U.S. captures TTP commander Latif Mehsud in Afghanistan; TTP denies that Maulana Fazlullah was killed in Afghanistan clash; Prime Minister says that government’s desire for talks is sincere; Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security says that TTP talk details will be revealed soon; One killed and three injured in Indian shelling over Line of Control; Army chief asks India to stop accusing Army or ISI of supporting terrorist attacks; U.S. agrees to help Pakistan build hydroelectric project; Prime Minister says that regional issues are priority for foreign policy; Musharraf rearrested on Lal Masjid charges; Supreme Court reopens references against Zardari; Two soldiers killed by bomb in South Waziristan; Three terrorists killed by their own bomb in Karachi; Two killed in Karachi grenade attack.
TTP in Afghanistan
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Afghanistan announced on Friday that the American military has captured and detained Latif Mehsud, a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander, in Logar province, Afghanistan. Mehsud was originally TTP head Hakimullah Mehsud’s bodyguard, but is rumored to have been elevated to deputy commander of the TTP. Afghan officials claim that he was in Afghan custody when American forces seized him. They further say that he was meeting with Afghan intelligence operatives to discuss possible peace talks. Pakistani Taliban sources said that he was captured by the Afghan Army when he crossed the border from Pakistan.[1]
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On Thursday, the TTP denied claims that three of its members, including TTP Swat leader Maulana Fazlullah, had been killed in a clash with the Afghan Taliban in Kunar province, Afghanistan. The TTP conceded that a clash had occurred, but denied that anyone had died. They specifically denied that Fazlullah was killed or even injured in the attack.[2]
Talks with the TTP
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In response to claims made by TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud that the government has made no real effort to initiate talks, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that “the government is sincere” about dialogue with the TTP. He also blamed previous governments for not negotiating with the TTP before the situation became as bad as it is today.[3]
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On Friday, Sartaj Aziz, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs, said that details on talks with the TTP will be revealed at a later date and that an anti-terrorism strategy will be shown to the cabinet within a few days. He also disputed Afghan Taliban claims that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is still essentially being held prisoner by Pakistan. He said that Baradar has been released and is in contact with his family.[4]
India-Pakistan Relations
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Local leaders and police alleged that Indian mortar shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir killed one civilian and injured three other people in the Nakyal sector on Friday.[5]
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On Friday, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani expressed concern about LoC violations, and said that Indian officials should refrain from making “provocative” statements such as accusing the Pakistan Army or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of supporting terrorism in Kashmir. He called on India to allow a United Nations investigation into LoC violations.[6]
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On Friday, a 17-person Pakistani delegation went to New Dehli to participate in the second round of the Joint Pakistan-India Business Council (JPIBC).[7]
U.S. Pakistan Relations
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On Friday, the United States and Pakistan signed an agreement for the U.S. to aid in building the Neelum Jhelum Power Project in Azad Kashmir, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.[8]
Domestic
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At a Wednesday meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told his appointee for Foreign Secretary, Abdul Basit, that his foreign policy priorities as Prime Minister are “the region,” meaning stronger ties with India, and the Afghanistan reconciliation process.[9]
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The Islamabad High Court refused to add former President Pervez Musharraf to the Exit Control List on Thursday, saying that only the Interior Ministry has that power.[10]
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On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court accepted a petition by the brother of one of the clerics killed in the 2007 Lal Masjid incident accusing former President Pervez Musharraf of wrongdoing. Police immediately arrested Musharraf, and he will be put under house arrest again.[11]
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According to a press release by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Multan, Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani observed an army exercise near Multan which is the culmination of the month-long Azm-e-Nau war games. Kayani was reportedly satisfied with the battle readiness and morale of the troops.[12]
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On Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he expects new, more stringent anti-terrorism measures, which will cover extortionists and target killers as well, will deter terrorism in Pakistan.[13]
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An Islamabad court reopened five National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against former President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday, and required him to respond within two weeks. All five relate in some way to alleged corruption by Zardari.[14]
Militancy
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A militant crashed an explosive filled car into a military convoy in Wana South Waziristan on Friday killing two soldiers and wounding two others.[15]
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Three alleged terrorists were killed on Thursday when a bomb they were attempting to plant in MPR Colony in Karachi went off unexpectedly. They were attempting to attach the bomb to a motorcycle reportedly for a planned attack on Friday.[16]
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A hand grenade attack on Friday injured two people at a factory in Korangi, Karachi. The factory owner reportedly refused to pay extortion money to the attackers, triggering the incident.[17]
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Two people were killed by gunmen belonging to the Zafri Nath group in Baghbanpura, Lahore district on Thursday.[18]
Iran-Pakistan Relations