TTP Jamatul Ahrar spokesman warns Indian Prime Minister of attacks on India; Army chief, Prime Minister Sharif meet to discuss Wagah suicide attack; Clashes kill 5 militants in Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency; Department of Industries official assassinated in Multan, Punjab; Army chief to visit Kabul; Outgoing ISI director meets with premier; India willing to normalize relations with Pakistan, says Indian Defense Minister; Indian mortar shell kills three children in Narowal; Indian Navy withdraws warships from port due to reported terror threat; Kashmiri separatist parties call for strike in Indian-administered Kashmir; Pakistan-based militants a challenge to regional stability, claims U.S. Defense Department report.
Indo-Pak Border Suicide Attack
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In an update to the Wagah border post suicide bombing first reported on November 3, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Jamatul Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan spoke to Reuters over telephone on November 5 regarding the suicide bombing. Ehsan accused the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of killing innocent Muslims and vowed to avenge their deaths. Ehsan claimed however that the November 2 attack was specifically aimed at the Pakistani Army. TTP Jamaatul Ahrar had earlier claimed responsibility for the attack on November 2 along with two other militant groups.[1]
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On November 5, army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad to discuss the November 2 Wagah border post suicide bombing. During the meeting, Gen. Sharif claimed that the attack was in reaction to the military offensive in North Waziristan.[2]
Militancy
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On November 5, security forces targeted militant hideouts with heavy machine guns and artillery killing five militants and injuring eight others in Drewand, Aarinam Wanra, and Zor Kaley in the Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency.[3]
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On November 5, unidentified attackers assassinated a deputy chief inspector of the Department of Industries in Multan, Punjab.[4]
Military
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On November 5, the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) posted a tweet stating that army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif will visit Kabul on November 6. Gen. Sharif will meet with newly elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and other senior civilian and military officials.[5]
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On November 5, 2014, the outgoing Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt. Gen. Zahirul Islam met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the prime minister’s house in Islamabad. Sharif praised Islam for his service with the ISI.[6]
Indo-Pak Relations
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On November 5, Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley declared that India was prepared to restart the dialogue process with Pakistan and “normalize the relationship” but that there were “a few red lines.” Jaitley further said that Pakistan would have to make a “conscious” choice about who it wants to engage with, the Indian government or Kashmiri separatists.[7]
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On November 4, a mortar shell, reportedly fired by Indian security forces on November 3, killed three children in Tughalpura village, Narowal. The children had reportedly found the un-exploded mortal shell in a field; it exploded when they tried to play with it.[8]
India Terror Threat
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On November 4, the Indian Navy withdrew two warships from the eastern port of Kolkata and ordered the ships back to sea. According to Indian Coast Guard officials, the action was taken after Indian intelligence agencies warned of a possible terror attack in the port area of Kolkata. However, navy officials claim that the ships were withdrawn due to “prior operational reasons” ahead of Navy Day celebrations.[9]
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On November 5, the All Parties’ Hurriyat Conference called for a strike in Indian- administered Kashmir to press for an independent investigation into the killings of two youths by Indian army soldiers on November 3. As a result, shops and business were closed on November 5 and protesters hurled stones at paramilitary soldiers and police. Security forces reportedly used tear gas to disperse protesters.[10]
Foreign Affairs
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A report released by the U.S. Department of Defense on October 31 titled “Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan”, claims that Afghan-Pakistan relations pose a significant challenge to the stability of the region. The report further claims that Pakistan continues to use Afghan- and Indian-focused militants as proxies in Afghanistan and India to “hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan and to counter India’s superior military.”[11]