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Pakistan
Statement:2010
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Date
Incidents
January - 1 
United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the suicide car bombing, reports Dawn. “The United States strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack on civilians in Pakistan, and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims and all the people of Pakistan,” Clinton said in
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United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the suicide car bombing, reports Dawn. “The United States strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack on civilians in Pakistan, and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims and all the people of Pakistan,” Clinton said in a statement. “The Pakistani people have seen terrorists target schools, markets, mosques, and now a volleyball game,” she added. Clinton vowed to support the Pakistani people as Washington urges Islamabad to do more to rout al Qaeda sanctuaries and dismantle havens of militants who cross the border and attack US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan. “The United States will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan in their efforts to chart their own future free from fear and intimidation, and will support their efforts to combat violent extremism and bolster democracy,” she added further.
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January - 3 
Extremists squeezed out of Pakistan and Afghanistan will emerge in struggling states like Yemen and Somalia, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on January 3, according to Daily Times. After the US and Britain agreed to finance a special counter-terror unit in Yemen, Brown said battling the “mu
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Extremists squeezed out of Pakistan and Afghanistan will emerge in struggling states like Yemen and Somalia, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on January 3, according to Daily Times. After the US and Britain agreed to finance a special counter-terror unit in Yemen, Brown said battling the “murderous ideology” of extremist Muslims would likely become “a feature of this decade”. Brown also wants a bigger peacekeeping force in Somalia to tackle violent radicalism in the region. “The weakness of al Qaeda in Pakistan has forced people out of Pakistan and forced them into Yemen and Somalia,” Brown told BBC television. Taking on the al Qaeda terror network in the Tribal Areas has dispersed their organisation and limited their abilities in Afghanistan, he said. “Of course, that means that other centres will appear but they will not have the strength that Al Qaeda had in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We’ve got to be vigilant in every part of the world where there is a failed state or a failing state which creates space for a terrorist group to operate”, he added.
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January - 6 
Around 350 militants were killed by the Security Forces (SFs) in operations while 104 pro-Government elders and volunteers of a peace committee as well as 65 SF personnel were killed in the Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the year 2009, said Mohmand Agency Additional
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Around 350 militants were killed by the Security Forces (SFs) in operations while 104 pro-Government elders and volunteers of a peace committee as well as 65 SF personnel were killed in the Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the year 2009, said Mohmand Agency Additional Political Agent (APA) Ahmed Jan on January 6, according to Daily Times. "We have secured vast areas of land from the militants’ control in a short span of time," Ahmed Jan told reporters from Peshawar. "There are some pockets of [militants’] resistance in the region," he said. He said terrorists’ strongholds in Saafi, Aleemzai, Tarakzai and Pandyalai tehsil (revenue unit) were destroyed and life had returned to normal in the areas.
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January - 8 
Daily Times quoting an interview of Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem reports that a large number of Taliban militants in Swat of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have fled to Karachi and South Waziristan to escape the Army operation Operation Sherdil (lion heart) in Malakand divisi
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Daily Times quoting an interview of Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem reports that a large number of Taliban militants in Swat of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have fled to Karachi and South Waziristan to escape the Army operation Operation Sherdil (lion heart) in Malakand division. "I think these militants have fled to Karachi and Waziristan," Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem told Daily Times in an interview. Nadeem said Intelligence Agencies were on the hunt for these suspected militants in Karachi and some of them had already been arrested. "It is because Karachi is a big city and it is not easy to find someone so easily. Secondly, you can find shelter among fellow Pashtuns who number in tens of thousands," said a man in Matta tehsil (revenue unit), whose militant relative was traced in Karachi. Security Officials in Peshawar said the Swat Taliban, loyal to Fazlullah, were being hunted in Karachi where they might set up a command and control structure to gain a foothold in the country’s financial hub. "Some signs of the Swat Taliban have already been seen in Karachi and the security personnel are working on these leads to arrest them," Intelligence Officials added.
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January - 13 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik categorically said that India was interfering in Balochistan while missing Baloch were forcibly taken to training camps in Afghanistan. He was making a statement in the Senate in response to points of order raised by some members from Balochistan about missing persons.
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik categorically said that India was interfering in Balochistan while missing Baloch were forcibly taken to training camps in Afghanistan. He was making a statement in the Senate in response to points of order raised by some members from Balochistan about missing persons. “Pakistan has identified terrorists training camps established inside Afghanistan for interference in Balochistan,” Malik said.
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January - 13 
Law enforcement agencies have so far arrested 2,200 suspected terrorists from across the country, including 80 suspects from Islamabad, federal capital, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the Senate on January 13, according to Daily Times. “The terrorists were arrested with the help of information
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Law enforcement agencies have so far arrested 2,200 suspected terrorists from across the country, including 80 suspects from Islamabad, federal capital, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the Senate on January 13, according to Daily Times. “The terrorists were arrested with the help of information gathered by intelligence agencies,” he said while responding to points of order raised by senators Haji Ghulam Ali, Shahid Bugti and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. The Interior Minister said Security Forces were rendering invaluable sacrifices in the war against terrorism, adding that the suspects arrested in Islamabad included 11 would-be suicide bombers. Later, while winding up the discussion over the Security situation in Karachi after the Ashura bomb blast, Malik said that two main suspects and 27 rioters, identified through CCTV footage, had been arrested. He said the facts of the incident would be shared with the House within 10 days.
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January - 13 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on January 13 criticised the “discriminatory US attitude” towards Pakistan, and said the US could not win the war in Afghanistan without Pakistan’s support, according to Daily Times. “America can’t fight in Afghanistan without Pakistan. We know our strategic importa
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Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on January 13 criticised the “discriminatory US attitude” towards Pakistan, and said the US could not win the war in Afghanistan without Pakistan’s support, according to Daily Times. “America can’t fight in Afghanistan without Pakistan. We know our strategic importance. No war can be won in Afghanistan without us,” Gilani told the National Assembly on a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The prime minister assured the House that the government would not compromise on the country’s nuclear programme, and said the recent meeting of the National Command Authority had made it “amply clear” that Pakistan could not accept a regional imbalance.
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January - 14 
A US drone targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud in South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 14, said Government officials and tribal sources, with security agencies waiting for confirmation if Hakeemullah is among the 10 militants
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A US drone targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud in South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 14, said Government officials and tribal sources, with security agencies waiting for confirmation if Hakeemullah is among the 10 militants killed in the strike, according to Daily Times. Hakeemullah recently claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) base in Khost province of Afghanistan. “What is confirmed is that Hakeemullah was targeted ... but the strike took place in a remote area where communication lines are very poor ... we don’t have confirmation yet if he is dead,” the official sources said. However, the Associated Press (AP) quoted intelligence officials as saying that Hakeemullah was not among the victims. But Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted a senior security official as saying, “We are receiving reports about his death, but we are not 100 percent sure.” “Local people are saying he was there at the time [of the strike],” Reuters quoted another senior security official as saying. Sources close to the political administration said the drone fired four missiles at a house in Shaktoee – a village in South Waziristan close to the border with North Waziristan. AP put the death toll at 12, while AFP said 15 Taliban militants had been killed. “Shaktoee has been a stronghold of the Taliban, and TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud is believed to have been staying in the region after the military retook lost ground from the group during Operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation),” tribal sources said.
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January - 14 
Giving details of the search operation, Major Sulaiman, Media Coordinator for the Security Force’s operation in Dir Lower, said the SFs launched operation in Jandole area and arrested two militants, whose identity could not be ascertained immediately. Six rocket launchers, four hand-grenades and Kal
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Giving details of the search operation, Major Sulaiman, Media Coordinator for the Security Force’s operation in Dir Lower, said the SFs launched operation in Jandole area and arrested two militants, whose identity could not be ascertained immediately. Six rocket launchers, four hand-grenades and Kalashnikov rifles were recovered.
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January - 14 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on January 13 informed the National Assembly that according to initial reports, a banned organisation, Laskhar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), has been found involved in the Karachi Ashura procession blast, according to The News. “Organisations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TT
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik on January 13 informed the National Assembly that according to initial reports, a banned organisation, Laskhar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), has been found involved in the Karachi Ashura procession blast, according to The News. “Organisations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and al-Qaeda are out to destabilise the country, but the Government will foil their nefarious designs,” he said in his opening statement prior to the start of a debate in the National Assembly on the motion regarding the Karachi incident. Rehman Malik said that the prime minister has already announced a fund of PKR 3.5 billion for compensation to the Bolton market victims, besides, PKR 500 million by the Sindh Government and PKR 1 billion by the United States.
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January - 14 
The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), front organisation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), on January 14 has declared suicide bombings un-Islamic and said those involved in killing of Muslims were playing in the hands of the US, India and Israel, according to The News. “Gun, grenade and suicide attack is no solutio
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The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), front organisation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), on January 14 has declared suicide bombings un-Islamic and said those involved in killing of Muslims were playing in the hands of the US, India and Israel, according to The News. “Gun, grenade and suicide attack is no solution to any problem in Pakistan,” said JuD Central Vice-President Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry while speaking at a news conference in Peshawar. “Islam does not allow attack on a Muslim, let alone suicide attack,” he said.
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January - 14 
The TTP has denied media reports that the group’s chief, Hakeemullah Mehsud, has been killed in a US drone strike. “These media reports are just lies, and I have spoken to Hakeemullah ... he is safe,” said TTP spokesman Azam Tariq – who phoned Daily Times from an unknown location. Azam also called t
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The TTP has denied media reports that the group’s chief, Hakeemullah Mehsud, has been killed in a US drone strike. “These media reports are just lies, and I have spoken to Hakeemullah ... he is safe,” said TTP spokesman Azam Tariq – who phoned Daily Times from an unknown location. Azam also called the AFP news agency over the telephone, and said, “Hakeemullah Mehsud was present at the same place in Shaktoee where the drone struck ... but he had left the area already when the drone attack took place. He is alive and completely safe.” However, he did not say when Hakeemullah left the area
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January - 15 
A US drone strike killed one of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most-wanted terrorists, a Palestinian suspected in a 1986 plane hijacking with a USD five million bounty on his head, said three Pakistani intelligence officials. The intelligence officials said a January 9 missile strike in Nor
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A US drone strike killed one of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most-wanted terrorists, a Palestinian suspected in a 1986 plane hijacking with a USD five million bounty on his head, said three Pakistani intelligence officials. The intelligence officials said a January 9 missile strike in North Waziristan killed Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim.
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January - 20 
A jirga (council) of Mehsud tribe agreed to hand over 378 men, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, to the Government and announced to fully support Islamabad in maintaining peace in South Waziristan. The jirga, also, announced to accept all seven conditions put forward by
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A jirga (council) of Mehsud tribe agreed to hand over 378 men, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, to the Government and announced to fully support Islamabad in maintaining peace in South Waziristan. The jirga, also, announced to accept all seven conditions put forward by the Government including a ban on heavy and automatic weapons, collective responsibility regulation, establishment of Government’s writ and no shelter for foreign militants for ensuring peace and harmony in the agency. Addressing the jirga, the tribal elders said Mehsud tribe did not want to fight the Pakistan Army.
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January - 21 
Pakistani Intelligence officials said that a Filipino militant, identified as Abdul Basit Usman, wanted by the US, is believed to have been killed in a drone strike in the Tribal Areas close to the Afghanistan border on January 14.
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Pakistani Intelligence officials said that a Filipino militant, identified as Abdul Basit Usman, wanted by the US, is believed to have been killed in a drone strike in the Tribal Areas close to the Afghanistan border on January 14.
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January - 25 
As many as 2,072 persons have been killed in 1,780 incidents of terrorism across the country since April 2009, the National Assembly (NA) in Islamabad was informed on January 25, reports Daily Times. Speaking during the question hour in the NA, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the people killed i
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As many as 2,072 persons have been killed in 1,780 incidents of terrorism across the country since April 2009, the National Assembly (NA) in Islamabad was informed on January 25, reports Daily Times. Speaking during the question hour in the NA, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the people killed included 565 individuals from various law enforcement agencies. He added that 6,253 persons had been injured in these attacks, including 1,590 Security Force personnel.
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January - 31 
The state-owned PTV channel on January 31 reported that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud died a few days ago, while some private channels also claimed that he was buried in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) three days back, according to Daily Times.
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The state-owned PTV channel on January 31 reported that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud died a few days ago, while some private channels also claimed that he was buried in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) three days back, according to Daily Times. Sources said a doctor had been abducted from Hangu for providing treatment to the TTP chief, believed to have been injured in a US drone strike on January 14, 2010 in Shaktoi area of North Waziristan. Sources added he was later shifted to Mamuzai area of Orakzai due to more strikes in the area. Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain are being considered as replacement for Hakeemullah, the sources added further. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told a private television channel that the Government was trying to verify the report. “We have been hearing this news for so many days from various sources, but we have no verifiable information to confirm his death. The local elders and local population are saying that he has been buried,” he added. Further, the Army said it was investigating reports of Hakeemullah’s death. “We have these reports coming to us,” Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said, adding, “We are investigating whether they are true.”
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January - 31 
The TTP Orakzai Agency chief Malik Noor Jamal said that the reports of Hakeemullah Mehsud’s death and his subsequent burial in Mamuzai in Orakzai Agency are baseless. Talking to reporters on the telephone from an undisclosed location, Jamal alias Maulana Toofan claimed that the TTP chief was safe an
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The TTP Orakzai Agency chief Malik Noor Jamal said that the reports of Hakeemullah Mehsud’s death and his subsequent burial in Mamuzai in Orakzai Agency are baseless. Talking to reporters on the telephone from an undisclosed location, Jamal alias Maulana Toofan claimed that the TTP chief was safe and leading the group in South Waziristan. He said he was in constant contact with Hakeemullah.
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February - 2 
Al-Qaida can be expected to attempt an attack on the United States (US) in the next three to six months, senior US intelligence officials told Congress on February 2, reports The News. The terrorist organisation is deploying operatives to the US to carry out new attacks from inside the country, incl
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Al-Qaida can be expected to attempt an attack on the United States (US) in the next three to six months, senior US intelligence officials told Congress on February 2, reports The News. The terrorist organisation is deploying operatives to the US to carry out new attacks from inside the country, including “clean” recruits with a negligible trail of terrorist contacts, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta said. Al-Qaida is also inspiring home-grown extremists to trigger violence on their own, Panetta added. The annual assessment of the nation’s terror threats provided no startling new terror trends, but amplified growing concerns since the Christmas Day airline attack in Detroit that militants are growing harder to detect and moving more quickly in their plots. “The biggest threat is not so much that we face an attack like 9/11. It is that al-Qaida is adapting its methods in ways that often times make it difficult to detect,” Panetta told the Senate Intelligence Committee.
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February - 2 
Daily Times quoting comments by Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq on February 2 reports that there is no need to release proof that TTP leader Hakeemullah Mehsud is alive, just to refute reports that he succumbed to his injuries sustained in a US drone strike in January. The comments by Taliban spokesm
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Daily Times quoting comments by Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq on February 2 reports that there is no need to release proof that TTP leader Hakeemullah Mehsud is alive, just to refute reports that he succumbed to his injuries sustained in a US drone strike in January. The comments by Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq could fuel speculation that Hakimullah has in fact died and that the group is stalling to give it time to determine a successor. “We don’t feel any need presently to release a video, but whenever we feel a need, we will do so,” he told Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location. Taliban commanders Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain are seen as the two most likely successors to replace Hakeemullah. Hussain is known as the group’s chief trainer of suicide bombers. Rehman is the Taliban commander in South Waziristan.
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February - 2 
Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is safe since the country’s military knows there would be “catastrophic consequences, primarily for Pakistan”, if any of its nuclear bombs fell into the wrong hands, the United States (US) National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said on February 2, reports Daily Times.
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Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is safe since the country’s military knows there would be “catastrophic consequences, primarily for Pakistan”, if any of its nuclear bombs fell into the wrong hands, the United States (US) National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said on February 2, reports Daily Times. Dennis Blair’s comments came one day after he told the Senate Intelligence Committee that “vulnerabilities existed” in Pakistan’s nuclear safeguard. “The Pakistan Army takes very seriously the security of its weapons, and they know the catastrophic consequences, primarily for Pakistan, if they were to get loose,” Blair added. “From what we see of the measures that they take, they are keeping them safe,” Blair told lawmakers concerned about the stability of Pakistan and the fate of its atomic arsenal as it grapples with terrorists. Blair told senators in an annual assessment of global threats to US interests, “We have confidence in Pakistan’s ability to safeguard its nuclear weapons, though vulnerabilities exist.” He said that al Qaeda was of “foremost concern” and US intelligence agencies are monitoring its capabilities, intentions and recruitment of westerners. Al Qaeda, in the Arabian Peninsula, appeared to have directed the suspect in a botched bombing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, and provided him training and explosives, Dennis said. “We are still exploring the genesis of this plot and what other homeland plots al Qaeda and associated Yemeni extremists may have planned,” he said, adding that, “We are concerned that they will continue to try to do so, but we do not know to what extent they are willing to direct core cadre to that effort given the group’s prior focus on regional operations.”
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February - 2 
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s close aide Qari Hussain, the top trainer of suicide bombers and one of his potential successors, was killed in the same United States drone attack that fatally injured him, sources said on February 2, reports Times of India. The sources
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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s close aide Qari Hussain, the top trainer of suicide bombers and one of his potential successors, was killed in the same United States drone attack that fatally injured him, sources said on February 2, reports Times of India. The sources in Orakzai tribal region, who did not want to be identified for security reasons, said Qari Hussain died in the attack in North Waziristan on January 14, 2008. Wali-ur-Rehman, the chief military strategist of the TTP, too has been missing since that drone attack, the sources added.
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February - 3 
Daily Times quoting Chairman of US Joint Chiefs Staff Admiral Mike Mullen at a Congressional hearing on February 3 reports that Pakistan has reversed the Taliban territorial gains through a series of military operations and also advocated Washington’s help towards resolving the India-Pakistan tensio
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Daily Times quoting Chairman of US Joint Chiefs Staff Admiral Mike Mullen at a Congressional hearing on February 3 reports that Pakistan has reversed the Taliban territorial gains through a series of military operations and also advocated Washington’s help towards resolving the India-Pakistan tensions for South Asian stability. The top American military officer, however, warned that the Afghanistan Taliban were gaining influence in Afghanistan and security situation in the region remained serious. Mullen also urged a long-term US commitment to Pakistan as he appeared with Defence Secretary Robert Gates to testify on President Barack Obama’s 2010-11 requests for USD 192 billion for Afghanistan and Iraq wars in the next year and a half. “South Asian security tensions and political dynamics significantly impact our objectives in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The longstanding animosity and mistrust between Pakistan and India complicates regional efforts,” Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee in a prepared statement. Yet, he stated: “India and Pakistan must both be our partners for the long term.”
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February - 3 
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has strongly rejected allegations that Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is pursuing double standards in the war on terror, reported a private TV channel on February 3, according to Daily Times. Addressing
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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has strongly rejected allegations that Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is pursuing double standards in the war on terror, reported a private TV channel on February 3, according to Daily Times. Addressing senior journalists in Kakul, 5 kilometres north of Abbottabad, General Kayani said that Pakistan Army had made more sacrifices than the coalition forces in the war on terrorism. He said Pakistan and the United States (US) had “different long-term goals” in Afghanistan. Kayani said more than 2,000 officers and soldiers had been killed and 6,000 injured in the restive tribal belt. He said 73 intelligence officials had also been killed in the war on terror in Pakistan, while 11 had been killed in Afghanistan. “Our martyrs include one three star general, one two-star general and five brigadiers,” he told the briefing. Deployment of Pakistani troops on western borders outnumbered the NATO forces, he added. Further, General Kayani said that the Indian “Cold Start Strategy” is an aggressive strategy and Pakistan cannot close its eyes towards it, reports The News.
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February - 4 
NWFP Chief Minister (CM) Ameer Haider Hoti approved to establish an institutional framework for the victims of terrorism. “The chief minister has, in principle, approved the establishment of an institute for the welfare of such affected families,” a press statement from the CM’s house said. The stat
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NWFP Chief Minister (CM) Ameer Haider Hoti approved to establish an institutional framework for the victims of terrorism. “The chief minister has, in principle, approved the establishment of an institute for the welfare of such affected families,” a press statement from the CM’s house said. The statement added that the proposed institute would work as an independent agency and conduct surveys of people who have been martyred in terror acts, the damage inflicted to properties and businesses of affected people and assess the present living conditions of the families affected by terrorism. “The establishment of a Trust Fund for terror-affected people has also been agreed upon in order to compensate the relatives of terror-affected families on an emergency basis,” the statement said, adding, “The Prime Minister has already announced the provision of Rs 50 million for the fund.”
