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SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 8, No. 47, May 31, 2010

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT

 


INDIA
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Journey Interrupted
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management

At least 148 persons were killed and more than 145 injured, when the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express, a passenger train, was derailed and subsequently rammed by a goods train coming from the opposite direction, in the Sardiya area of the Jhargram region in the West Midnapore District of West Bengal in the early hours of May 28. West Midnapore District Magistrate N. S Nigam disclosed that a search was continuing for 25 missing passengers. The train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, and had 24 coaches. 13 of these, including 10 sleeper coaches, went off the tracks at around 1:30 am (IST). Five of the derailed sleeper coaches were hit by the freight train. An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed.

The incident occurred during the "black week" [May 28-June 2] declared by the Maoists, suggesting that the Security Forces (SFs) should have been at a high alert. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, however, dismissed any allegations of neglect, arguing, "The Maoists observe such black and white days every alternate week. We had no idea that they would trigger such an accident." Significantly, different central agencies, including the Union Home and Union Railway Ministry, are now at loggerheads over the cause of derailment and the identity of the group involved – though both agree that the incident is "an act of terror".

Soon after reaching the incident site, Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee declared, "TNT and gelatine sticks were used and the strike was calculated. This area particularly is hit (sic). Earlier the Rajdhani Express was also hijacked there… A single light engine was run on the track a few hours before the accident, and about five trains had run on it thereafter, at intervals of 15 to 20 minutes. The Maoists are very particular about the timing. They are adjusting it according to patrol time." Quickly realising her ‘mistake’ in missing a grand opportunity to nail her rival, the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), on the eve of municipal elections in the State, she later muddied the political waters further by calling the incident a "political conspiracy". Sticking to her earlier claim that an explosion caused the derailment, she introduced a degree of ambiguity about who might have engineered it, hinting that the CPI-M might well have had a hand in the mischief, and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to reveal the ‘truth’.

Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, however, suggested that, while there was still room for inquiry, "It's likely to be them (the Maoists). There is no one else in the area. But we are still checking." To the further embarrassment of the Railway Minister, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram indicated that there may, in fact, have been no explosion: "It appears to be a case of sabotage where a portion of the railway track was removed. Whether explosives were used is not yet clear."

Further, West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Bhupinder Singh asserted the Maoists and some cadres of the Maoist-backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) were behind the incident. "We have identified a number of persons all of whom are Maoist squad members and supporters of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (also known as the PCPA). Raids are being conducted to nab them. We are also suspecting the role of a railway linesman but are still verifying whether he had connived with the Maoists or was forced into the job." [Earlier Police claimed that posters from the PCPA had been found at the scene, claiming responsibility for the attack. The posters said that the rebels had demanded withdrawal of joint SFs from Lalgarh and adjacent areas and an end to CPI-M ‘atrocities’.] Significantly, the DGP claimed that investigations by the Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) forensic team did not find any sign of explosives or an explosion on the track. The CID has claimed to have "definite evidence" that Maoists were involved in derailing the Express, based on intercepts of conversations on several rebel leaders' mobile phones.

Meanwhile, a high-level intelligence report submitted to Chief Minister late in the night of May 28, blamed the Manikpara Lodhasuli militia unit of PCPA, led by 40-year-old Umakanta Mahato and Bapi Mahato (aged 20), for the sabotage. Lodhasuli is on the Bengal-Orissa-Jharkhand tri-junction. Police said the Umakanta-Bapi gang could have forced railway gang men and linesmen to help saw the track and remove 120 feet of Pandrol Rail Clips. Over the last fortnight, the SFs had stepped up pressure in the area, and there had been several encounters. Even on the day of the accident, railway employees at Sardiya Station claim they heard gunfire at a location about eight kilometres from the incident site. Six persons had been picked up from nearby villages after the shootout.

The PCPA, however, denied that it was behind the incident. PCPA spokesman Asit Mahato, stated, "We were in no way involved. This is not our act. What can we do if somebody claims responsibility on our behalf?"

