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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 1
PAKISTAN: AVICTIM OF TERRORISM
(VOLUME III)
EDITORDR NOOR UL HAQ
ASSISTANT EDITOR
MUHAMMAD NAWA Z KHAN
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2 IPRI Factfile
CONTENT
Preface v1. Year-wise Summary of Human Losses in Terrorist Acts:
1 January 2001 to 17 January 2011 12. Rah-e-Rast Operation by Armed Forces: 26 April 2009 1
July 2009 1
3. Rah-e-Nijat Operation by Armed Forces: 17 October 2009
Onward 7
4. Casualties Suffered by Armed Forces: 2009-2010 10
5. 2009: Year of Terrorism 11
6. Pakistan Lost $35bn in Three Years in War on Terror 27
7. New Dimensions of Counter-Terrorism 27
8. Suicides Bombing and Dr Tahirul Qadris Fatwa 30
9. Lessons from Lahore 3110. Taliban Increasingly Unpopular in Pakistan 31
11. Taliban Distancing Themselves from al-Qaeda 33
12. 332 Terror Hits Claimed 5,704 Lives Since 9/11 34
13. The Silent Surge 38
14. U.S. Defends Legality of Killing with Drones 41
15. Obama Moves to Delink Terrorism from Islam 43
16. Kohat Killings 45
17. Soft on Militancy 46
18. Get the Militant Leadership 47
19. The Rising Militancy 49
20. Militancy: Realism Needed 50
21. Terror in Lahore 52
22. Terrorism and the Economy 52
23. Search for Soul 55
24.Provinces Back Efforts to Combat Terror 56
25. A Good Anti-terrorism Move 57
26. Terrorism and Religious Identities 60
27.Quelling Terrorism 63
28.Terrorist Attacks 64
29.Quetta Attack 65
30.Lakki Marwat Blast 65
31.Deployment of More Drones Against Pakistan 66
32.The Scourge of Terrorism 67
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 3
33.Attacking the Ghazi of Karachi 69
34.Drone Attacks May be Legal, But Are They Moral? 71
35.By Publicly Acknowledging the Price Pakistan Pays
for its Counterterrorism Policy, the U.S. is Helping Untie its
Leaderships Hands 72
36.A Year of Sub-sectarian Massacre 7637. Swabi Attack 78
38.U.S. Double-dealing 79
39.U.S. Seeks to Expand Drone Operations 80
40.Government Firm in Eliminating Menace of Terrorism:
Prime Minister 81
41.Terror Group Forms Suicidal Gang 81
42.Afghans Involved in Terrorist Activities: Minister of Interior 83
43.Pak-Afghan Joint Declaration: Accord to Knock Out
Militant Sanctuaries 83
44.U.S.-Pakistan Secret Efforts to Defeat al-Qaeda: Petraeus 8545.National Assembly Body Condemns Drone Attacks 86
46.No Taliban or Quetta Shura in Balochistan: FCIG 86
47.Prime Minister Calls for Joint Strategy to Combat Terrorism 87
48.Drone Attacks in Pakistan 87
49.Pakistan Armys Contributions in Fight Against Terrorism 103
IPRI Publications 106
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4 IPRI Factfile
PREFACEPhilip J. Crowley, U.S. Asst Secretary of State, told the audience in his daily
briefing that There is no country that has suffered more significantly from
terrorism than Pakistan itself.1 Citing a study, Bruce Riedal of Brookings
Institution said There were 2,113 terrorist attacks in Pakistan last year [2010].No country in the world even comes close to that. Almost 3000 people died
and 6000 were wounded.2 Soon after the tragedy of September 11, 2001,
Pakistan allied itself with the U.S. in the war against terror. The U.S.-led
invasion in Afghanistan commenced in 2001. The Talibans were defeated but
could not be eliminated. Their resistance transformed into an insurgency and
an armed struggle against the foreign forces and their local supporters.
During the past more than three decades (1978-2010), Afghanistan
has been in a state of war and Pakistan has had to accommodate millions of
refugees entering the country since 1978. In the beginning, their number had
risen to about six million but even at present this is not less than 2.5 million.
Since Pakistan is supporting the war against the militants/terrorists in
Afghanistan, the insurgency in that country has spilled over into Pakistans
FATA, adjacent to Afghanistan, and the adjoining settled areas of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. These terrorists are a source of the numerous acts of violence
and terrorism that plague the whole country.
The fight against militants/terrorists has so far cost Pakistan 2273
soldiers of the Army killed and 6512 injured, making a total of 8785, besides
21,672 civilians killed. As against them the U.S. and NATO, comprising 43
nations, have suffered only 1582 casualties.
While the terrorist activities are on the rise, the economy is sliding
downward, the much-needed foreign investment is not forthcoming and thedevelopment of the country is being adversely affected. The cumulative
economic impact runs into billions of dollars. Pakistan is likely to continue to
suffer as long as there is no peace in Afghanistan.
There is a perception that the tribal insurgency could drag on for an
indefinite period. The solution to the problem lies in the age-old system ofjirga
(assembly of elders) and securing cooperation of all immediate neighbours of
Afghanistan (i.e., China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan) as well as the U.S., Russia and NATO to resolve the Afghanistan
imbroglio.
1 Frontier Post(Peshawar) on line, January 12, 2010.2 Bruce Riedel introducing his book Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and Future of
Global Jihadin the Brookings Institution, Washington, on January 18, 2011.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 5
The IPRI Factfileincludes selected articles appearing in the print media
from December 2009 till December 2010, and relevant data depicting terrorist
activities causing losses in men and material to the people of Pakistan.
January 19, 2011. Noor-ul-Haq
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 1
YEA R-W ISE SUMMARY OF HUMAN L OSSESIN TERRORIST A CTS IN PA K ISTA N
1 JA NUA RY 2001 TO 17 JA NUA RY 2011
S.No Year No. of
*Incidents
Kil led Injured
LEAs Civil ians LEAs Civil ians
1 2001 110 13 41 72 224
2 2002 56 32 70 110 201
3 2003 88 11 18 46 106
4 2004 159 24 52 152 260
5 2005 113 9 19 32 81
6 2006 1444 267 502 645 9 82
7 2007 1820 575 1677 1462 2065
8 2008 1575 541 2248 1434 3665
9 2009 1946 706 1674 1832 5544
10 2010 2061 502 1453 1383 396511 2011 54 24 16 46 33
Total : 9426 2704 7770 7214 17126
Source: Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Interior, Crisis Management Cell
RAH-E-RAST OPERATION B Y A RMED FORCE26 A PRIL 2009 1J UL Y 2009
A SUMMARY
After the complete break down of law and order in the Swat Valley, where
followers of Fazal ullah had murdered most of the policemen and had takenover police stations, govt and private buildings, Army was called in aid of civil
power to clear the valley of terrorists. Army conducted Swat operation in Swat
Valley in Nov 2007 and cleared the valley in five weeks. Than came the
elections in Feb 2008 and provincial government decided to have a peace
agreement in April 2008. However, the terrorists never honoured the
agreement and in the garb of peace agreement kept expanding their influence.
They started establishing check posts, kept hitting military convoys, started
recruiting young boys of Swat and surrounding areas in different areas in
training camps of varying sizes. They resorted to kidnapping of civilians,
asking for ransom, anyone opposing was killed brutally and they coerced the
population to an extent that they started accepting them as their masters.Realizing the gravity of the situation government once again ordered
Army to launch an operation. This time under the influence of terrorists, the
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2 IPRI Factfilecivilian population did not cooperate. Moreover during this period the
terrorists had reorganized, regrouped, rearmed and had increased their area of
influence in other parts of Swat and Malakand. The military operation had
become unpopular, with militants entrenched in built up areas. The operation
claimed lot of destruction, damage, death and displacement of innocent
citizens. At this stage the government desired to hold the operation to avoid
further damage and go for reconciliation process through TNSM to give
Nizam-e-Adal which was long standing demand of the people. As a result yet
another peace agreement with the pledge of enactment of Nizam-e-Adal was
signed.
It was soon realized that militants were not interested in Nizam-e-Adal,
rather they were using it as a slogan/rhetoric to achieve their nefarious
designs. The following statistics of their terrorist activities after the signing of
peace agreement clearly shows their lack of sincerity to the Nizam-e-Adal/
peace agreement:-
S/No Incident Remarks
a. Kidnapping incident 55 (Individuals abducted
are more than 100)
b. Security Forces Personnel
Killed/Wounded
30 (Injured 44)
c. Suicide Attacks 4
d. IEDs Attacks 8
e. Ambush military convoys 7
f. Fire Raids 30
g. Schools damaged 2
h. Police Stations destroyed 1
j. Grid Stations destroyed 1
k. Banks Looted 6
Their intentions got crystallized when militants in total negation of
peace agreement moved into Buner and Shangla. The real face of militants got
exposed and not only the people of Swat but whole nation gelled together in
demanding elimination of terrorists from Malakand Division through a
complete comprehensive and decisive operation.
