SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
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Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia March 12-18, 2012
BANGLADESH Former ISI chief admits funding BNP during 1991 elections: A former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Asad Durrani, has admitted that the spy agency had funded main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during 1991 general elections as he was summoned to testify in a case before the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on March 14. The SC issued notices to Durrani in a decade-old pending case of retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan. Financial Express, March 17, 2012. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accuses BNP leader Khaleda Zia for trying to save the War Criminals: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 14 reiterated her resolve to try the War Criminals on the soil of Bangladesh. Addressing the opposition leader Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), she commented, "You cannot save them". She further alleged that the BNP chairperson and her husband, Ziaur Rahman, tried to save the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Daily Star, March 15, 2012. INDIA Maoists abduct two Italians in Odisha: Two Italians were abducted by the Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal-Ganjam region in Odisha. While the Maoists claimed responsibility for the abduction through some private news channels around midnight on March 17, there are reports that the Italians may have been abducted on March 14 itself. Setting a deadline for this evening (March 18), the Maoists demanded an immediate halt to combing operations by Security Forces and withdrawal of cases against tribals who, they claim, were arrested as Maoists. Indian Express , March 18, 2012. India under threat of a series of attacks by LeT, says report: Investigations into the recent smashing of a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) module by intelligence agencies has revealed that there is a growing concern among the top hierarchy of terror outfits about the sudden drop in militant activities in India, particularly in the Kashmir Valley and other major cities. This frustration was now creeping into the LeT ranks and they are now more determined than ever to carry out a 'big strike. Asian Age, March 13, 2012. ISI fuelled the NE insurgency, admits ISI: The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has admitted before a three-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhary to meddling in northeast India on March 14. Former ISI chief Asad Durrani made the admission before the bench during a hearing on the ISI's mandate. He also admitted ISI funding the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) during the 1991 general elections in Bangladesh. Daily Mail, March 16, 2012. Manipur's PLA is providing training to Naxal groups in Jharkhand: The Manipur's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is providing training to Naxal [Left Wing Extremist] groups in Jharkhand, says report. "We had information that a group from People's Liberation Army Manipur had travelled to Jharkhand to provide weapons' training to Naxal groups operating here. According to our information a large number of cadres from PLA will join the red outfits here in their fight," said an unnamed senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official. Times of India, March 18, 2012. CPI-Maoist is establishing bases in Northeast, says Union Government: The Union Government has confirmed that Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) is making inroads into Northeastern States and that Centre is closely monitoring the situation. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Jitendra Singh, said in Parliament that the Maoists in Assam have stepped up their activities. Assam Tribune, March 14, 2012. NEPAL Major political parties vow to ensure sustainable peace and timely constitution: The leaders of three major political parties - Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) and Communist Part of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) - on March 13, during A meeting of the Constitutional Committee (CC) under the Constituent Assembly (CA), vowed to ensure sustainable peace and timely constitution as it was the last date (as per the CA's revised works schedule) to forge consensus on remaining contentious issued affecting constitution drafting. Nepal News, March 13, 2012. PAKISTAN 94 militants and 51 civilians among 146 persons killed during the week in FATA: At least 26 terrorists were killed in air strikes by fighter jets in the bordering areas of Orakzai and Kurram Agencies in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 18. Fourteen bullet-riddled bodies were found in Speen Qabar area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency, a day after Security Forces (SFs) left the area after an operation. In addition, SFs resorted to indiscriminate firing and shelling in Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) of North Waziristan Agency, killing five civilians, one of them a child, after two military convoys were attacked. 23 suspected militants were killed when Army planes targeted their positions in Dabori and Mamozai areas of Orakzai Agency on March 17. Also, eight terrorists were killed and several others were injured in aerial bombing in the areas of Samaa Bazaar, Toor Semath, Kagu Qamar, Mamuzai, Jabba, and Balaras of Orakzai Agency. Further, the volunteers of Tawheed-ul-Islam (TuI), a Zakhakhel-based group, killed three suspected militants involved in bomb blasts at Zakhakhel and Tirah areas of Khyber Agency. Elsewhere, three women were killed in a roadside bomb explosion, while two others sustained injuries at Mundi Kas area in Bara tehsil. Eight civilians and six suspected militants, including an Afghan national, were killed during operation in Sipah area of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency on March 14. In addition, at least six members of an anti-Taliban militia were killed and three others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during a meeting of tribal elders at Kotkai village of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency. Also, US drones struck twice in the regions along the border with Afghanistan in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on March 13, killing 15 militants, including two senior 'commanders'. Further, three persons were killed by unidentified militants in Tirah Kukikhel near Spean Khwar in Khyber Agency. SFs killed eight militants during operations in different areas of Upper Orakzai Agency and destroyed three hideouts on March 13. Dawn; Daily Times; The News; Tribune, March 13-19, 2012. Osama bin Laden wanted to attack the US President Barack Obama because that would lead the country into a crisis, reveal documents recovered from Abbottabad compound: Slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had ordered his followers in Afghanistan and Pakistan to attack the aircraft of United States (US) President Barack Obama. Bin Laden wanted to kill the US President because "Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make (Vice President Joe) Biden take over the presidency," according to the documents. Dawn, March 17, 2012. Akbar Bugti wasn't murdered, he committed suicide, claims former President and APML chief Pervez Musharraf: Former President and All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf on March 14 claimed that Nawab Akbar Bugti, the founder of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), was not murdered, but had committed suicide. However, Baloch leader Haribyar Marri denied Musharraf's claims and said that he wants to "escape" after perpetrating decade-long "atrocities" against Baloch locals. Dawn, March 15, 2012. ISI always had political wing, says Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar: Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said on March 12 that there has always been a political wing in the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Prime Minister and the President will be informed about the agency's policies and requirements by newly-appointed ISI Director General Zahirul. Dawn, March 13, 2012. SRI LANKA Army to submit action plan for LLRC implementation: An Action Plan detailing how recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report could be implemented in the country's North, will soon be handed over to the Ministry of Defense by Sri Lanka Army. Acting Spokesman for the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Brigadier G V Ravipriya, on March 12 said a board comprising senior officers of the SLA formulated the Action Plan on how to implement the recommendations stipulated in the LLRC report. Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya had appointed the board about a month ago to formulate the Action Plan, he said. Daily News, March 13, 2012.
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