Twin blasts hit Peshawar; Munter calls Kayani about North Waziristan operation; Patek arrives in Indonesia; LeT militant loses execution appeal; LeT leader files petition against Malik for false claims regarding Mumbai investigation; Kashmiri separatist leader warns against failure in India-Pakistan talks; Landmine kills five militants in Orakzai; Four killed in Quetta shootings.
Female Bombers Hit Police in Peshawar
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On Thursday, two female suicide bombers attacked police in Peshawar after an earlier attack killed five people. In the first attack, a remote-controlled bomb targeted a police vehicle in Lahori Gate area, killing four policemen and a young boy. Afterwards, two women approached policemen securing the blast site. One of them, who appeared to be a teenager, “threw a grenade” and then “partially detonate[d] her suicide vest,” killing herself and the other woman.[i]
U.S.-Pakistan Relations
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On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter reportedly called Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to push forward the prospect of a military operation in North Waziristan Agency. This follows their meeting Tuesday during which Munter reportedly asked Kayani’s help in loosening restrictions on U.S. diplomats traveling within Pakistan. Gen. Kayani, according to The News, emphatically refused Munter’s demands for a military operation in North Waziristan. North Waziristan is the primary haven of Islamist militants in the region.[ii]
Patek Extradited
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On Thursday, Indonesian terror suspect Umar Patek was reportedly extradited from Pakistan to Indonesia. Patek is suspected of preparing the bombs used in the 2002 Bali bombings. Patek was captured in Abbottabad, Pakistan in January. His capture is expected to shed light on connections between regional groups like Indonesia’s Jemaah Islamiyah and al Qaeda.[iii]
LeT Militant Loses Execution Appeal
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On Wednesday, India’s Supreme Court denied an appeal against execution from Mohammed Arif, alias Ashfaq. Ashfaq was one of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) gunmen who attacked the Red Fort in Delhi in 2000. Three people were killed in the attack. Ten of those accused of being linked to the attack have been acquitted.[iv]
LeT Leader Files Petition Against Malik
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LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is on trial for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has filed a petition against Interior Minister Rehman Malik for making false statements about the case. Malik publicly stated that a judicial commission to investigate the attacks had been formed, but Lakhvi and his council claim no such commission has been established. The anti-terrorism court (ATC) has issued a contempt of court notice against Malik for not appearing in court.[v]
Kashmir
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On Wednesday, Yasin Malik, an influential Kashmiri separatist leader, said that the recent resumption of talks between India a Pakistan was a positive move, but failure to reach a solution to the Kashmir problem could spur more violence. Another failure to resolve the issue, according to Malik, would disappoint Kashmiris to the point of using violent means.[vi]
FATA
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On Tuesday, a landmine killed five militants in Adukhel area of Orakzai. Locals claim two of the five killed, Bakhtullah and Mirdad Khan, were “key commanders.” After the blast, “armed extremists” reportedly “rushed to the site” to find those responsible for planting the mine.[vii]
Balochistan
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On Wednesday, three Balochistan constabulary personnel and one schoolteacher were killed in shootings in different areas of Quetta. The constabulary personnel were shot when men on motorcycles fired on their checkpost near Shahbaz Town. The schoolteacher was killed on his way home.[viii]