South Asia Terrorism Portal
Punjab: Turbulence at the Border Indrajit Sharma Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 22, 2020, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot dead five unidentified armed Pakistani intruders in the Tarn Taran District of Punjab. A BSF spokesperson said that after suspicious activity was noticed near the India-Pakistan International Border (IB) in the region, the troopers “cordoned the area and challenged the intruders to stop and surrender. The Pakistani armed intruders did not pay any heed to the challenge and opened fire on the BSF troops resulting in a gun-battle.” Later, the troopers recovered dead bodies of five slain intruders along with nine packets containing 9.92 kilograms heroin, an AK-47 rifle, four 9mm Beretta pistols, and some ammunition.
This was the most violent incident, in terms of the number of fatalities, recorded along the India-Pakistan International Border in Punjab, since 2000, according to data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management (ICM).
The worst previous incident was recorded on January 21, 2014, when BSF troops deployed in the area of Border Out Post (BOP) Naushera Dhalla in Amritsar District, shot dead three Pakistani intruders and recovered 20 kilograms of narcotics and ammunition.
Other prominent incidents of violence include:
October 26, 2013: BSF troops shot dead three Pakistani smugglers near the Mullankot border outpost in Amritsar District and recovered 24 kilograms of heroin and arms and ammunition.
March 29, 2012: BSF personnel killed three intruders and recovered 10 kilograms of heroin and one pistol from the check post near pillar number 72/17, close to the Sundergarh border outpost near the India-Pakistan International Border.
March 19, 2012: A patrolling party of the BSF shot dead three Pakistani intruders near Amarkot village in Amritsar District and recovered 22 kilograms of heroin.
According to partial data compiled by ICM, since 2000, at least 22 violent incidents have been reported along the IB in Punjab (data till August 30, 2020). These incidents have resulted in a total of 33 killings (all intruders) and two injuries (both intruders), and 13 arrests.
It has been found that the perpetrators in most of these violent incidents along the border were Pakistani intruders attempting to smuggle 'composite consignments' [weapons/drugs/Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN)] into the State, and thereafter, further into the rest of India, in order to help Pakistan-backed terrorist groups replenish their coffers as well as their armories. Indeed, on August 23, 2020, a day after the gun battle at the Border, BSF personnel detained four persons after a raid in the remote rural belt along the IB in Tarn Taran for their links with the five slain Pakistani intruders in the District. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dhruman Nimbale, later disclosed,
On December 10, 2019, Parliament was informed that, according to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data, large quantities of drugs had been recovered from Punjab between 2015 and 2018. These included a total of 5,414.5 kilograms of Ganja (cannabis); 1,830.72 kilograms of Heroin; 1,669.41 kilograms of Opium; 168,420.32 kilograms of Poppy Husk and Poppy Straw; and 15,888,517 tablets of all type. SFs had arrested a total of 46,909 persons in drug-related cases over this period.
Recently, on March 4, 2020, the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) informed that a total of 991.64 kilograms of Ganja (cannabis); 116.98 kilograms of Hashish; 894. 95 kilograms of Heroin, 361.57 kilograms of Opium; 31,559.155 kilograms of Poppy Husk and Poppy Straw; and 79,20,932 tablets of all type were recovered in 2019. SFs arrested a total of 10,057 persons in drug-related cases in 2019.
According to a data released by the BSF, as on August 23, 2020, around 357.931 kilograms of heroin worth INR 17.89 billion in the international market have been recovered by the BSF in the State during the current year. Meanwhile, according to the Punjab Police data, 662 kilograms of heroin was recovered in the State between January 1 and July 31, 2020. This included 209 kilograms recovered by the BSF. In 2019, a total of 1,096 kilograms of heroin was recovered in the state, including a single day recovery of 532 kilograms on June 29, 2019.
SAIR has already highlighted the increasing use of the air and water routes to smuggle ‘composite consignments’, the former using drones.
