TTP Jamaatul Ahrar spokesperson, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi commander condemn Peshawar school attack; Peshawar school attack mastermind vows to target more schools, civilians; Peshawar school attack a “game-changer,” says Prime Minister’s national security advisor; Army tells ISAF to target TTP chief in Afghanistan; Case registered against Lal Masjid’s chief cleric; Drone strike kills eight militants in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan; Pakistani military airstrikes kill 20 militants, including Uzbek commander, in Khyber Agency; 32 militants killed in clashes with army in Khyber Agency; Security forces kill 12 militants in a raid in Khyber Agency; Security forces kill ten militants in Bajaur Agency; Security forces kill eight militants in a search operation in Balochistan; Rangers kill four TTP militants in a raid in Karachi; Security forces arrest four militants in Quetta; Unknown gunman injures two policemen in Peshawar; Police kill two TTP militants in Gujrat; Prime Minister, army chief resolve to eradicate terrorism; Supreme Court Chief Justice to expedite terrorism-related trials; Parliamentary committee to formulate “national action plan”; Interior Ministry requests counter-terrorism assistance from U.S.; PTI, government optimistic about the resolution of disputes; Army chief approves execution of six terrorists, two terrorists executed; Government detains 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind; India seeks establishment of Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s Nagarhar province.
Peshawar School Attack
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According to a December 19 report in The News, Tehrike-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Jamaatul Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan condemned the Peshawar school attack carried out by the TTP and declared that killing of non-combatants, women, children, the old and the sick was forbidden in Islam and that TTP Jamaatul Ahrar had nothing to do with the attack. Separately, a December 18 Reuters report claims that Ghulam Rasool Shah, a deputy for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s founder Malik Ishaq, also condemned the attack and said there was no religious, ethnic or social explanation for the cruel attack.[1]
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On December 18, Umar Mansoor, the mastermind of the Peshawar school attack, appeared in a video released by the TTP on a jihadist website. In the video, Mansoor reportedly vowed to attack more schools and civilian targets in revenge for Pakistani military operations in North Waziristan. Mansoor is reportedly the leader of the Darra Adam Khel and Peshawar chapters of TTP.[2]
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On December 19, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz declared that the December 16 Peshawar school attack was a “game-changer” in Pakistan’s strategy for countering terrorism. Aziz added that the distinction between the “good” and “bad” terrorists has virtually disappeared following the Peshawar attack and that 16/12 Peshawar attack was like a mini 9/11 attack.[3]
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According to a December 19 Express Tribune report, army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) made a surprise visit to Kabul on December 17 and provided audio proof of TTP chief Fazlullah’s involvement in the Peshawar school attack to Afghan authorities. The army chief also reportedly made clear that the Pakistan Army was restraining itself from chasing targets across the international border despite mounting evidence. Fazlullah was reportedly in contact with the Peshawar school militants during the attack and is believed to be hiding in the Nangarhar, Nuristan and Kunar areas of Afghanistan. According to sources, the army will provide the Afghan government and ISAF a “reasonable” amount of time to take action against Fazlullah following which the Army will consider other options.[4]
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On December 19, a non-bailable case was registered against Lal Masjid’s chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, in Islamabad. On December 18, a large number of civil society activists, students and politicians protested outside Lal Masjid and held candlelight vigils in response to a statement by Maulana Aziz in which he refused to condemn the massacre of students and teachers in the Peshawar school attack. A large contingent of police personnel was also deployed outside Lal Masjid to preempt violence.[5]
Drone Strike
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On December 19, a U.S. drone strike killed eight militants in Cort village of Nazyan district in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Several militants were also reportedly injured. According to security officials, militants based in Nazyan district were involved in planning the December 16 Peshawar school attack.[6]
Militancy
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On December 18, Pakistan military airstrikes killed 20 militants in the Akakhel, Sepah and Kukikhel areas of the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency. The airstrikes reportedly targeted hideouts of Lashkar-e-Islam and the TTP. An Uzbek commander identified as Islamud Din was among those killed in the airstrikes.[7]
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On December 19, the Pakistan Army ambushed a group of militants moving towards the Pak-Afghan border, killing at least 32 militants, in the Wurmagai and Spurkot areas of the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency. Three security personnel were also injured in the clashes.[8]
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On December 18, security forces raided militant hideouts, killing 12 militants, in Khyber Agency. Bodies of the dead militants are reportedly being identified by the security forces. In a separate incident, security forces repulsed a militant attack, killing 18 militants, in Khyber Agency.[9]
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On December 18, ten militants were killed in a ground offensive by security forces at Malak Shaga Nullah near Warwandu Mella in Bajaur Agency. Two militants were also reportedly injured while at least six militants managed to escape.[10]
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On December 19, security forces conducted a search operation in the Chotair area of Balochistan’s Ziarat district, killing eight militants, including a local TTP commander. The security forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the militants. [11]
