Army announces recent arrest of key TTP commander Adnan Rashid in South Waziristan; Political and military authorities announce imminent targeted military operation against militants in Bajaur Agency, call for evacuation of civilians; 447 militants killed so far in Operation Zarb-e-Azb; Police kill five suspected TTP Swat members in Karachi.
Key TTP Commander Rashid Arrested
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Dawn reported on July 15 that security forces arrested senior Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Adnan Rashid in the Shakai valley, South Waziristan on July 11. Rashid had reportedly been injured and was apprehended while attempting to escape the operation in North Waziristan. After his arrest he was transported by helicopter to an unknown location. Rashid escaped from Bannu Jail on April 15, 2012, where he was behind bars and faced the death penalty for attacking former president Gen (retd.) Pervez Musharraf in 2003.[1]
Zarb-e-Azb Operation
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On July 15, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa reiterated that the North Waziristan Offensive is going according to plan. According to Bajwa, the military has killed 447 militants and destroyed 88 hideouts. 26 soldiers have died to-date. Bajwa said that Pakistan Army soldiers killed militant TTP commander “Matiullah” on an undisclosed date during recent ground operations in Mir Ali. [2]
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Since the beginning of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the government has released Rs 8 billion ($81 million) towards the care of internally displaced persons (IDPs).[3]
Targeted Operation in Bajaur Agency
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On July 15, political and military authorities decided to launch a “targeted operation” against militants in the Mamund sub-district of Bajaur Agency. In anticipation of the military operation, the political administration of Bajaur Agency called for residents of Mamund sub-district to evacuate by the morning of July 15. The evacuation included families from Nakhtar, Kitkot, Gohati and Mula Kallay. Residents are leaving Bajaur Agency through checkpoints at Sidiqabad, Kar and Umaray areas of Mamund. On July 15, a coalition of Bajaur’s political parties met with the area’s Political Agent and expressed apprehension about the decision to evacuate affected villages.[4]
Militancy
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During an operation against suspected militants in Karachi on July 15, police killed five suspected militants and a commander of the TTP’s Swat chapter. Police also discovered a bomb-making factory and an ammunition cache in the Gulshan-e-Buner area of Landhi, Karachi.[5]
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On July 14, three armed men on motorcycles attacked a police checkpoint and killed one policeman on Kohat road in Peshawar. In the ensuing firefight, the policemen killed one suspected militant. Police recovered documents and information from the deceased militant. Police sources told The News that the information could assist in targeting a militant group responsible for the attack and other assassinations in Peshawar. Soon after the attack, Peshawar police launched a search operation and raids targeting the remaining attackers.[6]