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February - 7 
The investigators probing into the two recent suicide bombings in Shahi Koto area of Lower Dir in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) said on February 7 that militants fleeing from Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as a result of the military operation are behind the terror
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The investigators probing into the two recent suicide bombings in Shahi Koto area of Lower Dir in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) said on February 7 that militants fleeing from Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as a result of the military operation are behind the terrorist attacks in Lower Dir on February 3 that killed nine persons including three United States troopers, reports The News. A non-custom paid vehicle was used in the attack, which was loaded with 50-60 kilograms of explosives. The Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), comprising officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), two intelligence agencies and the local Police have started interrogating hundreds of militants arrested from all over the Malakand Division in recent months. However, the fugitive chief of Taliban in Lower Dir, ‘Commander’ Hafizullah claimed that February 3’s suicide attack in Shahi Koto area was aimed at the US military personnel, regretting the killing of schoolgirls and harm to journalists. Calling Amjad Ali Shah, a Lower Dir-based journalist, Commander Hafizullah said they had planned the attack against the US soldiers to take them out, hinting they had prior information about the convoy’s movement. However, the military authorities already rejected the claim that the attack was American-specific. “The target was the commandant of the scouts in Lower Dir who was travelling in the convoy, but luckily survived,” a Security Official said.
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February - 8 
Blackwater is not operating in the country and National Security Agencies (NSA) is protecting the Prime Minister and the President, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 8, reports Daily Times. “No Blackwater or foreign security agency is providing security cover to the President or the Pr
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Blackwater is not operating in the country and National Security Agencies (NSA) is protecting the Prime Minister and the President, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 8, reports Daily Times. “No Blackwater or foreign security agency is providing security cover to the President or the Prime Minister. Our Police and security agencies are fully capable of providing them security,” he said, adding that security personnel in 40 vehicles had been deputed to give security cover to the Prime Minister and the President.
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February - 8 
The Pakistani Security Forces (SFs) have captured several members of the Jundallah militant group and handed them over to Iranian authorities, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza said, according to Iran’s Press TV channel, reports Daily Times. The National Assembly speaker said this during a mee
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The Pakistani Security Forces (SFs) have captured several members of the Jundallah militant group and handed them over to Iranian authorities, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza said, according to Iran’s Press TV channel, reports Daily Times. The National Assembly speaker said this during a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran.
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February - 9 
Calling Pakistan’s anti-militancy efforts over 2009 “terrific”, Unite States Defence Secretary Robert Gates on February 9 said Pakistanis are in the driver’s seat in combating Taliban on their soil, reports Daily Times. In an interview with FOX News, Gates also reaffirmed Washington’s confidence in
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Calling Pakistan’s anti-militancy efforts over 2009 “terrific”, Unite States Defence Secretary Robert Gates on February 9 said Pakistanis are in the driver’s seat in combating Taliban on their soil, reports Daily Times. In an interview with FOX News, Gates also reaffirmed Washington’s confidence in the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. “They’re going to go at their own pace and in their own way. We will help them as much as possible,” he remarked about Pakistan’s efforts. To a question on the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the country, Gates reiterated his confidence, saying, “I would just echo what the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said. We’re comfortable with the security.” Gates claimed that al Qaeda, the Taliban in Pakistan, and the Taliban in Afghanistan are all working together and argued that the problem should be attacked as a whole. He said, “al Qaeda is helping the Pakistani Taliban to destabilise the Pakistani Government. There is evidence that al Qaeda is helping them plan these attacks, the targeting, the training capabilities and so on.”
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February - 9 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on February 9 asked militants to lay down their weapons and adopt the right path or face death, reports Daily Times. Addressing a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) parliamentary party meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, he said the Government could not ignore te
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Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on February 9 asked militants to lay down their weapons and adopt the right path or face death, reports Daily Times. Addressing a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) parliamentary party meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, he said the Government could not ignore terrorism as “it is not only the issue of our survival but of our coming generations”. He said following the successful military offensive in Swat and Malakand, the Pakistani nation would crush the militants ‘everywhere in the country’.
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February - 9 
SFs sources claimed to have killed 74 militants and injured 54 others and wrested the strategically important hilltops and areas from the insurgents during the weeklong military operation in the Mamond subdivision of Bajaur Agency, reports The News. Briefing reporters, the in-charge of Bajaur milita
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SFs sources claimed to have killed 74 militants and injured 54 others and wrested the strategically important hilltops and areas from the insurgents during the weeklong military operation in the Mamond subdivision of Bajaur Agency, reports The News. Briefing reporters, the in-charge of Bajaur military operation, Brigadier Abid Mumtaz, and Commandant of Bajaur Scouts Colonel Nauman Saeed said SFs had launched a decisive action against the militants in the troubled Mamond area on January 29. Brigadier Abid Mumtaz added that a total of 74 militants were killed and 54 others injured while a number of their hideouts and bunkers had been destroyed in the weeklong operation. 10 soldiers were killed and 22 sustained injuries in the operation, he added further.
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February - 9 
The Interior Minister Rehman Malik on February 9 indicated that militants who had fled military operations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Swat are active in Karachi, reports Daily Times. Winding up debate on the Karachi violence in the National Assembly, Malik said the people of North We
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The Interior Minister Rehman Malik on February 9 indicated that militants who had fled military operations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Swat are active in Karachi, reports Daily Times. Winding up debate on the Karachi violence in the National Assembly, Malik said the people of North West Frontier Province deserved special praise for their sacrifices and role in combating terrorism. “Some of the terrorists who are on the run as a result of successful military operations have taken refuge in various parts of the country ... [they have] especially focused on Karachi,” he said, adding that “these elements” were active in Karachi. “The same technique” had been used in three separate attacks in Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan”, he added. He said investigations into the attacks were underway, and 36 suspects had so far been arrested. Prime minister had announced a “compensation package” of PKR 3.5 billion for victims of violence in Karachi, he added further.
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February - 10 
Indian Indus Water Commissioner G. Aranga Nathan said that India and Pakistan will not go into war with each other over the water issue because the Indus Water Treaty is intact and being respected. While talking to media at the Allama Iqbal International Airport before leaving for New Delhi after th
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Indian Indus Water Commissioner G. Aranga Nathan said that India and Pakistan will not go into war with each other over the water issue because the Indus Water Treaty is intact and being respected. While talking to media at the Allama Iqbal International Airport before leaving for New Delhi after the conclusion of his five-day “general tour of inspection” of four irrigation sites in Pakistan G. Aranga Nathan said that “both Pakistan and India were facing water scarcity due to reduced rainfalls in the region”. Nathan also handed over the Indian delegation’s review report to Indus Water Commissioner of Pakistan Jamaat Ali Shah regarding water issues.
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February - 10 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 10 that he had credible reports regarding the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘chief’ Hakeemullah Mehsud in a drone attack in North Waziristan in mid-January, reports Daily Times. Answering a question of reporters, Malik said, “Yes, he is dead
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 10 that he had credible reports regarding the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘chief’ Hakeemullah Mehsud in a drone attack in North Waziristan in mid-January, reports Daily Times. Answering a question of reporters, Malik said, “Yes, he is dead.” To another question, Malik said no secret talks were underway between the Government and Taliban, however, negotiations with the Taliban could not be ruled out. “The Government is ready to talk to the Taliban but they would have to stop the suicide attacks and challenging the Government’s writ and have to surrender,” he added.
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February - 10 
Pakistan has always preferred dialogue to war with India, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on February 10 and praised New Delhi’s “intention” to resume dialogue with Islamabad, reports Daily Times. Reiterating Pakistan’s stance for the resumption of dialogue, Gilani said “politicians make brid
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Pakistan has always preferred dialogue to war with India, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on February 10 and praised New Delhi’s “intention” to resume dialogue with Islamabad, reports Daily Times. Reiterating Pakistan’s stance for the resumption of dialogue, Gilani said “politicians make bridges, not walls”, and noted the consent of the Indian Congress party to resume the stalled peace process. “I appreciate India’s intention to resume talks,” he said, adding that the “threat perception” necessitated dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries. “There is an intention that we say that there will be no war. But intentions can change any time. There is a threat perception, that’s why we want dialogue,” said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in an interview with a private TV channel.
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February - 10 
TTP lashed out at the Government for referring to “credible reports” that their leader Hakeemullah Mehsud had died after a US drone attack in mid-January. The outfit denied its leader’s death but appeared to hold off on the idea of releasing another message proving he is alive, after an audio record
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TTP lashed out at the Government for referring to “credible reports” that their leader Hakeemullah Mehsud had died after a US drone attack in mid-January. The outfit denied its leader’s death but appeared to hold off on the idea of releasing another message proving he is alive, after an audio recording in January. “Hakeemullah Mehsud is safe and alive. The Government and our enemies are waging a propaganda campaign,” TTP spokesman Azam Tariq said over telephone from an undisclosed location. “Our shura (leadership) has decided not to release his video immediately. They don’t want the Government to locate his whereabouts. We want to keep his presence a secret. We will release a video when we consider it necessary.”
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February - 10 
United States (US) Vice-President Joe Biden on February 10 said that his greatest concern was not Afghanistan, not Iraq, nor the Iranian nuclear crisis, but Pakistan, according to Daily Times. “I think it’s a big country. It has nuclear weapons that are able to be deployed. It has a real significant
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United States (US) Vice-President Joe Biden on February 10 said that his greatest concern was not Afghanistan, not Iraq, nor the Iranian nuclear crisis, but Pakistan, according to Daily Times. “I think it’s a big country. It has nuclear weapons that are able to be deployed. It has a real significant minority of radicalised population,” said Biden said in an interview with CNN. “It is not a completely functional democracy in the sense we think about it, and so that’s my greatest concern,” he said, Biden stated that al Qaeda was moving in the direction of smaller but “devastatingly frightening” attacks, and he viewed the chance of another September 11-style mass assault as unlikely.
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February - 10 
Pakistan will keep Kashmir the first item on the agenda for negotiations with India at any level, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on February 10, according to Daily Times. Replying to question at a press conference after a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, Kaira said Pakistan was open for
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Pakistan will keep Kashmir the first item on the agenda for negotiations with India at any level, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on February 10, according to Daily Times. Replying to question at a press conference after a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, Kaira said Pakistan was open for dialogue with India at “every level with Kashmir on top of the agenda”. He said he was not hopeful that the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries would yield a positive outcome. He said tangible progress could only be made through composite dialogue.
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February - 11 
The Foreign Office said that Pakistan wants to resume peace talks with India, but they should be wide-ranging and cover all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. Addressing a briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said Islamabad had not yet formally responded to New Delhi’s offe
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The Foreign Office said that Pakistan wants to resume peace talks with India, but they should be wide-ranging and cover all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. Addressing a briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said Islamabad had not yet formally responded to New Delhi’s offer for talks, but Pakistan looked forward to the foreign secretaries’ meeting to discuss how an all-encompassing dialogue could be renewed.
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February - 11 
The US military is planning to set up new training centres inside Pakistan where American special operations trainers would work with Pakistani forces close to the Afghanistan border battle zone, a senior defence official said on February 11. The new centres would supplement two already operating in
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The US military is planning to set up new training centres inside Pakistan where American special operations trainers would work with Pakistani forces close to the Afghanistan border battle zone, a senior defence official said on February 11. The new centres would supplement two already operating in Pakistan, and they would be used to accelerate and expand the training of Pakistani forces considered key to rooting out al Qaeda leaders hiding along the mountainous border, the official said.
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February - 11 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on February 11 said that while composite dialogue is the only way forward for the resolution of all outstanding issues and India has offered Pakistan talks, New Delhi “does not want to talk on Kashmir,” according to Daily Times. “They have agreed to talk to Pakistan
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Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on February 11 said that while composite dialogue is the only way forward for the resolution of all outstanding issues and India has offered Pakistan talks, New Delhi “does not want to talk on Kashmir,” according to Daily Times. “They have agreed to talk to Pakistan, but they don’t want to talk on Kashmir,” the AFP news agency quoted Gilani as saying. Asked if India did not want to talk on the Kashmir dispute, Gilani said “we should wait for India’s suggestions” on the resumption of the composite dialogue process. He said the Foreign Office and the Foreign Secretary were in contact with India, and “we should not jump to conclusions” over the outcome of the dialogue.
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February - 11 
Syed Salahuddin, ‘chief’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), said that talks between Pakistan and India will fail if they do not focus on the “core issue” of Kashmir. Talks would be “a futile exercise” if they did not address the dispute over the Himalayan region. India and Pakistan have fought two of t
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Syed Salahuddin, ‘chief’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), said that talks between Pakistan and India will fail if they do not focus on the “core issue” of Kashmir. Talks would be “a futile exercise” if they did not address the dispute over the Himalayan region. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory since their independence in 1947. “I talk on behalf of the jihadi leadership that we all stand for a negotiated settlement,” Salahuddin, who is also head of the United Jihad Council, told Reuters in an interview. “But negotiations must be Kashmir-centric ... unless this core issue is addressed and it is focused upon, there will be no result,” he added. He said the people of Kashmir must also be involved in talks adding that “It’s not a bilateral boundary dispute between India and Pakistan. It is a question of the right of self-determination of 30 million people”.
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February - 14 
The United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while condemning the recent terrorist events in Karachi, said on February 14 that al Qaeda had killed more than 2,000 people in Pakistan within few months, reports The News. Addressing the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Hillary said the ter
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The United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while condemning the recent terrorist events in Karachi, said on February 14 that al Qaeda had killed more than 2,000 people in Pakistan within few months, reports The News. Addressing the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Hillary said the terrorist incidents were regrettable and the US Government was with the people and the Government of Pakistan. She said the US was willing to cooperate with Pakistan to resolve the energy crisis while increasing the aid of the country by two times, adding the US was serious with Pakistan.
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February - 14 
United States (US) Vice-President Joe Biden on February 14 said that American forces have killed al Qaeda militants under ground - 12 top leaders and 100 of their associates, reports Dawn. Biden, who made this claim in interviews to various US television channels, did not mention that most of these
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United States (US) Vice-President Joe Biden on February 14 said that American forces have killed al Qaeda militants under ground - 12 top leaders and 100 of their associates, reports Dawn. Biden, who made this claim in interviews to various US television channels, did not mention that most of these al Qaeda leaders and militants had been killed by drones, but said that the United States would be “absolutely relentless” in pursing this strategy of targeting militants in their hideouts. “We have eliminated 12 of the top 20 people. We have taken out 100 of their associates. We’ve sent them under ground,” he told NBC television. A recent study by a Washington think-tank – New America Foundation – reported that under President Obama, drone strikes had taken out half a dozen militant leaders while killing 530 others as well. Of those, 250 to 400 were lower-level militants, and a quarter of them were civilians. But two counter-insurgency experts David Kilcullen and Andrew Exum wrote in The New York Times that as many as 700 people had been killed in those attacks and 98 per cent of them were civilians, which is 50 civilians for each militant eliminated. Joe Biden, however, said that the US strategy was so successful that it had put the militants on the defensive. “They are, in fact, not able to do anything remotely like they were in the past. They are on the run,” he said. “We are pursuing that war with vigour like it’s never been seen.”
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February - 14 
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US), Hussain Haqqani, said on February 14, that “Pakistan doesn’t want America to interfere in its affairs nor does the US want to do so”, reports The News. Talking to senior journalists and columnists at a reception hosted in his honour at the Governor’s
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Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US), Hussain Haqqani, said on February 14, that “Pakistan doesn’t want America to interfere in its affairs nor does the US want to do so”, reports The News. Talking to senior journalists and columnists at a reception hosted in his honour at the Governor’s House in Lahore, Haqqani said the US wants a stable democracy in Pakistan, which it believes matches its foreign policy interests. Haqqani further stated that good ties with the US were significant for the country for the development of secure, stable and prosperous Pakistan.
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February - 15 
The Ahmedzai Wazir tribes in South Waziristan Agency of FATA on February 15 demanded a separate administrative status for areas under their control during a jirga (council) also attended by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, tribal elders said. “We have presented our point of view to Kayani.
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The Ahmedzai Wazir tribes in South Waziristan Agency of FATA on February 15 demanded a separate administrative status for areas under their control during a jirga (council) also attended by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, tribal elders said. “We have presented our point of view to Kayani. We told him if one arm is impacted by cancer, doctors recommend its amputation,” the tribal elders told Daily Times over the phone from Wana after attending the jirga at Tanai area. “What has encouraged the Wazirs is the fact that Wazir Taliban leader Mullah Nazir is also demanding that the tribes have separate administrative status, free from Mehsud dominance,” they added. A senior Government official said the issue was being considered under the context of counter-terrorism as the Ahmedzai Wazirs “cooperate with Islamabad more than the Mehsuds”.
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February - 15 
The key objectives of the military operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) in FATA have been achieved and most of the high profile terrorists have been wiped out from the area, a private TV channel quoted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani as sayi
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The key objectives of the military operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) in FATA have been achieved and most of the high profile terrorists have been wiped out from the area, a private TV channel quoted Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani as saying on February 15, reported Daily Times. While interacting with the tribesmen, the COAS thanked them for their resolve and support and attributed the success of the military operations to the will and determination of the people of Waziristan.
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February - 15 
Top terrorist ‘commander’ Ilyas Kashmiri, whose ‘313 Brigade’ is an operational arm of the al Qaeda, has vowed to continue attacks across India until the Indian Army leaves Indian-held Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right to self-determination, reported Daly Times. In the message sent to A
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Top terrorist ‘commander’ Ilyas Kashmiri, whose ‘313 Brigade’ is an operational arm of the al Qaeda, has vowed to continue attacks across India until the Indian Army leaves Indian-held Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right to self-determination, reported Daly Times. In the message sent to Asia Times Online, early on February 15 Kashmiri said, “We warn the international community to play its role in getting the Kashmiris their right to self-determination and preventing India from committing brutalities in IHK [Indian Held Kashmir], especially in Badipuar, raping the women and behaving inhumanly with Muslim prisoners.” “We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, the Indian Premier League and Commonwealth Games – to be held in New Delhi later this year. Nor should their people visit India – if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences,” he threatened. He further said, “We assure the Muslims of the subcontinent that we will never forget the massacre of the Muslims in Gujarat and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The entire Muslim community is one body and we will take revenge for all injustices and tyranny. We again warn the Indian government to compensate for all its injustices, otherwise it will see our next action.”
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February - 16 
An Afghan Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, denied a US report that the group’s military commander had been arrested by US and Pakistani forces in a secret operation in Pakistan. “The rumours reported on the arrest of Mullah Baradar are all untrue. It is a big lie,” Yousuf Ahmadi said, adding, “He i
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An Afghan Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, denied a US report that the group’s military commander had been arrested by US and Pakistani forces in a secret operation in Pakistan. “The rumours reported on the arrest of Mullah Baradar are all untrue. It is a big lie,” Yousuf Ahmadi said, adding, “He is currently in Afghanistan, where he is leading all jihadi activities.” Ahmadi charged that the US media report intended to deflect attention from “failures” in a major US-led assault in Marjah in southern Afghanistan.
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February - 16 
The Interior Minister Rehman Malik branded as “propaganda” reports that the top Taliban military ‘commander’ had been arrested in a joint Pakistani-US spy operation. Addressing reporters outside parliament in Islamabad, Rehman Malik stopped short of either confirming or denying the media reports say
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The Interior Minister Rehman Malik branded as “propaganda” reports that the top Taliban military ‘commander’ had been arrested in a joint Pakistani-US spy operation. Addressing reporters outside parliament in Islamabad, Rehman Malik stopped short of either confirming or denying the media reports saying, “We are verifying all those we have arrested. If there is any big target [among them], I will ... [let the] nation [know]. If the New York Times gives information, it is not divine truth, it can be wrong. We have joint intelligence sharing and no joint investigation, nor joint raids.”
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February - 16 
United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on February 16 praised “valuable” US-Pakistan cooperation in fighting extremism, saying the Pakistani leadership “recognises that standing firm against the threat is important to the country’s future”, reports Daily Times. In an interview with BB
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United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on February 16 praised “valuable” US-Pakistan cooperation in fighting extremism, saying the Pakistani leadership “recognises that standing firm against the threat is important to the country’s future”, reports Daily Times. In an interview with BBC, Hillary Clinton offered no specific comments on the arrest of Taliban ‘leader’ Mullah Baradar in Pakistan. “We don’t comment on operations like that. We think less is better, in terms of what anyone knows, or what anyone might speculate on. But the general point is one that I would underscore, that the cooperation is increasing, and it is very valuable,” she said in Jeddah, according to a State Department transcript released on February 17.