Conduct of Operation
The plan to clear Malakand Division of terrorists was based on the assumption
that Failure is not an Option. The operation had to be swift, multipronged,effective, comprehensive and all encompassing with an end strategy. The
success of this operation lived on two cardinal principles. The support of
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 3
public and prevent the escape of terrorists to other areas. The innocent
population had to be protected even at the cost of compromising operational
necessities and built up areas had to be cleansed and not bombed. With these
limitations and objectives the operation was launched on 26 April 2009.
Operation Tandar -1
On the request of provincial govt and people of Dir, Frontier Corps launched
the operation Tandar-1 in Islampura-Lal Qila Maidan Areas in lower Dir.
Intense clashes took place, killing over 100 militants including important
militant commander Qari Shahid. Lal Qila was finally secured and thereafter
search and cordon operations in adjoining areas continued and to date they are
being conducted.
Op Tandar II
Early morning on 29 April heliborne forces of Frontier Corps successfully
landed at Daggar and surrounding areas and secured Daggar, the headquarters
of Buner District. Meanwhile the ground forces advanced on two axis,
Malandri axis and Ambella axis to link up with forces of Daggar. At Ambella
pass security forces confronted 13 suicide vehicles, 2 suicide motorcyclists and
4 individual suiciders and a group of 100 militants on mountain top. Finally
linkage with troops at Daggar was established. Later by 6th May operation was
launched to secure Sultanwas. After an intense engagement for over 9 days
Sultanwas was finally secured on 15 May 2009. Later Pir Baba was cleared and
and the important Karakar pass which links Buner with Swat was secured on
June 13. Finally the forces operating in Buner established link up with forces
operating in Swat at Jambil and on 1st July 2009 secured Dewana Baba route
leaving Buner with Shangla. During Operation Tander two (Buner) 305
terrorists were killed and 102 apprehended while Security Forces suffered 34casualties and 127 were wounded. During this operation, following important
militant commanders were killed/arrested:-
a. Qadir r/o Kumbar - Killed
b. Noor Hameed r/o Kokoi Banda - Killed
c. Aftab r/o Dabuna - Killed
d. Yousef r/o Dabuna - Killed
e. Iftikhar r/o Sharlara - Killed
f. Bakht Buland r/o shagai - Killed
g. Abu Saeed r/o Buner - Killed
h. Misbah ud Din r/o Buner - Killedj. Sultan Khan r/o Drushkhela - Killed
k. Ghulam Khaliq r/o Buner - Killed
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4 IPRI Factfilel. Salim r/o Ambela - Killed
m. Sherzada r/o Ambela - Killed
n. Shah Sultan r/o Charbagh - Killed
o. Abdullah r/o Hayasarai - Killed
p. Hameed r/o Mera Shah - Apprehended
q. Miraj r/o Bar Maian - Apprehendedr. Mula Khan r/o Khawazakhela - Apprehended
Operation Rah-e-Raast -The Battle of Swat
In sync with operation at Buner Security forces launched an operation in
Shangla district on 6 May and secured Ramtallai Sar where Security forces
discovered 166 dead bodies. At the same time forces secured Chamtaliai and
Khwazakhela. Meanwhile terrorists who were targeting security forces from
Emrald Mines were targeted where 35 terrorists were killed.
By 9th May 09, main headquarters of militants in Loe Namal and
Matta was completely destroyed on the same day security forces
launched an Op at Gulabad and secured Chakdara and pt 2245 and pt
2266 in Loe Sar were also captured. At this stage terrorists were being
engaged from four directions i.e West, North, East and South.
On 12 May 09, in a surprise action Special Services Group landed at
the heights surrounding Peochar the headquarters of Fazal Ullah and
the main training centre, which was believed to be unreachable and
unconquerable. Here security forces came across tough resistance and
discovered elaborate training facilities, IEDS and bomb making
factories and number of tunnels, 150 feet long and 12 to 15 ft wide.
From ridge to ridge security forces cleaned the area after intense
engagement at every step and finally secured Peochar valley by 20thJune.
By 14th May 09, security forces after clearing Barikot secured the area
upto Bilgram 6 kms short of Mingora.
By 16 May 09, area from Shangla towards Khawazkela was secured
and Biadra Markaz the strong hold of terrorists on Matta Durshkhela
road was destroyed.
By 17 May 09, Op Rah e Rast entered into a new phase. Security
forces entered the town of Matta from East and from West were able
to secure area between Bilogram to Takhtaband and Kanju. At the
same time Mam Dhairi was targeted, killing 15 miscreants. The
capture of this strategic location having tunnels and extensive training
facilities gave a severe below to the resistance of terrorists in the area.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 5
By 21 May 09, Banai Baba Ziarat the highest point in the area and a
main terrorists training centre was captured after intense battle. The
capture of this strategic location having tunnels and extensive training
facilities gave a severe blow to the resistance of terrorists in the area.
On 27 May 09, security forces entered Mingora city and link up
operations from different sides commenced. The terrorists trappedfrom three directions suffered heavily and a number of suicide
attempts and IEDs were foiled/destroyed. Parallel to this a strategic
bridge of utmost importance Wanai Bridge linking Matta with
Peochar was successfully secured.
On 24 May 09, on report of presence of terrorists at Malam Jabba, a
swift operation was launched and cleared in next 36 hours. Malam
Jabba located on main line of communication connects Swat Valley
with Mansehra was being used as a training centre and logistic base by
terrorists. Same day operation from Kanju to secure Kabbal the main
stronghold of militants was launched and Fizaghat and Qambar
Village were secured. By 12 June 09, security forces secured Sakhra Valley, the main route
of terrorists moving from Peochar towards Kalam and other areas.
On 27 May 09, security forces entered Bahrain where they were
welcomed by locals with National flags in their hands, it was secured
in two days and operations towards Kalam and Gulibagh commenced
simultaneously.
By 31st May 09, Mingora was fully secured. Huge cache of Arms,
Ammunition, and Communication equipment were recovered from
different areas. Over 150 IEDs were destroyed and a number of
terrorists killed and apprehended. After securing Mingora, Security
forces turned on Buner axis and secured Najigram, to establish link upwith forces operating at Buner.
On 1st June 09, operation to secure Charbagh was launched alongwith
a link up operation to link Kabbal with Sirsanai.
By 5 June 09, security forces cleared area upto Chakesar Valley and in
other areas Cordon and search operation at a fast pace were
conducted. At the same time the local Lashkar surrounded 4 villages
of terrorists in Upper Dir killing 20 of them.
By 12 June 09, security forces secured Chuprial after intense
engagements. Here a comprehensive training center with a tunnel 150
feet long and 12 feet wide was discovered after eliminating 40
terrorists. On 15 June 09, Aligrama was secured and huge cache of arms and
ammunition was recovered from the area.
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6 IPRI Factfile By 16 June 09, Peochar valley was fully secured and link up of forces
operating in Peochar and Chaprial was established in an area south of
Biha valley. During this operation security forces recovered lot of
IEDs, Arms, Ammunition big and small tunnels and prepared vehicles
for suicide missions and this time Civil Administration became fully
functional in Shangla district and IDPs of Kalam started moving back. On 24 June 09, the culminating operations to clear Shamozai in the
west and Biha Valley in the north commenced. By 26th June Shamozai
was fully secured.
On 30 June 09, the final operation, Op Shah Dheri was launched
from two direction from north Samai Killile was secured and from the
east forces secured Bhoka and Yakh Tangai Sar.
By 1st July 09, Shah Dheri was fully secured alongwith vital link up
operation in the south with District of Buner.
By Ist Jul 09, by the grace of Almighty Allah security forces completed
the securing of Malakand and Swat over an area of 5373 sq kms,
through an intense, courageous and bold operations in an inhospitableenvironment and against an enemy with no face.
The casualty state below bears ample testimony to the courage/valour and
sacrifice of security forces.
Agency wise details of incidents for the year 2009:-
Agency Suicide IED Rkt/SAs Ambush Abduction Phy
Attk
Expl
Dir 2 10 11 0 11 0 1
Swat 5 39 144 17 52 3 5
Total 7 49 155 17 63 3 6
Source: official data.
Date
Own Cas Terrorists Cas
Shaheed Wounded Killed Wounded /
Apprehended
April 2009 1 4 74 0
May 2009 82 246 1152 79
June 2009 61 167 373 144Total 144 417 1599 223
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 7
RA H-E-N I JA T OPERATION B Y A RMED FORCE
17 OCTOBER 2009 ONWARD
A SUMMARY
1. To curb the menace of terrorism in South Waziristan Agency,
Operation Rah-e-Nijat commenced on 17th October 2009.The Operation
was started on three Axes.
a. Jandola-Sararogha Axis
(1) Ist Week
(a) On Jandola-Sararogha Axis area upto Mandana,
Kund and Tarakai feature was secured by Security
Forces on 18th October.
(b) On 19th October Security Forces secured Tor
Ghundai feature and Shishamwam. On the same day
security forces made an envelopment manoeuvre
around town ofKotkai.
