U.S. will not ease sanctions on Iranian petroleum exports; TAPI pipeline to be fast tracked; Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs to visit the U.S. at the end of January; U.S. to reduce aid to Pakistan until Dr. Afridi is released; Court orders creation of board to evaluate Musharraf’s health; Sectarian violence in Pakistan up 22 percent in 2013; Military to build base in Swat Valley; Eight dead and 67 injured in Peshawar blast; Nine policemen injured in Dera Ismail Khan IED blast; Hangu blast injures three soldiers; Four policemen killed, two injured in two Karachi attacks; Pakistan has improved nuclear security more than any other nuclear armed country in 2013.
Gas Pipelines
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According to a Thursday report in The Express Tribune, the Foreign Office has called a meeting with the Ministries of Petroleum, Law, Defence and Finance to determine what Pakistan’s course of action will be regarding the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. This meeting comes after the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its position that Pakistan will not be exempt from sanctions against Iranian petroleum if the pipeline is completed.[1]
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On Tuesday, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M.Veerappan Moily said that construction of the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) gas pipeline has been fast-tracked by the four participating nations, and that the pipeline will reach India by 2017.[2]
U.S-Pakistan Relations
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On Wednesday, Pakistani officials confirmed that Sartaj Aziz, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs will visit Washington D.C. at the end of January. He is expected to hold meetings with American Secretary of State John Kerry, among others.[3]
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According to a Thursday report in Dawn, the spending bill passed by the United States Congress on Tuesday calls for a reduction of $33 million of aid to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi, who helped the United States in its search for Osama bin Laden, is released from prison.[4]
India-Pakistan Relations
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On Thursday, a Foreign Office spokeswoman criticized a statement by Indian army chief Bikram Singh earlier in the week in which he said India would not follow established ceasefire agreements in Kashmir if Pakistan also does not. The spokeswoman said that Pakistan is doing everything it can to reduce Line of Control (LoC) violations.[5]
Musharraf Trial
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On Thursday, a special court in Islamabad ordered the creation of a board to determine whether former President Pervez Musharraf’s health is too poor for him to stand trial, after his doctor recommended that Musharraf seek medical treatment in the United States. Musharraf missed another hearing on Thursday due to reported health problems.[6]
Militancy
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On Thursday, eight people were killed and 67 injured by a bomb blast at a Tablighi center in Peshawar. The bomb was concealed in a container of clarified butter, and, according to police, was meant to be planted elsewhere but exploded prematurely.[7]
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On Thursday, a bomb disposal unit defused a bomb planted at a Tablighi center in Nowshera, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[8]
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According to a Wednesday report in The Washington Post, sectarian violence in Pakistan has been on the rise, raising concerns about the country’s stability. Sectarian killings, mostly Sunni against Shia, rose 22 percent between 2012 and 2013. The Shia minority in Pakistan makes up between 15 and 20 percent of the population.[9]
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According to a Wednesday report in The Guardian, American officials recently received a video confirming that U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who is a Taliban prisoner believed to be held by the Haqqani Network in Pakistan, is still alive but in poor health.[10]
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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced his approval of the construction of a military cantonment in the Swat Valley, which will serve Swat district and adjacent Malakand district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The purpose of the base would be to strengthen government control in an area which has long had a strong militant presence.[11]
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On Wednesday, nine policemen were injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Gara Guldad, Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[12]
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On Wednesday, an IED blast in Tora Warai, Hangu district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa injured three soldiers.[13]
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On Thursday, a bomb blast in Chakesar, Shangla district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa injured three policemen, including a station house officer (SHO)[14].
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On Wednesday, unidentified gunmen killed two policemen at a checkpoint in Sohrab Goth, Karachi.[15]
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On Thursday, unidentified gunmen killed two policemen and injured two others in Shafiq Mor, Karachi.[16]
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On Thursday, unidentified gunmen killed a man in Karsaz, Karachi.[17]
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On Wednesday, militants attacked a Rangers vehicle on Burns Road in Karachi. Two of the attackers were injured and arrested by the Rangers.[18]
Domestic
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According to a Wednesday report in Defense News, the Nuclear Threat Initiative Nuclear Materials Security Index says that Pakistan is the nuclear-armed state that has done the most to improve the security of its nuclear assets in 2013.[19]
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On Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he believes that the Karachi targeted operations have been successful, and that he would like them to continue.[20]