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February - 17 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on February 17 confirmed the arrest of a senior Taliban leader Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar from Karachi, according to The News. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also confirmed the arrest of Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar. “At the conclusion of detailed identificatio
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik on February 17 confirmed the arrest of a senior Taliban leader Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar from Karachi, according to The News. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also confirmed the arrest of Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar. “At the conclusion of detailed identification process, it is confirmed that one of the arrested persons happens to be Mulla Baradar. Place of the arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons,” an ISPR spokesman said in a brief statement. Rehman Malik said Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar was arrested from Karachi about eight days back with the assistance of Intelligence Agencies.
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February - 17 
Pakistani Army confirmed that the Afghan Taliban’s top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has been arrested, reports Daily Times. “At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar,” Pakistan Army
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Pakistani Army confirmed that the Afghan Taliban’s top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has been arrested, reports Daily Times. “At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar,” Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said in a written message to reporters. “The place of arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons,” he added.
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February - 17 
President Asif Ali Zardari on February 17 announced a plan for the upgradation and strengthening of paramilitary Levies Force in tribal areas to improve the Levies Force’s capability, according to Daily Times. The upgradation parameters approved by the President include improving pay scales, raising
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President Asif Ali Zardari on February 17 announced a plan for the upgradation and strengthening of paramilitary Levies Force in tribal areas to improve the Levies Force’s capability, according to Daily Times. The upgradation parameters approved by the President include improving pay scales, raising new levy units, training, provision of weapons, transport and communications and a proper service structure for the Levies Force.
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February - 17 
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) on February 17 arrested a ‘Taliban commander’, Abdullah alias Abu Waqas, who was about to train 270 teenage girls as suicide bombers, according to Daily Times. As per CID officials, Abdullah alias Abu Waqas, a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commander’ of Ba
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The Crime Investigation Department (CID) on February 17 arrested a ‘Taliban commander’, Abdullah alias Abu Waqas, who was about to train 270 teenage girls as suicide bombers, according to Daily Times. As per CID officials, Abdullah alias Abu Waqas, a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commander’ of Bajaur Agency’s Naimatullah group, was arrested near Safoora Goth Chowrangi in Karachi. A loaded TT pistol, jihadi literature and CDs were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, he confessed that he had to train 270 teenage girls aged between 13 and 16 for suicide attacks.
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February - 18 
AFP quoted an intelligence official as saying, “There is a possibility that the rival outfit, Ansar-ul-Islam (AI), attacked the LI base.” But a spokesman for the AI, Naeem, denied his outfit’s involvement in the attack.
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AFP quoted an intelligence official as saying, “There is a possibility that the rival outfit, Ansar-ul-Islam (AI), attacked the LI base.” But a spokesman for the AI, Naeem, denied his outfit’s involvement in the attack.
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February - 19 
Pakistan will not turn over the Afghanistan Taliban’s ‘second-in-command’ and two other terrorists captured in the month of February to the US, but may deport them to Afghanistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 19, according to Daily Times. Malik said Pakistani authorities were stil
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Pakistan will not turn over the Afghanistan Taliban’s ‘second-in-command’ and two other terrorists captured in the month of February to the US, but may deport them to Afghanistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on February 19, according to Daily Times. Malik said Pakistani authorities were still questioning Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and two other terrorists, arrested with US assistance in separate operations in February. “First we will see whether they have violated any law,” Malik added. “If they have done it, then the law will take its own course against them, but at the most if they have not done anything, then they will go back to the country of origin, not to the US,” he added further.
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February - 19 
Pakistan’s direct and indirect cost in the war on terror has been around USD 35 billion over the last three years, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said on February 19, according to Daily Times. Hina Rabbani Khar expressed these views during a meeting with Giuseppe Vegas, Ita
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Pakistan’s direct and indirect cost in the war on terror has been around USD 35 billion over the last three years, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said on February 19, according to Daily Times. Hina Rabbani Khar 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 its growing market. Vegas also showed interest in initiating various development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in the tourism sector.
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February - 23 
According to Daily Times, South Korean Police said on February 23 that they were investigating whether a Pakistani Muslim cleric, who was arrested for travelling on a fake passport, was also involved in militant activities. The 31-year-old arrestee, who has been the imam (prayer leader) of a mosque
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According to Daily Times, South Korean Police said on February 23 that they were investigating whether a Pakistani Muslim cleric, who was arrested for travelling on a fake passport, was also involved in militant activities. The 31-year-old arrestee, who has been the imam (prayer leader) of a mosque in the southeastern city of Daegu since 2003, was arrested on February 18 for allegedly using the passport of another Pakistani national to enter and leave South Korea 17 times since August 2003. Police said he allegedly told friends he was a Taliban member, although the claim had yet to be verified.
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February - 23 
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on February 23 that “Pakistan would welcome any role (to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan) given to China because of the trust and confidence we enjoy among each other”, reports The News. He added that it was for India to decide whether th
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Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on February 23 that “Pakistan would welcome any role (to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan) given to China because of the trust and confidence we enjoy among each other”, reports The News. He added that it was for India to decide whether they would feel comfortable to have China talking to bridge the gap. He said as far as Pakistan is concerned “they have a blank cheque”. Responding to a question after addressing audience at the Institute of International Studies in Beijing (China), Qureshi said Pakistan has appreciated China’s role immediately after the Mumbai incident when the “temperature was very high”. China sent a special emissary to New Delhi and Islamabad with the objective to bring the temperature down. “Pakistan wants a meaningful dialogue with India”, said Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi adding Pakistan was never shy of talking to India.
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February - 23 
Pakistan has made some ‘real progress’ in the war against terrorism and it is committed in securing its long border with Afghanistan, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on February 23, according to Daily Times. Robert Gates said this while addressing a press briefing at the Pentagon. The Defence
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Pakistan has made some ‘real progress’ in the war against terrorism and it is committed in securing its long border with Afghanistan, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on February 23, according to Daily Times. Robert Gates said this while addressing a press briefing at the Pentagon. The Defence Secretary said that the recent arrest of Taliban ‘commander’ Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and two ‘shadow’ Taliban governors was a positive development. “What we are seeing is the importance of operations, on both sides of the border and a manifestation of real progress on the Pakistani side, said Gates. Separately, at a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan operations a prominent US senator and a top Pentagon policy adviser praised the role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in the arrests of Afghanistan Taliban leaders.
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February - 25 
Daily Times reports that President Asif Ali Zardari on February 25 urged the aggrieved Baloch leaders not to resort to violence as the Government acknowledged their rights and was doing all within its means to help them. Addressing a gathering at the Governor’s House, in Quetta, Zardari said all the
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Daily Times reports that President Asif Ali Zardari on February 25 urged the aggrieved Baloch leaders not to resort to violence as the Government acknowledged their rights and was doing all within its means to help them. Addressing a gathering at the Governor’s House, in Quetta, Zardari said all the demands of the people of Balochistan were acceptable to the Government. The President also added that the development funds for Balochistan had not been cut despite severe financial constraints on the Government since it believed in ending their years of deprivation and that the Federal Government was working to introduce a constitutional package in March 2010, which would ensure provision of rights to the provinces.
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February - 26 
Taliban have blown up 16 schools in the tribal regions of Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency, Khyber Agency and Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) during the month of February, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak said on February 26, accor
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Taliban have blown up 16 schools in the tribal regions of Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency, Khyber Agency and Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) during the month of February, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak said on February 26, according to Daily Times. The latest Government boys’ high school to be attacked was blown up on February 25 in the Mohmand Agency, officials said.
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February - 28 
Defence Minister on February 28 said that 42 terror camps are still active in Pakistan and that lack of a serious attempt or effort by that country to dismantle them is the main cause of concern for us, reports The Hindu. "There are 42 terror camps still active in Pakistan and there is no serious at
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Defence Minister on February 28 said that 42 terror camps are still active in Pakistan and that lack of a serious attempt or effort by that country to dismantle them is the main cause of concern for us, reports The Hindu. "There are 42 terror camps still active in Pakistan and there is no serious attempt or effort to dismantle them. This is the main cause of concern for us," he said when asked if Pakistan had kept its promise of stopping use of its soil for terror activities against India. He also said that the recent Indo-Pak talks could not be considered a failure as this was just a beginning and no miracles were expected from this effort.
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March - 1 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik urged Ulema ( Muslim religious leaders) belonging to different schools of thought to foil the conspiracy aimed at fanning sectarian strife in the country and play an effective role in thwarting terrorism.
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik urged Ulema ( Muslim religious leaders) belonging to different schools of thought to foil the conspiracy aimed at fanning sectarian strife in the country and play an effective role in thwarting terrorism.
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March - 2 
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was on March 2 blamed by an Afghan intelligence official for February 26, 2010 car bomb and suicide attacks that killed 16 people, including 9 Indians, in Kabul, reports Times of India. Saeed Ansari, a spokesman for Afghanistan's intelligence service, said that h
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Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was on March 2 blamed by an Afghan intelligence official for February 26, 2010 car bomb and suicide attacks that killed 16 people, including 9 Indians, in Kabul, reports Times of India. Saeed Ansari, a spokesman for Afghanistan's intelligence service, said that his agency has evidence that Pakistani nationals, specifically LeT militants were involved in the attacks. "We are very close to the exact proof and evidence that the attack on the Indian guest house ... is not the work of the Afghan Taliban but this attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military," Ansari said in an interview. He also said that one of the attackers was heard speaking Urdu. As reported earlier, the Afghan Taliban militants already claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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March - 2 
The News reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik on March 2 said that the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were involved in terrorist activities in the country and warned of strict action against them. Referring to the SSP, the interior minister said it had close
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The News reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik on March 2 said that the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were involved in terrorist activities in the country and warned of strict action against them. Referring to the SSP, the interior minister said it had close links to al-Qaeda and Taliban. Malik also added that he was facing serious life threats himself and had received threatening letters.
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March - 3 
Paramilitary Forces on March 3 claimed to have killed 38 Taliban militants during the weeklong Operation Spring Cleaning, reports Daily Times. Frontier Constabulary (FC) head Sifwat Ghayoor said that troops had seized control of the Taliban stronghold Pastawana near the garrison city of Kohat. The o
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Paramilitary Forces on March 3 claimed to have killed 38 Taliban militants during the weeklong Operation Spring Cleaning, reports Daily Times. Frontier Constabulary (FC) head Sifwat Ghayoor said that troops had seized control of the Taliban stronghold Pastawana near the garrison city of Kohat. The operation was launched by the Army and FC troops on February 24 to flush out terrorists from the area, he said, adding that 18 of the Taliban militants had also been arrested. He said that one soldier was killed while six others wounded in the operation. “The first phase of the operation is over. Security Forces are in complete control of the area,” he said, adding that troops would now conduct house-to-house searches from today (March 4).
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March - 3 
The Education Department terminated the services of five teachers in Lower Dir for having alleged links with the Taliban. Education Department officials said that education officers in Lower Dir had carried out investigations and discovered proof of the five terminated teachers’ links with the Talib
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The Education Department terminated the services of five teachers in Lower Dir for having alleged links with the Taliban. Education Department officials said that education officers in Lower Dir had carried out investigations and discovered proof of the five terminated teachers’ links with the Taliban. The teachers who have been terminated include Rehman, Aqil Zada, Mohammad Nisar, Mohammad Ilyas and Mohammad Saeed.
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March - 3 
The militant training camps for those fighting in Jammu and Kashmir (India) are once again being established in ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)’ and recruitment is also on the rise in Punjab, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said on March 3, according to Daily Times. In its latest report, th
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The militant training camps for those fighting in Jammu and Kashmir (India) are once again being established in ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)’ and recruitment is also on the rise in Punjab, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said on March 3, according to Daily Times. In its latest report, the BBC also mentioned that the United Jihad Council (UJC) meeting was held in Muzaffarabad in mid-January, chaired by former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (r) Hameed Gul. The meeting decided that the freedom struggle or jihad should continue until the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir comes to an end. According to the BBC, it looks evident now that the Kashmiri militant groups are once again working under the ‘patronage of the Pakistani establishment agencies’.
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March - 3 
US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on March 3 said that the February 26 terrorist attack in Kabul did not target the Indians specifically and cautioned against jumping to conclusions without any solid proof, reports The News. “In regard to this attack, I do not
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US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on March 3 said that the February 26 terrorist attack in Kabul did not target the Indians specifically and cautioned against jumping to conclusions without any solid proof, reports The News. “In regard to this attack, I do not accept the fact that this was an attack on an Indian facility like the embassy. They were foreigners, non-Indian foreigners hurt. It was a soft target,” he told reporters at a State Department briefing. “And let us not jump to conclusions. I understand why everyone in Pakistan and everyone in India always focus on the other. But please, let us not draw a conclusion which for which there is no proof,” Holbrooke stated, responding to a question, which suggested that Indians based in Kabul were being targeted. Holbrook’s remarks came after an Afghan official in Kabul alleged a Pakistan-based militant outfit’s link to the incident but did not provide any substantial evidence.
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March - 5 
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on March 5 said, "We have dealt severe blows to terrorists and the day is not far when we will rid the country of them", according to Daily Times. In his first address to the nation on radio, Prime Minister said terrorism had severely affected the national
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Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on March 5 said, "We have dealt severe blows to terrorists and the day is not far when we will rid the country of them", according to Daily Times. In his first address to the nation on radio, Prime Minister said terrorism had severely affected the national economy, deterring international investors from investing in the country. "Disappointed and unsuccessful, these terrorists turned to civilian populations, but the vigilant people of the country have seen their real faces now," he added. In addition, Yousaf Raza Gilani vowed to restore the 1973 constitution to its original form. He said his Government would complete its constitutional term after which it would appear before the nation once again to be held accountable. "We are trying to revive the unanimous 1973 constitution to its original form, which has been distorted by dictators. We are rectifying it and the nation will soon hear the good news," Gilani said, adding that the government had replaced the concept of political confrontation with the notion of reconciliation and harmony.
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March - 5 
The Army officials said there were strong indications that senior Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commanders’, including Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, Maulvi Abdul Wali, Qari Ziaur Rahman and Omar Rahman alias Fateh, were killed or injured in heavy bombing by the Army gunship helicopters in Pindyali tehs
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The Army officials said there were strong indications that senior Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commanders’, including Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, Maulvi Abdul Wali, Qari Ziaur Rahman and Omar Rahman alias Fateh, were killed or injured in heavy bombing by the Army gunship helicopters in Pindyali tehsil (revenue unit) in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 5, according to The News. "We have struck some hideouts of militants in Pindyali, where, according to our intelligence reports, Faqir Mohammad, Omar Khalid, Qari Zia and Fateh from Swat were hiding," an Army official said. He added that they had learnt from their local sources that the militant commanders were present in the hideout during the attack and could have been killed or injured. The officials, however, did not provide further details about the number of the militants and their identity, who were killed or injured in the bombing. Faqir Mohammad is ‘chief’ of Bajaur Taliban militants and ‘deputy leader’ of the TTP. According to officials, Fateh, a dreaded militant ‘commander’ from Swat, whose real name is Omar Rahman, had come to Bajaur along with his fighters when a massive military operation was launched by the Government in 2009. Ziaur Rahman, according to the officials, was earlier operating in the Charmang area of Bajaur and had put tough resistance to Security Forces (SFs) during early days of the military operation launched on August 6, 2008. There were also reports that Qari Ziaur Rahman later went back to Afghanistan on the intervention of Afghan Taliban ‘commanders’, where he was appointed the ‘commander’ for the Marawara area in Kunar province of Afghanistan.
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March - 7 
Daily Times quoting a Government official source on March 7 reports that Adam Gadahn, the American-born spokesman for al-Qaeda, was recently arrested by the Pakistani intelligence personnel in Karachi. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Gadahn moved to Pakistan in 1998 and said
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Daily Times quoting a Government official source on March 7 reports that Adam Gadahn, the American-born spokesman for al-Qaeda, was recently arrested by the Pakistani intelligence personnel in Karachi. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Gadahn moved to Pakistan in 1998 and said to have attended an al-Qaeda training camp six years later, serving as a translator and consultant for the group. He had been wanted by the FBI since 2004, and there is a PNR one million reward on his head. The 31-year-old militant is known by various aliases including Yahya Majadin Adams and Azzam al-Amriki. He has posted videos and messages calling for the destruction of the West and for strikes against targets in the United States. The most recent was posted on February 7, praising the US Army Major charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas, as a role model for other Muslims. A US court charged Gadahn with treason in 2006, making him the first American to face such a charge in more than 50 years.
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March - 9 
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta on March 9 said counter terrorism operations have placed al Qaeda’s top leaders under extreme pressure and many are "on the run" but recent thwarted terror plots in the US indicate the terror network is changing its tactics, reports Daily T
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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta on March 9 said counter terrorism operations have placed al Qaeda’s top leaders under extreme pressure and many are "on the run" but recent thwarted terror plots in the US indicate the terror network is changing its tactics, reports Daily Times. "We are a nation at war with al Qaeda and its associates and the war is persistent," Panetta said during a foreign policy conference at the University of Oklahoma. "They remain determined to kill as many Americans as possible, " he said, adding, another new form of terrorist threat is the "lone wolf" who becomes self-radicalised and decides on his own to take violent action without al Qaeda taking a direct role.
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March - 9 
Union Government has denied Pakistan's allegation that it was involved in March 8 bomb blast in Lahore and said Islamabad routinely came up with such "baseless" charges, reports Times of India. "No evidence has been shared with us. This is fabrication by that side. And they will continue doing it ti
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Union Government has denied Pakistan's allegation that it was involved in March 8 bomb blast in Lahore and said Islamabad routinely came up with such "baseless" charges, reports Times of India. "No evidence has been shared with us. This is fabrication by that side. And they will continue doing it till they convince themselves that this fabrication is convincing," sources said, adding that similar charges were hurled when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Pakistan. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik had claimed that India was involved in the suicide attack at a building in Lahore. India also rejected Pakistani allegation of non-adherence to Indus Water Treaty, saying it was yet another move to raise an "anti-India" bogey to create "popular resonance" to cover up their internal domestic water woes and asked Islamabad to do better water management.
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March - 11 
"Pakistan’s military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks", says chairman of US House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Gary Ackerman on March 11 and blamed Islamabad for allegedly continuing to support Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), repor
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"Pakistan’s military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks", says chairman of US House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Gary Ackerman on March 11 and blamed Islamabad for allegedly continuing to support Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), reports Dawn. "There is, in fact, no reason to doubt that Pakistan’s military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks, adding that these are our allies in the war on terror," he bemoaned.
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March - 11 
A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and it would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world in particular the United States, top experts have told American lawmakers, reports PTI. "There is no doubt in my
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A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and it would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world in particular the United States, top experts have told American lawmakers, reports PTI. "There is no doubt in my mind that we have to find ways to resolve the issues relating to Kashmir. But I think resolving Kashmir is not going to solve the problems relating to LeT," Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told US lawmakers at a Congressional hearing on March 11. "I always find it interesting that the people conducting the murder and mayhem (in the Valley) today are not Kashmiri. The people who actually are deprived of all their political rights, they are not conducting the murder and mayhem," Tellis added.
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March - 11 
A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the militant outfit would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world in particular the US, top experts have told American lawmakers, according to Times of India. "T
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A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the militant outfit would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world in particular the US, top experts have told American lawmakers, according to Times of India. "There is no doubt in my mind that we have to find ways to resolve the issues relating to Kashmir. But I think resolving Kashmir is not going to solve the problems relating to LeT," Ashley. J. Tellis, senior associate at the prestigious Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told US lawmakers at a Congressional hearing on March11. However, the eminent Pakistani scholar and Director of South Asia Centre, the Atlantic Council of the United States Shuza Nawaz said "resolving the Kashmir problem by itself is not going to remove this threat because the aim of these groups is to leverage themselves into a position of power inside Pakistan and to take control," said. Both Nawaz and Tellis were responding to concerns of the US Congressmen at the hearing if LeT would abandon terrorism if Kashmir dispute was resolved; given that LeT was initially popped up by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan for the specific purpose of targeting Kashmir and India in particular.
