Spokesman for Ahrahul Hind claims responsibility for Monday’s attack in Islamabad; Interior minister asks TTP to condemn attack and identify militants responsible; TTP Spokesman denies role in attacks, adds TTP’s responsibility to identify those responsible; Imam-e-Kaaba meets TTP intermediary to urge government- and TTP-nominated committees to continue with peace talks; Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meets with government-nominated committee to discuss peace talks; Members of high-level meeting gave approval to government-nominated committee to resume peace talks; U.S. deputy special representative to Pakistan says militancy in Pakistan an “internal issue;” Members of Pakistan’s Foreign Office opposed to conversion of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline agreement into a bilateral treaty; Members of Pakistan-India Joint Working Group meet to discuss ways to improve trade across LoC; Special court decides not to attend hearing against former president Pervez Musharraf because court deemed unsafe; Unknown gunmen attack four NATO trucks carrying supplies to Afghanistan in Jamrud, Khyber, killing two and injuring two.
Attacks in Islamabad
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On Monday, a man identifying himself as Asad Mansur, the spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group Ahrahul Hind, claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack on the district court in Islamabad when he spoke over the phone to a correspondent for The News. The caller said the militant group had relations with the TTP, but that Ahrahul Hind had split from the umbrella organization over various differences relating to peace talks with the government.[1]
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According to a Tuesday article in the Express Tribune, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly that the TTP has been asked to condemn Monday’s attack on the court in Islamabad and identify the militants responsible.[2]
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On Monday, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid denied any role in the attack on a district court in Islamabad, adding that it is not the responsibility of the TTP to investigate who carried out the terrorist attack. Shahid also said that the TTP has issued instructions to all affiliated groups to stop all violent activities during the ceasefire.[3]
Peace Talks with the TTP
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On Tuesday, the Imam-e-Kaaba (the Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabi), Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ibne Abdul Aziz al Sudais, met with the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and key Taliban intermediary, Maulana Samiul Haq, and urged the government- and TTP-nominated negotiating committees to continue with peace talks, which he sees as the only way to end violence in an Islamic state..[4]
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet with the government-nominated negotiating committee to discuss the ceasefire and possible peace talks with the TTP.[5]
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On Monday, members at a high-level meeting held by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave approval to the government-nominated negotiating committee to resume peace talks with the TTP-nominated committee. The government- and TTP-nominated committees are scheduled to meet today.[6]
U.S.-Pakistan Relations
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On Monday, the U.S. Principal Deputy Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Beth Jones, stated that the U.S. is impartial to peace talks between the TTP and the Pakistani government, reiterating that however Pakistan decides to address militancy is an “internal issue.” Jones added that the U.S. supports counter-terrorism efforts and is primarily concerned with curbing terrorism in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.[7]
Iran-Pakistan Relations
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According to a Tuesday article in the Express Tribune, members of Pakistan’s Foreign Office are opposed to the possible conversion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline agreement into a bilateral treaty, which would possibly avoid sanctions by the U.S. Energy experts say that Pakistan should urge the U.S. to grant a waiver on the pipeline project. The Obama administration, however, has refused to provide assurances that the U.S. will not implement new sanctions that would negatively impact Pakistan.[8]
India-Pakistan Relations
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On Tuesday, the Pakistan-India Joint Working Group on Cross-LoC Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) will meet in New Delhi to discuss ways to improve trade across the Line of Control (LoC).[9]
Domestic
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On Tuesday, the three-member bench of the special court decided not to attend the hearing of the treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf because the court was not safe. The special court is located in the same area in Islamabad where yesterday’s attack on a district court took place. Musharraf’s hearing has been postponed until March 5th.[10]
Militancy