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On December 19, Rangers personnel conducted a raid, killing four TTP militants, in the Musharraf Colony area of Karachi. A key TTP commander identified as Abid Muchhar was among those killed in the raid. One Rangers soldier was injured in the resulting encounter.[12]
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On December 18, security forces arrested four militants, including an Uzbek national, in the Eastern Bypass area of Quetta. Weapons and explosives were also recovered from the militants.[13]
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On December 19, an unknown gunman opened fire at two policemen, injuring them, before fleeing from the scene in Peshawar.[14]
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On December 19, two TTP militants were killed in a police operation in Gujrat, Punjab province.[15]
Counter-Terrorism efforts
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On December 19, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif chaired a meeting of the civilian and military leadership at the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and expressed a strong resolve to eradicate terrorism from the country. It was decided in the meeting that security at the Pak-Afghan border would be strengthened in order to restrain cross-border militant movements and that the ongoing military operations in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency would be expanded to other tribal areas as well. Prime Minister Sharif also assured the military leadership that required amendments would be made in anti-terror laws to counter terrorism.[16]
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On December 18, Supreme Court Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk declared that he will convene a meeting of all administrative judges of high courts to devise a strategy for expedited trials in terrorism-related cases and the disposal of appeals against convictions in superior courts. Chief Justice Mulk made these remarks after the All Parties Conference held in the wake of the Peshawar school attack. Meanwhile on December 19, Defense Minister Khwaja Asif stated that the process of establishing special courts for trials in terrorism-related cases was already underway and that there would be no discrimination in carryout out convictions of terrorists.[17]
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On December 19, the Anti-Terrorism National Action Plan Committee (ATNAPC) consisting of representatives of political parties, the armed forces and intelligence agencies held its first meeting in Islamabad to formulate a “national action plan” against terrorism. The committee decided to form a working group consisting of military and civilian experts to provide recommendations to counter terrorism. The working group’s action plan will then be reviewed by the committee and presented before the Parliament on approval by the committee. Prime Minister Sharif announced the formation of the ATNAPC following the December 16 Peshawar school attack.[18]
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On December 19, the Interior Ministry requested the American Embassy to send some counter-terrorism experts, proficient in South Asian security affairs, to assist Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). According to reports, the experts associated with American National Counterterrorism Center will assist Pakistan in preparing components of its counter-terror strategy and the formation of a new National Anti-Terrorism Headquarters either at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat or military headquarters in Rawalpindi.[19]
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On December 18, army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif approved the execution of six terrorists sentenced to death by military courts. The decision was made following the lifting of a moratorium on the death penalty by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on December 17. Following Gen. Sharif’s execution order, Dr. Usman alias Aqeel and Arshad Mehmood were executed in Faisalabad on December 19. Aqeel led a 10-member suicide squad to attack the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on October 10, 2009. Arshad Mehmood was executed for an assassination attempt on former military ruler, Gen. (retd.) Pervez Musharraf. Meanwhile a December 19 Dawn report claims that the Punjab government is likely to execute at least 80 top terrorists in the coming days after it sought details about all convicted prisoners who had been awarded the death penalty.[20]
Political Crisis
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On December 19, the leaders from the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resumed negotiations aimed at resolving the issue of alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections. PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi declared that the two sides had made progress in their meeting and dealt with the formation of a judicial commission to investigate rigging allegations. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed hope that the dispute with PTI would be resolved within the coming week.[21]
Indo-Pak Relations
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On December 19, the government detained Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi under Maintenance of Public Order laws after Lakhvi was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court on December 18. The government has also decided to appeal against the approval of Lakhvi’s bail. Lakhvi is allegedly the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and his bail order evoked strong responses from the Indian government on December 18.[22]
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According to a December 19 report in The News, acting Indian Consul in Afghanistan, Rajiv Goswami, has asked the Nangarhar Acting Governor Maulvi Attaullah Lodin to provide land for the building of an Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in a bid to expand diplomatic ties between the two countries. Governor Lodin in exchange asked Goswami to create opportunities for Afghan clerics to acquire religious education in India’s Deoband seminary and demanded scholarships for Afghan students as well as an easing of visa restrictions for Afghan patients in India.[23]