Karzai reiterates amnesty for Taliban, expresses hope for Doha office; British Parliament calls for Pakistani tax reform before more aid; India and Pakistan could avoid complete escalation Militants attack Kurram check post; Police arrest LeJ leader in Karachi; Militants open fire on shop in Karachi, kill five; Police kill TTP member; Militants gun down ANP activist; Kayani expresses support for open elections; New government will pose problem for U.S. drone strikes.
Peace Talks
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During a press conference on Wednesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai reiterated that he grants amnesty to all Taliban members and hopes they will “reintegrate into Afghan society.” He then said he is hopeful that a Taliban office in the Qatari capital Doha will help facilitate the peace process. [1]
U.K-Pakistan Relations
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On Thursday, the British House of Commons released a report explaining that Pakistan needs to increase its tax revenue before the British parliament will consider increasing aid for the new government. Parliamentary members noted the disparity between Pakistan’s status as a middle-income country and the vast number of people living below the poverty line and uneducated.[2]
Indo-Pak Relations
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On Wednesday, the Nuclear Threat Initiative published a report saying that the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Plans Division spokesman believes that in a potential conflict between India and Pakistan, both actors could “prevent a catastrophic acceleration in violence.” The report estimated that both countries have roughly 100 nuclear warheads; and warned that the nature of their conflicts means that tensions could escalate to crisis even if neither country desires escalation. However, despite the threat of undesired escalation, both countries have provisions in place to delay violence and give incremental opportunities for dialogue, even after fighting has started. [3]
Militancy
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On Wednesday, four militants died and two security officials were injured when militants from Afghan attacked the Bhitai check post in Kurram agency.[4]
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On Thursday, Karachi police arrested a senior Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) chief and his associate from the Naeem Bukhari LeJ group in Surajani Town, Karachi. During the raid, police also seized a weapons cache and some explosives. In Ranchor Line area, five people died when militants opened fire on them in a shop on Thursday. In another attack, militants threw an explosive at a political leader’s house in Pirabad area, causing no casualties. [5]
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On Wednesday, police in Karachi’s Pirabad area killed a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant in an encounter at a hotel. In another Pirabad attack, militants gunned down a senior Awami National Party (ANP) member on his way home. Separately, a boy was killed in the crossfire between two battling groups in Rehri Goth. [6]
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On Thursday, police in Lahore recovered the body of a kidnapped engineer from where it had been dumped in a ditch. [7]
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On Thursday, armed militants attacked a vehicle on Bypass road in Dalbandin, Balochistan, killing at least two people and injuring three more. [8]
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On Wednesday, two separate explosions injured five people in Charsadda, when bombs detonated in Ridawan and Sar Dheri. [9]
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On Wednesday, militants attacked a security check post in Bara sub-district of Khyber agency, wounding one soldier. [10]
Domestic Politics
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On Thursday, the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani reiterated that the army is fully committed to supporting all inclusive elections during a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan in Quetta. [11]
Drone Strikes
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According to a Washington Times article on Wednesday, the upcoming Pakistani election could threaten the U.S. drone program in Pakistan because the “major candidates” for the prime minister’s position all oppose the use of drone. Karl Inderfurth, a defense expert on South Asian affairs, said that any new government will demand greater respect for Pakistani sovereignty and will adamantly oppose drones. [12]