The Maoists, meanwhile, have gone into damage-control mode, trying to distance themselves from what is being projected as a ‘rogue unit’ of the PCPA militia. Maoist State committee member Akash issued a press statement saying that they "never target the common people", and further, "The Government can resume train services on the section at night. No harm will be done from our side." Significantly, on May 29, the Railways decided to suspend movement of passenger trains for seven hours at night-time in Maoist stronghold areas during the "black week" declared by the extremists. A Railway's statement said that passenger trains would not run from 10pm to 5am on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar and Kharagpur-Adra sections of South Eastern Railways. The suspension of trains would remain in force till 5am on June 3.

Attacks by the Maoists on the Rail network are not new. On March 22, 2010, the Maoists had blown up railway tracks and derailed the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Bihar’s Gaya District, leaving pamphlets at the blast site claiming responsibility and threatening more such attacks. The Railways then asked train drivers to slow down in Maoist-affected areas. According to the advisory, Rajdhanis have to move at 75 kilometres per hour instead of their normal speed of 110 kilometres to 130 kilometres per hour. According to Railway Ministry figures, there were 58 Maoist attacks targeting trains and railways property in 2009. The South Eastern Railways alone registered 30 incidents under its jurisdiction. East Central Railways, with its headquarters in Hajipur (Bihar), experienced 18 attacks; while the East Coast Railway registered eight such incidents in 2009, mostly in the Koraput-Rayagada belt where the Red ultras have a strong presence. Maoists have also taken over trains in a show of strength, holding them for hours, on several occasions over the past years. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal, there have already been 26 attacks on the Railways in 2010, though none of these had resulted in a fatality this year, before the Sardiya incident.

On April 23, 2010, Mamata Banerjee informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament): "Railways has become a target of Naxals. We have lost Rs. 500 crore because of Naxal bandhs [shut downs] and obstructions. We have lost about 40 per cent of our business due to Maoist violence and agitations like bandhs. These have hit our operations to a great extent. Incidents of attacks by Naxals nearly doubled to 58 in 2009 from 30 in the previous year. 56 incidents were reported in 2007." Earlier, on March 24, an unnamed Railways official had said, "Though we do not have a definite data about the exact length of rail route directly affected by Maoist violence, about 11,000-km rail route in Maoist-affected states have become vulnerable to such attacks." Home Ministry sources now say that Maoists have the resources to actually bring the entire rail network to a standstill by simply blowing up major sections of the track. Another report indicates that almost 202 Railway Stations face a direct Maoist threat.

The responsibility for safeguarding the Railways lies with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Government Railway Police (GRP) and State Police. Over 2,200 important trains are escorted by the GRP and about 1,275 trains by the RPF on daily basis. A total of just 36,600 GRP personnel are responsible for the prevention and detection of crime on the rail network and stations. The protection of goods-sheds, goods-wagons at stations and parcel offices is the duty of the RPF, which has a total total strength of around 69,000 personnel. The Government has approved the recruitment of some 5,000 personnel to the RPF and the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in various ranks, and the recruitment process is expected to be completed in the current year. The RPF also takes personnel from the Home Guards on deputation, wherever necessary. RPF personnel currently engaged in non-core activities are now being pulled back for basic Police duties in view of the increasing responsibilities of the force. The RPF, meanwhile, is sending its men for training with various institutions in order to upgrade their capabilities, including bomb detection and commando operations. The Army is also providing training to the RPF's canine force. Given the sheer length of the Railways and the movement of passengers and goods across the country, the available numbers are a fraction of what is actually needed.

Worse, an estimated 90,883 post are currently vacant, out of which an estimated 40 per cent, are safety-related posts. Vacant positions include those of gangmen, safety inspectors and supervisors responsible for maintaining over 111,600 kilometres of tracks.

The Government has initiated a number of steps to improve security, including the Integrated Security Scheme consisting of CCTV Surveillance Systems, access control systems, personnel and baggage screening system, and bomb detection and disposal systems have been finalized for 202 important stations, and the schemes are currently being executed. Other security-related initiatives include:

  • Commando Training to selected RPF staff to deal with insurgent attacks
  • Augmentation of numbers of Sniffer Dog Squads in Divisions and Zones
  • Upgradation and procurement of security technologies and weaponry.
  • Improvements in co-ordination and sharing of intelligence between GRP and the Civil Police at District and State levels.
  • Three additional Railway Protection Special Force Battalions have been sanctioned under the works programme for 2010-11.
  • A commando training centre has been sanctioned to ensure in-house commando training of Railway Protection Force/Railway Protection Special Force personnel.

