Drone strike kills six militants in Afghanistan; Pakistani airstrikes kill 17 militants in Datta Khel, North Waziristan; Security forces kill four militants in Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency; Security forces repel militant attack, 12 killed in Orakzai Agency; IED detonates injuring two people in Quetta; Police recover explosives, ammunition in Karachi; India hands over four Pakistani prisoners; National security adviser says no progress on dialogue with India; Prime Minister Sharif to attend London Conference on Afghanistan; Iranian parliament speaker to visit Islamabad; PTI alters protest dates for Lahore, Islamabad.
Drone Strike
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On December 2, a U.S. drone strike killed six militants in the Renay-Parchao area of Afghanistan which borders Pakistan’s Khyber Agency. According to sources, some key militants belonging to the Swat chapter of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were among those killed.[1]
Militancy
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On December 2, Pakistan military airstrikes killed at least 17 militants in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan. According to intelligence sources, some foreign militants including five Uzbeks, and two Haqqani Network militants were among those killed.[2]
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On December 2, militants attacked a security checkpost in the Aka Khel area of the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency. Security forces killed four militants and injured six others in a retaliatory attack. The militants reportedly belonged to the Lashkar-e-Islam group.[3]
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On December 2, security forces repulsed an attack by militants on a checkpost in the Shirin Dara area of Orakzai Agency. Twelve militants were killed in the attack and several injured.[4]
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On December 2, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as an elected legislator’s vehicle passed by on Joint road in Quetta. The legislator was unhurt but two bystanders were wounded.[5]
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On December 2, police forces conducted a raid and recovered 100 kilograms of explosives in Orangi town, Karachi. The police also recovered mobile phones, police uniforms, batteries, suicide jackets, hand grenades, pistols, government number plates and remote detonators.[6]
Indo-Pakistan Relations
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On December 2, Indian authorities handed over four Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan Rangers personnel at the Wagah border near Lahore. The Pakistani prisoners were returned in exchange for 36 Indian fisherman who were repatriated to India on November 28.[7]
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On December 2, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz declared that the dialogue process with India had not moved forward since the installation of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Aziz also reiterated that a resumption of bilateral dialogue would build confidence between the two countries.[8]
Foreign Affairs
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On December 2, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in London to attend the two-day London Conference on Afghanistan being held on December 3-4. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will also attend the conference along with British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold meetings with Prime Minister Cameron and John Kerry on the sidelines of the conference.[9]
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On December 4, Iranian Parliament speaker Ali Larijani is expected to arrive in Islamabad for a two-day visit at the invitation of the speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Larijani is expected to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest with Pakistani officials during his visit.[10]
Domestic Politics
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On December 1, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s leadership altered its “Plan C” and announced new protest dates for Lahore and Islamabad. The protests will now be held on December 15 and 18 in the two cities respectively. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi claimed that the change in date from December 16 to 18 so as not to coincide with the “tragic incident” of fall of Dhaka on December 16, 1971. Another PTI leader Dr. Alvi, however, dismissed the claim. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reportedly assigned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to resume the stalled negotiation process with PTI.[11]