(c) On 23rd October Security Forces secured importantfeature of Shishamwam. This important height is
behind Kotkai village thereby seiging Kotkai village
from the east. On 24th October Security Forces took
complete control of important stronghold of TTP, the
town of Kotkai, the native place of terrorists leader
Hakim Ullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain. On the
same date Shishamwam was also fully secured.
(2) 2nd Week
(a) After intense engagements, Security Forces secured the
significant mountain top ofTarkona on 25th October.
Security Forces also progressed well on Jandola-Sararogha axis securing important ridges. Moving
forward ofKotkai Important Road Y Junction was
secured at Kazhakas, the roads leading to Inzar Kalle
and Sararogha on 26th October.
(b) On 27th October Security Forces cleared Village
Zeriwam and dominating hill features along east and
west ridges on main Axis Jandola-Sararogha. The
dominating ridges around main road and village Ganra
Kas and Konar heights were also secured.
(c) After gaining control of Kotkai, the forces moved
towards Sararogha, the Headquarters of CommanderBaitullah Mehsud Group. The town fell on 6
November amidst heavy losses suffered by the militant.
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8 IPRI Factfile(3) 3rd Week
(a) Forces after consolidating their positions in Sararogha
and adjoining areas followed by mopping up operations
advanced towards Ahmed Wam which was secured on
13 November. A huge cache of arms and ammunition
was recovered.
(b) Torman fell to the troops on 13 November.
(c) Forces captured Janata on 17 November and recovered
huge cache of arms and ammunition. It was followed
by the fall of Barora Niazi on 23 November and Mir
Khoni on 25 November.
(d) To date the most important phase of operation is in
good progress. On Jandola-Sararogha Sector the
important stronghold ofSararogha has been cleared.
(e) On Shakai-Kaniguram Sector, Karma the stronghold
ofUzbeks has been cleared alongwith Kaniguram. On
Razmak-Makeen Sector security forces had cleared
Makeen.
b. Shakai-Ladha Axis
(1 Ist Week
(a) On Shakai-Ladha Axis Boya Narai and Wuzi Sar
were captured on 18th October.
(b) Sherwangi was also secured on 19th October.
(c) On 20th October Security Forces further consolidated
their positions at Sherwangi. The important heights
surrounding Sherwangi were secured and terrorists
had vacated their positions leaving behind arms and
ammunitions. On 21st October security Forces clearedKhaisura Village linking up with Tiarza Fort. While
extending perimeters of security in North of
Sherwangi security Forces also secured area of
Gurgura Sar.
(d) Security Forces secured Chalwasti village on main
Shakai-Kaniguram-Ladha axis on 23rd October.
(2) 2nd Week
(a) Security Forces also cleared area along road
Sherwangi-Ladha Axis uptill road track junction.
(b) Till 28th of October security forces had achieved
substantial success on all three axes.(c) In anticipation of stiff resistance from militants in
Kaniguram, another strongholds of the militants, the
SSG captured all the strategic heights of Karwan
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 9
Manza, which overlooks Kaniguram. The capture of
these dominating heights resulted in the fall of
Kaniguram, Asman Manza on 2 November followed
by steadily advances towards Karama, the home town
of commander Wali-ur-Rehman, the chief commander
of Taliban chapter of South Waziristan.
(3) 3rd Week
(a) After consolidating positions in Kaniguram, forces
moved towards Ladha, another important town and
home town of militant commander Shamin. The town
witnessed fierce fighting and eventually it fell on 17
November, in which the militant suffered heavy
casualties and left behind huge cache of arms and
ammunition.
(b) The strategically located dry Nullah of Kot Langer
Khel was captured on 13 November but forces
suffered heavy losses as the militant ambushed the
convoy of the security forces with IEDs and smallarms. However they responded quickly by killing nearly
dozens militants and completely sanitized the area till
the heights overlooking Makeen.
(c) The forces captured the strategic located feature of
Kund Mela on 1 December and destroyed large
numbers of IEDs which were planted on various
tracks.
c. Razmak-Makeen Axis
(1) Ist Week
(a) On Razmak-Makeen Axis important features and
tactical heights were secured on 18th October.(b) Meanwhile Security Forces consolidated their positions
at Razmak and effectively blocked the roads leading
from Makeen.
(2) 2nd Week
(a) Security Forces also secured Shagha feature and
Sharakai Sar in Nawazkot area. These heights
dominate Road Nawazkot-Makeen and area all
around.
(b) On 27th October security forces surrounded
Nawazkot and dominated the important ridges ahead
ofNawazkot. Forces also regained control of old FCPost.
(c) On 29th October after fully securing Sharakai Sar
security forces successfully moved forward and secured
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10 IPRI FactfilePakalita and Manza Sar along main axis Razmak-
Makeen. Important heights of Dralima and Ahnei
Kalle were secured on 30th October.
(d) The forces after overcoming resistance moved towards
China which fell on 2 November and thus exposed
Makeen.
(3) 3rd Week
(a) Nawaz Kot was cleared on 21 November, Marobi
Rogha captured on 24 November, while Makeen
Laghad was secured on 30 November and now troops
are gradually moving towards Ladha, where the
militants have blocked their advances by occupying the
ridges overlooking Makeen.
(b) The important stronghold of Kaniguram was
surrounded from three directions and forces had made
good progress onJandola-Sararogha Axis along with
securing important heights in Nawazkot area on
Razmak-Makeen Axes.
Casualty state is as under:
CASUALTY STATE OPERATION RAH-E-NIJAT
Date Own Terrorists
Shaheed Wounded Killed Injured Arrested Surrendered
October 34 103 322 0 6 0
November 35 69 266 0 19 0
December 1 2 1 0 26 0
Total 70 174 589 0 51 0
Source: Official data.
CA SUA L TIES SUFFERED BY A RMED FORCE 2009-2010
A SUMMARY
Casualty State: Operation Rah-e-Rast: 27-4-2009 to 24-6-2009
Date Own Terrorists
Shaheed Wounded Killed Injured Arrested Surrendered
Total 193* 658** 1537 818 1717 0* Including 14 Officers)
** Including 36 Officers)
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 11
Casualty State Operation Rah-e-Nijat: 17-10-2009 to 8-2-2010
Date Own Terrorists
Shaheed Wounded Killed Injured Arrested Surrendered
Total 1 11 7 1 210 0
Casualty State: 2001 to 14 January 2011
Dated Army/FC
Shaheed Wounded
2001 onward 2675 8317
Casualty State-FATA 2009-2010
Date Civilians
2009-2010 Shaheed Wounded
2060 4266
Casualty State during Suicide Bombing/Attacks All Over the Country
Civilians
Shaheed Wounded
2815 7638
Source: Official Data
2009 YEAR OF TERRORISM
Pakistan is at war, and this time the war is not at its borders with an enemy
country. This war is with its own people and within its own territory. Some call
it Americas war whereas the government and the army call it Pakistans own
war.
This war has plagued Pakistan's provinces of North West Frontier
Province (NWFP) [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa], Balochistan, and Punjab with
violence between militants and government security forces as well as terrorist
activities against innocent civilians. Though, the nature of these violent
incidents and terrorist attacks seem similar all over the country, the causes of
the conflicts vary in different regions.
In NWFP, the worst hit province in terms of terrorism, Operation Rah-e-Rast against pro-Taliban groups displaced hundreds of thousands of people
in April and May 2009. The operation wrapped up on July 7, 2009 with 1,600
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12 IPRI Factfileextremists killed and 158 soldiers martyred. During the operation, around
300,000 people of Swat took refuge in camps or with relatives.
Not only displacement, residents of the province also bear the brunt of
the terrorist attacks in the country. Around 87 such incidents took place in the
province, including suicide attacks, hand grenade attacks, rocket and mortar
attacks and blasts with remote control devices. At least 824 people, including
228 security officials of different organizations and grades, were killed in
attacks during the year.
Attack on shrine of a 17th century Sufi poet - Rehman Baba - in the
Akhund Baba graveyard of Peshawar to discourage shrine culture shocked
the nation. A letter delivered to the management of the mausoleum three days
before the attack had warned against its promotion of shrine culture.
In Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province, tribal militants
are engaged in a long-running, low-level insurgency to gain greater control of
the region's natural resources and political power. Analysts say Afghan Taliban
groups are also using Baluchistan as a base. Most of the 37 terrorist acts
reported from the province were incidents of sectarian violence. Around 66
people, including 11 security officials, were killed in the terrorist attacks. Thosekilled include 3 academicians, 1 cardiologist, Balochistan Chief Mines
Inspector, Balochistan Education Minister, Vice President of Jamhoori Watan
Party, Chairman of Hazara Democratic Party, leader of Fiqah Jafria, and leader
of Jammat Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat Noorani.
Some of the militant violence has spilled into other parts of Pakistan,
with suicide and armed attacks on troops and the country's main cities.