Most of these capacity augmentations are at preliminary stages. Moreover, given the cumulative deficits of the past years, their impact on Railway security, even when completed, will, at best be marginal. Given the rampaging expansion of Maoist activities and disruptive capabilities, it is clear that India’s security establishment will not be able to establish dominance and a sufficient preventive capability on the sprawling Railways network, against the Maoists, for some time to come.

PAKISTAN
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The ‘Sacred Duty’ of Sectarian Slaughter
Tushar Ranjan Mohanty
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

At least 95 worshippers were killed and 92 injured on May 28, 2010, as seven assailants, including three suicide bombers, attacked Ahmadi mosques in the Model Town and Garhi Shahu areas of Lahore. Five of the attackers were also killed. Terrorists wearing suicide vests stormed the two places of worship a few minutes before special Friday prayers, initiating an over three-hour-long standoff. Both the attacks were backed by suicide bombers and began within a span of a few minutes. After battling the militants for hours, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) claimed to have arrested two of the attackers from Model Town and one suspect from the Garhi Shahu mosque. Senior Police Official Rana Ayaz disclosed, "They came into the mosque from the back and started firing. They were armed with hand grenades and suicide vests and other weapons."

The Punjab chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. "Congratulations to the whole nation on what the brave mujahideen (holy warriors) did yesterday in Garhi Shahu and Model Town, Lahore," a statement issued by TTP spokesman Muhammad Omar on May 29, declared, "On the whole, we do like to encourage the nation for increasing such activities, like targeted killings of Qadianis, Shias, the political parties that support them, as well as law enforcement agencies, the Pakistan Army and other racist parties." He also warned the Muttahida Qaumi Movement [MQM] of attacks, calling it a "terrorist wing of Qadianis and Jews" and adding, "They are responsible for destruction of the country and the nation. We are encouraging assassination attacks on everyone who is with the MQM."

The May 28 attack coincided with the completion of one year since the TTP attack at Lahore on May 27, 2009, where suicide bombers detonated a vehicle loaded with some 100 kilograms of explosives near the offices of the CCPO and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – killing at least 27 and injuring 326, in addition to destroying a two-storey building of the Rescue 15 Police Service. An ISI colonel and 15 Police officials were among those killed. There is some similarity between the two incidents, since both involved small arms assaults backed by suicide bombings

The Lahore attacks are hardly an exception in any sense beyond the relatively large numbers killed in a single operation. On May 28, 2010, itself, unidentified militants killed four Policemen in a suspected sectarian attack in the Satellite Town area of Quetta in Balochistan. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ)claimed responsibility for the attack. On the same day, one person belonging to the Shia community was killed and some others injured in a clash between two rival sects, the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), a front organization of the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), and a group of Shias, at Islam Chowk in the Orangi Town of Karachi in Sindh.

The Ahmadis, also known as Qadianis, have tens of thousands of followers in Pakistan, and the sect has long regarded as deviant and heretic and been persecuted and targeted in sectarian attacks in the country. Founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad towards the end of the 19th Century, the Ahmadis have a number of unique views, including the claim that Ahmad himself was a prophet, and that Jesus died at age 120 in Jammu and Kashmir, assertions regarded as heretical by orthodox Muslims. An Ahmadi website indicates that the movement, now headquartered in the UK, spans over 195 countries, with membership exceeding ‘tens of millions’. The Ahmadis also claim that they are the only leading Islamic organisation to categorically reject terrorism in any form. They have been systematically targeted by radical Sunni groups in the past. Significantly, the Pakistani leaders who condemned the attacks did not refer specifically to the Ahmadis in their statements. TV channels and newspapers avoided the word "mosque" in describing the attacked sites, preferring "places of worship."

Throughout the first half of the 20th Century, the issue of the Ahmadi faith was raised repeatedly before different courts at the District level. In many such cases, local courts declared them non-Muslims. In 1974, under severe pressure from clerics, Pakistan's first democratically elected Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, introduced the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which declared Ahmadis non-Muslims. In 1984, Pakistan's military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq, brought in a new law, which barred Ahmadis from reciting the Kalima (the first proclamation of Islamic faith) and from calling their places of worship mosques. The Ahmadis, however, declare themselves Muslims and claim to practise Islam in its pristine form.