More recently, according to an August 23, 2020, report, the BSF issued an alert that “Pakistan’s ISI plans to pump in a massive consignment of drugs, arms and ammunition inside India with the help of drones”. The intelligence wing of BSF also alerted the Security Forces (SFs) that Pakistan intended to use drones to attack security establishments near the IB in Jammu and Kashmir’s RS Pura and Samba sectors. The possibilities of such attacks in Punjab cannot be ruled out.
Further, according to an August 17, 2020, report, intruders from Pakistan were trying to use water channels to push 'composite consignments' into Indian territory. In this context, an unnamed BSF official stated,
Indeed, sources indicate that at least 72 incidents of seizures of ‘composite consignments’ were reported from border districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur between 2009 and 2019. The recoveries included drugs such as of heroin, opium, etc.; and weapons and ammunition including AK-47/56 rifles, pistols, and RDX, as well as counterfeit currency (Fake Indian Currency Notes, FICN). Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) uses the services of a common network of ‘drug smugglers/couriers’ to push in ‘composite consignments’ into Indian Punjab from Pakistan, exploiting gaps along the land and riverine border. The ‘drug smugglers/couriers’ working under the ISI’s aegis also throw the consignment over the Border fence in areas where infiltration is not suspected. Their Indian partners later collect the goods.
Meanwhile, according to an August 24, 2020 report, in a drive against the use of drones by the Pakistani operatives, the BSF, with the help of other security agencies is conducting anti-drone tests along the India-Pakistan border to shoot down any drone carrying weapon-load for terrorists in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
To combat the narcotics menace in the State, the Narcotics Control Bureau had recently decided to undertake efforts and coordinate a crackdown along with the Punjab Special Task Force and the BSF, against drug traffickers and syndicates that operate along the India-Pakistan border.
Significantly, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, declared on June 26, 2020,
The Security Forces have demonstrated their capabilities in neutralizing narco-terrorist networks and have neutralized numerous attempts by cross-border operatives to push ‘composite consignments’ into Punjab. However, given Pakistan’s incessant efforts to create turmoil in Punjab, the security agencies will have to step up vigilance to neutralize every attempt to destabilize the situation in the State.
Prosecution Failures Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 8, 2020, Maldives’ Disappearances and Death Commission (DDC) announced that it is going to hire a foreign expert to assist it in completing its investigations by September 2020. Earlier, on December 8, 2019, the President of DDC, Uz. Husnu Al Suood, resigned from the Presidential Commission after his nomination to the Supreme Court as a Judge. A December 12, 2019, report mentions President’s spokesperson Ibrahim Hood saying that President’s Office was working on a replacement for Uz. Husnu Al Suood. However, no further updates are available. Another member, Adam Ibrahim, also resigned, citing ‘personal reasons’. DDC has just three members left, Misbah Abbas, Ahmed Nashid and Fareesha Abdulla.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had announced the establishment of the DDC on November 18, 2018. The Commission commenced its work officially on November 21, 2018, with a two-year deadline to investigate 27 cases of Disappearances and Death. On September 1, 2019, DDC revealed that, of the 27 cases being investigated, only 4 or 5 were 'currently pending'. Three of these were 'interlinked' cases, involving al Qaeda. These included:
The al Qaeda is a major threat to the Maldives. On September 19, 2019, the Maldives Government made public the details of 17 terror organisations placed under its Anti-Terrorism Act on the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. Five of these were related al Qaeda: Al Qaeda, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
Meanwhile, since the formation of the DDC on November 18, 2018, another five terrorism cases have taken place in the country (data till August 30, 2020), though these have not resulted in any fatalities. These include:
Though all these cases are still under investigation, it is suspected that the Islamic State is behind each of them. Indeed, IS has claimed two of these incidents (April 15) and (March 21).
Though none of the cases reported since November 18, 2018, the date of establishment of the DDC, are under the purview of the DDC, other agencies investigating the cases have also failed to prosecute a single person in these cases, with the exception of the March 22, 2020, arson incident.