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March - 11 
Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan is close to the core of Islamabad’s National Security interests and Pakistan must be a partner in finding solutions to Afghanistan’s problems, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on March 11, according to Daily Times. He made these remarks while del
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Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan is close to the core of Islamabad’s National Security interests and Pakistan must be a partner in finding solutions to Afghanistan’s problems, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on March 11, according to Daily Times. He made these remarks while delivering a lecture on how to end the war in Afghanistan at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Miliband said Afghans must find a political solution to their problems and he sees a vital opportunity in expanding US-Pakistan partnership to address Islamabad’s concerns. "There has been a significant change in Pakistan in the last 18 months under President Zardari’s civilian Government. The reality and threat of domestic terrorism has brought new purpose to civilian and military leadership, and new consensus between leaders and people," he added.
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March - 11 
The Swat Taliban ‘chief‘ Mullah Fazlullah overcame the security siege in the region to flee the valley to avoid siege, Lieutenant General Masood Alam of Peshawar corps commander said on March 11, according to Daily Times. The formal announcement on Fazlullah’s escape comes against the backdrop of In
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The Swat Taliban ‘chief‘ Mullah Fazlullah overcame the security siege in the region to flee the valley to avoid siege, Lieutenant General Masood Alam of Peshawar corps commander said on March 11, according to Daily Times. The formal announcement on Fazlullah’s escape comes against the backdrop of Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s claim that the Swat Taliban ‘chief’ was "surrounded" and would soon be arrested. "We will keep chasing him until he is arrested," Lieutenant General Masood Alam said. "We appeal to the public to share [with us] information on Taliban ... security forces must be informed wherever members of the group are seen." The Peshawar corps commander said the Taliban had pushed back Swat 100 years by destroying schools: "But the Army will reconstruct these destroyed schools to help the Swat youth get an education and serve the country".
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March - 12 
Pakistani-American expert, Shuja Nawaz, said that the LeT was "a Frankenstein’s monster", which assumed a broader regional role. Nawaz, who is the director of South Asia Centre at the Atlantic Council of the US, warned that "another Mumbai-type attack involving the LeT might bring India and Pakistan
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Pakistani-American expert, Shuja Nawaz, said that the LeT was "a Frankenstein’s monster", which assumed a broader regional role. Nawaz, who is the director of South Asia Centre at the Atlantic Council of the US, warned that "another Mumbai-type attack involving the LeT might bring India and Pakistan into conflict, a prospect that should keep us awake at night." Further, Shuja Nawaz said that "Resolving the Kashmir problem by itself is not going to remove this threat because the aim of these groups is to leverage themselves into a position of power inside Pakistan and to take control."
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March - 12 
The News reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that there is solid evidence of the Indian involvement in acts of terror in Balochistan and that the Pakistani Government was taking up the matter diplomatically with the Indian Government. Talking to media persons at the Parliament House
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The News reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that there is solid evidence of the Indian involvement in acts of terror in Balochistan and that the Pakistani Government was taking up the matter diplomatically with the Indian Government. Talking to media persons at the Parliament House in Islamabad on March 12, Malik said, "We are not leveling mere allegations against India but have solid evidence of the Indian involvement in Balochistan". He also added that the weapons recovered from various areas were also Indian-made, and that Afghanistan’s soil was also being used for destablisation of Balochistan.
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March - 14 
Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has identified as many as 320 targets across the globe, 20 of which are in India, US Congressman Gary Ackerman said, reports Times of India. "In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack, investigators uncovered in controller records and e-mail acco
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Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has identified as many as 320 targets across the globe, 20 of which are in India, US Congressman Gary Ackerman said, reports Times of India. "In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack, investigators uncovered in controller records and e-mail accounts a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed by the LeT as possible targets for attack. Only 20 of the targets were located within India," Gary Ackerman said before a Congressional hearing last week. "The LeT has been attacking US forces in Afghanistan almost from day one and their forces are present throughout Afghanistan. The LeT has been slaughtering Indians by the score for decades. The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide," he said. Noting that it would be unfair and wrong to suggest that the LeT problem is strictly confined to Pakistan and Middle East, he said, adding in fact, one of the key facilitators of the Mumbai attack was an American of Pakistani extraction, referring to David Coleman Headley. "Unfortunately, the LeT enjoys a substantial global network stretching from the Philippines to the United Kingdom," Ackerman added. According to Ackerman, though after 9/11 Pakistan officially banned the LeT, the reality is that like other Islamist terrorist groups, LeT maintains a clear public presence and a vast recruiting network by providing extremely useful charitable and social services to millions of impoverished people in that country. "Public estimates suggest LeT operates some 2,000 offices in towns and villages throughout Pakistan, as well as maintaining ties with the Pakistani military. There is, in fact, no reason to doubt that Pakistan's military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks. These are our allies in the war on terror," he informed. "Operational funding for the LeT comes from charitable fundraising amongst the general population in Pakistan, but also depends heavily upon contributions by Pakistani businessmen living abroad and other wealthy individuals from the Persian Gulf. Let us note too, these states are also our allies in the war on terror," Ackerman said.
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March - 15 
A Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman said that the outfit would stop targeting public and Government places in Punjab if the Provincial Government gave an assurance that the Taliban would be spared from any action, Daily Times reported quoting a private TV channel on March 15. Talking to the
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A Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman said that the outfit would stop targeting public and Government places in Punjab if the Provincial Government gave an assurance that the Taliban would be spared from any action, Daily Times reported quoting a private TV channel on March 15. Talking to the channel, Mohmand Agency Ameer Abdul Wali alias Umar Khalid, who is also the deputy of the TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, offered the Punjab Government a conditional end to its activities in the province. The offer comes after a statement by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif where he said, “Musharraf planned a bloodbath of innocent Muslims at the behest of others only to prolong his rule, but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) opposed his policies and rejected dictation from abroad, thus the Taliban are fighting for the same cause and should not carry out acts of terror in Punjab.”
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March - 15 
Security Forces (SFs) on March 15 claimed that the mastermind of March 13’s suicide attack on SFs check post in Mingora of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which left 17 persons dead, was killed in an encounter at Shamak area of Khawazakhela, reports Daily Times. “Commander Khalid, the mastermin
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Security Forces (SFs) on March 15 claimed that the mastermind of March 13’s suicide attack on SFs check post in Mingora of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), which left 17 persons dead, was killed in an encounter at Shamak area of Khawazakhela, reports Daily Times. “Commander Khalid, the mastermind of Saturday’s suicide attack, was seen in Mingora just days before the attack,” officials said, calling his death a major victory for peace in Swat. The officials said Khalid and three other militant commanders, identified as Fazal Qadir, Naseeb and Izzat, were killed in the clash.
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March - 17 
A senior US official said that an al-Qaeda leader who is believed to have played a key role in the bombing of a CIA post in Afghanistan in December 31, 2009, was apparently killed in a missile strike last week (unspecified date), reports Dawn. The counterterrorism official said Hussein Al-Yemeni was
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A senior US official said that an al-Qaeda leader who is believed to have played a key role in the bombing of a CIA post in Afghanistan in December 31, 2009, was apparently killed in a missile strike last week (unspecified date), reports Dawn. The counterterrorism official said Hussein Al-Yemeni was believed killed in a strike at Miramshah in North Waziristan. Al-Yemeni is considered an important al-Qaeda planner and explosives expert who had established contacts with groups ranging from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan and Pakistani Taliban militant outfits.
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March - 17 
The Law enforcement agencies are considering of launching a “well-coordinated large-scale operation” against possible militant hubs close to the entry points of the provincial metropolis. Sources said that after the recent recovery of large amounts of explosive material, suicide jackets, hand grenad
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The Law enforcement agencies are considering of launching a “well-coordinated large-scale operation” against possible militant hubs close to the entry points of the provincial metropolis. Sources said that after the recent recovery of large amounts of explosive material, suicide jackets, hand grenades and other heavy ammunition in search operations across the city, law enforcement agencies have decided that instead of individual raids, a comprehensive operation should be undertaken to arrest all extremists. Authorities are expected to make similar recoveries of explosives material and ammunitions from areas including the area surrounding Sagian Bridge, Sherankot, Badamibagh, Township, Green Town, Naseerabad, Shafiqabad, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Sabzazar Scheme and Allama Iqbal Town. “The Punjab Home Department has forwarded information to the agencies concerned, including the Punjab Police, that two high profile militants are en route from the Vehari area and are trying to enter Lahore,” the sources said.
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March - 17 
The Ministry of Interior said that the Taliban have planned to launch fresh attacks on the Security Forces (SFs) in all major cities of the country, a private news channel reported. According to a notification released by the Ministry of Interior, a group of at least 15 terrorists led by ‘Asadullah’
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The Ministry of Interior said that the Taliban have planned to launch fresh attacks on the Security Forces (SFs) in all major cities of the country, a private news channel reported. According to a notification released by the Ministry of Interior, a group of at least 15 terrorists led by ‘Asadullah’ has left Waziristan to carry out fresh attacks in Pakistan’s major cities including Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar. The terrorists can target the Pakistan Army helicopters and aircrafts, as they possess a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun and a ZGO gun, the notification added. Further, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that a decisive operation will be launched against banned sectarian outfits if they do not refrain from carrying out terrorist attacks in the country. Malik made these comments at a joint-press briefing along with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira after a special meeting of the federal cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Malik claimed that the defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) were behind 90 percent of the terrorist attacks in Punjab. “They are operating on the instructions of their foreign masters with the ulterior motive to destabilise Pakistan,” Malik said.
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March - 17 
The NWFP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain ruled out the possibility that the Taliban would reorganise in Swat as the SFs have dismantled their network in the valley. “The militants cannot dare reorganise. Their network has been smashed,” the Minister said while addressing a function on the pass
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The NWFP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain ruled out the possibility that the Taliban would reorganise in Swat as the SFs have dismantled their network in the valley. “The militants cannot dare reorganise. Their network has been smashed,” the Minister said while addressing a function on the passing out of Special Police Force in Kabal tehsil (revenue unit). Iftikhar recalled the Government had “accepted all demands of the terrorists” but still they continued killing innocent people of Swat. “We had no other option then to opt for military operation when the terrorists were least concerned about civilians’ lives,” he added.
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March - 18 
Attacks in Pakistan have driven Osama bin Laden and other leaders underground and reduced al-Qaeda’s ability to plan attacks, CIA Director Leon Panetta said on March 18, according to Dawn. He told The Washington Post in an interview that Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders had gone into hiding. He
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Attacks in Pakistan have driven Osama bin Laden and other leaders underground and reduced al-Qaeda’s ability to plan attacks, CIA Director Leon Panetta said on March 18, according to Dawn. He told The Washington Post in an interview that Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders had gone into hiding. He further said that intelligence operatives recently intercepted a message from an al-Qaeda official urging Bin Laden to provide leadership to the terrorist outfit. The CIA chief said the setbacks for Al-Qaeda resulted from an accelerated number of drone strikes and improved coordination with Pakistan in what he called “the most aggressive operation that CIA has been involved in our history”. CIA had mounted 22 such strikes this year, putting the agency on course to exceed last year’s roughly 53 strikes, a record. The CIA chief, however, warned that Al-Qaeda was still seeking to recruit people who lack criminal records or known ties to terrorist groups. Mr Panetta cited recent arrests of top Taliban figures — most notably Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar — as tangible evidence of improving ties with Pakistan’s intelligence service. He said that Pakistan had given the CIA access to Baradar since his capture and added that “we’re getting intelligence” from the interrogation.
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March - 19 
Pakistan rejected a suggestion from the former head of the UN mission in Afghanistan that the arrest of senior Afghan Taliban members in Pakistan may have halted talks with UN representatives. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said, “The fact of the matter is that Mullah Baradar’s arrest was a
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Pakistan rejected a suggestion from the former head of the UN mission in Afghanistan that the arrest of senior Afghan Taliban members in Pakistan may have halted talks with UN representatives. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said, “The fact of the matter is that Mullah Baradar’s arrest was a joint operation with the US and had nothing to do with talks or reconciliation.” He said that Pakistan had long called for talks to end the Afghan war, and Eide’s comments were a misinterpretation of its aims. “Pakistan is committed to support an Afghanistan-led reintegration and reconciliation process, so any other contentions, we believe, are a misrepresentation and misinterpretation of our intentions.”
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March - 19 
Pakistan’s recent arrests of top Taliban leaders have halted the United Nations’ secret talks with the outfit, said the UN’s former envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide on March 19, according to Daily Times. Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat who just stepped down from the UN post in the Afghanistan capital of
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Pakistan’s recent arrests of top Taliban leaders have halted the United Nations’ secret talks with the outfit, said the UN’s former envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide on March 19, according to Daily Times. Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat who just stepped down from the UN post in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, told BBC that discussions with senior Taliban members began a year ago and included face-to-face conversations in Dubai and elsewhere. “The first contact was probably 2009 spring, then of course you moved into the [Afghan presidential] election process ... communication picked up when the election process was over, and it continued to pick up until a certain moment a few weeks ago,” Eide told BBC. Eide said there were several channels of communication with the Taliban, including those involving senior representatives of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
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March - 23 
The militants on March 23 vowed to wage jihad (holy war) to liberate Kashmir from Indian control, reports Daily Times. About 5,000 persons attended a rally in Kotli in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), shouting, “We are ready for jihad, we are ready for jihad!” The gathering marked the anniversary of
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The militants on March 23 vowed to wage jihad (holy war) to liberate Kashmir from Indian control, reports Daily Times. About 5,000 persons attended a rally in Kotli in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), shouting, “We are ready for jihad, we are ready for jihad!” The gathering marked the anniversary of the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, in which Indian Muslims decided to struggle for a separate country following independence from British rule. Pakistan was born seven years later on 14th August 1947. “Diplomacy, talks and negotiations spanning several decades have not worked,” said Syed Salahuddin, chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), which consists of 16 religious groups, militant outfits and political parties. “The only way to liberate Kashmir is jihad,” said Salahuddin, who is also ‘commander-in-chief’ of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). He denied that jihadi groups were behind attacks within the country. The rally was also attended by leaders of Jama’at-ud-Da’awa (JuD). A resolution adopted after the meeting said, “Jihad will continue until India ends its occupation of Kashmir.”
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March - 24 
Pakistan continued to support some militant outfits that operate in Afghanistan, a top US intelligence official said on March 24, according to Times of India. "Islamabad has demonstrated determination and persistence in combating militants it perceives dangerous to Pakistan's interests, but it also
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Pakistan continued to support some militant outfits that operate in Afghanistan, a top US intelligence official said on March 24, according to Times of India. "Islamabad has demonstrated determination and persistence in combating militants it perceives dangerous to Pakistan's interests, but it also has provided some support to other Pakistan-based outfits that operate in Afghanistan," said Mathew Burrows, Counsellor and Director of the Analysis and Production Staff at the National Intelligence Council. "Increased Pakistani cooperation is more likely, if Pakistan is persuaded that the US is committed to stabilising Afghanistan and capable of doing so," he said at a news briefing held at the Foreign Press Centre.
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March - 25 
Pakistan does not want the Taliban to take over Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on March 25, adding, however, there was a time when there was a Taliban Government in Afghanistan and Pakistan felt comfortable with that, reports Daily Times. Talking to the National Public Radio
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Pakistan does not want the Taliban to take over Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on March 25, adding, however, there was a time when there was a Taliban Government in Afghanistan and Pakistan felt comfortable with that, reports Daily Times. Talking to the National Public Radio, Qureshi rejected suggestions that Pakistan has quietly supported Taliban in Afghanistan. He pledged to work to bring stability to its neighbour. He said Pakistan was striving to be a “moderate, democratic voice” since its return to civilian rule in 2008. “Friends can also change,” he said. “What the American people need to understand is that people and democracy in Pakistan are getting their act together,” he said. Qureshi said Pakistan would only seek involvement in Afghanistan in accordance with the country’s wishes. “We are going to do whatever we can do to achieve the objective of a peaceful, stable, friendly Afghanistan,” he added.
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March - 25 
US drone attacks in the tribal areas are being carried out without Pakistan’s consent and the matter will be taken up with Washington during bilateral discussions, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on March 25, reports Daily Times. He added that the US was committed to provide drone technology to
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US drone attacks in the tribal areas are being carried out without Pakistan’s consent and the matter will be taken up with Washington during bilateral discussions, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on March 25, reports Daily Times. He added that the US was committed to provide drone technology to Pakistan.
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March - 26 
After a meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden, Qureshi said he expressed the US administration’s willingness to transform the US-Pakistan relationship into a mutually beneficial and sustained partnership. Biden dropped in a White House meeting between National Security Adviser James Jones and
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After a meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden, Qureshi said he expressed the US administration’s willingness to transform the US-Pakistan relationship into a mutually beneficial and sustained partnership. Biden dropped in a White House meeting between National Security Adviser James Jones and top Pakistani officials including Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Islamabad’s Ambassador in Washington Hussain Haqqani. “We exchanged views on the discussions we had at the strategic dialogue and his (Biden’s) expression of support reinforced my understanding that this administration is ready to turn bilateral relations into a partnership,” Qureshi told reporters after the meeting.
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March - 26 
The Interior Minister Rehman Malik while giving day-wise details of Operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation) during Question Hour on March 26 said that since October 17, 2009 till February 20, 2010, 823 militants were killed. He also mentioned the presence of local as well as foreign militants in S
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The Interior Minister Rehman Malik while giving day-wise details of Operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation) during Question Hour on March 26 said that since October 17, 2009 till February 20, 2010, 823 militants were killed. He also mentioned the presence of local as well as foreign militants in South Waziristan Agency, including those affiliated with al-Qaeda, with their headquarters in Makin from where suicide attacks on civilians and military installations were planned and executed. Malik also accepted the challenge of a member to provide the list of at least 100 militants killed in operation that the Government had declared militants. “I am even ready to present the list of 100. Give me time by Monday or Tuesday,” he said. To a question about civilian casualties, he said announcements were made for the people to leave the areas prior to the start of the operation. But, those who did not leave either did not want to leave or they were siding with the militants. He quoted the example of Mohmand Agency where Maulvi Faqir Mohammad and Qari Ziaur Rehman were found from a civilian’s home.” If the people do not leave the area and are hit during the operation, it is not our fault. We tried that no innocent was killed during the operation,” he added. The Minister said that those who raped women, burnt schools and buildings and hanged people cannot be innocent. “They were terrorists and the operation was against them”, Malik concluded.
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March - 28 
The TTP, in connivance with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), planned suicide attacks on the main offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the passport issuing authority in Lahore and Islamabad to punish them for their role in identification of suicide bombers through DNA t
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The TTP, in connivance with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), planned suicide attacks on the main offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the passport issuing authority in Lahore and Islamabad to punish them for their role in identification of suicide bombers through DNA tests and fingerprints, said an official letter. The Lahore commissioner has issued the warning to the Capital City Police Officer, Lahore, and others. The letter, quoting the report of an intelligence agency, warned that Abu Bakar alias Abdullah Farooqi, a resident of Vehari, who is a TTP militant, had entered Lahore, along with his two associates, for launching terrorist attacks in the city. The same group has also been tasked to target Maulana Tahirul Qadri for issuing a decree against the suicide bombings. The letter further said that Abdul Mannan Muavia of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a resident of Muzaffargarh, along with his three accomplices, is planning to target some Senior Police Officers and the Police offices in Jhang District in the near future. The same outfit is also planning to launch attacks on the Armed Forces in Karachi Cantonment. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Pervez Rathore said that the Police had beefed up security in and around the buildings of NADRA and passport offices in Lahore and Islamabad.
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March - 30 
An Iranian diplomat, abducted from Peshawar, was “rescued” on March 30, a senior Iranian diplomat said, reports Daily Times. Heshmatollah Attarzadeh Niyaki, a commercial attaché at the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, was abducted on November 13, 2008, by three gunmen from Hayatabad area of Peshawar.
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An Iranian diplomat, abducted from Peshawar, was “rescued” on March 30, a senior Iranian diplomat said, reports Daily Times. Heshmatollah Attarzadeh Niyaki, a commercial attaché at the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, was abducted on November 13, 2008, by three gunmen from Hayatabad area of Peshawar. However, a Pakistani official said the abducted diplomat was “recovered from inside Afghanistan and there was no involvement of any Pakistani security agency in the rescue operation”. “He has been freed and is safe and sound,” Abbas Ali Abdullahi, head of the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, said. However, he declined to share details of where and when the missing diplomat was rescued. “I have no information about where he was recovered, but it’s confirmed that he has reached Iran.”
