Musharraf’s appearance before the special court on January 16 is contingent on his health, says attorney; Pakistani and Indian commerce secretaries discuss reopening trade talks; bomb blast kills two in Khyber agency; Balochistan Levies forces kill four militants; 9/11 mastermind disavows violence to convert non-Muslims.

Musharraf Trial

  • On Wednesday, former president Pervez Musharraf’s attorney, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, stated that Musharraf’s appearance before the special court on January 16 is conditional on his health. Kasuri also noted that Musharraf’s doctors would comment on Musharraf’s health this evening.[1]

India-Pakistan Relations

  • On Wednesday, the Indian and Pakistani Commerce Secretaries will meet to discuss reopening trade talks. A meeting at the ministry-level will occur later this week.[2]

Militancy

  • On Wednesday, a bomb blast killed two anti-Taliban milita members of the Tauheedul Islam (TI) group in Landi Kotal sub-district of Khyber agency.[3]

  • On Wednesday, Levies forces in Zaidi, Khuzdar district, Balochistan killed four suspected militants and arrested six others. One person who had been held captive by the militants was recovered by security forces as well.[4]

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

  • On Tuesday, a statement by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), who planned the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, was declassified. In the statement KSM said that the Quran forbids Muslims to “use force as a means of converting” non-Muslims.[5]  

 
[1] “Musharraf not likely to appear in court on Jan 16: Kasuri,” Geo News, January 15, 2014. Available at: http://www.geo.tv/article-134208-Musharraf-not-likely-to-appear-in-court-on-Jan-16-Kasuri
[2] “Pakistan, India resume trade talks today,” Frontier Post, January 14, 2014. Available at: http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/68323/Pakistan-India-resume-trade-talks-today/
[3] “Khyber Agency blast kills 2 peace militia volunteers,” Express Tribune, January 15, 2014. Available at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/659051/khyber-agency-blast-kills-2-peace-militia-volunteers/
[4] Syed Ali Shah, “Four Militants Killed During Operation in Balochistan’s Khuzdar,” Dawn, January 15, 2014. Available at: http://www.dawn.com/news/1080513/four-militants-killed-during-operation-in-balochistans-khuzdar
[5] “Quran ‘Forbids’ Violence to Spread Islam: 9/11 Mastermind,” The Express Tribune, January 15, 2014. Available at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/659024/quran-forbids-violence-to-spread-islam-911-mastermind/
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