In Punjab, 315 people were killed in 20 terrorist attacks. Those killed
include 62 security officials. The worst terrorist incidents were suicide attacks
at Moon Market, Lahore and Paradeline mosque, Rawalpindi. More than 85
people were killed in the two attacks.
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, didnt remain safe from the terrorwave and 28 people were killed in 10 terrorist attacks. Some of the important
incidents include suicide attack at UN World Food Program (WFP) office and
suicide attack at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Violence erupted in Sindh after suicide attack on Ashura procession at
M A Jinnah Road, Karachi on December 28... just 3 days before the new year.
The province remained relatively safe during the year. At least 53 people were
killed in 17 terrorist activities. Majority of these incidents were target killings or
shooting incidents, which apparently had sectarian motives behind them.
Following is a time line of major terrorist attacks in all four provinces of
the country.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 13
Terrorist Attacks in NWFP
January 4: A suicide bomber was killed while two people sustained
injuries near a check-post in Officers Colony in Bannu. The suicide
bomber blew himself up in an attempt to target a check-post but
could not succeed as the bomb exploded before he could reach his
target. January 4: Ten persons, including 4 policemen, were killed and 27
others injured in two bomb blasts near the Polytechnic College in
Dera Ismail Khan.
January 17: In the first incident of its kind in Peshawar, religious
scholar Pir Hafiz Rafeeullah, who was kidnapped on January 16,
was reportedly slaughtered and his decapitated body was found in
the Matani area of the capital on the morning of January 17.
January 20: Four policemen and 4 civilians were injured when a
police patrol van was hit by a roadside bomb on Ring Road in the
Hazarkhwani area of Peshawar.
January 23: Two SF personnel were killed in a car suicide attacknear Mingora town in the Swat District of NWFP.
January 26: At least 5 people have been killed and several wounded
in a bomb blast in Dera Ismail Khan. The bomb, attached to a
bicycle, went off on a busy main road.
February 3: One man was killed and 18 others injured in a hand
grenade attack on a Sunni mosque at Mohallah Joginwala in Dera
Ismail Khan district.
February 5: A suicide attacker detonated an explosive-laden car near
a police station in the Mingora town of Swat District, injuring a
dozen officers and destroying part of the building.
February 9: At least 18 FC personnel were injured in amini-truck
suicide attack on the Baran Pul check-post of the Frontier Reserve
Police (FRP) in the jurisdiction of Bakkakhel police station in
Bannu District.
February 11: Alamzeb Khan, a Member of Provincial Assembly
from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP), was killed and 7
others were injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Momin
Town in Peshawar.
February 17: Five people were killed and 17 injured in a car bomb
blast outside the Hujra (male guest house) of the union council
chief in Bazidkhel village of Peshawar.
February 20: At least 32 persons were killed and 145 others injured
when a suicide bomber exploded himself in the funeral procession
of a slain employee of the Tehsil Municipal Administration near the
busy Shubra Square in Dera Ismail Khan.
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14 IPRI Factfile February 23: A police guard was killed when he flung himself onto a
suicide bomber to prevent him from entering a compound in
Bannu. The attacker was trying to enter the compound, where
judges and senior police officials live and work, when the guard
intercepted him. Two other police guards were wounded in the
attack.
March 5: One person was killed and 19 others sustained injuries
when a hand-grenade hurled by unidentified miscreants at
worshippers exploded in Ameer Hamza mosque in Dera Ismail
Khan.
March 5: Suspected Taliban militants blew an ancient shrine of a
17th century Sufi poet - Rehman Baba - in the Akhund Baba
graveyard of Peshawar. A letter delivered three days before the
attack to the management of the mausoleum had warned against its
promotion of shrine culture.
March 7: Eight persons, including five policemen, two Frontier
Corps personnel and a civilian, were killed in a remote-controlled
car bombing at Mashugagr village in Peshawar. Some villagers alsosustained minor injuries.
March 11: The NWFP Senior Minister and Awami National Party
leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour survived an assassination attempt that
left six persons, including two suspected suicide attackers, dead in
Namak Mandi in Peshawar. Four persons, including a young girl,
were wounded in the firing, grenade attack and suicide blast.
March 18: Five people including three policemen were killed and
four injured when over 100 unidentified armed men attacked a
police vehicle at the entrance of the University of Malakand at
Chakdara in Lower Dir District.
March 30: Seven persons, including 5 Army soldiers, were killed and9 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his
explosive-laden car into a military convoy near a filling station on
the Bannu-Miranshah Road.
April 5: Police found bullet-riddled bodies of four local aid workers,
including three women, in Shinkiari area of Mansehra District.
April 15: At least 18 persons, including nine policemen, were killed
and five others injured when a suicide bomber rammed an
explosives-laden vehicle into the Harichand Police Post in
Charsadda District.
April 18: At least 27 SF personnel were killed and 55 others injured
in a suicide attack on a security check post in the Doaba area ofHangu District.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 15
April 26: 12 children were killed after playing with a bomb that
resembled a football. The children died after the toy-like-bomb
exploded in Lower Dir District.
May 1: The ISPR spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said two
Frontier Corps personnel were killed when a suicide bomber blew
up a booby-trapped house in the Buner District.
May 4: A suicide car bomber killed 4 SF personnel and wounded 8
persons in the outskirts of Peshawar.
May 5: Seven people, including 2 children and a Frontier Corps
soldier, were killed and 48 others sustained injuries when an
explosives-laden car rammed into a pick-up near a check-post on
the Bara road near Peshawar.
May 11: At least 10 people died and 27 were injured as a suicide
bomber blew up his explosives-laden vehicle near a Frontier Corps
check post in the outskirts of Darra Adam Khel.
May 16: Two handicapped children and 2 of their teachers were
among 11 people killed in a car bomb blast at congested City
Circular Road, Peshawar. At least 33 people were injured. May 16: Six people, including two women and two children,
sustained minor injuries when a low-intensity explosive device went
off in a busy market in Peshawar.
May 22: At least 10 people were killed and 65 others were injured
when a powerful car bomb exploded near the Tasveer Mahal
Cinema hall in the busy Kabuli Chowk area.
May 28: Three policemen were killed and 9 others injured in a
suicide attack on a police vehicle at the Sra Khawra security post on
the Kohat road in the jurisdiction of Matani Police station on the
outskirts of Peshawar.
May 28: A policeman and 2 passers-by were killed and 13 peoplewounded when a suicide attacker exploded an auto-rickshaw near a
police checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan.
June 5: A suicide bomber killed 49 worshippers, including 12
children, at a mosque in a remote village of the Dir Upper District.
Dozens more were injured in the blast just before Friday
congregation in the Hayagay Sharqi village.
June 7: One non-commissioned officer was killed and five others
were injured in an attack on security forces' convoy transporting
TNSM deputy chief Maulana Alam and spokesman Amir Izaat to
Peshawar, the NWFP capital. Both leaders of banned outfits were
also killed in the attack. June 9: A massive truck suicide attack at the five-star Pearl
Continental hotel in Peshawar killed 17 persons and injured 60
others.
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16 IPRI Factfile June 11: A man was killed and 13 others, including 9 policemen,
sustained injuries in a hand grenade-cum-suicide attack on a police
party in the Lateefabad area on Ring Road in Peshawar.
June 11: NWFP Minister for Prisons Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel was
seriously injured and his two guards were killed when his convoy
was ambushed by suspected militants in Darra Adam Khel.
June 12: Five worshippers were killed and 105 others sustained
injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden van
into a mosque during the Friday prayers in the Cantonment area of
Nowshera. Two soldiers were among the four persons killed on the
spot while most of the 105 wounded were reportedly Army
personnel.
June 14: Nine people were killed and over 40 injured when a
powerful explosion ripped through a busy market in Dera Ismail
Khan.
June 22: Two policemen were killed and 7 people, including 3
policemen, sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his
explosive-laden vehicle into the Thakot Police check-post inBattagram District.
June 24: Three policemen, including an officer, were killed when
some miscreants fired rockets and mortar shells at the Arbab Tapu
check-post in the jurisdiction of Matani Police Station.
July 2: Two policemen were killed and an equal number of people
sustained injuries when Taliban targeted a police vehicle with a
remote-controlled device in Peshawar.
July 9: A Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) employee
was killed and three injured when Taliban militants blew up an
electricity pylon using a remote-controlled device in Merra Suraizai
Payan village on the outskirts of the provincial capital Peshawar. July 15: Two people, including an official of the UNHCR, were
killed and another injured when suspected Taliban militants
attempted to abduct UN officials at the Katcha Ghari Refugee
Camp in Nasir Bagh.
July 15: Two children were injured in a rocket attack. Taliban
militants fired three rockets from an unidentified location into the
city at about 12:30pm, and one of them hit a house in Sethi Town,
injuring a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy.
July 20: Suspected militants of the Mangal Bagh group killed four
policemen in an ambush on the outskirts of Peshawar.
