U.S. and Pakistan struggle to recover relations; Security forces kill 12 militants in Kurram agency; Afghanistan underscores Pakistan’s role in regional peace; Security forces strengthen security measures for Ashura processions; Eight injured in sectarian violence in Jhang; One man injured in Kala Pul bridge explosion, four injured in roadside bombing in Kalapul; Militants target Ashura procession in Kalaya, RPG attack in Hangu injures three police officers, security forces raid militant leader’s residence; Dawn reports on failure of ATC in 2009 case; Seven kidnapped Pakistani workers released; Haqqani threatens to sue Newsweek over Ijaz allegations; Pakistan to send bin Laden family to Saudi Arabia.
U.S.-Pakistan Relations
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During a Monday interview with the Associated Press, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed hope that U.S.-Pakistan relations could either be reset or restored, indicating Pakistan’s understanding of the importance of a U.S.-Pakistan alliance. The U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, articulated a similar goal, saying that the U.S. sought to restore U.S.-Pakistan relations to their pre-NATO attack status. Meanwhile, Pakistan has recalled its troops from positions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in response to the NATO attack, claiming that the move was meant to teach Pakistani troops how to “improve coordination” with NATO; however, U.S. military officials have voiced concern over the decision, noting that the withdrawal of troops may actually “increase the risk for another misunderstanding.” Similarly, Pakistan has recalled a handful of its ambassadors from “key world capitals” for an “emergency meeting to review Pakistan’s strategy in the war on terror” in addition to U.S.-Pakistan relations. The meeting is set to occur next week and will follow a major reshuffle of Pakistan’s ambassadors to “important countries.”[1]
FATA
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On Monday night, security forces killed 12 militants during clashes in Kurram agency. Two soldiers were also killed.[2]
Bonn Conference
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While speaking at the Bonn Conference on Monday, which Pakistan chose to boycott, Afghan President Hamid Karzai underscored the importance of Pakistan in achieving regional peace and stability, noting that “Pakistan's role in any negotiations with the Taliban” would be very important. Meanwhile, Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle reportedly telephoned Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday to discuss the outcome of the conference, while Prime Minister Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with Afghanistan to combat the region’s insurgency despite Pakistan’s absence from Bonn.[3]
Ashura
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Shia Muslims in Pakistan held Ashura processions in cities throughout the country on Tuesday. Security officials enacted stringent security measures on Monday in anticipation of sectarian violence.[4]
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On Monday, eight people were injured in Jhang, Punjab when sectarian tensions escalated into gunfire. The Express Tribune speculates that the violence could evolve further in Jhang on Tuesday as a Sunni group warned police it would not allow Shias to participate in Ashura processions until Shia perpetrators of a “sacrilegious incident” were taken into custody.[5]
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One man was injured in an explosion on Kala Pul bridge in Karachi on Tuesday. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan had earlier declared 100 areas as highly dangerous during Ashura and directed the Sindh government to deploy 100,000 security officers in anticipation of attacks on Ashura processions. In a separate incident, four people were injured in a roadside bombing on the Korangi Road in the Kala Pul area of Karachi on Tuesday.[6]
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On Tuesday, militants targeted a Shia Ashura procession in Kalaya, Orakzai agency with four rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), but no causalities were cited in the attack. Separately, militants fired six RPGs at a residential area in Hangu injuring three police officers. According to The Express Tribune, Hangu has historically been host to tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Also on Tuesday, security forces raided the home of militant leader Shah Wali in Upper Dir and recovered high-powered weapons, ammunition, and explosives.[7]
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Dawn reports on the failure of Pakistani anti-terrorism courts (ATC) to convict four men for their involvement in a three-day bomb campaign targeting Muharram processions in 2009 which killed over 45 people. Additionally, Pakistani police have been unable to apprehend three of the men following their escape from custody in July of last year.[8]
Release of Pakistanis
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On Monday, seven Pakistani workers were released by their kidnappers. The Pakistani workers were kidnapped in the Logar province of Afghanistan as they were returning home from a hospital construction project last Wednesday. According to Logar Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Sakhi Roghliwani, it is currently unclear what led to the workers’ release.[9]
Memogate
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Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the U.S. Hussain Haqqani has “threatened to sue Newsweek” for its publication of a new round of allegations made by the “memogate” scandal whistleblower, Mansoor Ijaz.[10]
Bin Laden Family
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On Tuesday, the Arab newspaper al Hayat Arabic announced that Pakistan would repatriate the wives and children of deceased al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia within two days.[11]