After the May 28 attack, the Jamaat-e-Ahmadi Pakistan, which represents the sect, stated that the Government had been 'going soft' on radical groups that espoused violence against Ahmedis. "All hard-line religious organisations in Pakistan are against us and are spreading venomous propaganda against us. We are told that the Punjabi Taliban had carried out the attack. Tell me which religious party here does not endorse the idea of killing Ahmedis?" JAP spokesman Qamar Suleman demanded. He stated, further, "The Government has never come down hard on elements that instigate people against us, and that is why it is equally responsible for what happened on Friday." He complained that a section of the media had incited people against Ahmedis. An audiotape conversation between Hamid Mir, Executive Editor of GEO News and a man purportedly linked to the TTP, has revealed that Mir’s exhortations against the Qadianis in a telephonic conversation with an unnamed TTP leader could have led to the execution of Khalid Khawaja, a retired ISI official associated with the Lal Masjid Operation in July 2007. During this conversation, Mir described the Ahmadis as "even worse than kafirs (unbelievers)". Suleman asserted that, unless the Federal and Punjab Governments acted "seriously and sincerely" to condemn and eliminate such elements, incidents like Friday's attacks will not stop: "Pakistani clerics want us to leave Pakistan. They are giving us this message through such attacks."

Apart from Ahmadis, other sects, including the Shias and Barelvis, have also come under fire from radical Islamist groups. Since the emergence of the TTP, sectarian violence has escalated, with a cult of suicide bombing taking root among the extremists. Sectarian groups such as the LeJ and SSP have joined hands with TTP in executing these sectarian attacks. The Institute for Conflict Management database records that 2010 has already witnessed 17 such attacks, in which 215 people have been killed. Total fatalities have already exceeded the 190 killed in 106 sectarian attacks in 2009.

Sectarian Violence in Pakistan: 2002-2010

Year
Incidents
Killed
Injured
2010*
17
220
336
2009
106
190
398
2008
97
306
505
2007
341
441
630
2006
38
201
349
2005
62
160
354
2004
19
187
619
2003
22
102
103
2002
63
121
257
*Data till May 30, 2010

Meanwhile, the Minister for Interior Affairs Rehman Malik indicated that his Ministry 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. Such general alerts are, however, issued on farily regular intervals, and have seldom succeeded in preventing attacks. Before the March 8, 2010, suicide attack in front of the Special Intelligence Agency’s (SIA) office in the Model Town area of Lahore, in which 13 persons were killed and 80 injured, for instance, a February 8 intelligence reports had warned that the TTP had sent eight female suicide bombers to attack high-value targets in Punjab. A successful attack was, nevertheless, staged, though female suicide bombers were not involved. A spokesman for the TTP, Azam Tariq, claiming responsibility for attack had then warned, "The attack was to avenge (US) drone attacks and (Pakistani) military operations in the Tribal Areas… we have 2,800 to 3,000 more suicide bombers. We will target all Government places, buildings and offices."

Again on March 11, 2010, authorities declared red alert at sensitive installations after the reported entry of an explosive-laden car into Lahore. Sources claimed that a white car, with registration number 1320-A, had entered Lahore from Rawalpindi, following which security was beefed up to avoid any mishap. Enforcement agencies had warned authorities that 19 militants had been deputed to cover 12 cities of the Province, and were most likely to target National Accountability Bureau offices and anti-terrorism courts. A letter had also been forwarded to the authorities concerned, mentioning that some relatively defunct organisations, including Maulana Abdul Jabbar’s faction of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), LeJ, Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HuJI), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA), had also joined the TTP. Despite all the warnings, on March 12, suicide bombers ripped through Lahore’s RA Bazaar in the cantonment area, killing at least 57 persons, including eight soldiers, and injuring more than 90. While a private television channel reported that the TTP had claimed responsibility, another television channel reported that al Qaeda-linked Sunni terrorist organisation LeJ had claimed responsibility. Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s comments on this remained confused, though he did claim that a ‘decisive operation’ would be launched against banned sectarian outfits if they did not refrain from further terrorist attacks. Such ‘decisive action’ remains conspicuous in its absence.