August 2: In the southern Mashogagar village, terrorists killed aprayer leader Qari Roohul Amin of Sulemankhel, who had been
abducted on June 29, and placed three kilograms of explosives with
his body to trigger it with a remote control device in the hope that
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 17
policemen would come close to it. Officials of the bomb disposal
squad, however, defused the explosives without any damage.
August 2: Militants shot dead two policemen in Paharipura. A squad
of the Paharipura Police Station was ambushed by unknown
gunmen in Islamabad town of Peshawar around 2:30 am while
patrolling the streets.
August 10: Militants fired rockets at a paramilitary checkpoint in
Peshawar, killing two civilians. The pre-dawn rocket attack targeted
a Frontier Corps base in the city's Hayatabad neighborhood.
August 16: A soldier was killed and three others sustained injuries in
a suicide attack near a SFs checkpoint in the Swat District.
August 17: Seven people were killed and eight others injured when a
bomb placed in a vehicle exploded at a filling station in the
Shabqadar area in Charsadda.
August 18: Suspected militants beheaded a man kidnapped from the
Matani area on August 12. Kabir Hussain, who had come from the
US and was kidnapped on his way from Peshawar airport to his
village Dabori in Kohat District. August 22: Two persons were killed and three others injured in a
suicide blast in Hayatabad area. The blast occurred in sector N-I
Phase IV of the area near the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC).
August 23: Three persons were killed and 15 others sustained
injuries in a powerful suicide blast close to the house of the slain AI
spokesman, Mobin Afridi, in the Momin Town area of Peshawar
August 30: At least 16 police recruits were killed and 11 others
sustained injuries after a suicide bomber detonated explosives
strapped to his body at the Mingora Police Station.
September 4: Suspected militants shot dead two FC troopers in
Nasir Bagh suburbs of Peshawar early in the morning while theywere patrolling the area.
September 12: Two policemen were injured in a suicide blast near
Doaba Police Station in the Hangu District.
September 18: At least 33 people were killed and more than 50
injured in a suicide car blast in Kohat District.
September 26: Two suicide attackers separately rammed their
explosives-laden vehicles into a Police station in Bannu and a
military-owned commercial bank in Peshawar cantonment area,
killing at least 27 people and injuring around another 200.
September 28: At least four persons, including a prominent anti-
Taliban cleric, were killed when a suicide bomber rammed hisexplosives-laden vehicle into a car at Bannu.
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18 IPRI Factfile October 6: A woman, a minor girl and a boy sustained injuries when
a rocket hit a house in Miskeenabad under the jurisdiction of
Bhanamari Police Station, Peshawar at around 2 am.
October 9: At least 56 persons, including a woman and seven
children, were killed and 112 others were injured when a suicide
attacker detonated his explosives-laden car at the crowded Soekarno
Chowk in Khyber Bazaar in Peshawar.
October 12: At least 47 persons, including 9 security officials, were
killed and 45 others were injured in a suicide attack on a military
convoy in the Alpuri area of Shangla District, NWFP.
October 15: At least 11 persons, including 3 policemen, were killed
and 22 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed an
explosives-laden vehicle into the building of the Saddar Police
Station located in the military area of Kohat.
October 15: An eight-year-old boy, identified as Hamza, was killed
and 12 persons, including two policemen, were wounded when a
powerful bomb exploded in a three-storey building in the officers
colony of provincial capital Peshawar. October 16: At least 12 persons, including three policemen, were
killed and 24 others sustained injuries after a suicide bomber
rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the CIAs Special
Investigation Unit in Peshawar.
October 23: At least 15 people were injured in a bombing outside a
restaurant in the Hayatabad area. The bomb was planted in a car.
October 28: A remote-controlled car bomb killed 117 people
including women and children and injured around 200 others at
the Meena Bazaar in Peshawar.
November 8: At least 18 people, including a local councillor heading
an anti-Taliban Lashkar (militia), were killed and 44 others injuredwhen a suicide bomber blew him up in a cattle market at Adezai
village, 25 km south of the capital city of Peshawar.
November 9: Three persons, including a policeman, were killed and
5 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber riding an auto-
rickshaw blew himself up at a police barricade on the Ring Road in
the Latifabad area of Peshawar.
November 10: Suicide car bomb blast at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk,
Charsadda. Thirty two people were killed and 80 were injured in the
incident.
November 12: Syed Abul Hassan Jaffry, media manager of the
Iranian consulate in Peshawar, was shot dead near his home inGulbarg. Jaffry was going to his office when he was shot at point-
blank range as he turned his car towards the Swati Phatak.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 19
November 13: At least 17 people, including 10 military personnel,
were killed and 60 injured when a suicide bomber on an explosive-
laden Shehzore truck detonated the explosive material in front of
the regional headquarters of the ISI in Peshawar.
November 13: Twelve people, including 5 security officials, were
killed and 26 injured in a suicide attack at a Police Station in the
Bannu town of Bannu District.
November 14: At least 12 persons, including a policeman and a
three-year-old child, were killed and another 35 injured when a
suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at police
check post in Pashta Kharra Chowk, Peshawar.
November 16: Four persons were killed and more than 30 others
sustained injuries in a suicide car bombing which targeted the
Badhber Police Station on the Kohat Road near Peshawar.
November 19: At least 20 people, including three policemen, were
killed and 50 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up
at the main gate of the Judicial Complex on Khyber Road in
Peshawar. November 19: A bomb attack on the police van ripped through the
vehicle, killing two policemen on the spot and wounding five
civilians on the outskirts of Peshawar.
November 25: The cleaner of an oil tanker, used for NATO forces
in Afghanistan, was killed and its driver injured when unidentified
gunmen attacked the vehicle on the Ring Road near Tor Baba.
November 26: A remote-controlled bomb blast injured three
people, including two policemen and a young girl, and destroyed an
electricity pylon in Bashirabad area.
November 30: Two police officials were injured when unidentified
armed men attacked their vehicle on the Indus Highway, police said. December 1: A leading politician, Shamsher Ali Khan, was
reportedly killed when a suicide bomber targeted a guest house
where he was present. Another 8 people, including his brother, were
injured in this attack.
December 3: A police official was injured in an explosion at a police
check-post in the Ragai area of capital Peshawar.
December 5: At least four people, including a women, were killed
and 12 people were injured in a car bomb explosion at United Plaza,
Tehkal Market, University Road, Peshawar.
December 7: At least 12 people, including 2 policemen, were killed
and 50 were injured in a suicide attack outside a court in Peshawar. December 22: A suicide bomber blew himself at the gate of the
Peshawar Press Club, killing 3 persons including a policeman, and
injuring 17 others.
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20 IPRI Factfile December 24: At least 5 people, including a policeman, were killed
and 24 were injured in a suicide attack near State Life Building,
Saddar, Mall Road, Peshawar.
Terrorist attack in Balochistan
January 4: Armed men killed a trooper of the BalochistanConstabulary, identified as Abdul Hakeem, in the Shallkot area of
Quetta. The attack appeared to be a targeted killing.
January 5: Unidentified assailants killed two Shias on Kirani Road,
Quetta, despite tight security arrangements due to Muharram.
January 10: Unidentified men killed a central leader of the Fiqah
Jafferia along with his guard in Sibi District.
January 14: Unidentified assailants killed four policemen, including a
DSP in a shootout on Siryab Road. Three of the murdered
policemen belonged to Hazara community and were Shia.
January 26: Hussain Ali Yousafi, chairman of the Hazara
Democratic Party, was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in thesouthwestern city of Quetta.
February 2: John Solecki, head of the UN High Commission for
Refugees office in Quetta, was kidnapped and his driver was killed
after his vehicle was ambushed in Quetta.
February 2: Unidentified gunmen killed a Shia trader in Quetta in an
attack apparently linked to the recent cycle of sectarian killings in
the provincial capital.
February 18: In a suspected sectarian incident, unidentified men
killed the Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat-Noorani provincial
leader Maulana Iftikhar Ahmed Habibi in Quetta.
February 24: A Shia trader and three of his sons were shot dead inan apparent sectarian attack on Sariab Road, Quetta.
March 1: In an apparent act of sectarian violence in Quetta,
unidentified men murdered a man and his son, both from the Shia
sect. The motorcycle borne attackers opened fire on the victims at
their shop on Quettas Double Road.
March 2: Six people were killed and 12 others, mostly students,
sustained injuries in a suicide attack on a madrassa (seminary) in Kili
Karbala in the Pishin District. The Jamaat-Ulema-i-Islam (Fazlur
Rehman faction JUI-F) provincial chief Maulana Muhammad Khan
Shirani, the Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah
Agha and provincial ministers belonging to the party were attendinga ceremony at the seminary when a 15-year-old boy blew himself up
in front of the stage. However, all the JUI-F leadership escaped
unhurt.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 21
March 3: Five Shias were killed in Quetta when unidentified
assailants attacked members of a family in the city.
March 9: Unidentified men on a motorbike killed two Shias in an
apparent sectarian attack in Quetta. The victims were shot in their
car on Kirani road, on the outskirts of the Balochistan capital.
