Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers meet in New Delhi; Dempsey to continue to push Pakistan to crack down on militants; Fai out on bond; U.S. declassifies documents on efforts to counter Pakistani nuclear proliferation; Arrest in Nepal not connected to Mumbai bombing; Mumbai investigation focuses on Indian Mujahideen; Al Qaeda close to collapse: U.S. officials; Al Qaeda still poses threat to targets within U.S.; Kurram offensive continues; Twelve more killed in Karachi; Sarfaraz Shah killers not terrorists.

 

  India-Pakistan Relations

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • On Tuesday, Kashmiri American Center executive director Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, who has been accused as operating as an unregistered foreign agent, has been released on a $100,000 bond. Fai is now “under home detention with electronic monitoring.” It was recently discovered that Fai’s organization may have accepted money from Pakistan’s Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and used that money for lobbying and campaign contributions. On Tuesday, the prosecution revealed that Fai had admitted to taking money from the ISI. Fai claims, however, that he did not pursue an agenda at the ISI’s urging.[iii]

Mumbai Bombing Investigation

  • The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the investigation of those responsible for July 13’s attacks in Mumbai is, in fact, focused on the Indian Mujahideen (IM). Indian authorities believed they had destroyed the group in a crackdown three years ago. According to the police, the use of ammonium nitrate in the bombs is reminiscent of other IM attacks. The IM reportedly “sprang out” of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and has made several unconfirmed claims to attacks over the years. The focus of the investigation on IM may signal a shift from blaming Pakistan-based groups, though it has been alleged in the past that IM is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).[vii]

Al Qaeda

  • The Washington Post reports U.S. counter-terrorism officials believe al Qaeda is on “the brink of collapse.” Officials reportedly credit military operations and drone strikes with delivering significant blows to the organization. Although al Qaeda could still “rally,” damage done by the U.S. in the last several years has weakened them significantly at least in the short term.[viii]
  • On Tuesday, Matthew Olsen, who has been chosen as the new head of the National Counterterrorism Center, said at his confirmation hearing that al Qaeda still sought to launch attacks on American soil despite the death of Bin Laden and other recent developments. Olsen noted that al Qaeda had become decentralized and threats were as or more likely to come from fringe actors as from the senior leadership. Members of the Intelligence Committee attending the hearing expressed concerns regarding the presence of al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen and Somalia and the prospect of a tenth anniversary 9/11 attack.[ix]

FATA

  • On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the military offensive in Kurram Agency was ongoing and that many militants had already been killed. Abbas reaffirmed that the offensive’s goal was to “link upper and lower Kurram.” AFP reports that up to 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have already been registered in temporary camps in the aftermath of the offensive.[x]

Karachi


[i] “New era” for Pakistan, India relations, say ministers,” Reuters, July 27, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110727/wl_nm/us_india_pakistan
“India and Pakistan Agree on Confidence Measures,” WSJ, July 27, 2011. Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904800304576471552289343910.html?mod=fox_australian
[ii] “US military chief nominee says to press Pakistan,” The News, July 26, 2011. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=19459
[iii] “Man charged as Pakistan lobbyist released on bond,” AP, July 26, 2011. Available at
“Ghulam Nabi Fai admits to receiving money from ISI,” ET, July 27, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/218322/ghulam-nabi-fai-admits-to-receiving-money-from-isi/
[iv] “US lobbied to stop Pakistan nuclear drive: documents,” AFP, July 27, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/27/us-lobbied-to-stop-pakistan-nuclear-drive-documents.html
[v] “US-Pakistan spy wars hit flood relief as aid workers get caught in dragnet,” Guardian, July 26, 2011. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/26/us-pakistan-spy-aid-floods
[vi] “Nepal denies arrested man is Mumbai bomb suspect,” AP, July 27, 2011. Available at
[vii] “Mumbai probe focuses on local Indian terror group,” AP, July 27, 2011. Available at
[viii] “Al-Qaeda could collapse, U.S. officials say,” Washington Post, July 26, 2011. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/al-qaeda-could-collapse-us-officials-say/2011/07/21/gIQAFu2pbI_story.html
[ix] “U.S. attack still significant al Qaeda goal: official,” Reuters, July 26, 2011. Available at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/us-usa-security-qaeda-idUSTRE76P6HW20110726
[x] “Operation ongoing in Kurrum Agency,” The News, July 26, 2011. Available at
“Up to 100,000 flee Kurram offensive,” AFP, July 27, 2011. Available at
[xi] “Army concludes ‘succesful’ South Waziristan operation,” PPI, July 27, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/218035/army-concludes-successful-south-waziristan-operation/
[xii] “At least 12 killed in Karachi violence,” Dawn, July 27, 2011. Available at
[xiii] “Sarfraz Shah case: Rangers are not terrorists, declares JIT report,” ET, July 27, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/218099/sarfraz-shah-case-rangers-are-not-terrorists-declares-jit-report/
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