Pakistan’s political formations, across party lines, have supported sectarian groups to strengthen their vote banks. Just after the attack on the Ahmadi mosques in Lahore, for instance, the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer stated that the Ahmedis had been targeted due to the close relations between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the TTP. In a message on the social networking website, Twitter, Taseer claimed that the banned SSP and TTP were united and supported by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. Significantly, during the National Assembly by-election for the Jhang seat on March 11, 2008, in the Punjab, Sanaullah conducted a joint campaign with the SSP and its head, Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi. Jhang is the epicentre of the sectarian groups. When questioned on this, Sanaullah declared, "not all banned outfits and organisations are involved in terrorist activities".

Instead of taking effective action against the sectarian extremists, Islamabad seems quite content to muddy the waters with unsubstantiated allegation of the involvement of the Indian external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Minister for Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik, thus insinuated, after the Lahore attacks, "About Balochistan I am sure that RAW is involved in sabotage activities. But, for Lahore we are investigating." While such declarations may find some political traction among the more gullible of Pakistan’s citizens, the state’s failure to deal with the malignant sectarian genie can only further endanger the future of a country and system already writhing in the flames of an engulfing terrorism.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
May 24-30, 2010

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

Bangladesh

 

Left-wing Extremism

0
0
1
1

INDIA

 

Jammu and Kashmir

0
0
2
2

Manipur

0
0
2
2

Left-wing Extremism

 

Andhra Pradesh

1
0
0
1

Bihar

0
0
1
1

Chhattisgarh

1
0
0
1

Jharkhand

0
1
0
1

Maharashtra

0
2
0
2

West Bengal

155
0
0
155

Total (INDIA)

157
3
5
165

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

3
4
0
7

FATA

3
4
250
257

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

0
1
9
10

Punjab

95
3
5
103

Sindh

1
0
0
1

Total (PAKISTAN)

102
12
264
378
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


INDIA

148 persons killed as passenger train derails after Maoist attack in West Bengal: At least 148 persons were killed and more than 145 injured as Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express, a passenger train, was derailed and subsequently run over by a goods train, coming from the opposite direction, in the Sardiya area of Jhargram region in the West Midnapore District of West Bengal on May 28. West Midnapore District Magistrate N. S Nigam said search was continuing for 25 missing passengers. The train running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations had 24 coaches. 13 coaches, including 10 sleeper coaches, of the train went off the tracks at around 1:30 am (IST). Five of the derailed sleeper coaches were hit by the freight train. An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed. The incident happened during the "black week" [May 28-June 2] observed by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). The Hindu; Times of India, May 28-31, 2010.

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen asks its PoK-based leadership for a bigger strike against India: The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) has asked its Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)-based leadership to sneak into India and strike in a big way. "Sneak into India fast and do something big," said a HM ‘commander’ to one of the outfit's leaders based in PoK during a conversation intercepted recently by security agencies, officers of the Indian Army said on May 26. Indian Express, May 27, 2010.

Naxalism remains biggest internal security challenge, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 24 said Naxalism (Left Wing Extremism) remains the biggest internal security challenge and it is imperative to control left-wing extremism for the country's growth. PTI News; Indian Express, May 25, 2010.

Signs of Naxals re-grouping in Punjab, says DGP: Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) P. S. Gill on May 26 said that there have been signs of Naxals (Left Wing Extremists) re-grouping in the State, but their movements were still at a low level and the situation is not serious yet. Indian Express, May 27, 2010.

Government ready for talks with all groups in Jammu and Kashmir, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 24 said his Government is ready to hold dialogue with all groups in Jammu and Kashmir which are outside the political mainstream provided they shun violence. "I would once again like to appeal to all elements in Jammu and Kashmir that our Government is ready for a dialogue provided that all these groups which are outside the political mainstream shed the path of violence," he said at a national press conference in New Delhi. Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the United Jihad Council, an umbrella of militant organisations, have rejected the talks offer made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and termed it "hoax". Daily Excelsior ; The Hindu, May 25-26, 2010.


NEPAL

Political parties fail to forge consensus over CA term extension: The meeting of the three major parties-Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-Maoist), Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Nepali Congress (NC) - failed to forge a consensus on May 26, just two days before the Constituent Assembly (CA) term expires. NC and CPN-UML refused to budge from their stance of considering the Prime Minister's resignation only after a consensus on other issues, while the Unified CPN-Maoist refused to agree to support the CA term extension unless the PM committed to resign after consensus.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has urged the leaders of Unified CPN-Maoist not to make the issue of CA extension a bargaining tool. Claiming that the Government under his leadership is committed to conclude the peace process and write a new constitution, PM Nepal said extension of the CA term must not be linked with his resignation. Nepal News, May 27, 2010.