April 22: Unidentified militants threw a hand grenade at policemen
deployed on the outskirts of Quetta, injuring four policemen and a
passerby. Police personnel were on duty in the Hazar Ganji area.
May 3: Unidentified assailants shot dead two policemen on the
Arbab Karam Khan Road.
May 28: At least five persons, including a woman, were killed when
unidentified attackers opened indiscriminate fire on a customer
service centre on Kalat Street, Jail Road, Quetta.
June 22: Three Shias, including a union council chief, were killed in
Quetta by unidentified men in a suspected sectarian incident.
Unidentified armed men reportedly opened fire on Talib Agha,
Union Council 47 chief in Quetta, when he was on his way home
along with his driver and security guard. June 23: The principal of the Government Commerce College was
shot dead by two motorcycle borne assailants in a suspected
sectarian incident in Quetta.
July 23: Haji Mohammad Mohsin, principal of the Government
High School in Sariab Mills, was going to school when armed men
riding a motorcycle opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.
July 24:Unidentified assailants shot dead a Professor of the
Government Degree College on the Sariab Road.
July 29: A woman was killed and six persons, including two SF
personnel, were injured in a grenade attack on a check-post of the
Frontier Corps (FC) in the Sairab Road area. June 30: Four people were killed and 11 wounded when a bomber
targeted a hotel in Kalat in the first-ever suicide attack in
Balochistan. The attack in Kalat District appeared to be aimed at
disrupting supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
July 31: Two SF personnel were killed while three others sustained
injuries when unidentified miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at a
security vehicle on the Spiny Road area.
August 12: Two persons were killed and six others sustained injuries
in a bomb blast and firing incident in the Irrigation Colony area on
Sariab Road, Quetta.
August 17: Cardiologist Dr Abid Iqbal Zaidi was shot dead byunidentified armed men on the Fatima Jinnah Road.
August 17: A man and his two sons were shot dead by unidentified
armed men on Sirki Road.
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22 IPRI Factfile September 5: Unidentified militants hurled two hand grenades on
the City Police Station building, injuring 21 persons including six
policemen.
September 8: Suspected Taliban militants set ablaze eight oil tankers
near the Western Bypass, when the tankers were carrying fuel for
NATO forces in Afghanistan.
October 8: Three police officials were injured in a bomb blast at the
Spiny Road. The blast took place near a police van which was on a
routine patrol on the road.
October 12: Unidentified armed men killed the Balochistan Chief
Mines Inspector on Sariab Road in Quetta. Ashraf Ali was a
member of the Shia Hazara community.
October 13: In another incident of target-killing, the Jamhoori
Watan Party Vice-President, Muhammad Aslam Mirza, and his
driver were shot dead by unidentified armed men in the Shalkot
area.
October 15: Two persons, including a Frontier Corps trooper, were
killed and five others injured in terrorist attacks in Quetta October 23: Unidentified gunmen killed an official of the
intelligence Bureau (IB), Tanveer Raza, while he was walking on
Zargoon Road near the office of the Railways divisional
superintendent.
October 25: Unidentified gunmen killed the Balochistan Education
Minister Shafiq Ahmed Khan, a member of the Pakistan Peoples
Party, outside his residence on Thogai Road, while his brothers
father-in-law, Hydayat Jaffar, was injured in the same attack.
November 7: 13 people, including two children and a trooper, were
injured when a hand grenade exploded at a Frontier Corps
checkpost near Meezan Chowk. November 17: DIG Police (Operations) Shahid Nizam Durrani and
his driver were injured in a bomb blast on Spiny Road. Eight
persons, mainly policemen, were injured in the blast.
November 23: Two policemen were shot dead in Quetta in what
appeared to be a case of target killing. The policemen, Sardar
Muhammad Samalani and Syed Amir Muhammad Khilji, were on
routine patrol on Qambrani Road when unidentified assailants
opened fire at them, police said.
December 7: A car bomb blast injured nine persons and damaged
several vehicles and shops at the main gate of the Junior Assistant
Colony in the Chaman Housing Society, Quetta. December 8: The Saryab station house officer and two other
policemen were injured in a hand-grenade attack on a police convoy
on the Sabzal Road in Quetta of Balochistan.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 23
Terrorist Attacks in Punjab
February 5: At least 32 persons were killed and 48 others wounded
when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself amidst a crowd of
Shia worshippers outside a mosque in Dera Ghazi Khan.
February 7: At least 7 officers were killed in an ambush attack on a
checkpoint in Mianwali in Punjab. March 3: A convoy carrying Sri Lankan cricketers and officials in
two buses was fired upon by 12 gunmen, near the Gaddafi Stadium
in Lahore. The cricketers were on their way to play the third day of
the second Test against the Pakistani cricket team. Six members of
the Sri Lankan cricket team were injured. Six Pakistani policemen
and two civilians were killed.
March 16: At least 15 people were killed and 25 injured when a
suicide bomber blew himself up near a busy bus stand at Pirwadhai
in Rawalpindi.
March 30: Nine people, including 8 police recruits and a civilian,
were killed and 93 cadets and civilians were injured when about 10terrorists attacked the Manawan Police Training School in Lahore
with guns and grenades.
April 05: A suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of an
Imambargah at Chakwal in Punjab province, killing 24 people,
including three children, and injuring 140 others.
May 27: At least 27 people were killed and 326 were injured in a
suicide car bomb blast near offices of the capital city police officer
(CCPO) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Lahore. An ISI
colonel and 15 police officials were among those killed.
June 12: Seven persons, including a prominent anti-Taliban cleric
Sarfaraz Naeemi, were killed and seven injured when a suicide
attacker detonated himself at the Jamia Naeemia madrassa
(seminary) in the Garhi Shahu area shortly after Friday prayers.
July 2: At least 7 people were killed and 36 persons were injured
when a young suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into a bus
carrying employees of the Army-run Heavy Mechanical Complex at
the Peshawar Road near Chur Chowk in Rawalpindi.
August 20: Eight people, including 4 policemen, were injured when
a bomb exploded close to a police patrol car on the Misryal road in
Rawalpindi.
September 6: Three policemen were shot dead in Hasan Abdal in
apparent act of targeted killing.
October 10: At least 14 people, including six soldiers, five SSGcommandos, three hostages, were killed in an attack on Pakistan
Army General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
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24 IPRI Factfile October 15: At least 19 people, including 14 security officials, were
killed and 41 others sustained injuries in three separate terror attacks
in Lahore. The attacks were carried out at the Federal Investigation
Agency (FIA) building on the Temple Road, the Manawan Police
Training School and the Elite Police Academy on the Bedian Road.
October 23: Eight persons were killed and 17 others sustained
injuries when a suicide bomber exploded himself at a police check-
post on the GT Road near the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
(PAC) in Kamra in the Attock District.
October 24: A Motorway police official was killed when a suicide
bomber detonated his explosives-laden car near Lillah Interchange
close to Kalar Kahar.
November 2: At least 35 persons, including two women and
children, were killed and 63 others sustained injuries when a suicide
bomber blew himself up outside a branch of the National Bank of
Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
December 4: At least 42 people were killed and 77 people were
injured in firing and two suicide blasts at Parade Lane Mosque, nearthe Pakistani army's headquarters in Rawalpindi.
December 7: Two bomb blasts killed at least 45 people, and injured
more than 100 at the crowded Moon Market in Allama Iqbal area of
Lahore in Punjab. The two bombs exploded 30 seconds apart at
8:45 PM (PST).
December 8: A group of three Taliban militants launched a gun,rocket and suicide attack on the office of ISI, killing at least 12 people
and injuring 18people in Multan, Punjab.
Terrorist Attacks in Islamabad
March 23: A policemen was killed and 2 policemen were injured in asuicide bomb blast at the entrance of the headquarters of the Special
Branch (SB), an intelligence agency of the Federal Capital Police, in
Sitara Market.
April 04: Eight Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel were killed,
and seven others injured, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at
an FC check post on the Margala Road in Islamabad.
June 6: Two policemen were killed and four others injured in a
suicide attack on a Rescue 15 office at Sector G-8 in capital
Islamabad.
September 2: Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi was
injured in a brazen attack in Islamabad while his driver and a policeguard were killed.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 25
October 5: A suicide bomber targeted the United Nations World
Food Programme (WFP) office in Islamabad, killing five persons,
including a UN diplomat and two women employees. Six other staff
members were injured.
October 20: Two suicide bombers targeted the new campus of the
International Islamic University Islamabad in the H-10 sector of
Islamabad, killing at least six students and staff members, including
two female students, and injuring more than 29 others.
October 22: A serving Army brigadier, Moinuddin Ahmad, and his
driver were gunned down in Islamabad.
October 27: A military officer, Brigadier Waqar Ahmad, escaped
death as two gunmen riding a motorbike attacked his car.
November 6: Gunmen opened fire on an army brigadier vehicle in
Islamabad. Brigadier Sohail and his driver were injured in the
incident.
