Pakistan Security Brief - February 24, 2011

Increasing tension between CIA and ISI; Kayani meets with top U.S. military officials; U.S. may approach ICJ; Two men involved in fatal vehicle accident were CIA contractors; Victim’s family attacked over Davis case; Security officials killed in Landi Kotal; NATO tankers destroyed in Balochistan; Railway explosion in Dalbandin; Police presence to increase in Peshawar.

U.S.-Pakistani Relations

• A report by the Associated Press details increasing tension between the CIA and Pakistan’s spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), following the killing of two Pakistanis by CIA contractor Raymond Davis. An unreleased statement prepared by the ISI stated that, “Post-incident conduct of the CIA has virtually put the partnership into question. It is hard to predict if the relationship will ever reach the level at which it was prior to the Davis episode. The onus of not stalling this relationship between the two agencies now squarely lies on the CIA.” The article points to additional concerns over how many “Raymond Davises” are currently operating in the country. In addition, an ISI official disclosed to the Associated Press that Davis possessed contacts in the tribal regions and knew both the men he killed. The ISI is probing into the prospect that the incident in Lahore followed threats to Davis by the men. U.S. officials have rejected the idea that Davis had previous contact with the men prior to the incident.[i]
• On Wednesday, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani met with top U.S. military officials to discuss security issues and better ways to coordinate military strategies and operations. Kayani met with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen; US Central Command Commander, General James Mattis; US Special Operations Command Commander, Admiral Eric Olson and General David Petraeus, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan. A statement issued by Kayani said, “I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with American officers the progress we have made fighting extremists in our country and to offer them my thoughts about how two sides might better cooperate.” The Express Tribune alsoreports that President Zardari is likely to hold talks with Vice President Joe Biden on February 26, while on a visit to Kuwait to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.[ii]
• The Express Tribune has alleged that the U.S. may approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the failure of Pakistan to release Raymond Davis under the Vienna Convention, as all ICJ rulings are obligatory upon the signees to the Vienna Convention.[iii]
• Dawn reports that the two U.S. citizens involved in the fatal car incident that killed one Pakistani man were working for the CIA as protective officers. Unidentified U.S. officials confirmed that the men had been working in the same building as Davis in Lahore and were on similar security assignments for the CIA.[iv]
• The uncle of Shumaila, the widow who poisoned herself after her husband was killed by Davis, was reportedly assaulted by unidentified men on Thursday. Three men physically attacked Sarwar with stones and reportedly forced him to consume pesticide pills. Sarwar’s brother said that he had previously received threats to withdraw his case against Davis.[v]

FATA

• Five security officials were killed in Landi Kotal, following an attack by militants on Thursday. The attack follows one earlier on Wednesday, which resulted in four officials of the Khasadar Force being killed at the Cheengai checkpoint. Meanwhile, two militants were shot dead in Bara by security forces on Wednesday, while three others were killed on Thursday during clashes between Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) members.[vi]

Attacks in Balochistan

• Two NATO tankers were destroyed by unidentified gunmen in Balochistan on Thursday. The vehicles were traveling towards the Chaman border crossing into Afghanistan when they were attacked.[vii]
• An explosion in Dalbandin on Thursday resulted in damage to a railroad track. A security official said that unknown militants planted a bomb on the track before detonating it as a Taftan-bound train was passing through. No casualties have been reported.[viii]

Security Increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

• On Wednesday, the provincial cabinet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa announced their decision to increase Peshawar’s police presence. Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain attributed a recent surge of militancy in the city to the Mohmand operation, which has resulted in militants regrouping in the area. Hussain stated that security officials would perform additional patrolling in Achani, Spain Kamar, Shabqadar and Jani Khwar areas of Peshawar. In addition, police would conduct search operations in various areas of the city.[ix]