Interior Minister claims government has finalized plans for TTP talks; TTP and government exchange prisoners; Prime Minister meets with army chief to discuss national security strategy and implementation; Some religious groups opposed dialogue with TTP; Balochistan provincial government has green light to engage with separatists; Prime Minister’s visit to Karachi postponed; Former MQM official detained in Karachi in connection with murder of police officials; IMF delegation meets with Prime Minister; Security officials disrupt al Qaeda suicide attack cell; 89 percent of Pakistanis think suicide attacks are “never justified.”
Talks with the TTP
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At a press conference on Tuesday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters the government has finalized its multi-stage roadmap for negotiations with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Khan noted that a committee representing all major political parties will nominate dialogue mediators and be responsible for briefing Pakistan’s military leaders throughout the process. Next, the committee will solicit input from militant representatives and decide on a venue for the dialogue. Khan remarked that the government will insist on talks within Pakistan rather than a more “neutral” venue. Separately, Khan informed the press that a meeting similar to the All Parties Conference (APC) will be held in Quetta to address security concerns in Balochistan province.[1]
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An unnamed TTP commander and intelligence officials revealed on Wednesday that the Pakistan Army has participated in a prisoner swap with the TTP in the Shawal region of South Waziristan agency. The TTP released two Frontier Corps soldiers in exchange for six militants. Sources claim the move is intended to build confidence and goodwill in advance of official peace talks. The Pakistani military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate refuted these allegations, saying no prisoner exchange has occurred.[2]
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The TTP’s central shura met on Wednesday at an undisclosed location in the tribal areas to develop a formal response to proposed peace talks with the government. Taliban leaders are reportedly expected to arrive from disparate areas to partake. According to reports, both sides are expected to call for confidence-building measures prior to starting negotiations.[3]
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss national security strategy, particularly the APC resolutions and negotiations with the TTP.[4]
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At a press conference on Tuesday, spokesmen for the Shia organization Majlis Wahdat Muslemin (MWM) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) announced their opposition to peace negotiations with the TTP.[5]
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A resolution passed by the All Parties Conference on Monday authorized the Balochistan provincial government to engage in peaceful dialogue with Baloch separatists. Militants have yet to respond to Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch’s invitation. Some sources have claimed there cannot be progress without some resolution of the missing persons issue that plagues the region.[6]
Karachi Unrest
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif postponed his Wednesday visit to Karachi for unspecified reasons. The date of his re-scheduled visit has not yet been released.[7]
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Police arrested former lawmaker and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party member Nadeem Hashimi on Tuesday in connection with an attack in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi that killed two police officials. MQM chief Altaf Hussain issued a statement on Wednesday condemning Hashimi’s arrest. Businesses observed a partial shutdown in Karachi and Hyderabad after Hashimi’s detention in protest.[8]
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Rangers detained 12 individuals on Wednesday in targeted operations across Karachi.[9]
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Security officials seized several rocket launchers and detained six people during a raid in the Zamzama area of Karachi on Wednesday.[10]
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Six people died in violent incidents throughout Karachi on Tuesday afternoon, within two hours of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s speech commending the success of the Ranger-led paramilitary campaign to restore order. An additional five people had died in various incidents on Tuesday morning.[11]
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Rangers exchanged fire with suspects in the Fisheries area of Karachi on Tuesday. One suspect died and two others were detained.[12]
Domestic
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met in Islamabad with a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss Pakistan’s economic reforms. Sharif reportedly said that he would reform Pakistan’s economy despite domestic political opposition.[13]
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At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif blamed militancy and terrorism for negatively impacting the economy and impeding the nation’s economic recovery.[14]
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan recommended that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government generate additional revenue by imposing taxes on NATO supply trucks.[15]
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At a meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday between Pakistan’s economic leaders and a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), IMF envoy, Jaffar Mojarrad informed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that Pakistan will not receive any waivers for disbursement of future loan tranches if it fails to meet the conditions attached to the $6.7 billion loan from the IMF.[16]
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Based on information included in the Technical Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and the IMF regarding the $6.7 billion IMF loan to Pakistan, the IMF reportedly expects the United States to disburse $1.2 billion to Pakistan over the next year as part of the Coalition Support Fund, a significantly higher amount than had previously been expected.[17]
Militancy
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According to a report in the Express Tribune on Tuesday, security officials have detained six members of an al Qaeda suicide attack cell and two of the group’s facilitators from various parts of Lahore. Additionally, officials have located the cell’s workshop and determined the group prepared a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). The cell’s handler, who resided at Punjab University, was also arrested. It is unclear whether this incident is connected to the arrest last Saturday of an alleged al Qaeda member living at a hostel near Punjab University, although initial reports indicate the cell handler and the student are separate individuals.[18]
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According to a Pew Research Center survey released on Tuesday, 89 percent of Pakistanis do not believe suicide operations or attacks against civilians are ever justifiable. Additionally, 65 percent of Pakistanis have an “unfavorable” view of the Taliban.[19]
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A mine blast near Gandao in the Haleemzai sub-district of Mohmand agency wounded one Levies soldier on Tuesday.[20]
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An improvised explosive device (IED) blast injured one civilian on Tuesday in the Mali Khel area of Kurram agency.[21]
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A Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) defused two IEDs in Peshawar on Tuesday, the first along Hariana Road and the second on Kohat Road. Police detained one suspect in the incident.[22]
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Police seized 23 pistols and thousands of rounds of ammunition from a vehicle in Phandu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday. One suspect has been arrested.[23]
Turkey-Pakistan Relations
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with a delegation of the Turkish Housing Development and Urban Population on Wednesday in Islamabad. Sharif spoke of improving the trade and economic ties between the two countries and said that he will visit Turkey on September 16th.[24]
UAE-Pakistan Relations
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A Pakistani national who had been living in the United Arab Emirates was sentenced to three years in prison for spying on the UAE. The UAE has not revealed which country he was allegedly spying for, but said he was receiving money from a person he met at the Iranian hospital in Dubai, as well as at an unspecified embassy.[25]