Two United Nations reports claim that American drones strikes have killed more civilians than previously admitted and that drones are counterproductive with regards to international security; Three firing incidents at border injure five in Indian Kashmir; India trying to acquire drones to monitor borders in Kashmir; Prime Minister approves new Punjab anti-terrorism force; PPP Chairman says that his party will wage jihad against “hijackers of the faith”; Army conducting Balochistan earthquake relief under fire from militants; 60 arrested in Karachi operations; American arrested for trying to travel to Pakistan to join al Qaeda.
American Drone Strikes
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A United Nations investigation due to be presented before the General Assembly on October 25th claims that American drone strikes have had more collateral damage than the United States has admitted. The report, issued by UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson, estimates that about 400 civilians and 200 non-combatants have died in Pakistan as a result of American drone strikes. This is higher than the estimate of none made by now Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan in 2011. President Barack Obama admitted in May that some civilians have died in drone strikes, but did not give a number.[1]
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A United Nations report scheduled to be presented to the General Assembly on October 25th claims that drones ultimately weaken international security. The report, by UN Rapporteur Christof Heyns, says that more states and even some non-state actors will try to acquire drones, and that international law should be changed to include drones to anticipate a future when more countries have them.[2]
India-Pakistan Relations
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On Friday, two Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured by alleged Pakistani firing across the border at seven Indian border posts in Samba and Jammu districts in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir.[3]
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Three children were injured by alleged Pakistani shelling across the border in Kashmir on Thursday. The shelling hit the village of Najwal, Samba district, in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir.[4]
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On Thursday, Pakistani troops allegedly fired across the border in Hiranagar, Kathua district and Ranbir Singh Pura, Jammu district in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir. No casualties have been reported.[5]
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According to a Wednesday report in UPI, India has issued a request for 49 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to monitor the disputed borders in Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan in the west and China in the east.[6]
Domestic
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On Friday, at a meeting in his mansion on the outskirts of Lahore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the formation of an anti-terrorism force in Punjab. Also at the meeting were Inspector General of Punjab Police Khan Baig, and the Prime Minister’s brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Prime Minister Sharif said that the new force would also deal with target killers and extortionists.[7]
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In a speech in Karachi on Friday, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared jihad against “hijackers of the faith.” The speech came exactly six years after an attack on a rally held by his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, which killed 176 people. Bhutto herself was assassinated about two months later.[8]
Militancy
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The Pakistan Army claimed that that on Wednesday and Thursday it conducted relief operations in Awaran district, Balochistan while under fire from militants. No one was injured in the attacks.[9]
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On Friday, Rangers and police arrested a total of 60 alleged criminals throughout Karachi as part of the ongoing operations in the city. Some of the neighborhoods in which the operations were conducted include Faqir Colony, North Nazimabad, and Brohi Goth.[10]
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An American named Sinh Vinh Ngo Nguyen (also known as Hasan Abu Omar Ghannoum) was arrested last week for lying on a passport application and attempting to join al Qaeda. He was reportedly trying to journey to Pakistan when he was arrested in Santa Ana, California.[11]