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March - 30 
The Foreign Ministers of the G8 countries agreed on an economic initiative plan for the Pak-Afghan border regions, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on March 30, according to Daily Times. “Stability in the region is critical for global security,” Cannon told reporters at the start of tw
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The Foreign Ministers of the G8 countries agreed on an economic initiative plan for the Pak-Afghan border regions, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on March 30, according to Daily Times. “Stability in the region is critical for global security,” Cannon told reporters at the start of two days of G8 talks. Foreign Ministers from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US as well as European Union chief diplomat Catherine Ashton met to discuss threats such as nuclear proliferation, regional conflicts and terrorism.
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March - 30 
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 30 said that militants operating on the Pakistan border may have helped organise suicide bomb attacks that killed 38 persons in Moscow on March 29, reported Daily Times quoting Interfax news agency. Two female suicide bombers attacked Moscow metro
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The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 30 said that militants operating on the Pakistan border may have helped organise suicide bomb attacks that killed 38 persons in Moscow on March 29, reported Daily Times quoting Interfax news agency. Two female suicide bombers attacked Moscow metro stations during the morning rush hour. Both likely had links to the North Caucasus, the centre of an extremist insurgency against Moscow, the head of Russia’s FSB state security service said. Lavrov did not mention al Qaeda, but said the bombers may have had links to militants on the Afghan-Pakistan border, where al Qaeda militants, and Afghanistan and Pakistan Taliban fighters are present. Asked if there could have been any foreign involvement in March 29’s attacks, Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying: “I do not exclude that.” “We all know that in the Afghan-Pakistan border, in the so called no-man’s land, the terrorist underground is very well entrenched,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.
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April - 1 
The US imposed new sanctions on a close associate of Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network, who helped smuggle foreign fighters into Iraq. The Treasury Department said it is freezing the assets of Ahmad Khalaf Shabib al-Dulaymi in US jurisdictions for allegedly supporting the al Qaeda, including acting
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The US imposed new sanctions on a close associate of Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network, who helped smuggle foreign fighters into Iraq. The Treasury Department said it is freezing the assets of Ahmad Khalaf Shabib al-Dulaymi in US jurisdictions for allegedly supporting the al Qaeda, including acting as an intermediary between al Qaeda cadres and its leaders close to Bin Laden. The Treasury Department said he supported al Qaeda by assisting the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and recruited people to smuggle money and weapons into Iraq from Syria. Al-Dulaymi is suspected of managing two al Qaeda network cells. In addition, the US has frozen the assets of German national Atilla Selek, who was convicted in Germany in March 2010 in connection with plotting to bomb US military installations and other sites in Germany.
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April - 1 
The US on April 1 called on Pakistan to curb anti-India militants, praising Islamabad’s recent efforts against extremism but saying it could do more to improve ties with New Delhi, reports Daily Times. Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, held talks in India and Pakistan in
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The US on April 1 called on Pakistan to curb anti-India militants, praising Islamabad’s recent efforts against extremism but saying it could do more to improve ties with New Delhi, reports Daily Times. Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, held talks in India and Pakistan in late March where he said he voiced support for the recent resumption of dialogue between the long time rivals. Blake hailed the “enormous” progress in Pakistan in fighting extremists, pointing to its offensives against the Taliban in its northwest and recent arrests of militant leaders. “I think one can argue there is a lot of important progress that has been made but we think there also needs to be progress against these Punjab-based groups,” Blake told reporters. He was referring to banned groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), which India holds responsible for a 2008 assault on Mumbai and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), believed to have joined LeT in a 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament.
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April - 5 
A series of three powerful blasts followed by heavy gunfight in a brazen suicide mission, apparently planned to target the US Consulate in Peshawar, left eight persons dead and 18 others injured in Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), in the afternoon of April 5,
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A series of three powerful blasts followed by heavy gunfight in a brazen suicide mission, apparently planned to target the US Consulate in Peshawar, left eight persons dead and 18 others injured in Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), in the afternoon of April 5, according to The News. A suicide bomber hit one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) parked on the entrance to the Hospital Road, which hosts the US Consulate General as well as several offices of the Pakistan Army around 1.20 pm (PST). “The first suicide bomber exploded his car near the APC at the entry point to the Hospital Road after which unknown number of attackers coming in a double cabin pick-up drove towards the gate of the US Consulate while opening fire,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)-Operations Karim Khan said. The Deputy City Police Chief said another suicide bomber blew himself up hardly 20 feet away from the main gate of the US Consulate on the Hospital Road after the attackers failed to enter the building. He said the gate of the consulate was partially damaged in the blast. Those killed included two Frontier Crops officials, one Frontier Reserved Policeman and two passers-by, while three bodies could not be identified. According to SSP-Operations, around 20 kilograms of explosives were used in the first suicide attack while around 100 kilograms were used in the second one outside the main gate of the consulate. He was not sure about the nature of the third blast. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in reaction to the US drone attacks.
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April - 6 
Underscoring the need for establishing nuclear safety around the world, US President Barack Obama said on April 6 that he is confident that Pakistan has secured its atomic weapons, reports Daily Times. “I feel confident that Pakistan has secured its nuclear weapons. I am concerned about nuclear secu
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Underscoring the need for establishing nuclear safety around the world, US President Barack Obama said on April 6 that he is confident that Pakistan has secured its atomic weapons, reports Daily Times. “I feel confident that Pakistan has secured its nuclear weapons. I am concerned about nuclear security around the world, not just in Pakistan but everywhere,” he said in an interview with The New York Times. However, Obama refused to talk about the details of Islamabad’s nuclear programme.
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April - 9 
NWFP Police Chief Malik Naveed on April 9 said that Kala Dhaka is the new base for the Taliban, who fled the Army operation in Swat and other Districts in Malakand in 2009. “It (Kala Dhaka) is creating problems for us,” he expressed concern over the new base of the Swat Taliban who could make a come
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NWFP Police Chief Malik Naveed on April 9 said that Kala Dhaka is the new base for the Taliban, who fled the Army operation in Swat and other Districts in Malakand in 2009. “It (Kala Dhaka) is creating problems for us,” he expressed concern over the new base of the Swat Taliban who could make a comeback if not contained now. Kala Dhaka is part of Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) where the Government’s writ has not been established yet as neither a jirga (council) is effective nor do the Levies Force operate there. Further, the Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured the National Assembly that citizens would not be affected by the action against outlaws in Kala Dhaka, a tribal area adjacent to Hazara region. He said the operation would be aimed at eliminating criminals, proclaimed offenders and militants who were hiding there after being pushed out from Swat and Waziristan. Malik said action would be taken against the criminals who have taken refuge in Kala Dhaka area of the Hazara Division.
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April - 11 
Daily Times quoting The Washington Post reports that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had set free at least two senior Afghan Taliban militants even as it helped the US detain the Taliban’s second-ranking ‘commander’ in the area. Citing unnamed US officials, The Washington Post said the release
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Daily Times quoting The Washington Post reports that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had set free at least two senior Afghan Taliban militants even as it helped the US detain the Taliban’s second-ranking ‘commander’ in the area. Citing unnamed US officials, The Washington Post said the releases had occurred as the ISI worked with US intelligence operatives to capture Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and other militants. The quiet actions by the ISI were detected by US intelligence agencies but not publicly disclosed, the report said. According to The Washington Post, the US military and intelligence officials said the actions were evidence that parts of Pakistan’s security establishment continued to support the Taliban. The US officials declined to identify the Taliban men who were released because of the secrecy surrounding US monitoring of the ISI, The Washington Post added. In interviews in Islamabad, Pakistani intelligence officials said the ISI is committed to dismantling insurgent groups and denied that any Taliban operatives had been released after being captured. “It is our policy that we will go against these people,” an intelligence official said. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the ISI are “working like this”, he said, clasping his hands together.
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April - 13 
The democratic Government in Pakistan is fully committed to ensuring nuclear security, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on April 13, reports Daily Times. At a dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama, Gilani said Pakistan attached the highest importance to the security of its nuclear materia
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The democratic Government in Pakistan is fully committed to ensuring nuclear security, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on April 13, reports Daily Times. At a dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama, Gilani said Pakistan attached the highest importance to the security of its nuclear material and had put in place multi-layered mechanisms and processes. He said Pakistan had already worked with India on several nuclear confidence-building measures. More than ever before, our two nations need to hold a sustained dialogue to address all issues,” he added. In addition, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani vowed to rid the country of “evil forces”, adding that Osama Bin Laden was not in Pakistan and he had no information whether he was alive or not.
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April - 15 
The Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) on April 15 said that it is ready to hold talks with the Government, according to Daily Times. LI spokesman Zarr Khan called on the Government to stop the ongoing military operation in the tribal region of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency and said his outfit was w
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The Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) on April 15 said that it is ready to hold talks with the Government, according to Daily Times. LI spokesman Zarr Khan called on the Government to stop the ongoing military operation in the tribal region of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency and said his outfit was willing to hold talks with the administration. Zarr Khan said the LI had not challenged the writ of the State, and should, therefore, not be attacked by the armed forces. He claimed his outfit was not involved in anti-state activities and not fighting Security Forces. "Many civilians and local tribesmen have been killed in the operation, and we appeal to the Government to stop it immediately," he said.
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April - 15 
The United States Treasury said on April 15 it had imposed sanctions on two "high-profile" Pakistani trust fund chiefs allegedly linked to terrorism, reports Daily Times. The Treasury identified the trust fund chiefs as Muhammed Mazhar, director of Al-Akhtar Trust, and Mufti Abdul Rahim, leader of A
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The United States Treasury said on April 15 it had imposed sanctions on two "high-profile" Pakistani trust fund chiefs allegedly linked to terrorism, reports Daily Times. The Treasury identified the trust fund chiefs as Muhammed Mazhar, director of Al-Akhtar Trust, and Mufti Abdul Rahim, leader of Al-Rashid Trust, and said both Pakistani charities’ assets under US jurisdiction were frozen. Americans have also been prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. Mazhar was accused of supporting al Qaeda and the Taliban, while Rahim was charged with funding the Taliban. "Today’s designation of these two high-profile financiers of al Qaeda and the Taliban, who are also leaders of Al-Akhtar Trust and Al-Rashid Trust, further exposes those organisations’ continuing support for terrorism under the guise of charitable activity," said the Treasury.
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April - 19 
At least 24 people, including a child and Police officials, were killed and 49 others injured in twin bombings hours apart at a school and a crowded market in Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), on April 19, according to Daily Times. The first bomb exploded outsi
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At least 24 people, including a child and Police officials, were killed and 49 others injured in twin bombings hours apart at a school and a crowded market in Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), on April 19, according to Daily Times. The first bomb exploded outside a school run by a Police welfare foundation in the Peshawar, killing a boy and injuring eight others. A bomb disposal squad (BDS) official said one-and-a-half kilogrammes of explosives packed in a schoolbag were used in the blast, which were detonated by a timed device. The second blast occurred at Qissa Khawani Bazaar of Peshawar when a suicide bomber walked into the crowd and detonated explosives.Capital City Police Officer Liaquat Ali said, “Just after the conclusion of a Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) demonstration against load shedding, a young suicide bomber aged 14, walked towards a Police mobile Van and detonated explosives strapped to his body”. “Twenty-three people were killed including three Police officials. At least 41 persons were injured,” Senior Police Official Imran Kishwar said. Peshawar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gulfat Hussain, JI city Naib (deputy) Ameer Dost Muhammad and JI Dir-Bajaur Qaumi Jirga (community assembly) Chairman Ghausur Rehman were among the dead. Police suspect the bomber mainly targeted DSP Hussain because he belonged to the Shia sect. JI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (new name of NWFP) ‘secretary general’ and former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Shabir Ahmed Khan and JI Peshawar Ameer (chief) and former MNA Sabir Hussain Awan were among the injured.
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April - 21 
The United States (US) Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke alleged that the Taliban carry out attacks on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan from their sanctuaries in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Daily Times reported quoting a private television channel
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The United States (US) Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke alleged that the Taliban carry out attacks on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan from their sanctuaries in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Daily Times reported quoting a private television channel on April 21. Holbrooke, talking to the media in Washington, said the US would provide economic development assistance and make sure that the new military equipment was delivered to Pakistan. He said the Taliban insurgency faced by Pakistan “is very dangerous both to them and the US.” The ambassador said the US-Pak bilateral relations had improved since the last 15 months and the strategic dialogue between the two countries was a great step in further strengthening the relationship, which was based on common interests. “Pakistan needs our support to resolve huge economic, energy and water problems and the US is working with the Pakistani government to meet those pressing needs,” Holbrooke said. The representative told the media that the USD 7.5 billion aid package, authorised by the Congress had been finalised and the money would be soon delivered to Pakistan.
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April - 24 
Four Policemen were killed by unidentified militants, who also set 12 NATO oil tankers on fire, at the Talagang-Mianwali Road in Chakwal District of Punjab on April 24, according to Daily Times. Talagang Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghaffar said that the incident took place around two kilom
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Four Policemen were killed by unidentified militants, who also set 12 NATO oil tankers on fire, at the Talagang-Mianwali Road in Chakwal District of Punjab on April 24, according to Daily Times. Talagang Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghaffar said that the incident took place around two kilometres from Talagang in Chakwal district. The DSP said Sub-Inspector Iqbal, driver Fareed and two unidentified Police personnel died in the incident, as some unidentified militants started firing at a Police mobile van before setting the NATO oil tankers on fire.
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April - 25 
Pakistan on April 25 handed over to India six dossiers on its own investigation into the Mumbai attacks, with a request that India hand over Ajmal Kasab and an Indian national, Fahim Ansari, so that their testimonies could be recorded in Pakistan, reports Daily Times. Top Foreign Office officials ha
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Pakistan on April 25 handed over to India six dossiers on its own investigation into the Mumbai attacks, with a request that India hand over Ajmal Kasab and an Indian national, Fahim Ansari, so that their testimonies could be recorded in Pakistan, reports Daily Times. Top Foreign Office officials handed over the dossiers to the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. “We have sought India’s help that he (Ajmal Kasab) should be handed over to us so that the trial here can go forward,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said. Islamabad is holding seven suspects linked to the November 26 to 29 attacks on India’s financial capital, including alleged mastermind of the operation, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative Zarar Shah. An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi indicted the seven persons on the eve of the first anniversary of the attack. Since the indictment, officials have implied that the seven suspects’ trial cannot proceed unless Kasab, who was convicted in Mumbai in March 2010 after a year-long trial, is handed over as a witness. When asked how India could extradite Kasab and Ansari to Pakistan, Basit replied, “It is not extradition per se. It is a legal requirement since the court has asked that Kasab be produced before it.” Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also said that Kasab is required to appear in Rawalpindi.
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April - 26 
Charbagh operations commander, Colonel Ejaz Malik, said the Charbagh jirga (council) announced complete support for the SFs.
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Charbagh operations commander, Colonel Ejaz Malik, said the Charbagh jirga (council) announced complete support for the SFs.
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April - 26 
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Sindh Police arrested a high-profile militant belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi and recovered a loaded TT pistol from his possession on April 26, according to Daily Times. CID (Operations) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fayyaz
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The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Sindh Police arrested a high-profile militant belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi and recovered a loaded TT pistol from his possession on April 26, according to Daily Times. CID (Operations) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fayyaz Khan said the arrested militant Hakimullah Wali Swati was a close associate of the Amir (Chief) of the TTP in Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan further added that the militant had been living in Karachi for a long time and was involved in several robberies at banks and other places to collect funds for militants. He also used to provide hiding places to militants arriving in the city from Swat and northern areas of the country.
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April - 28 
Pakistan has shifted 100,000 of its troops from its Indian frontier to spearhead an unprecedented crackdown on Taliban along the Afghanistan border, but the offensives are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the US-led war in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on April 28, reports Daily Times. In a
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Pakistan has shifted 100,000 of its troops from its Indian frontier to spearhead an unprecedented crackdown on Taliban along the Afghanistan border, but the offensives are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the US-led war in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on April 28, reports Daily Times. In a report to Congress, the Pentagon estimated that about 140,000 Pakistani troops were taking part in offensives against militants in FATA, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near Afghanistan. The Pentagon, which had long pressed Islamabad to take on the Taliban and al Qaeda leaders on their territory, said the recent military deployments were the biggest in the country’s history on the western border. To carry it out, Pakistan has shifted more than 100,000 troops from the eastern border with India, the report added. “This unprecedented deployment and thinning of the lines against India indicates that Islamabad has acknowledged its domestic insurgent threat,” the Pentagon said. The Pentagon issued the report one day before the India and Pakistan prime ministers are due to hold their first meeting in nine months. Washington has sought to improve frayed ties between the two countries. Further, the Pentagon said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is no longer being run by Hakeemullah Mehsud, who Pakistani intelligence officials now believe survived a CIA drone aircraft strike in January 2010. “I certainly have seen no evidence that the person you speak of (Mehsud) is operational today or is executing or exerting authority over the Pakistani Taliban as he once did. So I don’t know if that reflects him being alive or dead, but he clearly is not running the Pakistani Taliban anymore,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference. Pakistan and US intelligence reported the death of the head of the Pakistani Taliban in a CIA drone strike, but recent reports reveal that he may have survived the attack. The reports of Hakeemullah’s survival will raise questions about the quality of the intelligence being gathered in the region. The Taliban on their part always claimed Hakeemullah was alive.
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April - 29 
The South Waziristan Political Agent Syed Shahab Ali Shah on April 29 said that 4,000 additional men will be recruited to the Levies Force to effectively enforce the writ of the Government in the Agency, reports Daily Times. Speaking at a press conference at his office, Shah said the recruitment wou
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The South Waziristan Political Agent Syed Shahab Ali Shah on April 29 said that 4,000 additional men will be recruited to the Levies Force to effectively enforce the writ of the Government in the Agency, reports Daily Times. Speaking at a press conference at his office, Shah said the recruitment would start from May 3 and would continue until May 7, adding that the recruitment would help decrease unemployment in the area. The political agent said application forms could be obtained from the offices of the assistance political agent Ladah and assistant political agent Sarokai. He said recruitment for Suleman Khel and Dothanikhel tribes would be held at the Wana Scouts Camp, while men of the Mehsud and Burki tribes would be made at Manzi Constabulary Fort. Shah added that the displaced people of South Waziristan would start returning home from May 2010.
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April - 29 
The United States (US) drone attacks were illegal because the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was using civilian contractors to launch them, a US lawyer told a key Congressional Committee on April 29, reports Dawn. Another lawyer argued before the US House Subcommittee on National Security and For
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The United States (US) drone attacks were illegal because the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was using civilian contractors to launch them, a US lawyer told a key Congressional Committee on April 29, reports Dawn. Another lawyer argued before the US House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs that while the US had the right to use the drones, the CIA personnel actually launching the attacks could be guilty of war crimes. A third expert tried to draw parallels between the killings in FATA and targeted killings of bandits loyal to Pancho Villa along the Mexican border in the 19th century. He insisted that current intelligence laws “implicitly” gave the US president the power to launch targeted killings. Lawyers and lawmakers both noted that what was a seldom-used tactic in the Bush Administration, the use of Predator drones to launch attacks against Pakistani territory has become ubiquitous since President Obama took office in 2009. In the eight years of George W. Bush’s presidency, unmanned aircraft — or drones — attacked militant targets 45 times. Since President Barack Obama took office, the numbers have risen sharply: 51 in 2009 and 29 so far in 2010. Most attacks have targeted suspected militant hideouts in Pakistan. While the experts were divided over the legality of the drone attacks, America’s human rights group, the American Civil Liberties Union, was not. Based on reports about the scope of the programme, the American Civil Liberties Union took the position that the administration’s programme of targeted killing outside of armed conflict zones was unlawful.
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April - 30 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on April 30 told the Senate that around 1,800 suspected terrorists had been arrested from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on various charges during military operations, while 12 teams were investigating charges against them, reports Daily Times. On a point of ord
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik on April 30 told the Senate that around 1,800 suspected terrorists had been arrested from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on various charges during military operations, while 12 teams were investigating charges against them, reports Daily Times. On a point of order in the Upper House, Malik said investigation teams were interrogating the detainees and would deal with them according to the law. He said those found innocent would be released, while those guilty would be handed over to local elders on a condition that they will not repeat their crimes. He added that those found guilty of serious crimes would be punished under the law.
