TTP infighting kills twelve to thirteen militants in Shawal, North Waziristan; Prime Minister meets with Iranian Interior Minister to talk about border cooperation; Prime Minister will discuss Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline when he travels to Iran next week; Pakistan’s embassy in New Delhi receives threatening letter; Militant blows himself up in Dera Ismail Khan; Security forces detain FBI agent in Karachi; Security increased in Islamabad ahead of PTI protests.
TTP Infighting
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On Tuesday, infighting between the Sheryar Mehsud and Khan Said Sajna factions of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed thirteen militants and injured several more in Shawal sub-district of North Waziristan. A similar article in The News reported that the clashes killed twelve militants.[1]
Iran-Pakistan Relations
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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rehmani Fazli in Islamabad. Sharif said that Iran and Pakistan should cooperate on their border regions. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also met with Fazli, saying that Iran and Pakistan would set up a hotline to deal with border issues.[2]
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On Tuesday, Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will discuss the planned Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline when he visits Iran next week to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.[3]
India-Pakistan Relations
- According to a Wednesday report in Dawn, the Pakistan High Commission asked India to increase the security at Pakistan’s embassy in New Delhi after receiving a letter making threats against embassy staff.[4]
Militancy
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On Wednesday, a militant died in a clash with security forces in Bandkurai, Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The militant blew himself up when security forces surrounded his house.[5]
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On Wednesday, a bomb disposal squad defused a bomb at the Keamari oil terminal in Karachi.[6]
Domestic
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On Tuesday, Pakistani and U.S. officials confirmed that an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was detained at Jinnah International Airport under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws for carrying bullets and a knife. The judge involved in the case said that the suspect will remain in custody until Saturday. The FBI agent was reportedly in Pakistan temporarily to help the government investigate corruption. The agent was reportedly unarmed but claimed to have forgotten the ammunition in his luggage.[7]
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According to a Wednesday report in Dawn, the Islamabad police are preparing for the May 11 protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by setting up containers and barbed wire to restrict the movement of the protesters. Rangers will also be deployed to Islamabad.[8]