U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta says Pakistan planning combat operations in North Waziristan; U.S. Ambassador Richard Cunningham calls on Pakistan to play “positive, cooperative” role with Afghan reconciliation; Afghan officials deny meetings with senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar; Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Kayani renews military’s “fight against terrorism and extremism”; Twenty militants and five soldiers die in Orakzai clash; Afghan and Pakistani forces trade fire in Kunar province; Bomb blast in Quetta injures ten people.  

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Monday that Pakistan planned to launch combat operations against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan. According to Panetta, plans for the operation arose in recent conversations between Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and U.S. commander in Afghanistan Gen. John Allen. Although the operation would not target the Haqqani Network, which remains one of the U.S.’s key concerns, Panetta welcomed Kayani’s initiative and signaled that the offensive would likely begin in the “near future.” He also noted that U.S. relations with the Pakistani military have improved “a great deal.”[1]  

  • U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Richard Cunningham called on Pakistan to play a “positive, cooperative” role in facilitating Afghan reconciliation. Cunningham noted that U.S. and Afghan officials have held discussions with Pakistani officials regarding ways in which Pakistan could aid the reconciliation process. Although the U.S. had not yet made a decision on whether to transfer Taliban members, currently held in Guantanamo Bay, to revive peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Cunningham observed that ongoing contacts between the different parties indicated that elements of the Taliban were rethinking “future choices” and could be less hostile to peace talks.[2] 

Afghan-Pakistan Relations

  • On Tuesday, the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad denied reports that an Afghan delegation met with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar—the Taliban’s former second-in-command who has been in Pakistani custody since 2010—in April regarding peace talks with the Taliban. On Monday, Afghan High Peace Council member Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar mentioned secret talks between Baradar and members of the Afghan Embassy in Pakistan; a Pakistani security official confirmed the meeting. The Pakistani interior ministry, however, called reports of a meeting “baseless and incorrect.” Meanwhile, AFP reported that Afghan delegates were not given access to Baradar but instead passed a message to him regarding Afghan reconciliation through his family members.[3]    

Independence Day and Domestic Politics

Militancy


[1] Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor, “Panetta: Pakistan military plans to open new front,” AP, August 13, 2012. Available at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXcD2C16cs4TeJ6oLTBrRcEfFJeQ?docId=8ae33d87e7ed4dd28dc38ad4172ace73
[3] “Afghan meeting with jailed Taliban leader denied,” AFP, August 14, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/08/14/afghan-meeting-with-jailed-taliban-leader-denied/
[4] Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Kayani renews army’s resolve to eradicate militancy,” Dawn, August 13, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/08/14/kayani-renews-armys-resolve-to-eradicate-militancy/
[5] “Pakistan’s future lies in continuation of democracy, says PM,” APP, August 14, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/08/14/pakistans-future-lies-in-continuation-of-democracy-says-pm/
“President Zardari announces Local Self Government for FATA,” Geo News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=63303
[6] “Afghan-Pakistan border guards trade fire: Afghan officials,” AFP, August 14, 2012. Available at http://dawn.com/2012/08/14/afghan-pakistan-border-guards-trade-fire-afghan-officials/
“Afghanistan-Pakistan border fighting erupts in Kunar,” BBC News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19254623
[8] “Quetta: 10 injured in bomb blast,” Geo News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=63304
“Two bullet-riddled bodies found in Quetta,” Daily Times, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\08\14\story_14-8-2012_pg7_9
“Levies officer injured in Kohlu blast; rockets fired in Kalat,” Daily Times, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\08\14\story_14-8-2012_pg7_7
[9] “NATO helicopters kill two Pakistanis,” Daily Times, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\08\14\story_14-8-2012_pg7_12
[10] “One injured in court blast,” The News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-126442-One-injured-in-court-blast
[11] “Bombing bids foiled in Lakki,” The News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-126439-Bombing-bids-foiled-in-Lakki
[12] “Karachi: Three shot dead; terror bid foiled,” Geo News, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=63288
“Two killed in city violence,” Daily Times, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\08\14\story_14-8-2012_pg12_7
“2 hardened target killers nabbed,” Daily Times, August 14, 2012. Available at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\08\14\story_14-8-2012_pg12_6
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