On August 2, 2020, the Office of the Prosecutor General filed an additional terror charge against terror accused Moosa Inaas, for setting ablaze a Police surveillance speedboat on March 22. The speedboat was docked in the harbour of Thundi District of Gan in Laamu Atoll. The Prosecutor General’s office disclosed that it has filed the charge of carrying out an act of terrorism under Article 6 (b) of the Counter-Terrorism Act, with reference to Article 6 (a) (i) of the Counter-Terrorism Act. Earlier, on July 29, 2020, the Prosecutor General’s Office had charged Moosa Inaas and Abdul Latheef Ibrahim for “possession of material implying support for a terrorist organization” under Article 6 (b) of the Counter-Terrorism Act.
The State continued failure to successfully prosecute those involved in violent acts could strengthen the resolve of terrorist and extremist formations. It will also help such elements to claim that the case filed against them were the vendetta of a secular' government against the 'faithful'.
In the meantime, there is a strong possibility of more arson attacks by the extremists, as evident from available online content. On July 30, 2020, the Australia-based scholar of Maldives, Azim Zahir, tweeted that the Maldivian IS group had released a video encouraging arson attacks. Further, the SITE Intelligence group, an organisation that monitors online activities of extremist groups, disclosed that the original 4-minute video version “Incite the Believers” was released in both English and Arabic by the IS-linked Al-Hayat Media Center on July 26, 2020. The SITE Intelligence group added further that the video asked supporters to use arson as a method to attack enemies across Africa, North and South America and Europe.
The outbreak of Novel Corona Virus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to massive financial losses for the State; the full extent of this is yet to be fully assessed. According to data published by the Ministry of Economic Development, Government of Maldives, and the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), the best-case scenario for the island nation would be a negative economic growth of -11.5 per cent, but at worst could go down to -29.7 per cent. A lethal combination of economic meltdown and poverty-led marginalisation could lead to heightened radicalisation, greatly destabilising the island nation. Lieutenant Colonel Amanulla A. Rasheed in his article 'Global Trends of Crime and Terror Nexus during COVID-19 Pandemic: Building Community Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism' published in National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Newsletter Volume 37: April 2020 observes,
There is need for greater synergy between various security agencies both at the level of intelligence sharing and investigation, so that cases that are registered can be brought to their natural conclusion. The capacities and capabilities of the Maldivian Security Forces need a boost, in order to effectively meet increasing challenges of terrorist groups and radical elements.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia August 24-30, 2020
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
NS
Total
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
INDIA (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
PAKISTAN (Total)
Peace Does Not Mean Power Sharing Deal, states Afghan President Ashraf Ghani: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that peace does not mean a power-sharing political deal, but instead the fulfillment of the will of the Afghan people, which is to end violence and bloodshed in the country. "Do not be afraid of peace because peace does not mean a power sharing political deal." Ghani stated. Ghani said that everyone wants a reduction in violence and an end to the violence in the country and he said that no matter how much the enemies tear things down, Afghans will build back. Tolo News, August 31, 2020.
Presidential Palace reiterates that key condition to start talks with Taliban is release of 20 Afghan Special Forces personnel: The Presidential Palace reiterated that one of the fundamental conditions to start the talks with the Taliban is that the group first needs to ensure the release of over 20 members of Afghan Special Forces who are in Taliban's custody. "The fundamental condition is that the number of soldiers of the security and defense forces who are with the Taliban should be released," said Dawa Khan Menapal, a Deputy Spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani. Tolo News, August 28, 2020.
Taliban's increasing violence is against Doha Agreement, asserts President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that Taliban have intensified their attacks on major cities which is in contradiction to the Doha Agreement. He said such violence would confront the ongoing peace efforts with obstacles. "The Taliban should renounce violence, stop the killing of Afghans and agree to face to face talks with the Afghan government because sticking to crimes and violence would result into hate from people and nothing else," he said. Bakhtar News, August 27, 2020.