PAKISTAN

250 militants and four SFs among 257 persons killed during the week in FATA: The Security Forces (SFs) backed by fighter jets killed 42 Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) militants and injured another 13 Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham (I will see you) in various parts of Orakzai Agency in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 30.

At least 44 Taliban (TTP) militants and two soldiers were killed in clashes and shelling during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in upper tehsil (revenue unit) of Orakzai Agency) on May 29.

The SFs backed by fighter jets and helicopters gunships killed at least 80 Taliban (TTP) militants and injured 60 others during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in Orakzai Agency on May 28.

53 Taliban (TTP) militants and one SF killed in various clashes during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in Orakzai Agency on May 27. In addition, Taliban (TTP) militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the home of a pro-Government tribal elder, killing him, his wife and son before blowing up the house in Asghar village, about 40 kilometres northwest of Khar, the main town in Bajaur Agency.

At least 15 Taliban (TTP) militants were killed and 10 others injured when PAF fighter jets bombed several militant hideouts during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in various parts of the Upper Orakzai Agency on May 26.

At least 13 Taliban (TTP) militants were killed and several others injured when PAF fighter jets bombed several militant hideouts during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in the Orakzai Agency on May 25. Dawn; Daily Times; The News, May 24-31, 2010.

95 civilians and five militants among 103 persons killed during the week in Punjab: At least 80 worshippers killed and 92 others injured as seven assailants including three suicide bomber attacked Ahmadiyya place of worship in Model Town and Garhi Shahu areas of Lahore in Punjab on May 28. The death toll rose to 95 on May 29. Terrorists wearing suicide vests stormed two places of worship of the Ahmadiyya community a few minutes before special Friday worship initiating an over three-hour-long standoff that resulted in the killing of 80 worshippers. The Punjab chapter of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility for the attack, reports The News.

At least three Policemen, including a sub inspector, were killed when unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire at a police checkpost in Samanabad area of Lahore in Punjab on May 29. Dawn; Daily Times; The News, May 24-30, 2010.

Swat Taliban Chief Maulana Fazlullah suspected killed: Maulana Fazlullah, the Swat Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) ‘chief’, has apparently been killed along with six other militants in a clash with Afghan border forces in Nuristan province of Afghanistan on May 26, intelligence sources said on May 27. Fazlullah, who was known as ‘Radio Maulana’ for his fiery sermons broadcast on an illegal radio station, apparently died during May 26’s clash with Afghan border forces, the sources said. Six others militants are also believed to have been killed in the gun battle in Nuristan. However, the report of Fazlullah’s death is yet to be officially confirmed, the sources added. Maulana Faqir Muhammad, the ‘chief’ of the Taliban (TTP) in Bajaur Agency, denied that Fazlullah had been killed in a gun battle. In an interview to BBC in November 2010, Fazlullah had said he had escaped to Afghanistan after fleeing a Pakistan Army offensive against the Taliban (TTP) in Swat valley. Fazlullah and his militants had established a parallel administration that controlled most parts of Swat District, located just 160 km from Islamabad. Indian Express, May 28, 2010.

Pakistan Supreme Court rejects LeT militant Lakhvi's acquittal plea: Pakistan's Supreme Court on May 27 rejected a petition filed by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ‘commander’ Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, seeking acquittal in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks case, after his counsel withdrew the plea. The Hindu, May 28, 2010.

Supreme Court rejects Government pleas against release of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed: A three-member Supreme Court bench on May 25 dismissed pleas of the Federal and Punjab Governments against the release of Jama'at-ud-Da'awa (JuD), the frontal organisation of Lashkar-e-Toiba, ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed, maintaining that it was not a live issue. Daily Times, May 26, 2010.

ISI hand in attack on NATO, says Afghanistan intelligence agency spokesman: 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. Indian Express, May 26, 2010.

US seeks Pakistan crackdown on Taliban: 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. 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. Dawn, May 27, 2010.

The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

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Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


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