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May - 3 
Pakistan’s economic challenges are directly linked to the war on terror, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on May 3 and called on the US Congress to facilitate his country in addressing the root cause of terror, according to Daily Times. Gilani made the comments while addressing a delegation of
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Pakistan’s economic challenges are directly linked to the war on terror, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on May 3 and called on the US Congress to facilitate his country in addressing the root cause of terror, according to Daily Times. Gilani made the comments while addressing a delegation of members of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, – led by its chairman, Howard L Berman – who called on him at Prime Minister’s House. The Prime Minister said Pakistan had remained steadfast in fighting terrorism, and the country’s Armed Forces had achieved remarkable successes in the process. He said his Government now wanted to focus on the economic development of areas cleared of militants and the entire country. He said Pakistan, therefore, wanted “friendly countries such as the US” to help in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions, to provide relief to the masses.
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May - 3 
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) ‘chief’ Maulana Sami ul Haq on May 3 offered to mediate between the Government and the Taliban (TTP), reports Daily Times. Addressing a press conference after administrating oath to the party’s newly-elected Peshawar District cabinet at the Peshawar Press Club,
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The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) ‘chief’ Maulana Sami ul Haq on May 3 offered to mediate between the Government and the Taliban (TTP), reports Daily Times. Addressing a press conference after administrating oath to the party’s newly-elected Peshawar District cabinet at the Peshawar Press Club, the JUI-S urged the Government to initiate dialogue with the Taliban (TTP), as military operation was not a solution to any problem. Sami said the US and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai were in favour of dialogue but the Government was hesitant and was using force that could not bring peace to the troubled region. “Despite repeated calls, the Government is unmoved and using the military option and bombing its own citizens,” he added.
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May - 3 
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Government and people of Pakistan were committed to continue fighting against militancy and terrorism until its total defeat, reports The News. The democratic Government in Pakistan has been able to build a national consensus against terro
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Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Government and people of Pakistan were committed to continue fighting against militancy and terrorism until its total defeat, reports The News. The democratic Government in Pakistan has been able to build a national consensus against terrorism, he said and added that it was impossible to win against violent extremism without public support, which has been crucial in successes against terrorists in Malakand and FATA.
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May - 4 
The father of Faisal Shahzad, retired Air vice Marshal Baharul Haq, hurriedly vacated the family home in Phase IV of Hayatabad town in Peshawar. Eyewitnesses said he packed some belongings in a vehicle and left the house along with male and female members of the family. However, their destination wa
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The father of Faisal Shahzad, retired Air vice Marshal Baharul Haq, hurriedly vacated the family home in Phase IV of Hayatabad town in Peshawar. Eyewitnesses said he packed some belongings in a vehicle and left the house along with male and female members of the family. However, their destination wasn’t known. Air vice Marshal Baharul Haq retired from the Pakistan Air Force some years ago. Major General (retd) Tajul Haq, reported to be his brother, served as the Inspector General of Frontier Corps (IGFC.
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May - 4 
The Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on May 4 reiterated the country’s principled stand aimed at a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, reports Daily Times. Winding up discussion on a motion moved in th
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The Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on May 4 reiterated the country’s principled stand aimed at a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, reports Daily Times. Winding up discussion on a motion moved in the National Assembly by Marvi Memon on behalf of Surrayya Ashgar on the Government’s Kashmir policy, the foreign minister said Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people. Referring to the water dispute with India, Qureshi said the Government was making serious efforts to take up the issue with India at a proper forum and all out efforts would be made to compel India to implement the Indus Basin Water Treaty.
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May - 4 
To maintain peace in the Pak-Afghan region, it is necessary to promote political and bilateral relations between both countries, because a stable Afghanistan is the key to a safer Pakistan, NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan Ambassador Mark Sedwill said on May 4, according to Daily
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To maintain peace in the Pak-Afghan region, it is necessary to promote political and bilateral relations between both countries, because a stable Afghanistan is the key to a safer Pakistan, NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan Ambassador Mark Sedwill said on May 4, according to Daily Times. He said the ongoing political process in Afghanistan was essential to make things better and President Hamid Karzai had initiated a political move to strengthen and maintain peace in the region. He said both countries were facing the common threat of terrorism, due to which there was a need to adopt a mutual strategy to eliminate the threat. Commenting on his two-day visit to Pakistan, he said,” I will call on the Pakistani Government officials to discuss the political issues pertaining to NATO’s role in Afghanistan.” Sedwill said Pakistan was a vital partner for the international community in the collective efforts to enhance regional stability. “I am here to work with the Government of Pakistan to find ways in which we can strengthen cooperation and coordinate a shared approach towards NATO’s goal in achieving a stable and secure Afghanistan,” he added. To a question about the Indian role in Afghanistan, the ambassador said “They aren’t at all involved with the security forces, but there’s a very substantial civil aid programme from India to Afghanistan, including some major infrastructure projects.”
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May - 5 
An Emirates Airlines official said that Faisal Shahzad, the chief suspect in the attempted bombing of New York’s Times Square, tried to flee the US with a one-way ticket to Islamabad. “We have been informed that he had a one-way ticket for Islamabad via Dubai,” Boutros, Emirates Deputy President and
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An Emirates Airlines official said that Faisal Shahzad, the chief suspect in the attempted bombing of New York’s Times Square, tried to flee the US with a one-way ticket to Islamabad. “We have been informed that he had a one-way ticket for Islamabad via Dubai,” Boutros, Emirates Deputy President and head of communications, told Al-Arabiya television.
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May - 5 
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi warned that the foiled New York car bomb attack blamed on a Pakistani-American could be retaliation for US drone attacks on the Taliban (TTP). “This is retaliation. And you could expect that... let’s not be naive,” Qureshi told CBS television. “They’re not going
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Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi warned that the foiled New York car bomb attack blamed on a Pakistani-American could be retaliation for US drone attacks on the Taliban (TTP). “This is retaliation. And you could expect that... let’s not be naive,” Qureshi told CBS television. “They’re not going to sort of sit and welcome you (to) sort of eliminate them. They’re going to fight back,” he said. The US has significantly increased drone strikes on North Waziristan in 2010, with more than 890 people have been killed in nearly 100 drone strikes in Pakistan since August 2008.
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May - 5 
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said that a link is yet to be established between the Times Square bomb suspect and the Taliban (TTP) in Waziristan. Abbas said, “Unless a link is established, it will be premature to say that he had gone there.” Accor
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Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said that a link is yet to be established between the Times Square bomb suspect and the Taliban (TTP) in Waziristan. Abbas said, “Unless a link is established, it will be premature to say that he had gone there.” According to US officials, Shahzad has admitted to being trained in Waziristan. The alleged visit to the Tribal Areas apparently came during a five-month trip Shahzad made to Pakistan. Shahzad returned to the US on February 3, 2010 without his wife, and told immigration officials that he had been visiting his parents. “As for the TTP claim, anybody can claim anything,” said Abbas added.
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May - 5 
The Pakistani Government is firmly committed to combating terrorism and militancy, which is hampering the country’s economic development, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on May 5, according to Daily Times. The Prime Minster expressed these views while chairing the meeting of the Strategic Ove
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The Pakistani Government is firmly committed to combating terrorism and militancy, which is hampering the country’s economic development, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on May 5, according to Daily Times. The Prime Minster expressed these views while chairing the meeting of the Strategic Oversight Committee to review the security situation and progress of development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA at the Prime Minister’s House.
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May - 6 
Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik told Reuters in an interview in Beijing (China) that "according to the available information, Faisal Shahzad says it was his individual act. I would not tend to believe that." Malik also said that Pakistan had not yet received a formal request for help from
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Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik told Reuters in an interview in Beijing (China) that "according to the available information, Faisal Shahzad says it was his individual act. I would not tend to believe that." Malik also said that Pakistan had not yet received a formal request for help from the US, but was ready to give them "every help, full support".
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May - 7 
Faisal Shahzad confessed before investigators that he drew inspiration from Yemeni-American militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a report in The New York Times said. The newspaper quoted an American official as saying that Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, had said he was “inspired by” the lect
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Faisal Shahzad confessed before investigators that he drew inspiration from Yemeni-American militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a report in The New York Times said. The newspaper quoted an American official as saying that Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, had said he was “inspired by” the lectures of Awlaki. “He listened to him, and he did it,” the official said, referring to May 2’s attempted bombing on a busy street in the Times Square. A military official said Shahzad had told interrogators that he met Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operatives in North Waziristan in December and January.
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May - 7 
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while addressing the Pakistani Community in Beijing, the capital of China, on May 7 said that Abdul Haq, the leader of Islamist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) has recently been killed in Pakistan. He also added that Pakistan and China have “br
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Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while addressing the Pakistani Community in Beijing, the capital of China, on May 7 said that Abdul Haq, the leader of Islamist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) has recently been killed in Pakistan. He also added that Pakistan and China have “broken the back” of the ETIM, which China accuses of orchestrating attacks in its restive Xinjiang region. Abdul Haq alias Memetiming Memeti had taken over leadership of the ETIM in 2003 after the death of previous leader Hasan Mahsum in Pakistan.
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May - 7 
The Provincial Government will soon launch a search operation against terrorists in Kala Dhaka, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said. Hussain made it clear this was not a military operation. “It is a search operation to be conducted by the Frontier Constabulary (FC
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The Provincial Government will soon launch a search operation against terrorists in Kala Dhaka, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said. Hussain made it clear this was not a military operation. “It is a search operation to be conducted by the Frontier Constabulary (FC), Police and elders of the area to arrest militants wherever they are, take action against them and destroy their hideouts,” he said while talking to the media at the Civil Officers Mess.
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May - 7 
The United States (US) has warned of "severe consequences" if a successful extremist attack in America were traced back to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview on May 7, reports The News. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for a failed bid to bomb New York's
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The United States (US) has warned of "severe consequences" if a successful extremist attack in America were traced back to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview on May 7, reports The News. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for a failed bid to bomb New York's Times Square on May 2. If proven, it would be the group's first act in the United States. "We've gotten more cooperation. It's been a real sea change in the commitment we have seen from the Pakistani Government. We want more, we expect more," Clinton said in the interview. "We've made it very clear that if – heaven forbid - attacks like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences," she said, without elaborating.
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May - 7 
The United States General David Petraeus, who oversees wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, says on May 7 that the Times Square bombing suspect, Faisal Shahzad, is a “lone wolf” who did not work with others, reports Daily Times. Gen Petraeus said the alleged bomber, Faisal Shahzad, was inspired by terroris
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The United States General David Petraeus, who oversees wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, says on May 7 that the Times Square bombing suspect, Faisal Shahzad, is a “lone wolf” who did not work with others, reports Daily Times. Gen Petraeus said the alleged bomber, Faisal Shahzad, was inspired by terrorists in Pakistan, but did not have direct contact with them. Authorities say Shahzad told investigators he went to a terror training camp in Pakistan, but they have yet to confirm that.
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May - 8 
Earlier on May 8, the Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that US has formally requested Pakistan for cooperation in investigations into the failed bombing attempt at New York’s Times Square and Pakistan will completely cooperate with Washington in this regard. “Today we received a formal request fr
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Earlier on May 8, the Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that US has formally requested Pakistan for cooperation in investigations into the failed bombing attempt at New York’s Times Square and Pakistan will completely cooperate with Washington in this regard. “Today we received a formal request from them in which they have told us some details about the charges,” Malik told reporters in Islamabad. Malik said it was premature to link the New York incident with Waziristan. “We will investigate the reports of Faisal Shahzad’s visit to Waziristan,” he said, adding that only Pakistani agencies would investigate the matter and no foreign team would be allowed to come to Pakistan for the purpose.
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May - 9 
The Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M. Kadakin on May 9 said that around 40 terror camps are still active in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas and Islamabad is yet to dismantle them, reports Times of India. Kadakin, in his second stint as ambassador to India, told Times of India in an excl
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The Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M. Kadakin on May 9 said that around 40 terror camps are still active in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas and Islamabad is yet to dismantle them, reports Times of India. Kadakin, in his second stint as ambassador to India, told Times of India in an exclusive interview that this information was based on Russian satellite imagery and intelligence. “From the information we have, there are about 38 to 40 such terror camps. Earlier they would have these bright green boards declaring the name of the organization like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), they have now removed them. However, the camps still remain,’’ Kadakin said, adding Pakistan had not done enough to get rid of these camps. Kadakin’s statement is extremely significant because it corroborates Indian intelligence reports that LeT has become more active in the region and is looking to target India’s interests in Afghanistan. On the developing situation in Afghanistan, Kadakin said Russia was “united 100% with India”.
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May - 9 
The United States (US) charged for the first time on May 9 that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was behind the failed attempt to detonate a car bomb in the Times Square of New York, reports Daily Times. “We’ve now developed evidence that shows that the TTP was behind the attack,” said Attorney
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The United States (US) charged for the first time on May 9 that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was behind the failed attempt to detonate a car bomb in the Times Square of New York, reports Daily Times. “We’ve now developed evidence that shows that the TTP was behind the attack,” said Attorney General Eric Holder on ABC television’s Sunday current affairs talk show ‘This Week’. “We know that they helped facilitate it. We know that they probably helped finance it, and that he was working at their direction.” He said the Pakistan Government was cooperating in the ongoing investigation, and the Obama administration would keep the pressure on “for their continued help”. He said there was nothing to suggest the Pakistani Government was aware of the plot. John Brennan, the White House Deputy National Security Adviser, also charged that Faisal Shahzad, the main conspirator, was trained and apparently funded by the TTP. “He had extensive interaction with the TTP. And this is something that we are, again, looking at very carefully, understanding the extent of that interaction and the extent of the direction and guidance that was given to him,” he added.
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May - 10 
“Some Pakistani officials know more about al Qaeda and Taliban than they actually claim”, the CBS television channel quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as saying on May 10, reports Daily Times. “Some Pakistani officials are more informed about al Qaeda and Taliban than they let on,” Hilla
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“Some Pakistani officials know more about al Qaeda and Taliban than they actually claim”, the CBS television channel quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as saying on May 10, reports Daily Times. “Some Pakistani officials are more informed about al Qaeda and Taliban than they let on,” Hillary said during an interview to the CBS. “I’m not saying they’re at the highest levels, but I believe somewhere in this Government are people who know where Osama Bin Laden, al Qaeda, Mullah Omar and the Afghan Taliban leadership are,” she said. Hillary Clinton said her Government expected more cooperation to help it bring to justice, capture or kill, those who attacked the US on 9/11. Asked if the US was not getting full cooperation from Pakistan, Hillary said there had been a change in cooperation by Pakistani authorities, but added, “We want more.”
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May - 10 
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan will provide every possible support to the US in investigations regarding Faisal Shehzad, the mastermind behind the Times Square bombing attempt, adding that the incident had damaged Pak-US relations to some extent. Qureshi was speaki
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Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan will provide every possible support to the US in investigations regarding Faisal Shehzad, the mastermind behind the Times Square bombing attempt, adding that the incident had damaged Pak-US relations to some extent. Qureshi was speaking during a consultative meeting with the country’s Chief of Army Staff, former foreign ministers and secretaries and ambassadors to discuss the resumption of Pak-India dialogue and peace process.
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May - 11 
US President Barack Obama said on May 11the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban continued to plot from the Af-Pak border region. Obama also reiterated his resolve to dismantle, disrupt and defeat the extremist network in the region.
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US President Barack Obama said on May 11the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban continued to plot from the Af-Pak border region. Obama also reiterated his resolve to dismantle, disrupt and defeat the extremist network in the region.
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May - 12 
Provincial Police Chief Malik Naveed Khan on May 11 claimed that 20 militants were arrested in the ongoing operation at Kala Dhaka of Manshersa District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reports The News. Addressing a seminar arranged by a non-governmental organisation at the Police Lines Nowshera, he
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Provincial Police Chief Malik Naveed Khan on May 11 claimed that 20 militants were arrested in the ongoing operation at Kala Dhaka of Manshersa District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reports The News. Addressing a seminar arranged by a non-governmental organisation at the Police Lines Nowshera, he said the operation by Frontier Constabulary was going on successfully and the militants were on the run.
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May - 12 
The United States President Barack Obama on May 12 warned that extremists pose a serious threat to Pakistan's sovereignty and pointed out that Islamabad had realised that it was not India but the "cancer" of terrorism emanating from its own territory that was its primary concern, reports The Hindu.
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The United States President Barack Obama on May 12 warned that extremists pose a serious threat to Pakistan's sovereignty and pointed out that Islamabad had realised that it was not India but the "cancer" of terrorism emanating from its own territory that was its primary concern, reports The Hindu. "I think there has been in the past a view on the part of Pakistan that their primary rival, India, was their only concern," he said at a joint press conference with visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in the night of May 12. Obama said: "I think what you've seen over the last several months is a growing recognition that they have a cancer in their midst; that the extremist organisations that have been allowed to congregate and use as a base the frontier areas to then go into Afghanistan, that now threatens Pakistan's sovereignty," he added.
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May - 14 
A former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst, who helped President Barack Obama formulate his Pakistan-Afghanistan policy, said that "a very serious possibility that the next mass casualty terrorist attack on the United States will be postmarked Pakistan", reports Times of India. "What we're s
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A former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst, who helped President Barack Obama formulate his Pakistan-Afghanistan policy, said that "a very serious possibility that the next mass casualty terrorist attack on the United States will be postmarked Pakistan", reports Times of India. "What we're seeing going on in Pakistan now is a very dangerous phenomenon," says Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, in an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington think tank. "The ideology of al Qaida, the ideology of global Islamic jihad that all jihadists should focus on the United States as the ultimate enemy, is gaining ground with groups beyond al Qaida," said Riedel, who chaired a special interagency committee last year to develop Obama's Af-Pak policy.
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May - 14 
A senior US senator urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on May 14 to blacklist the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Haqqani network, fighting US forces in Afghanistan as foreign terrorist organisations, reports Daily Times. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein wrote t
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A senior US senator urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on May 14 to blacklist the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Haqqani network, fighting US forces in Afghanistan as foreign terrorist organisations, reports Daily Times. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein wrote to Clinton that the label could be affixed to groups that are foreign, engage in terrorism, and whose acts threaten US citizens and national security. “I believe the Pakistani Taliban and the Haqqani network clearly meet all three criteria,” Feinstein said. Listing the groups as foreign terrorist organisations would empower US authorities to target their financing, forbid non-US nationals with ties to the groups from entering the US or expel them if they are already here, and make providing material support to them a crime, she added.
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May - 14 
Pakistan is reciprocating US concerns over the threat of terrorism, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on May 14, reports Daily Times. Clinton told a gathering of experts at the US Institute of Peace “investigation on the Faisal Shehzad case is going well between the two (US and Pakistani) inve
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Pakistan is reciprocating US concerns over the threat of terrorism, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on May 14, reports Daily Times. Clinton told a gathering of experts at the US Institute of Peace “investigation on the Faisal Shehzad case is going well between the two (US and Pakistani) investigative bodies”. “There is a lot of effort that is being undertaken on the Pakistani side to provide information to our teams over here. And we just believe strongly that there is more that Pakistan must do to face what is now a common enemy,” she said. Asked to clarify her comments regarding “severe consequences” of a successful attack on the US soil traced back to Pakistan, she said both countries shared the threat, adding that, “The attacks by the extremists inside Pakistan are no longer aimed across their borders. They are aimed at destroying and killing people in mosques, in markets, in every walk of society. So this is a matter of great concern to the American people and to our Government.
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May - 14 
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has restricted the movement of its staff in Balochistan, owing to threats calls by an unidentified militant outfit. The ICRC head of sub-delegation Adrian Zimmermann denied the statement in which it was reported that all offices of the Red Cross in
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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has restricted the movement of its staff in Balochistan, owing to threats calls by an unidentified militant outfit. The ICRC head of sub-delegation Adrian Zimmermann denied the statement in which it was reported that all offices of the Red Cross in the provincial capital were closed down after a threat call. “The ICRC continues to work in Quetta, but (our) activities have been restricted,” Adrian said. “Law enforcement agencies are investigating the matter, thus we are not in a position to comment about the significance of the threat,” he added.
