U.S. drone strike kills 4 in NWA; Grossman meets with Pakistani leadership in Islamabad; Karachi police demolish Sunni Tehrik office; Government monitors Balochistan violence; Security forces kill 2 militants, arrest 15; International community slow to aid flood victims; Four NATO tankers torched in Sindh province; Political parties object to division of Karachi; Gallup polls Pakistani citizens.

Drone Strike

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • During a Thursday meeting with U.S. Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman, President Asif Ali Zardari reportedly stressed the necessity of a “long-term [U.S.-Pakistan] partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.”  Zardari underlined the importance of putting an end to “verbal assaults” and following “clearly defined, well-documented, and mutually agreed terms of engagement.” Other topics of discussion included regional peace and security and the war on terror.  Later, Grossman participated in a press conference with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar where he reiterated the role of strategic dialogue in an enduring relationship between the two countries.[2]

Karachi Violence

  • Security officials launched a search operation in Karachi on Thursday night and later demolished an office of the Sunni Tehrik party.  Security officials have recently been put on “high alert to subvert any terror activity” within the city.[3]

Balochistan

FATA

Flooding

NATO Tankers

Pakistani Politics

  • Pakistani politicians have rejected a proposal put forth by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) which calls for the “administrative division of Karachi into three districts.”  Politicians criticized the proposal, noting that it disregarded “political considerations” and had “cast doubts over the intentions” of HCRP.[8]

  • The Gilani Foundation has published the results of a recent survey by Gallup Pakistan, an affiliate of Gallup International, in which Pakistani citizens were asked, “In your opinion is our country going in the right or wrong direction?”  The survey revealed that 18 percent of Pakistanis believed that their country was “headed in the right direction,” while 85 percent believed their country was “headed in the wrong direction.”[9]

 


[1] “US drone attack kills four in Pakistan: officials,” AP, October 14, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111014/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
“Pakistan silent on drone strikes,” The News, October 14, 2011. Available at  
Rasool Dawar, “US missile kills 4 in NW Pakistan,” AP, October 14, 2011. Available at http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111014/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
[2] “Zardari stresses for mutual respect in Pak-US ties,” Dawn, October 13, 2011. Available at
Kamran Yousaf, “Rebuilding: US asked to address concerns in Afghanistan,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273739/rebuilding-us-asked-to-address-concerns-in-afghanistan/
[3] “Karachi search operation: Offices of Sunni Tehreek, banned outfits demolished,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273902/karachi-search-operation-offices-of-sunni-tehreek-banned-outfits-demolished/
[4] “Malik says, solid steps afoot to ensure peace in Balochistan,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at
“Sectarian violence: President directs stern action against perpetrators,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273577/sectarian-violence-president-directs-stern-action-against-perpetrators/
Zahid Gishkori, “Lawmakers prepare for talks with ‘angry Baloch brothers,’” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273707/lawmakers-prepare-for-talks-with-angry-baloch-brothers/
[5] “Two militants killed, 15 suspects held in Charsadda,” The News, October 14, 2011. Available at  
[6] “Winter is coming: Situation alarming as flood relief remains unfunded,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273946/winter-is-coming-situation-alarming-as-flood-relief-remains-unfunded/
[7] “Four Nato oil tankers torched near Shikarpur,” The News, October 14, 2011. Available at  
[8] Azfar-ul-Ashfaque, “Political parties reject Karachi trifurcation proposal,” Dawn, October 14, 2011. Available at
[9] “80% of Pakistanis say country is headed in wrong direction: Poll,” Express Tribune, October 14, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273927/80-of-pakistanis-says-country-is-headed-in-wrong-direction-poll/
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