December 2: An official of the Pakistan Navy foiled a suicide attack
on the Naval Headquarters at Zafar Chowk on the Margalla Road in
the national capital Islamabad. However, two Navy personnel werekilled in the attack, while 13 persons were injured.
Terrorist Attacks in Sindh
January 20: In a suspected sectarian incident, unidentified gunmen
shot dead a shop owner from the Ahmadiyya community outside
his house in the Kotri District of Sindh province.
February 1: An explosion in the Saddar Town of Karachi killed one
person and injured two others. One unidentified man - who
fidgeted with the bomb planted in a garbage dump, which caused
the explosion - died and two others sustained injuries.
April 15: A 28-year-old sectarian worker-turned-lawyer was shotdead near Hamdard Dawakhana off the arterial M.A. Jinnah Road in
Karachi. Mazharul Islam, was a former member of the banned
Sunni outfit SSP.
May 22: Four persons were injured in a cross-fire between two
groups after pro-Taliban slogans were found painted on the walls of
a church in Surjani Town, Karachi.
May 24: A senior activist of the banned SSP was shot dead in a
target killing. 40-year old Allauddin was the Lines Area Unit in-
charge of the banned Sunni outfit, and had earlier worked for the
LeJ.
May 27: Another activist of the banned Sunni outfit SSP was shotdead while his son Sufian was injured by two gunmen near a Tandur
in Gulshan-e-Iqbal in the Aziz Bhatti Police limits of Karachi.
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26 IPRI Factfile June 5: Mir Yaqub Bizenjo, legislator from Balochistan, three of his
relatives and a servant were injured after a parcel bomb exploded in
his Defence Society house in Karachi.
July 15: Unidentified men killed the central legal adviser of the
outlawed Sunni group, the SSP, Hafiz Ahmed Buksh, in Model
Colony in Karachi.
July 16: Two more activists of the outlawed SSP, including a guard
of the groups central leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Nadeem, were
killed in Karachi. One of them died at a hospital after being injured
in the clash a day earlier while anothers body was recovered from
Model Colony.
August 17: Armed men shot dead Allama Ali Sher Hyderi, chief of
the banned SSP, along with his associate Imtiaz Phulpoto at
Khairpur in the Sindh province.
September 18: At least three persons sustained bullet injuries during
a sectarian clash, which erupted at Iftar time in the precincts of
Soldier Bazaar Police Station at Karachi in Sindh. The clash took
place between the Shia community and the people belonging to theDeobandi school of thought over the use of loudspeaker during
Iftar.
November 19: Ghulam Muhammad Waezi, a Shia clericm was shot
dead in the Orangi Town area of Karachi, within the jurisdiction of
Tori Bungash Police Station.
November 20: In a suspected sectarian incident, the general
secretary of the banned Sunni outfit SSP Karachi chapter, Engineer
Ilyas Zubair, was shot dead and provincial information secretary,
Qari Shafiqur Rehman Alvi, wounded at Teen Hatti under the
Jamshed Quarters Police Station jurisdiction in Karachi.
December 7: The leader of Pasban-e-Aza, a Shia organization wasshot dead by unidentified militants in a suspected sectarian attack in
the remit of the Brigade Police Station of Karachi. The slain leader
was identified as Syed Shahid Hussain.
December 28: At least 40 people were killed and more than 90 were
injured in a suicide attack on Ashura procession at M A Jinnah
Road. Enraged people set major commercial centers around the
blast scene on fire and burnt dozens of vehicles. Violence erupted
across the city.
December 26: A remote controlled bomb blast injured nearly 26
Shia mourners at Khalifat Chowk in North Nazimabad Town of
Karachi. December 26: Another bomb blast in Orangi Town in Karachi left
24 people injured. Angry mob had resorted to arsons and anti-
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 27
government protests in reaction to the blast.
Samaa TV, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, December 29, 2009,http://www.hrcp-web.org/shownews.asp?id=39
PA K ISTA N L OST $35BN IN 3 YEARS IN WA R ON TERROR :
H INA RA B B A NI
Pakistans direct and indirect cost in the war on terror has been around $35
billion over the last three years, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina
Rabbani Khar said on Friday. She expressed these views during a meeting with
Giuseppe Vegas, Italian deputy minister for economy and finance, who called
on her in Islamabad. She said the public sector development programme
allocation for the next financial year might have to be curtailed due to this
rising cost of war on terror. She said Pakistan had lost the most in the war, as
Pakistani casualties were more than the total number of casualties of all the
NATO forces combined. Vegas said his government would encourage Italian
businessmen and entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan to take benefit from itsgrowing market. He also showed interest in initiating various development
projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in the tourism sector.Daily Times(Lahore), February 20, 2010,
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\02\20\story_20-2-2010_pg7_2
NEW D IMENSIONS OF COUNTER-TERRORISM
Pakistan has gone a long way in countering terrorism over the last one year. Its
civilian government and the military top brass are in harmony on dealing
effectively with the Taliban and other groups that are directly challenging the
writ of the Pakistani state.
The army authorities have shown greater determination to deal firmly
with Islamic militants despite periodic pressures generated on the security
personnel by Islamic parties and orthodox Islamic clerics who question the
legitimacy of these operations and accuse the Pakistani civilian and military
authorities of fighting against Pakistanis at the behest of the US.
Pakistans counter-terrorism security operations, 2009-2010, have four
major features. First, the Swat/Malakand operation initiated on April 26, 2009,
was the first successful attempt by the Pakistan Army, the Air Force and the
paramilitary forces to dislodge the Taliban from a vast territory. The security
operation in South Waziristan was launched in mid-October and by the end of
December the security forces had knocked the Taliban out of most of SouthWaziristan. This was a major loss for the TTP that used South Waziristan as its
headquarters and provided military training to its fighters as well as to the
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 29
mainland Pakistan emboldened the hard-line Islamic clerics and groups in the
cities who began to harass women and others in the name of Islam.
Furthermore, several terrorist attacks in Lahore and other cities in February-
April of last year created a crisis of credibility for the government.
The fear of losing credibility in the face of the Taliban onslaught led the
civilian government and the army to put their foot down vis--vis the Taliban
and other militant elements. Their counter-terrorism operations strengthened
their resolve to dislodge the Taliban because they faced tough resistance from
the Taliban and the army and the paramilitary forces lost over 200 personnel
in Swat/Malakand and the tribal areas in 2009. They also realised that the
Taliban had created a strong military infrastructure with tunnels, weapons
storage and training areas in South Waziristan, Bajaur and other tribal areas.
The army also discovered some evidence of foreign support to the Pakistani
Taliban. Also, the Taliban-backed suicide attacks during October-December of
last year, in various cities, especially in Peshawar, convinced the security
authorities that the Taliban want chaos and anarchy in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies are now taking action
against the Pakistan-based Afghan Taliban because they found out that theAfghan Taliban were helping the Pakistani Taliban in their fight against
Pakistan. The military wants to convey a clear message to the Afghan Taliban
that if they help those fighting the Pakistan Army, then Pakistans security
authorities have the capacity to make their life difficult. Further, the Pakistan
Army and intelligence authorities want to tell the Afghan Taliban that they
cannot be allowed to threaten Pakistans interests in the tribal areas and
Afghanistan.
These arrests are also meant to help the US because Pakistan wants the
current US-led NATO operation to succeed in Afghanistan. Pakistan cannot
afford to let the Afghan Taliban capture power in Kabul, although it would
like more effective Pashtun representation in the Kabul government, includingaccommodation of the Taliban that are willing to give up the military option.