Police forces in southern region of Afghanistan use drugs, according to SIGAR: The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), citing reports by Afghan agencies, said that nearly half of all Police forces in the southern regions of Afghanistan are using drugs. "Afghanistan's General Directorate for Internal Security, partnering with National Directorate of Security, found that approximately 50% of police in Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand & Uruzgan provinces used drugs," said SIGAR. Tolo News, August 26, 2020.
Pakistan insincere on reining in terror, according to MEA: On August 27, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Pakistan's denials and counter-accusations on sheltering wanted terrorists laid bare its insincerity in responding to legitimate global expectations that it would track down terrorists based on its soil. "Pakistan has not only maintained its opposition to this international consensus but it has also chosen not to act against the terrorists,'' MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. The Tribune, August 28, 2020.
AFSPA extended in Assam for another six months: On August 25, in an official statement, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has been extended in Assam for another six months due to the state being categorised under disturbed area. The recent insurrection of attacks on security forces and the frequent recovery of illegal arms and ammunition from different areas of Assam have provided impetus to the declaration of Assam as disturbed areas. The Sentinel, August 20, 2020.
Out 2,96,695 pieces of FICN detected in the last fiscal, 4.6 per cent were detected at RBI and 95.4 per cent by other banks, according to RBI Report: Out of a total of 2,96,695 pieces of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) detected in the banking sector in the last fiscal, 4.6 per cent were detected at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and 95.4 per cent by other banks, according to RBI report. There has been an increase of 144.6 per cent, 28.7 per cent, 151.2 per cent and 37.5 per cent in FICN detected in the denominations of INR 10, INR 50, INR 200 and INR 500 respectively. The Financial Express, August 25, 2020.
Possible alliance between Pakistan's terror outfits and gangsters in India to disrupt law and order situation, according to Intelligence Report: Chandigarh intelligence unit recently alerted other intelligence agencies of possible alliance between Pakistan's terror outfits and local gangsters in India to disrupt law and order situation in the country. The intelligence unit gave names of five gangsters who have allegedly been given tasks by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terror organisations to target a few leaders in India. Two of the gangsters are absconding, while the other three are in jail, the report said. Deccan Herald, August 24, 2020.
CIEDP asks Government to amend transition justice law to help accomplish its mandated tasks: The Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) issuing a press release on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 asked the Government to facilitate its activities by amending the existing transitional justice law in line with the Supreme Court order to make it victim-friendly. The commission also stated that there are some provisions in the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and Truth and Reconciliation Act, 2014 which need to be amended as per the order of the Supreme Court. My Republica, August 31, 2020.
Task Force suggests full term for Prime Minister K P Oli and complete executive power for Pushpa Kamal Dahal over party affairs: The six-member Task Force formed by the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) to resolve the bitter intra-party rift on August 22 suggested that Prime Minister K P Oli should complete his five-year tenure, while Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal be allowed to exercise full executive power over party affairs. The task force, formed by Oli and Prachanda on August 15 and later endorsed by NCP's powerful Central Secretariat on August 17, was led by the party's General Secretary Bishnu Poudyal. Hindustan Times, August 25, 2020.
Panels formed special committees to monitor Human rights situation in all Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has constituted special committees in all districts to monitor human rights situation with the respective deputy commissioners heading them. A notification issued by the law and human rights department said the Chief Minister had formed the District human rights committees under Section 4 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Promotion, Protection and Enforcement of Human Rights Act, 2014. Dawn, August 30, 2020.
SJB is going to launch common struggle against repealing of 19th Amendment, say SJB senior leaders: Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) senior leaders Rajitha Senaratne, Eran Wickramaratne, Harsha de Silva and Shiral Laktilaka on August 26, announced that SJB is going to launch a common struggle of civil organizations and political parties against the repealing of 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Daily Mirror, August 27, 2020.
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.
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