation; half of Orakzai still under Taliban control; terrorist arrested with bomb making equipment in Bajaur; UN legal expert says US extrajudicial killings via drone strikes may be a war crime; judge allows delay in indictment of Faisal Shahzad; suspect in Lahore’s mosque attacks also wanted in connection with attack on Sri Lankan cricket team; Corps Commanders conference begins in Rawalpindi; three injured in Peshawar rocket attack; attack on NATO fuel tanker injures two; man arrested and weapons cache seized in Balochistan.

 

FATA

 

Drone strikes

  • A special rappoteur to the UN Human Rights Council, Philip Alston, issued a report on Wednesday stating that the “prolific” use of extrajudicial targeted killings by US drone strikes may be war crimes and could set a “damaging example” that could be followed by other countries. Alston, a New York University law professor, went on to criticize the US for having an “ever-expanding entitlement for itself to target individuals across the globe.” Another point of contention was the fact that drone strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan are operated by the CIA, a civilian organization, rather than by the military. Alston further stated that the military’s drone strike program was “by no means perfect” but acknowledged that it has a stronger legal basis for carrying out such attacks and has demonstrated a “relatively public accountability process” when compared with the CIA.[4]

 

NY bombing trial

 

Punjab

 

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

 

Balochistan



[1] Zia M Khan, “Fearing operation, militants flee North Waziristan,” Express Tribune, June 3, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/18365/fearing-operation-militants-flee-north-waziristan/.
[2] Iqbal Khattak, “Taliban still rule half of Orakzai,” Daily Times, June 3, 2010. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\06\03\story_3-6-2010_pg1_1.
[3] “Bomb-making equipment recovered,” The News, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=242770.
[4] “CIA drones claim ‘licence to kill’ with impunity: UN expert,” AFP, June 2, 2010. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100602/wl_sthasia_afp/unrightsusafghanistanpakistanmilitarydrones. David S. Cloud, “U.N. report faults prolific use of drone strikes by U.S.” Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2010. Available http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-cia-drones-20100603,0,6430644.story. “Drone attacks may be war crimes: UN expert,” The News, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=29245.
[5] “NYC car bomb suspect agrees to delay in case,” Dawn, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/14-nyc-car-bomb-suspect-agrees-to-delay-in-case-zj-03?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dawn%2Fnews%2Fworld+%28DAWN.COM+-+World+News%29. William K. Rashbaum, “ Delay Allowed in Failed Times Square Bombing Case,” New York Times, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/nyregion/03bomb.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
[6] “Lahore terror links uncovered, security tightened,” Express Tribune, June 3, 2010. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/18424/lahore-terror-links-uncovered-security-tightened/.
[8] Javed Aziz Khan, “Women, two kids injured as 3 rockets fired in Peshawar,” The News, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=242764.
[9] “Two hurt in attack on Nato oil tanker,” The News, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=29255. “2 hurt in attack on Nato vehicle,” Frontier Post, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=4371&ad=03-06-2010.
[10] “One arrested, arms seized in Zhob,” The News, June 3, 2010. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=242919.
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