Police believes Ghazi Force possibly involved in attacks in Islamabad; TTP forms committee to identify those responsible for Islamabad attacks; U.S. willing to assist Pakistan in identifying those responsible for Islamabad attacks; Representatives of TTP- and government-nominated negotiating committees agree to certain terms and conditions, discuss options for continued peace talks; Obama administration seeks $1 billion in aid to Pakistan; India to provide Afghanistan with $2 billion aid package; Home Secretary in Balochistan says Iran is not allowed to conduct operations in Pakistan; Treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf adjourned until March 7; Musharraf seeks permission to travel abroad for medical treatment; Sartaj Aziz expresses need to integrate Pakistan’s defense and foreign policies; IED blast kills six Frontier Corps personnel and injures eight in Kurram agency; unknown gunmen fire on a checkpoint in Peshawar, killing one policeman; Rangers conduct targeted operations in Karachi, arresting 150; Militants bomb two gas pipelines in separate attacks in Loti and Pirkoh, Balochistan.
Attacks in Islamabad
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According to a Wednesday article in The News, police working to identify those responsible for Monday’s attack on the district courts in Islamabad believe that a terrorist group known as the Ghazi Force, may have been involved. The Ghazi Force, named after the Lal Masjid cleric who was killed during the Lal Masjid standoff in 2007, was formed shortly after by former students of the mosque. Officials stated that they have no concrete evidence linking the Ghazi Force, which they assess is using Miram Shah as its base to carry out operations in Pakistan’s settled areas, to Monday’s attack, but have stated that the attacks are similar to the modus operandi of the group.[1]
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On Tuesday, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) formed a committee to identify those responsible for the attacks in Islamabad and Landi Kotal sub-district, Khyber agency. The TTP have also vowed to take action against the individuals involved in the attacks. According to a source within the organization, the TTP has said it could be held responsible for attacks carried out by groups, affiliated or not, operating in its areas of influence, but should not be held accountable for attacks by groups located in areas outside of its control.[2]
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On Tuesday, the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, condemned Monday’s terrorist attack in Islamabad and said the U.S. was willing to assist the authorities in investigating those responsible for the attack.[3]
Peace Talks with the TTP
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According to a Wednesday article in The News, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that it is not possible that the core of the TTP in North Waziristan is unaware of the individuals responsible for recent attacks in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad. Asif also said that the government sincerely wants to continue peace talks under the Constitution, but will not be able to engage in dialogue with the TTP if attacks do not stop.[4]
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On Wednesday, representatives from the TTP- and government-nominated negotiating committees concluded a meeting in which both sides agreed to certain terms and conditions and discussed options for how to continue peace talks. Proposals submitted during the meeting suggested the inclusion of representatives from the federal government, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, the army, and TTP shura members in the negotiating committees. The members also discussed dissolving the existing committees and forming new ones to move forward with the peace talks. Maulana Samiul Haq, the chief of the TTP negotiating committee, told reports that the TTP are requesting a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Haq also praised the TTP for declaring a ceasefire and asked them to help identify those responsible for recent attacks.[5]
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the government-nominated negotiating committee that efforts would be made on every level to establish peace and security in Pakistan. Members of the committee also presented proposals for a strategy that would establish peace.[6]
U.S.-Pakistan Relations
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On Tuesday, the Obama administration delivered its budget proposals to Congress for the 2015 fiscal year, in which President Obama will seek to allocate $1 billion in aid to Pakistan. The $1 billion requested for Pakistan includes $280 million that will support Pakistan’s security forces, whereas the remainder is intended for economic assistance.[7]
India-Afghanistan Relations
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A Tuesday article in Reuters, India plans to provide Afghanistan with the largest aid package it has ever given another country. Although Indian diplomats insist that the message is intended to reassure Afghanistan in the wake of waning international support and the withdrawal of NATO troops, it could also have been chosen to send a strong message to Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan are using aid as a strategy to secure influence in Kabul.[8]
Iran-Pakistan Relations
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On Tuesday, the Home Secretary in Balochistan, Asad Rehman Gilani, stated that Iran is not allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan. Gilani also said that if Iran provided information about the whereabouts of recently kidnapped Iranian border guards, then Pakistani security forces would carry out operations for their recovery. The Home Secretary also appointed a Regional Police Officer of Gwadar, Moazam Jan, as the person in charge of coordinating the recovery of the Iranian border guards.[9]
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According to a Wednesday article in The News, the Chairman of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Advisory Committee asked the committee to prepare a case study that will measure the impact that U.S. sanctions against Iran have on Pakistanis. Specifically, the case study will ascertain whether the sanctions are a violation of Pakistanis’ human rights. Using a human rights perspective in the context of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project could provide Pakistan an opportunity to argue that U.S. sanctions intended to target Iran are in reality impacting a non-target state and its economy (and in this case, its energy sector). Once the report is finalized, the findings will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council.[10]
Domestic
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According to a Wednesday article in Dawn, the hearing of the treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf has been adjourned until March 7, following concerns regarding the security situation in Islamabad. Several of Musharraf’s lawyers presented a threat letter, allegedly from the TTP, to the court, which said that if three of his attorneys did not disassociate themselves from the trial, the three would face “dire consequences.”[11]
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According to a Wednesday article in the Express Tribune, former president Pervez Musharraf has submitted an application to the special court, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. In the request, Musharraf gave assurances that he would return to Pakistan whenever it was required.[12]
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On Tuesday, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security, Sartaj Aziz expressed before the National Assembly the need to integrate Pakistan’s defense and foreign policies. According to Aziz, the government is preparing foreign and defense policies that will simultaneously address problems of internal security, economic development through trade, strengthening democracy and economic institutions, and benefiting from Pakistan’s geographic location. The policies will be presented before the House within the next few weeks.[13]
Militancy
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On Wednesday, a roadside bomb blast targeting a security forces’ convoy killed six Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and injured eight others near the Warmagal area in Hangu district. The militant group, Ansar-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack.[14]
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On Wednesday, a roadside bomb blast killed six security personnel and injured eight others in the Megni area of Kurram agency.[15]
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On Wednesday, unknown gunmen fired on a checkpoint in Peshawar’s Yakatoot area, killing the policeman on duty.[16]
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On Wednesday, Rangers and police conducted targeted operations in several areas of Karachi, arresting approximately 150 suspected criminals. [17]
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On Wednesday, militants bombed two gas pipelines in separate attacks. The first attack occurred in Loti whereas the second took place in Pirkoh, Balochistan.[18]