Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Khar meet on sidelines of Tokyo conference; Pakistan expedites transit of NATO supplies; Hard-line Islamic clerics lead thousands of protestors in march against supply route reopening; U.S. Senator Rand Paul aims to block U.S. funds to Pakistan; U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter expresses reservations about Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline; Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers discuss LeT member’s arrest; U.S. drone reportedly kills 15 suspected militants in North Waziristan; Armed gunmen target Pakistani army camp in Punjab province; Pakistani security forces kill two militants following cross-border attack.  

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

India-Pakistan Relations

Domestic Politics

  • Next week, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear two important cases. The first concerns the court order requiring Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to reopen the corruption investigation against President Asif Ali Zardari, and the second concerns former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Hussain Haqqani, who allegedly wrote a memo requesting U.S. help to prevent a potential military coup. Following a Friday meeting chaired by Zardari, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) decided to introduce two constitutional amendments into the National Assembly, one permitting dual citizens to serve in parliament and the other giving the prime minister immunity from contempt of court convictions. According to The News, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Awami National Party (ANP), both members of the PPP coalition, opposed the amendment permitting dual citizenship but are reportedly likely to support immunity for the prime minister.[9]  

Drone Strikes

  • According to Pakistani intelligence officials and local residents, a U.S. drone fired four missiles at a compound owned by a Taliban commander named Rahimullah in the village of Zoi Narai of the Datta Khel sub-district in North Waziristan on Friday, killing at least 15 suspected militants. The Taliban commander, not present at the time of the strike according to a local resident, is thought to have strong links to local warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur.[10] 

Militancy



[1] Bradley Klapper, “Clinton looks for better U.S.-Pakistani cooperation,” AP, July 8, 2012. Available at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/8/clinton-looks-better-us-pakistani-cooperation/?page=all#pagebreak
Kamran Yousaf, “Pak-US strategic dialogue to resume,” Express Tribune, July 9, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/405607/pak-us-strategic-dialogue-to-resume/
[2] “Pakistan begins work to speed NATO supply,” AFP, July 9, 2012. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-begins-speed-nato-supply-transit-092508673.html
[3] K.M. Chaudary and Sebastian Abbot, “Islamists protest NATO supply line in Pakistan,” AP, July 8, 2012. Available at http://militarytimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-islamists-protest-nato-supply-line-pakistan-070812/
“DPC long-march against Nato supplies reaches Gujarat,” AFP, July 8, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=57894
“Nato supply resumption challenged in SC,” Geo News, July 9, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=58021
[4] Josh Rogin, “Will Congress scuttle the new U.S.-Pakistan deal?” Foreign Policy, July 6, 2012. Available at http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/07/06/will_congress_scuttle_the_new_us_pakistan_deal
“No new agreement with Pak on NATO supply,” Geo News, July 6, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-57621-No-new-agreement-with-Pakistan-on-NATO-supply:-Hoagland-
[5] Jeffrey Dressler, “Terror Is Their Family Business,” Weekly Standard, July 16, 2012. Available at http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/terror-their-family-business_648234.html?page=1
[6] “US has reservations on IP gasline plans,” Geo News, July 7, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-57817-US-has-reservations-on-Pakistan-Iran-pipeline-project:-Munter--
[7] “Khar meets Indian counterpart in Tokyo,” Geo News, July 8, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=57890
[8] ‘Five inmates from India arrive,” Dawn, July 7, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/07/08/five-inmates-from-india-arrive/
[9] “SC takes up important cases from July 12,” The News, July 8, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-119227-SC-takes-up-important-cases-from-July-12
“Government, allies agree to amend constitution again,” Dawn, July 6, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/07/07/government-allies-agree-to-amend-constitution-again/
“Dual nationals’ bill hits snags; serious opposition to new contempt law,” The News, July 7, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-119101-Dual-nationals-bill-hits-snags;-serious--opposition-to-new-contempt-law
[10] Salman Masood and Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud, “15 Killed in U.S. Drone Strike in Pakistan,” New York Times, July 6, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/world/asia/15-killed-in-us-drone-strike-in-pakistan-aimed-at-taliban.html/
“U.S. drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan,” AP, July 6, 2012. Available at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57467813/u.s-drone-strike-kills-12-in-pakistan/
[11] Asif Shahzad, “Gunmen attack Pakistani army camp, kill 8 people,” AP, July 9, 2012. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-attack-pakistani-army-camp-kill-8-people-071929985.html
Waqar Gillani and Salman Masood, “Gunmen in Pakistan kill 6 soldiers and a policeman,” New York Times, July 9, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/world/asia/gunmen-in-pakistan-kill-6-soldiers-and-a-policeman.html
[12] “Islamabad security on high alert after report warns of attack,” Express Tribune, July 9, 2012. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/405754/islamabad-security-on-high-alert-after-report-warns-of-attack/
[13] “Three killed, four injured in Balochistan,” Daily Times, July 9, 2012. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\07\09\story_9-7-2012_pg7_21
“Former SI shot dead in Bolan,” Daily Times, July 9, 2012. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\07\09\story_9-7-2012_pg7_3
“FC recovers doctor after killing six kidnappers,” The News, July 9, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-119374-FC-recovers-doctor-after-killing-six-kidnappers
[14] “Four, including MQM activist, killed in Karachi violence,” Daily Times, Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\07\09\story_9-7-2012_pg7_24
[15] “Two Afghan terrorists killed in Bajaur attack,” Daily Times, July 9, 2012. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\07\09\story_9-7-2012_pg7_6
[16] “SHO killed, 3 policemen injured in Kohat,” Daily Times, July 9, 2012. Available at http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\07\09\story_9-7-2012_pg7_8
[17] “ASI shot dead in Peshawar,” The News, July 8, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-57932-ASI-shot-dead-in-Peshawar
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