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May - 18 
Osama Khalid, son of Khalid Khawaja, on May 18 confirmed that the audiotape of the telephonic conversation between TV anchor Hamid Mir and Usman – the earlier unidentified Taliban (TTP) militant – is original, as his family used to talk to him during negotiations for his father’s release. Speaking i
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Osama Khalid, son of Khalid Khawaja, on May 18 confirmed that the audiotape of the telephonic conversation between TV anchor Hamid Mir and Usman – the earlier unidentified Taliban (TTP) militant – is original, as his family used to talk to him during negotiations for his father’s release. Speaking in a current affairs programme on a private TV channel, Osama said the ‘Asian Tigers’, a little known Taliban (TTP)-linked outfit, was an agent of the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). “Because no Muslim can do it (murder another Muslim),” he said. He claimed that Hamid Mir had hatched a conspiracy to murder his father after receiving money from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “This audiotape is enough proof to show Hamid Mir’s role in the murder (of his father),” he added.
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May - 19 
President Asif Ali Zardari said that militancy and terrorism are the common enemies of the United States and Pakistan and it is important that the existing robust cooperation between the two countries continues to fight the menace. He expressed these views during a meeting with a US delegation led b
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President Asif Ali Zardari said that militancy and terrorism are the common enemies of the United States and Pakistan and it is important that the existing robust cooperation between the two countries continues to fight the menace. He expressed these views during a meeting with a US delegation led by US National Security Adviser General James Jones at the Presidency in Islamabad. General Jones was accompanied by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta, US Ambassador Anne Patterson and other senior US officials. The Pakistani side was represented by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
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May - 19 
Rasheed Rahman said that legal action must be initiated against Hamid Mir after the ISI and Government quarters confirmed the authenticity of the taped conversation between Mir and a Taliban militant. Talking to Business Plus, he said Hamid Mir is answerable in this regard. "The Daily Times initiate
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Rasheed Rahman said that legal action must be initiated against Hamid Mir after the ISI and Government quarters confirmed the authenticity of the taped conversation between Mir and a Taliban militant. Talking to Business Plus, he said Hamid Mir is answerable in this regard. "The Daily Times initiated self-accountability in the media by publishing a transcript of the taped conversation between Mir and an unidentified Taliban militant," he said, adding that several people had contacted the Media Times Group with evidence against Mir. The audio clipping proved Hamid Mir’s links with the Taliban, Rasheed Rahman added.
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May - 20 
A spokesman for Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, Waheed Omar said the Government did not send any official representatives. Karzai plans his own national conference in the last week of May to discuss peace overtures to the insurgents. “We do not have any representation and we do not think it will
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A spokesman for Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, Waheed Omar said the Government did not send any official representatives. Karzai plans his own national conference in the last week of May to discuss peace overtures to the insurgents. “We do not have any representation and we do not think it will be very helpful for the peace process in Afghanistan,” Waheed Omar said.
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May - 20 
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Deputy Assistant Secretary General Robert Simmons said in Islamabad on May 20 that it is up to Pakistan to decide when to move against the Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) in North Waziristan, reports Daily Times. He said North Waziristan is the
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Deputy Assistant Secretary General Robert Simmons said in Islamabad on May 20 that it is up to Pakistan to decide when to move against the Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) in North Waziristan, reports Daily Times. He said North Waziristan is the biggest area of concern for NATO, especially at a time when coalition forces are engaged in a fresh offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, but NATO appreciates and is satisfied with the “relatively good cooperation” by Pakistan in the war on terrorism. “Overall we are satisfied and welcome the steps that Pakistan has taken against terrorist networks,” Simmons said. North Waziristan is proving out to be one of the latest in the “do-more list” of the US administration these days. A Pakistan Army official, while referring to over-stretching and exhaustion of its troops, had made it clear to the demanding US visitors that a hasty push into the North Waziristan Agency would prove counter-productive.
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May - 21 
The Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) is not only trying to overthrow the Government in Islamabad, but is also launching attack against other countries, including the United States, the Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on May 21 (today), reports Times of India. "What we have seen here is
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The Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) is not only trying to overthrow the Government in Islamabad, but is also launching attack against other countries, including the United States, the Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on May 21 (today), reports Times of India. "What we have seen here is yet another new phenomenon, and that is the TTP not only trying to overthrow the Government of Islamabad, in Islamabad, but also launch attacks outside Pakistan and, in this case, against us," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon news briefing. "I think that when the Pakistani Taliban approached Islamabad a year and a half ago, or whenever it was, was a wake-up call for the Pakistanis that this group was an existential danger for the government of Pakistan itself," he noted. "We now have a mutual interest in trying to stop this group, stop it from carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, stop it from carrying out attacks outside of Pakistan, and especially in the United States," he said. Referring to the recent visit of National Security Advisor General (retd) James Jones and CIA Director Leon Panetta to Islamabad early this week, Gates said: "I suspect that the main theme of these talks that were held was, how we can intensify our cooperation in dealing with this mutual threat that we face?"
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May - 21 
The United States embassy on May 21 warned that militants outfits might have “established links” to a high-class catering company in the country that a security official said was owned by a suspect arrested over the failed car bombing in Times Square of New York, reports Daily Times. In an unusual e
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The United States embassy on May 21 warned that militants outfits might have “established links” to a high-class catering company in the country that a security official said was owned by a suspect arrested over the failed car bombing in Times Square of New York, reports Daily Times. In an unusual e-mail message to US residents in Pakistan, the embassy said US Government personnel had been instructed to avoid using the Hanif Rajput Catering Service. The US embassy said the suspicions about the catering company had been shared with Pakistan Government agencies. The message said Rajput was owned by Rana Ashraf Khan and his son Salman Ashraf.
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May - 22 
A catering company executive, Salman Ashraf Khan, who was among six persons detained by Pakistan for allegedly helping the New York Times Square bombing suspect had differences with American policy in the region but no hatred towards the country, his father, Rana Ashraf Khan, said on May 22, reports
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A catering company executive, Salman Ashraf Khan, who was among six persons detained by Pakistan for allegedly helping the New York Times Square bombing suspect had differences with American policy in the region but no hatred towards the country, his father, Rana Ashraf Khan, said on May 22, reports Daily Times. Like Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American accused in the failed New York bombing, the six Pakistani detainees are all members of their country's urban elite, some of them educated in the United States. Rana Ashraf Khan said that he was baffled by the accusations because his son is a successful businessman who lived happily as a student in the US for four years. Salman Ashraf Khan studied hotel management in Florida and computer science in Houston, returning to Pakistan in 2001 to take over the family business. ''How can a man who is so much involved in this business be accused of such an activity, which only a wild animal can think about?'' Rana Ashraf Khan said in a telephone interview. ''He might have differences about whatever has been going on in our region for the last 10 or 11 years. We all have differences,'' Khan said. ‘‘(But he had) no feelings against the United States at all. He lived there happily, he studied there.'' The family reported Salman Ashraf Khan missing after he failed to turn up at his office on May 10. Hanif Rajput Catering Service is popular among foreign embassies and many of Pakistan's wealthiest companies and individuals. In a statement on its website, the US Embassy warned that the catering company was suspected of ties to terrorist groups and said American diplomats had been instructed to stop using it.
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May - 23 
As many as 40 personnel of Islamabad Police have died in the line of duty during the last few years, whereas 90 militants, including would-be suicide bombers, were arrested from the administrative jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in Punjab averting possible disasters in the same per
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As many as 40 personnel of Islamabad Police have died in the line of duty during the last few years, whereas 90 militants, including would-be suicide bombers, were arrested from the administrative jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in Punjab averting possible disasters in the same period, said Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Kaleem Imam in a press statement on May 23.
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May - 23 
The militants from Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are behind the recent wave of target killings in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, a private television channel quoted Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik as saying on May 23, reports Daily Times.
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The militants from Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are behind the recent wave of target killings in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, a private television channel quoted Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik as saying on May 23, reports Daily Times. The Interior Minister made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review the security situation after the incidents of target killings in Karachi. Malik vowed that he would not tolerate the elements who were tying to destroy the law and order of Karachi and said that any attempts to harm the peace of the city would be foiled. The interior minister said that the unrest in Karachi was part of a grand plan to destabilise Pakistan.
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May - 24 
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency on May 24 accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) involvement in the suicide bombing in Kabul on May 19 that killed six NATO soldiers, reports Indian Express. Afghanistan officials have also voiced suspicions about
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A spokesman for Afghanistan’s intelligence agency on May 24 accused Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) involvement in the suicide bombing in Kabul on May 19 that killed six NATO soldiers, reports Indian Express. Afghanistan officials have also voiced suspicions about the ISI’s role in Taliban suicide attacks on Indian targets in Kabul. While Saeed Ansari, the spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s spy agency, did not mention the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) by name, he left no doubt of what he meant. The remarks came in a news conference announcing the arrest of seven people suspected of organising the May 19 suicide attack, in which a suicide bomber drove a minivan full of explosives into a convoy of armoured SUV’s. The blast killed 18 persons, including six NATO soldiers. “All the explosions and terrorist attacks by these people were plotted from the other side of the border and most of the explosives and materials used for the attacks were brought from the other side to Afghanistan,” Ansari said. “When we say that those attacks were plotted from the other side of the border, the intelligence service of our neighbouring country has definitely had its role in equipping and training of this group,” Ansari added.
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May - 24 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on May 24 said that despite Pakistan’s own regional challenges, it remains committed to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue through negotiations and dialogue, reports Daily Times. He said that it was imperative to end the long legacy of hostility and distrust
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Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on May 24 said that despite Pakistan’s own regional challenges, it remains committed to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue through negotiations and dialogue, reports Daily Times. He said that it was imperative to end the long legacy of hostility and distrust to work towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The PM said this while talking to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Raja Zulqarnain Khan and Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House. He said that Pakistan would continue to support the cause of the people of Kashmir.
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May - 24 
The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 24 added his voice to the calls to donors for more contributions to meet a funding shortfall in UN programmes to meet the humanitarian needs of the growing number of internally displaced persons in Pakistan, reports The News. “We’re working very hard,” to rai
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The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 24 added his voice to the calls to donors for more contributions to meet a funding shortfall in UN programmes to meet the humanitarian needs of the growing number of internally displaced persons in Pakistan, reports The News. “We’re working very hard,” to raise funds for the vulnerable people in Pakistan,” he told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. “I’m deeply concern over the situation,” the UN chief added. His remarks followed last week’s statement in Geneva by a senior UN official, who said Pakistan was facing a humanitarian funding crisis. “Food and health, clean water supplies and sanitation are at risk because of inadequate funding,” said Martin Mogwanja, UN humanitarian coordinator for Pakistan. In February, the UN appealed for $537 million in emergency funding. To date, it has only received 141 million dollars, or 26 per cent. In light of the budget shortfall, Mogwanja said services will be cut. “Making cuts is very, very difficult because the community we’re trying to serve is a community of IDPs (internally displaced persons) who have left behind everything and who have nothing where they have been displaced,” Mogwanja said. “Survival is the most pressing priority.” Since April of 2009, anti-militant military operations have caused almost 3.5 million Pakistanis to flee their homes, according to the UN. Of that number, nearly 2 million have returned to their communities. That leaves 1.5 million still in need.
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May - 25 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on May 25 said that some Baloch separatists with the help of Taliban and external forces are conspiring to dismember Pakistan but the Government would ensure country’s security and safety, reports The News. He was addressing the participants of the media conference dur
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik on May 25 said that some Baloch separatists with the help of Taliban and external forces are conspiring to dismember Pakistan but the Government would ensure country’s security and safety, reports The News. He was addressing the participants of the media conference during his visit to the National Defence University in Quetta. Sources said that the interior minister gave a detailed briefing to the participants on the country’s law and order situation particularly the situation in Balochistan. According to Interior Ministry spokesman, the interior minister said that Government is serious in development and prosperity of Balochistan and for uplift of the Baloch people. 'Aghaze Huqooq-i-Balochistan' package is a proof of Government’s commitment towards the prosperity of Balochistan, he said. The Minister said the Federal Government is working along with the Provincial Government for improving the security situation in the province and all necessary measures would be taken in this regard. Malik said that evidence of India’s involvement in deteriorating the security situation in Pakistan has been found and even today there are 50 Farari camps (rebel bases) in various areas of Balochistan. He said we have given dossiers to Afghanistan as some separatists leaders sitting in Afghanistan with the patronage of outside forces are involved in deteriorating the situation in Pakistan. He also disclosed that some people have been arrested who have Afghanistan security cards. Malik said that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has given training to 5,000 to 6,000 people but we would ensure the sovereignty and security of the country.
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May - 25 
President Barack Obama's new national security doctrine will make clear that the United States does not consider itself to be at war with Islam, a top adviser said. The White House on May 25 plans to roll out Obama's first formal declaration of national security goals, which are expected to deviate
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President Barack Obama's new national security doctrine will make clear that the United States does not consider itself to be at war with Islam, a top adviser said. The White House on May 25 plans to roll out Obama's first formal declaration of national security goals, which are expected to deviate sharply from the go-at-it-alone approach of the Bush era that included justification for pre-emptive war and alienated many in the Muslim world. Previewing parts of the document, John Brennan, Obama's leading counterterrorism adviser, said: "We have never been and will never be at war with Islam." "The president's strategy is unequivocal with regard to our posture — the United States of America is at war. We are at war against al Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates," he said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
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May - 25 
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Afghanistan have installed a sophisticated surveillance system along the Pak-Afghan border to monitor insurgents’ movement in the area on May 25, reports Daily Times. Equipped with more than half a dozen security cameras, the “sprawling three h
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Afghanistan have installed a sophisticated surveillance system along the Pak-Afghan border to monitor insurgents’ movement in the area on May 25, reports Daily Times. Equipped with more than half a dozen security cameras, the “sprawling three hundred yards tall balloon type satellite tower” was installed at Spin Boldak town, and can also be easily seen from Chaman of Balochistan, which lies about a kilometre south. An Afghanistan security official said that the “tower will be instrumental in monitoring the border area, especially during the NATO operation against the Taliban in Kandahar”. The official added that if the need arises more such towers would be installed along the Pak-Afghan border.
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May - 26 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that Faisal Shahzad, arrested by the US for carrying out a failed attack in New York's Times Square on May 1, had links in South Waziristan. Rehman Malik said investigations into Faisal Shahzad case are presently underway. However, he added, that no one has so
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that Faisal Shahzad, arrested by the US for carrying out a failed attack in New York's Times Square on May 1, had links in South Waziristan. Rehman Malik said investigations into Faisal Shahzad case are presently underway. However, he added, that no one has so far been arrested. "Faisal Shahzad had links in South Waziristan and his accounts are in focus for investigation," the Interior Minister said. He said the Government honours the decision of the Supreme Court regarding Hafiz Saeed and urged the Indian authorities to accord similar respect to the verdicts of Pakistani courts. "We had also honoured the Indian courts' decision against Ajmal Kasab," he said. Rehman called for a joint struggle against terrorism by Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
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May - 26 
Two top United Sates President Barrack Obama administration officials have told Pakistan that it has only weeks to show real progress in a crackdown against the Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP), a senior US official said on May 26, reports Dawn. The US has put Pakistan "on a clock" to launc
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Two top United Sates President Barrack Obama administration officials have told Pakistan that it has only weeks to show real progress in a crackdown against the Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP), a senior US official said on May 26, reports Dawn. The US has put Pakistan "on a clock" to launch a new intelligence and counterterrorist offensive against the group, which the White House alleges was behind the Times Square bombing attempt, according to the official. White House national security adviser James Jones and CIA Director Leon Panetta delivered that message to Islamabad, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The high-ranking US delegation presented the Pakistanis with evidence they believe proves that Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad was trained and funded by the TTP. Shahzad is accused of attempting to ignite what turned out to be a poorly constructed car bomb in Times Square. The evidence also showed that two TTP members escorted Shahzad to a training base in the lawless tribal area of Waziristan, where he received some instruction in how to build explosives, the US official said.
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May - 27 
The Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar on May 27 said the nuclear assets of Pakistan are in safe hands and the United States as well as the international community are completely satisfied with safety and security mechanism evolved for strategic wealth, reports Dawn. Taking to the journalis
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The Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar on May 27 said the nuclear assets of Pakistan are in safe hands and the United States as well as the international community are completely satisfied with safety and security mechanism evolved for strategic wealth, reports Dawn. Taking to the journalists after launching ceremony of the book “Cutting Edge-PAF”, the Defence Minister said the world is not concerned about Pakistan's efforts to achieve civil nuclear technology, aimed at making up the deficiency in country's energy sector. He informed media men that neither the United States has pressured Pakistan against its going into civil nuclear deal with China nor has it raised any voice against the proposed agreement.
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May - 28 
Daily Times quoting a UN human rights expert Philip Alston reports on May 28 that the use of drones by US intelligence agencies to target suspected terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan lacks accountability required under international law. Philip Alston, a New York University law professor, will c
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Daily Times quoting a UN human rights expert Philip Alston reports on May 28 that the use of drones by US intelligence agencies to target suspected terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan lacks accountability required under international law. Philip Alston, a New York University law professor, will call for new international rules to govern the use of drones to ensure they are deployed in line with the laws of war. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s program of drone strikes against the al Qaeda and Taliban has never been publicly acknowledged by US administration officials, even though it has been written about extensively in the media. A CIA spokesman said in April that the CIA’s counter terror operations are conducted in accordance with the law. “In my view there is no legal prohibition on CIA agents, or you and me, deciding to take a direct part in hostilities, which is not to say that it is desirable,” Alston said. “The problem for me is that when this happens, especially as a matter of state policy, there is no willingness to comply with any of the requirements as to transparency and accountability which are central to international humanitarian law,” he added.
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May - 28 
In addition, the Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said the involvement of Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) cannot be ruled out in the Lahore terror attacks. “About Balochistan I am sure that RAW is involved in sabotage activities. But, for Lahore we are investigating,”
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In addition, the Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said the involvement of Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) cannot be ruled out in the Lahore terror attacks. “About Balochistan I am sure that RAW is involved in sabotage activities. But, for Lahore we are investigating,” the Minister said while speaking to media persons. Malik said that the Ministry of Interior had sent two security alerts to the Punjab Government on May 13 and May 26 respectively about possible terrorist activity in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He said involvement of Taliban and al-Qaeda elements would also be probed.
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May - 28 
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the militant arrested in Model Town hails from Rahim Yar Khan District and used to be a student of a madrassa based in Karachi. Speaking to a private television channel, he said the mastermind of the attacks on worship places of Ahmadiyya dropped off two
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Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the militant arrested in Model Town hails from Rahim Yar Khan District and used to be a student of a madrassa based in Karachi. Speaking to a private television channel, he said the mastermind of the attacks on worship places of Ahmadiyya dropped off two of the five attackers in Model Town and dropped the remaining three in Garhi Shahu. One of the arrested attackers was a teenaged Pashtun, which indicated his connection with elements in Waziristan, possibly the Taliban, added Sanaullah.
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May - 29 
A retired Army major, Adnan Ahmad, said on May 29 he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after Pakistani intelligence released him from custody in connection with the attempted car bombing in New York’s Times Square, reports Daily Times. Adnan Ahmad and his brother were among at least 11 people that
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A retired Army major, Adnan Ahmad, said on May 29 he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after Pakistani intelligence released him from custody in connection with the attempted car bombing in New York’s Times Square, reports Daily Times. Adnan Ahmad and his brother were among at least 11 people that Pakistan has rounded up since the failed attack May 1. Two other suspects face allegations of involvement in the plot, but no one in Pakistan has been charged. Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed for the first time that Ahmad had been dismissed from the military because he had ties to banned organisations, but he would not elaborate. Ahmad was let go on May 28 upon orders from higher-ups, an intelligence official confirmed on condition of anonymity. He would not give any details about the man’s detention or what information it yielded.
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May - 29 
The United States (US) military planners are looking at options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan, if a successful attack on US soil is traced to the Tribal Areas, the Daily Times reported on May 29 quoting The Washington Post report of May 28. US retaliation would be contemplated only under extre
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The United States (US) military planners are looking at options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan, if a successful attack on US soil is traced to the Tribal Areas, the Daily Times reported on May 29 quoting The Washington Post report of May 28. US retaliation would be contemplated only under extreme circumstances, unnamed senior military officials told The Washington Post. These circumstances might include a catastrophic attack that convinced US President Barack Obama that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes was insufficient. The officials said airstrikes would be the most effective option in reducing the threat posed by al Qaeda and other groups, but the US must be careful not to damage its military relationship with Pakistan to a point where it cannot be repaired. "Planning has been reinvigorated in the wake of Times Square," the official added.
