House panel votes against blocking Pakistan aid; Pakistan: Foreign “agent” reports are slanderous; Gilani claims U.S. assurance against future Bin Laden-style raids; U.S. “delayed” information sharing on bomb factories; Musharraf says Pakistan failed to find Bin Laden because of negligence, not complicity; Islamist student group “terrorizes” campuses; S. Waziristan suicide attack kills two; Cross-border mortar attack kills two in Bajaur; Troops kill six militants in Orakzai; Ten people killed in Karachi shooting; Balochistan Corps Commander condemns killings; Army role questioned with NLC construction company bid; Abbottabad commission finding may not be released immediately.

 

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • On Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 39-5 against a bill that would have blocked aid to Pakistan. Lawmakers did decide, however, that it would be essential to continue pressuring Pakistan to cooperate more fully in the fight against terrorism.[i]

  • On Thursday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said U.S. statements and media coverage regarding the arrest of Kashmiri American Council executive director Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai were aimed at slandering Pakistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also declared that protecting the “fundamental rights of Kashmiris” is an international responsibility. Fai’s court hearing was postponed until Tuesday.[ii]

  • On Thursday, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told the Guardian that U.S. officials have assured him the U.S. will not launch a unilateral strike within Pakistan again. Gilani’s statements contradict those made by President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials, all of whom claim they will act unilaterally again if it is necessary. Gilani stressed the importance of “the support of the masses” and said the U.S. could decline even further in Pakistani public opinion if they acted unilaterally.[iii]

  • On Thursday, the Express Tribune reported the General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Wana, Maj. Gen. Rizwan Akhter accused the U.S. of delaying passing on information regarding bomb-making facilities in Waziristan. It was reported last month that the Pakistani army found two bomb-making facilities in Waziristan empty after receiving a U.S. intelligence tip about their location, allegedly showing collusion between elements of the Pakistani security establishment and militant groups. Maj. Gen. Akhter suggests the facilities were empty because the U.S. “delayed passing on [the] information” and wanted it look like Pakistan had leaked plans for the operation.[iv]

Musharraf

  • On Thursday, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars that Pakistan’s failure to find Osama Bin Laden was due to “absolute negligence and not complicity.” Musharraf suggested the U.S. give up on proving Pakistan was complicit in hiding Bin Laden as a first step in repairing relations. Musharraf did not express remorse about his last years in office, declaring, “[w]hatever I did, I need to repeat it if I am back in power.”[v]

IJT Active in Pakistan Universities

FATA

Karachi

Balochistan                                                                                                                                                          

Army Role Expands in Bid on Company

Abbottabad


[i] “US spares Pakistan aid but keeps up pressure,” AFP, July 21, 2011. Available at
[ii] “Pakistan accuses US of slander over ‘agent’ support,” AFP, July 21, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110721/pl_afp/pakistanuspoliticscrimekashmir “Pakistan protests arrest of alleged agent in US,” AP, July 21, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110721/ap_on_go_ot/us_pakistan_agent
[iii] “Pakistani PM: US promises not to repeat Bin Laden raid,” Guardian, July 21, 2011. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/21/pakistan-us-raid-bin-laden
[iv] “Intelligence sharing: ‘US delayed information on bomb-making factories,’” Express Tribune, July 21, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/214369/us-delayed-passing-information-on-bomb-making-factories-in-s-waziristan/
[v] “Musharraf says Pakistan not complicit on bin Laden,” Reuters, July 21, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110721/wl_nm/us_pakistan_usa_musharraf “Woodrow Wilson Centre speech: Musharraf vows to repeat his actions,” Express Tribune, July 22, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/214872/woodrow-wilson-centre-speech-musharraf-vows-to-repeat-his-actions/
[vi] “Pakistan IJT influence: Pakistan Islamist student group IJt said to terrorize campuses,” LA Times, July 22, 2011. Available at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-islamist-bullies-20110722,0,2552464.story?track=rss
[vii] “Two injured in SWA suicide attack,” The News, July 22, 2011. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=58911&Cat=7
[viii] “Cross-border attack kills two in Pakistan,” AFP, July 21, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110721/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestnorthwestafghanistan
[ix] “Six militants killed as forces pound Upper Orakzai,” Geo, July 22, 2011. Available at http://geo.tv/7-22-2011/84023.htm
[x] “Karachi violence: Ten killed in Malir shootout,” Express Tribune, July 22, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/215005/seven-killed-in-malir-shootout/ “154 alleged target killers arrested in Karachi: Malik,” The News, July 22, 2011. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=19154
[xi] “Army condemns killing of missing person in Balochistan: general,” Dawn, July 22, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/22/army-condemns-killing-of-missing-persons-in-balochistan-general.html
[xii] “Army’s expanding footprint: NLC allowed to bid for state-owned construction firm,” Express Tribune, July 22, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/214881/armys-expanding-footprint-nlc-allowed-to-bid-for-state-owned-construction-firm/
[xiii] “Abbottabad commission: ‘Findings might take time to be revealed,’” Express Tribune, July 22, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/214736/abbottabad-commission-findings-might-take-time-to-be-revealed/
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