Pakistans cooperation with the current US policy in Afghanistan is
based on the assumption that the US military authorities in the region
recognise Pakistans security sensitivities about Indias role in Afghanistan and
Indias pressure on the eastern border. The other consideration is that the US
would contribute to upgrading Pakistans capacity to fight the Taliban in the
tribal areas. If these understandings persist, Pakistan is expected to continue
with the current counter-terrorism policy.Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, Daily Times(Lahore), March 07, 2010,
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\07\story_7-3-2010_pg3_2
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30 IPRI Factfile
SUICIDES B OMBING AND DR TA HIRUL QA DRI S FA TWA
It is very positive on the part of Maulana Dr Tahirul Qadri for issuing a 600-
page fatwa against the suicide bombing, a thing which should have been done
much earlier, that too by the Ulema in Pakistan as a whole and by leading
scholars of Islam in the Muslim world. It is also encouraging to note DrQadris announcement on CNN and BBC channels that he would alone fight
for the cause if no other Ulema come forward in this direction. One wonders
why the Ulema in Pakistan are particularly mum over the suicide blasts across
the country. No one speaks against it. No one dares to say that suicide
bombing is Haram in Islam, it is against the text of Quran and teachings of the
Holy Prophet. The Ulema have in their access the most effective medium of
communication the mosque. They can tell the people, that: (1) Surah Al-
Maeda, Ayah No. 32 says: He who kills a human being (whether Muslim or
non-Muslim), he has killed the whole humanity. He who saves one life, it is
but equal to saving the whole humanity. (2) In Surah Al-Nisaa, Ayah 29, it is
clearly said that suicide is Haraam: Dont kill yourself, there is no doubt that
Allah is Merciful to you. Committing suicide is equal to interfering in the
working of Allah. It is as equal to rejecting the blessings of Allah the man is
bestowed with. (3) Man is not allowed to kill himself even in the heights of
unbearable pains of disease, despondency and any other circumstances. (4)
When a Muslim valiant fighter in one of the Ghazwas got unbearable wounds
and stabbed himself to death, Hazrat Jundub (RA) heard the Holy Prophet
saying: the man has shut the doors of Jannah in bid to rush to Jannah. His
bravery, his Jehad and all deeds of righteousness which he did in the past all
went down the drain because he took the decision of his life and death in his
hands. (5) The Holy Prophet used to give instructions to the faithful before
going for a Ghazwa, forbidding: No one will attack the unarmed, the women,
the children, the patients, the elders, who offer no resistance, who surrenders,who is given amnesty by anyone from the Muslims. (6) Surah Al-Baqrahs
Ayah 193 says: Dont pick up arms against other than aggressors. (7) There
is famous Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), which says: He who kills himself
by iron shrapnel, will be beaten by the same iron shrapnel in the Hell. It is the
duty of our Ulema, not to stay calm and speak against the menace of suicide
blasts. Luckily, the prestigious Jamia Al-Azhar Egypts Mufti-e-Azam Sheikh-
ul-Azam Qarat Muhammad Abdul Hameed Al Bashar has come out with the
latest fatwa that suicide attacks, in Pakistan, are against the Shariah. He said
Muslims are on both sides and there is no reason to fight against each other.
He urged the Islamic scholars to preach the teachings of Quran and the Holy
Prophet (PBUH). Probably we at the labyrinth of our moral decay that we arenot even ready to pay heed to such Fatwas whereas till the early days of last
century a fatwa by Mufti Azam of Islam had held the status of decree for all
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 31
Muslims of the world. If the masterminds, the Taliban, al-Qaeda men, pro-
Taliban militants of tribal areas are true Muslims, they would pay heed to my
words. Ulema must come forward in footsteps of Dr Tahirul Qadri and launch
a full fledged campaign against suicide bombing as Haram and it has nothing
to do with Jannah but they are the merchants of death and hell. Alya Alvi
Editorial, Daily Mail(Islamabad), March, 9, 2010,http://dailymailnews.com/0310/09/Editorial_Column/DMEditorialMail.php
L ESSONS FROM LA HORE
As though we were watching a replay of action that has taken place before,
terrorists have once more targeted a building belonging to the FIA in Lahore.
A very similar attack on a safe house run by the agency and its principal
building in the city had taken place almost exactly two years ago in March
2008. What is unfortunate is that few lessons have been learnt from that
attack. At that time it was said that all the offices of the security agencies
would be moved out of residential areas. This has not happened. The buildingstruck stood in the residential suburb of Model Town. Had it been shifted,
some loss of life could have been averted with at least one schoolgirl listed
among the 11 persons confirmed so far to have been killed. There are other
lessons, too. As they have done before, both in Lahore and other places, the
terrorists struck early in the morning at a time when security was not present
anywhere in the vicinity. Despite the fact that the building was an obvious
target, there were no pickets around it. What is more, rescue efforts were
impeded by the fact that teams had only their bare hands with which to try and
shift the massive pile of debris left as the FIA building structure collapsed.
One would have thought that by now, with terrorist attacks a not infrequent
event, equipment of some kind would have been provided to the rescue
workers assigned the task of pulling people out of rubble.
Editorial,News International(Rawalpindi), March 9, 2010,http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=227908
TA L IB A N INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR IN PA K ISTA N
The Taliban's presence on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is
largely unwelcome, but increasingly so in Pakistan, where Gallup surveys show
they have lost much of the little appeal they had. Four percent of Pakistanis in
a November-December 2009 poll, conducted prior to Pakistan's current push
to rout the Taliban within its borders, said the Taliban's presence in some
areas of the country has a positive influence, down from 15% in June.
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32 IPRI Factfile
Gallup most recently polled Pakistanis in the particularly deadly period
after the army's anti-Taliban operations in the South Waziristan tribal areastarted in October. Retributive militant attacks across Pakistan reportedly have
claimed more than 600 Pakistanis' lives since then, which the public's
increasingly negative view of the Taliban may reflect.
The Taliban lost support in every region of Pakistan. But nowhere are
they more unpopular than in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP),
ground zero for a full-scale military offensive against the Taliban last May. In
November-December 2009, 1% of NWFP residents said the Taliban have a
positive influence, down from 11% in June. The percentage saying the
Taliban's influence is positive in Baluchistan, which abuts South Waziristan,
dropped from 26% to 5%.
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Pakistan: A Victim of Terrorism (Volume III) 33
On the other side of the border, Afghans agree with Pakistanis that the
Taliban have a negative influence. However, Afghans' views have remained
relatively unchanged despite the Taliban's threats and violence before the
presidential election in August. In both surveys in 2009, roughly 8 in 10
Afghans said the Taliban has a negative influence.
Julie Ray & Rajesh Srinivasan, Gallup, March 12, 2010,http://www.gallup.com/poll/126602/taliban-increasingly-unpopular-pakistan.aspx
TA L IB A N D ISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM A L QA EDA : EXPERTS
The blasts in Lahore are the last desperate measures of pro-Al Qaeda militants
who are now being abandoned by the Taliban, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
The sources also confirmed a Los Angeles Times report, published on
Saturday, that the Taliban militants in Fata were now refusing to collaborate
with Al Qaeda fighters.
The Taliban were declining to provide shelter or assist in attacks inAfghanistan even in return for payment, the report said.
Yes, Pakistani intelligence sources also confirm this assessment, said a
senior diplomatic source who did not want to be identified.
There is a sizeable shift away from Al Qaeda, he said. Very few are
left who still support Al Qaeda. The vast majority is distancing itself from
them.
The pro-Al Qaeda militants had been weakened so much in the tribal
areas that they were shifting their people to other areas inside Pakistan, he said.
In Lahore, they used the Punjabi Taliban to cause Fridays blasts, said the
diplomatic source.
These are the leftovers of the pro-Al Qaeda militants and these are last
desperate measures.
The militants, he said, would ultimately be forced to give up fighting or
be eradicated. They have nowhere to go.
The diplomatic source, like the Los Angeles Times, credited the
Pakistani military operations in Fata for this shift in sentiments against Al
Qaeda. Their operations have been very successful, he said.
The source, however, disagreed with the suggestion that the Haqqani
group was still effectively supporting Al Qaeda.
The Haqqani network is not as effective as the media make it to be.
They too have been weakened. The Pakistani military forces are on a winning
streak and theres no exaggeration in it, he said.
Quoting US military and counter-terrorism officials, the Los AngelesTimes reported that the Afghan Taliban began disassociating themselves from
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34 IPRI FactfileAl Qaeda because they feared that links to the international terrorist network
threatened their long-term survival.
Pakistans stepped up military campaign, along with intensified US
drone strikes in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border regions, had made it riskier
for the Taliban to harbour Al Qaeda fighters, the report said.
The newspaper speculated that Al Qaedas utility to the Taliban could
also be ending. In the past, Al Qaeda was able to offer the Taliban bomb-
making experts, experienced fighters and large amounts of cash for operations
in Afghanistan in return for haven in Taliban-controlled areas near the
Afghanistan-Pakistan border, but with Al Qaedas resources and operational
capacity dwindling, it is perhaps too risky for the Taliban to cooperate with
them, the report said.
However, the Pakistan-based Haqqani network --- a group active in the
Afghan insurgency --- maintained links to Al Qaeda, despite suffering heavy
casualties from drone strikes, the report added.
Al Qaeda fighters are in some cases being excluded from villages and
other areas near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where they once received
sanctuary, US intelligence officials told the Times.Al Qaedas attempts to restore its dwindling presence in Afghanistan
were also running into problems, the officials told the paper.
According to the report, Al Qaeda is believed to have fewer than 100
operatives still in Afghanistan.
Last year, the organisation began offering stipend to Afghans who
would escort its operatives into the country, but there were indications that
many Taliban were refusing this inducement, one US official said.
The Al Qaeda-Taliban rupture has led to a debate within the US
government about whether there are ways to exploit any fissures. One idea
under consideration is to reduce drone strikes against Taliban factions whose
members are shunning contacts with Al Qaeda. The arrest in recent monthsof several top Afghan Taliban leaders may also be leading some Taliban to
reassess their ties to Al Qaeda in hopes of easing pressure from the Inter-
Services Intelligence, the report said.
Anwar Iqbal, Dawn(Islamabad), March 14, 2010,http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-
newspaper/front-page/taliban-distancing-themselves-from-al-qaeda-experts-430
332 TERROR H ITS CLAIMED 5,704 L IVES S INCE 9/11
The extent to which Pakistan has borne the brunt of the US-led War against
Terror can be gauged