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May - 30 
Quoting a private television channel, Daily Times reports that an attempt to abduct Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s brother was foiled by his driver in Islamabad in Punjab on May 30. Unidentified armed men attempted to stop Khalid Malik outside the Ministers Enclave when he was leaving his residenc
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Quoting a private television channel, Daily Times reports that an attempt to abduct Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s brother was foiled by his driver in Islamabad in Punjab on May 30. Unidentified armed men attempted to stop Khalid Malik outside the Ministers Enclave when he was leaving his residence in a car. However, the armed men fled from the scene after the driver sped away and reached a nearby Police check post. Another channel quoted Police sources as saying that the abductors in a Land Cruiser followed the brother of the Interior Minister when he came out of the Ministers Enclave. The abductors managed to escape when they saw the Police on the Margalla Road.
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May - 30 
The British Foreign Office has reported that a British national was killed in attacks on two worship places of the Ahmadi community in Lahore. “I can confirm that a British national died in the attacks on Friday (May 28),” a Foreign Office spokeswoman said, without giving further details. Reports sa
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The British Foreign Office has reported that a British national was killed in attacks on two worship places of the Ahmadi community in Lahore. “I can confirm that a British national died in the attacks on Friday (May 28),” a Foreign Office spokeswoman said, without giving further details. Reports said the victim was Muhammad Bilal, a 58-year-old man from Southfields in southwest London.
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May - 30 
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of US Admiral Mike Mullen said on May 30 he is more focused on Pakistani cooperation to contain the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan than weighing military action against militant targets in that country in retaliation for a terror attack in the US emanatin
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The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of US Admiral Mike Mullen said on May 30 he is more focused on Pakistani cooperation to contain the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan than weighing military action against militant targets in that country in retaliation for a terror attack in the US emanating from there, reports Daily Times. Mullen, appearing on Fox News Sunday programme, said he was pleased with the increase in Pakistani military success against militants along the Afghan border. The top US military officer, who has travelled extensively to Pakistan, said his focus is on supporting the ally in the fight against militant groups and that US is working to strengthen its relationship with the country. “My focus more than anything else is in support of them,” he stated, when asked if Washington is putting Islamabad or the militant groups operating along the border on notice about taking unilateral action in the event of an attack originating from the area. “Clearly, I mean, we’re very concerned about that part of the world. We’re very concerned about — that’s where al-Qaeda leadership lives. We know that. And we’re working with Pakistan and, quite frankly, with Afghanistan to continue to put pressure on that leadership. And I wouldn’t speak to any kind of details in terms of either plans or operations,” Mullen added.
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May - 30 
The Government will eliminate militants from all parts of the country, including southern Punjab, as they have started sneaking into other parts of the country from there and measures are being taken to deal with them, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on May 30, hinting at a new strategy against
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The Government will eliminate militants from all parts of the country, including southern Punjab, as they have started sneaking into other parts of the country from there and measures are being taken to deal with them, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on May 30, hinting at a new strategy against militants, reports Daily Times. He was talking to reporters after visiting the Ahmadi community’s worship place in Model Town of Lahore. Minorities’ Minister Shahbaz Bhatti also accompanied him. Answering questions, Malik said 29 religious organisations had been banned and two top groups, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), had become a part of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The minister said more than 44 percent of the country’s madrassas were present in South Punjab. He said they had short-listed names of 1,764 suspects, of which 726 were from South Punjab. He also said a meeting of all Provincial Home Ministers and Inspectors General of Police had been scheduled for the next week to devise a plan against terrorists. Malik said all intelligence and security agencies would work together with Police during operations against terrorists in the future. “The Inter-Services Intelligence and the Federal Investigation Agency may also be asked to help police if need be,” he said while talking to reporters at the Services Hospital where he had gone to inquire after those injured in the Model Town and Garhi Shahu attacks.
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May - 31 
Daily Times quoting three UN human rights investigators reports that the official discrimination in Pakistan against the Ahmedis fuels hatred of the community and prompts violent attacks against them. In a statement issued by the United Nations in Geneva following deadly bombings of May 28 on two pl
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Daily Times quoting three UN human rights investigators reports that the official discrimination in Pakistan against the Ahmedis fuels hatred of the community and prompts violent attacks against them. In a statement issued by the United Nations in Geneva following deadly bombings of May 28 on two places of worship of the Ahmedis in Lahore, the three said the authorities had failed to head off the attacks despite many signs that they were coming. “Members of this (Ahmadi) religious community have faced continuous threats, discrimination and violent attacks in Pakistan,” said the experts, who included human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir. The fact that Ahmedis were officially declared non-Muslims and had been subjected to restrictions and institutionalised discrimination “emboldens opinion makers who wish to fuel hatred and perpetrators of attacks against religious minorities,” the statement declared.
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May - 31 
The Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on May 31 said that the Punjab Government must ensure zero tolerance towards banned religious outfits, suggesting that leniency would embolden them, reports Daily Times. “They are hardened criminals and if the ones in power will move about with them publicly, Polic
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The Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on May 31 said that the Punjab Government must ensure zero tolerance towards banned religious outfits, suggesting that leniency would embolden them, reports Daily Times. “They are hardened criminals and if the ones in power will move about with them publicly, Police and law enforcement agencies will not apprehend them,” he said during his visit to a worship place of Ahmedis in Garhi Shahu, which came under terrorists’ attack on May 29.
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June - 1 
Despite the Pakistan Army’s announcement on June 1 of “successful conclusion of the operation in Orakzai Agency”, locals and officials said on June 2 that more than half of the Agency was yet to be cleared of the Taliban (TTP). “The military has cleared only Lower Orakzai, while the situation in upp
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Despite the Pakistan Army’s announcement on June 1 of “successful conclusion of the operation in Orakzai Agency”, locals and officials said on June 2 that more than half of the Agency was yet to be cleared of the Taliban (TTP). “The military has cleared only Lower Orakzai, while the situation in upper and central Orakzai has not changed much, as the army is yet to evict the Taliban (TTP) from these areas. The battle is far from over,” locals of Lower and Upper Orakzai told Daily Times. A brief statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) on June 1 said, “(The) COAS’ visit to Orakzai Agency marks the successful conclusion of operations in the agency.” “In Upper Orakzai, security forces took control of Dabori, while Mamozai, Ghaljo and Shahoo areas are still in Taliban control,” residents and officials in the adjacent Hangu District said. Officials said Uzbek and other terrorists belonging to the “Lal Masjid group” and the Taliban (TTP) from Swat, Bajaur and Waziristan were putting up “stiff resistance” in Upper Orakzai. However, they said the forces had cleared areas bordering Khyber Agency in northern Orakzai, blocking the Taliban’s attempt to zero in on Peshawar and target supply routes for NATO and American forces in Afghanistan. “The TTP will not reach Peshawar as effortlessly as it would have prior to the operation. However, the job is yet to be completed in western Orakzai. That is where the real problem lies,” the officials added.
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June - 1 
The Pakistan Army declared victory over militants in Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham (I will see you) in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) on June 1 and said that the military operation in the area had been completed and civilians could expect to return home soon, reports Dawn.
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The Pakistan Army declared victory over militants in Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham (I will see you) in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) on June 1 and said that the military operation in the area had been completed and civilians could expect to return home soon, reports Dawn. The announcement about the operation’s end was contained near the end of a short press release describing a visit to Orakzai and neighbouring Kurram tribal regions by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. “Kayani’s visit to Orakzai Agency marks the successful conclusion of operations in the agency,” the statement said, adding: “He appreciated the professional conduct of the operation which has cleared the agency of terrorists.” The statement also said civilians who fled Orakzai could expect to return home soon. More than 200,000 people are believed to have poured out of the area since the end of 2009.
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June - 1 
The Pakistan Army declared victory over the Taliban (TTP) in one of their strongholds in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the Orakzai Agency, saying the military operation in the region is finished. The announcement was part of a military statement describing a visit to Orakzai and Kurram agen
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The Pakistan Army declared victory over the Taliban (TTP) in one of their strongholds in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the Orakzai Agency, saying the military operation in the region is finished. The announcement was part of a military statement describing a visit to Orakzai and Kurram agencies by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled from Orakzai due to the military operation could expect to return home soon.
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June - 2 
A security official said on June 2 that the total number of people killed in Orakzai since May 1 in action against Taliban (TTP) is estimated at 719, reports Daily Times.
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A security official said on June 2 that the total number of people killed in Orakzai since May 1 in action against Taliban (TTP) is estimated at 719, reports Daily Times.
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June - 2 
A UN investigator called on June 2 for a halt to CIA-directed drone strikes on suspected al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, warning that killings ordered far from the battlefield could lead to a “Playstation” mentality, reports Daily Times. Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extra judicial execut
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A UN investigator called on June 2 for a halt to CIA-directed drone strikes on suspected al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, warning that killings ordered far from the battlefield could lead to a “Playstation” mentality, reports Daily Times. Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extra judicial executions, said missile strikes could be justified only when it was impossible to capture insurgents alive instead and only if they were carried out by regular US armed forces operating with proper oversight and respect for the rules of war. The CIA’s use of unmanned Predator or Reaper drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan against al Qaeda and Taliban suspects had led to the death of “many hundreds”, including innocent civilians, he said in a 29-page report. “Intelligence agencies have no place in running programmes that kill people in other countries,” Alston said. The US is believed to control the fleet of drones from CIA headquarters in Virginia, coordinating with civilian pilots near hidden airfields in Afghanistan and Pakistan who fly the drones remotely, according to Alston. “Because operators are based thousands of miles away from the battlefield, and undertake operations entirely through computer screens and remote audio-feed, there is a risk of developing a ‘Playstation’ mentality to killing,” he said, referring to the popular Sony 6758.T video game console.
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June - 2 
Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that major operations in Orakzai were over, although “stabilisation” operations may continue. “There are very small pockets of resistance which are being cleared, but the major population centres have been cleared and that includes the passes th
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Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that major operations in Orakzai were over, although “stabilisation” operations may continue. “There are very small pockets of resistance which are being cleared, but the major population centres have been cleared and that includes the passes that were connected to the Tirah valley in the north,” he said. Since March 26, 46 soldiers and 106 militants had been killed in Orakzai, Abbas added. Around 333 suspects were arrested and 200 military personnel wounded, he added further.
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June - 2 
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement about the Punjabi Taliban is aimed at creating disharmony among the provinces, Daily Times quoting a private TV channel reported. Shahbaz said Malik has given the statement at a time when the nation is in d
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Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement about the Punjabi Taliban is aimed at creating disharmony among the provinces, Daily Times quoting a private TV channel reported. Shahbaz said Malik has given the statement at a time when the nation is in dire need of unity against internal and external threats. He said the minister’s statement is a deliberate attempt to create provincial prejudice and he is playing this dangerous game by taking dictation from his political head. Malik has given this statement against Punjab on the demand of some political powers, he added. Shahbaz said Malik should act wisely, as they have to counter and eliminate terrorism and extremism with mutual cooperation.
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June - 2 
The Punjabi Taliban holed up in south Punjab have become more dangerous and are geared up for large-scale sabotage in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on June 2, reports Daily Times. Addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Malik revealed that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ)
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The Punjabi Taliban holed up in south Punjab have become more dangerous and are geared up for large-scale sabotage in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on June 2, reports Daily Times. Addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Malik revealed that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) had been behind the Marriott Hotel bombing, the General Headquarters attack, the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the recent incidents in Lahore. He maintained that the Punjab Government had been asked to launch action against suspected groups. The interior minister said at least three agents of the Indian intelligence agency, R&AW, had been arrested on intelligence reports. He said no military operation has been planned against banned outfits in Punjab rather effective action would be taken jointly to eliminate them. Talking to reporters, the minister said 29 banned outfits, including LeJ and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), were active in Punjab. He said, “I have never had a provincial approach, in fact I’ve always kept a national outlook and I speak on the nation’s behalf.”
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June - 3 
Ahmedis and rights activists have strongly criticized the Punjab Government for “its slackness” in dealing with the arrested militant, who was allegedly facilitated by the authorities to the extent of having the privilege of using a cell phone while in custody.
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Ahmedis and rights activists have strongly criticized the Punjab Government for “its slackness” in dealing with the arrested militant, who was allegedly facilitated by the authorities to the extent of having the privilege of using a cell phone while in custody.
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June - 3 
The Police have arrested five more suspects on June 3 in connection with the sectarian attacks on Ahmedis Mosque in Lahore on May 28, reports Daily Times. Moreover, the law enforcement agencies have traced the whereabouts of militants who were killed by the Police during the attack. According to the
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The Police have arrested five more suspects on June 3 in connection with the sectarian attacks on Ahmedis Mosque in Lahore on May 28, reports Daily Times. Moreover, the law enforcement agencies have traced the whereabouts of militants who were killed by the Police during the attack. According to the Police, two out of six militants killed during the attack, identified as Mansoor and Darvesh hailed from Swat. Also a surviving militant of the Lahore carnage, Abdullah alias Muhammad, disclosed that he was misled into believing that Ahmedis were involved in drawing blasphemous caricatures of the Holy Prophet (SAW) so their bloodshed was a great service to Islam. An official of Lahore Police privy to the interrogation said that Abdullah was fed the idea by his masterminds that Ahmedis, being a driving force behind the caricature controversy, deserved exemplary punishment and he together with his comrades were sent on this mission. t District and Seraiki area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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June - 4 
Members of a Pashtun tribe vowed on June 4 to raise a militia aimed at forcing militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud from their lands on the Afghan border, reports Daily Times. “We promised to keep the peace and we will force militants to leave our areas within
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Members of a Pashtun tribe vowed on June 4 to raise a militia aimed at forcing militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakeemullah Mehsud from their lands on the Afghan border, reports Daily Times. “We promised to keep the peace and we will force militants to leave our areas within a week,” Wazir tribal elder Muhammad Ajmal told a gathering of around 400 tribal leaders in Wana in South Waziristan in Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA) after a meeting with Government authorities. “We will not let anyone to ruin the peace in Wana,” he added.
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June - 4 
Pakistan People’s Party central leader Abida Hussain on June 4 has suggested drone attacks be carried out in southern Punjab as they are being done in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa and Balochistan, according to Daily Times. Talking to the media, she said that extensive cooperation of civil and military dep
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Pakistan People’s Party central leader Abida Hussain on June 4 has suggested drone attacks be carried out in southern Punjab as they are being done in Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa and Balochistan, according to Daily Times. Talking to the media, she said that extensive cooperation of civil and military departments was imperative to dismantle the terrorist network in southern Punjab. She said that heavy losses of life at the Ahmadi worship places and the Jinnah Hospital were the worst security failures. She said that it was high time that all terrorist networks, in the southern Punjab or anywhere else, should be uprooted. Abida Hussain added the PPP had purposefully joined the Punjab Government to ensure its presence in the assembly so that all conspiracies could be nipped in the bud.
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June - 4 
Quoting a private television channel Daily Times reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said on June 4 that the policy against the banned religious organisations has been forwarded to the Punjab Government and the Security Forces have arrested as many as 700 militants belonging to southern
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Quoting a private television channel Daily Times reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said on June 4 that the policy against the banned religious organisations has been forwarded to the Punjab Government and the Security Forces have arrested as many as 700 militants belonging to southern Punjab. He said that the law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been told to crack down on the banned militant outfits and the Government was ready to combat with the militants. He said that the banned groups would not be allowed to stage protests and the crackdown applies to all major cities. The Minister added that the Rangers had been asked to take action against the groups which were creating law and order situation in Karachi and that it was not the banned outfits but instead the banned individuals who were operating in the country.
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June - 6 
US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke on June 6 said that Washington accepts that the final political solution in Afghanistan can involve reformed Taliban in the Government if certain “red lines” are respected, reports Daily Times. Holbrooke said the peace jirga (tribal cou
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US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke on June 6 said that Washington accepts that the final political solution in Afghanistan can involve reformed Taliban in the Government if certain “red lines” are respected, reports Daily Times. Holbrooke said the peace jirga (tribal council) in Kabul, in which the Afghanistan President was given a mandate to negotiate with the insurgents, was an important step in efforts to “reach out” to the Taliban and the US supported that effort.
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June - 7 
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said meaningful talks between Pakistan and India, which can lead to a resolution of outstanding issues, are possible only when Pakistan does not let its territory be used for terrorism. Calling for good neighbourly relations with Pakistan, Singh said he would lik
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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said meaningful talks between Pakistan and India, which can lead to a resolution of outstanding issues, are possible only when Pakistan does not let its territory be used for terrorism. Calling for good neighbourly relations with Pakistan, Singh said he would like to “say to our neighbours across the LoC” that they should help create an environment in which people from both the sides can live in peace and harmony. He also desired opening up more routes along the Line of Control, particularly the Kargil-Skardu road. The Indian PM was addressing the fifth convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology in Srinagar. He said Indo-Pak ties had been marred due to the Mumbai attacks. “I met the Pakistani prime minister in Thimpu and both of us accepted that there is a trust deficit between us. We also agreed that this distance must be reduced,” he maintained.
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June - 7 
Pakistan military’s successful operations in tribal areas have forced many important Taliban leaders to flee outside Pakistan and Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on June 7, reports Daily Times. Addressing a joint press conference with his Afghanistan and Turkish counterparts,
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Pakistan military’s successful operations in tribal areas have forced many important Taliban leaders to flee outside Pakistan and Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on June 7, reports Daily Times. Addressing a joint press conference with his Afghanistan and Turkish counterparts, Qureshi said Taliban leaders have fled the region because of Pakistani military operations. Referring to Pak-Afghan ties, the Foreign Minister said that relations have seen a “dramatic shift” since Pakistan returned to civilian-led democracy. “Our political relations have improved in the last two years. There is also greater understanding between the military leaderships of the two countries,” he said.
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June - 7 
Police arrested three persons allegedly affiliated with a banned Shia outfit and seized weapons from their possession in Karachi in Sindh on June 7, reports Daily Times. According to details, after receiving a tip-off, a team formed by Crime Investigation Department (CID) Senior Superintendent of Po
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Police arrested three persons allegedly affiliated with a banned Shia outfit and seized weapons from their possession in Karachi in Sindh on June 7, reports Daily Times. According to details, after receiving a tip-off, a team formed by Crime Investigation Department (CID) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fayyaz Khan raided a house in Orangi Town and caught Najamul Hassan alias Najam Shah, Muneer Hussain Jaffery and Nazakat Hussain; however two others, Iftikhar and Jamil Hussain managed to escape. Officials claimed to have recovered a Kalashnikov, two repeaters and two TT pistols from their possession. They said the group was labelled as Najam Shah (Parachinar) group in the CID records .The accused have revealed that they channelled funds to Maulana Abid Hussain Shah, the head of their organisation Anjuman-e-Hussaini Matmi, which was based in Parachinar, the capital of Kurram Agency in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).
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June - 7 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on June 7 called for composite dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir and water, reports Daily Times. Addressing the Command and Staff College at the conclusion of the Staff College Course and later answering quest
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Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on June 7 called for composite dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir and water, reports Daily Times. Addressing the Command and Staff College at the conclusion of the Staff College Course and later answering questions by military officers, he said, “Pakistan seeks negotiated and peaceful resolution of all disputes with India.” He said the Indian leadership had also agreed to initiate composite dialogue on all controversial issues between the two countries. “Pakistan wants peaceful relations with its neighbours, including Afghanistan, Iran and India. India should sit with us to initiate dialogue to resolve all important issues, including Kashmir, water and terrorism,” Gilani said.
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June - 8 
A senior US official, Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, said that India has voiced understanding for the giant US aid plan for its historic rival Pakistan despite earlier security fears. “They believe we have a shared interest in helping to stabilise Pakistan,” said Robe
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A senior US official, Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, said that India has voiced understanding for the giant US aid plan for its historic rival Pakistan despite earlier security fears. “They believe we have a shared interest in helping to stabilise Pakistan,” said Robert Blake. “They’re certainly well aware that a spiral-down will not be in India’s interests,” he added. The US last year approved a five-year $7.5 billion plan to build the economy and democratic institutions in Pakistan, hoping to dent the appeal of extremists in the country. Blake acknowledged that India had been less enthusiastic over US military support to Pakistan than the economic aid, but said, “I think they understand that we are trying to build up Pakistan’s counter-insurgency capabilities”.
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June - 8 
Daily Times reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik on June 8 said that the Government has no plans to launch a military operation in southern Punjab and the war on terror would be fought in collaboration with the Punjab Government. However, Malik said a targeted operation could be conducted aft
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Daily Times reports that Interior Minister Rehman Malik on June 8 said that the Government has no plans to launch a military operation in southern Punjab and the war on terror would be fought in collaboration with the Punjab Government. However, Malik said a targeted operation could be conducted after credible intelligence reports.
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