SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
|
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia January 18-24, 2010
INDIA Threat of infiltration is growing in Jammu and Kashmir, says Defence Minister A.K. Antony: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on January 23 said that threat of infiltration is growing in Jammu and Kashmir. "The attempts to infiltrate are increasing and our assessment is that this trend will continue because people who are inimical to our country feel that the situation in Jammu & Kashmir is improving. Normality is returning… (which) they cannot tolerate," the Minister said. "So, they want to change the trend. There are more attempts of terrorist attack....Our Armed Forces are always taking precautions. So, rest assured that we will take whatever steps are needed to prevent and defeat this," he said. The Hindu, January 24, 2010. Former Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon appointed as new National Security Advisor: The Union Government on January 21 appointed former Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon as the National Security Advisor (NSA). The notification of Menon’s appointment said he would be the NSA, implying that he would have the same jurisdiction as his predecessor, M.K. Narayanan, who has been appointed Governor of West Bengal. Times of India, January 22, 2010. PAKISTAN 85 militants and 13 civilians among 105 persons killed during the week in FATA: Terrorists killed seven persons across the North Waziristan Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 24, on suspicion of spying for the US. Five bodies were found in Kum Sarobi, one in Norak and another in Haihur. Notes attached to the bodies read "anyone spying for the US will meet the same fate". 14 Taliban militants and three Security Force (SF) personnel were killed while 12 Taliban militants were injured in clashes in Orakzai Agency on January 23. Local sources said three SFs and nine Taliban militants were killed when Taliban attacked the SFs in the Chapri Ferozkhel area of Lower Orakzai Agency. 12 Taliban militants were also injured in the clash. The sources also said that five Taliban militants were killed and 20 were arrested after a clash with the SFs in Khoedakhel area of Upper Orakzai Agency. Troops attacked the stronghold of local and foreign Taliban militants, killing 15 and arresting 25, in the Machis camp near Miranshah in North Wazristan on January 22. At least nine terrorists were killed in clashes between the SFs and terrorists in Mohmand Agency on January 21. The SFs engaged terrorists at several hideouts with helicopter gunships in Matta and Bahadar Killi in Suran Valley, and the Mathai Chaqorai Markaz, Methai Markaz, Jarobai Dara, Gulmain, Shamshah and Shandara areas of the Agency. A terrorist was killed while planting an improvised explosive device (IED) on the Narai-Zara Road. Five Taliban militants, including Ghulam alias Adil, a key ‘commander’, were killed and two others injured in a raid conducted by members of the peace committee at Khewzai area of Mohmand Agency on January 20. Six Taliban militants were killed when a US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Degan village of North Waziristan's Dattakhel tehsil (revenue unit) on January 19. Also, during a search operation, SFs exchanged fire with Taliban militants near Kunar Sar area in Admi Kot area of South Waziristan. 10 Taliban militants were killed and five others arrested during the operation. In Jandola Sector, two soldiers were killed in a bomb blast near Janata, where the SFs defused three roadside bombs. Separately, five Taliban militants, including ‘local commander’ Hamad, were killed when militants opened fire at members of a peace committee in Baizai tehsil in the Mohmand Agency. Two committee members were also killed and two others injured in the clash. SFs killed 10 Taliban militants and arrested five in a clash in North Waziristan on January 18. The clash occurred when the militants opened fire on a checkpoint in the border town of Lwara Mandi, a bastion of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. Troops retaliated and killed 10 militants. Dawn; Daily Times; The News, January 19-25, 2010. Seven militants and four civilians among 12 persons killed during the week in NWFP: At least four persons, including a Security Force (SF) trooper, were killed in a suicide car bombing near a Police Station at Gomal, about 25 kilometres south of Tank District in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), on January 23. "The bomber struck outside the Police Station, killing one Policeman and three passers-by, including two children," District Police Chief Ejaz Abid said. He said 11 persons, including five Policemen, three passers-by and three prisoners in the Police lock-up, were also injured. Meanwhile, the bodies of two tribal elders, who were shot dead by unidentified militants, were found dumped under a bridge on Tank-Wana Road near Pattar village on January 22. Five militants, including a 'commander', were killed in a clash with Security Forces (SFs) in Madyan area of Swat District on January 21. Eight terrorists shot dead two Awami National Party (ANP) activists in Pir Baba area of Buner District on January 19. They were abducted from Beshonai village and were subsequently taken to the Ellam Mountain, where the terrorists opened fire on them, killing them on the spot. Dawn; Daily Times; The News, January 19-25, 2010.
|
To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe.
Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) to a friend.
|