FATA: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2010

Five Taliban militants were killed and another seven injured in different parts of Orakzai Agency. The sources said helicopter gunships pounded Sultan Zai, Anjani, Tarkhosam, and Ghoz Ghar areas of the Agency, killing the five Taliban militants. Read less...

Six persons, including an anti-Taliban tribal elder, were killed when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in the Mandal area of Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit) in the Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 1, according to Daily Times. Sources said Malik Gul Shali was on his way to the Agency headquarters along with five other men when unidentified militants detonated the bomb. All six died instantly. Security Forces have cordoned off the area and started a search operation. No group has claimed responsibility so far. Read less...

The Khasadars Force (a local tribal force) recovered two suicide vests from a drain in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency. The jackets were later defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), which said the explosives were of US origin. Read less...

The Taliban militants blew up the house of a pro-Government tribal elder in Sturikhel area of Orakzai Agency. Read less...

Three unidentified militants were arrested while troops conducted a search operation in Tank area of in South Waziristan. Read less...

Three US drones fired two missiles at a car in North Waziristan Agency, killing three Taliban militants and injuring another three persons. The attacks occurred at 7:45pm (PST) in Mubarik Shahi village, 20 kilometres east of the Miranshah. Read less...

A trooper was killed and another five were injured at Metari Narai when militants fired rockets at a SF checkpost Read less...

Eight Taliban militants were killed when fighter jets destroyed four of their hideouts in the Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 2, according to Daily Times. Sources said the fighter jets bombed Sturikhel, Sultanzai and Anjatari areas of Lower Orakzai, killing eight militants and destroying four of their hideouts. Read less...

Four Taliban militants were killed in the ongoing Operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation) in South Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Read less...

The SFs conducted a search operation in Karam village near Kaniguram in Shakai sector and recovered a large cache of arms. Read less...

Three volunteers of a local Lashkar (tribal militia) were also killed in a clash with militants in Sturikhel area of the Orakzai Agency. Read less...

Two militants were killed and two others were arrested during an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) near Jani Khel of Jandola sector in South Waziristan. Read less...

Two Taliban militants were killed and another two injured as they attacked a checkpost near Shuza Algad in South Waziristan. Read less...

An improvised explosive device (IED) killed a trooper and injured five others in Jandola Sector of South Waziristan Agency while they were moving from Jandola to Top Sar. Read less...

Another trooper was killed when unidentified militants fired three rockets followed by intermittent firing at the Pash Ziarat checkpost in Razmak Sector of in North Waziristan Agency. Read less...

SFs killed three militants during an encounter carried out in Shuza Algad near Sararogha. Four terrorists were also injured in the incident, while a cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered from them. Read less...

SFs managed the release of three abducted persons and arrested 22 suspects during a joint cordon-and-search operation in Tap Takhti Khel near Jani Khel in South Waziristan. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) killed seven Taliban militants during operation in South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 3, according to Daily Times. Meanwhile, the missiles fired by a suspected US drone killed five militants in Mosakki village, about 25 kilometres east of Miranshah. It was the third suspected US missile attack in the tribal District in less than a week. Read less...

Troops defused and neutralised seven IEDs during a search operation in Kund Mela and Asman Manza areas near Kannigram of South Waziristan Agency. Read less...

Two tribal elders were killed and another four injured when a remote controlled bomb exploded in Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency. The tribal elders, Malik Zeerullah and Mujeebullah, were killed in Kasai area on their way to a local bazaar. The house of a militant commander was also destroyed in Mandal area. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) neutralised two militant hideouts on January 4, killing seven Taliban militants and arresting two others in Operation Sherdil (Lion Heart) in the Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), according to Daily Times. The sources said that the SFs targeted hideouts of Taliban in the Jani Shah area of Mamoond tehsil (revenue division), killing four militants. Another three terrorists were killed in Laywai area as the bomb they were busy manufacturing exploded in their hands. The SFs also arrested two militants in Khar and Laghrai area. Read less...

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants set ablaze an entire village in Feroze Khel area of Lower Orakzai in Orakzai Agency. According to officials, TTP militants raided the village of Tori Mela and set ablaze 63 houses that had been lying vacant for about a month because most tribesmen had moved to other areas, leaving behind one or two members of their families to take care of their belongings. The TTP militants asked these people to leave their houses and then set out on the arson spree. Local people said the TTP had ‘punished’ tribesmen because of their refusal to stay on in the village and support them in their fight against SFs. The families had moved to Hangu and Kohat, fearing that the TTP might use them as human shields and to protect themselves during shellings and bombings by helicopter gunships and planes. Read less...

Two volunteers of peace committee were killed and as many sustained injuries during a clash with militants in Baizai sub-division in Mohmand Agency on January 4. The official sources said a group of militants attacked the positions of volunteers of a local peace committee with rocket launchers and mortar guns in the remote Baizai tehsil (revenue unit) near Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The volunteers promptly returned the fire that continued for an hour. Two volunteers, the sources added, were killed and two others sustained injuries in the clash. Read less...

A trooper was killed and two others sustained injuries in a rocket attack in the Tabi Sar area of Razmak in South Waziristan Agency where Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) is being carried out, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Read less...

In the same Agency, the SFs conducted search and clearance operations Tara Tizha near Makeen, clearing a number of militant’s compounds and recovering ammunitions. Read less...

Militants fired rockets at a checkpost near Spin Mela. The attack was retaliated by the SFs. Read less...

Salarzai Qaumi Lashkar (a local tribal militia) and political authorities defused a remote-controlled bomb, weighed around 10 kilogrammes, planted by a roadside in the Raghghan area of Khar. The explosives weighed around 10 kilogrammes. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) and militants exchanged heavy fire after the latter attacked a Mohmand Rifles camp with rockets and mortars in Mamad Gat area in Mohmand Agency in the evening. Official sources said that militants fired several rockets and mortars on the camp in Mamad Gat area. The SFs, the sources said, also targeted suspected hideouts of militants in different areas from the Mamad Gat camp and Ghallanai headquarters after the attack. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 5 said they flushed out most of the militants from the Mohmand tribal region of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), according to Dawn. "Mohmand is a big agency and up till now 80 per cent of the area has been cleared," commander of the Mohmand Operation, Colonel Saifullah, said. He said operations near the Afghanistan border were necessary as militants take refuge in the region. Around 350 militants were killed while 300 others were severely injured, he added. Regarding the SFs causalities, he said around 65 soldiers had been martyred in 2008 and 2009. He said resistance was still being faced in the Safi tehsil (revenue unit) and Khwazai tehsil but now the SFs were shifting towards the next phase that entailed bringing stability to the area. He rubbished off reports of NATO penetrating Mohmand and other tribal areas and said Pakistan’s borders were being tightly guarded. Colonel Saifullah did not give any tentative date for wrapping up the operation but said the army wants to wind it up as soon as possible. Due to normalisation of the situation, schools and some bazaars had opened in the cleared areas and Government offices also started their operations. Read less...

SFs conducted search and clearance operations in Luni and arrested three suspected militants. They also cleared various compounds in Upper Kaniguram and Tatai Langar Khel near Ladha area of South Waziristan and recovered a large cache of arms. Read less...

The militants blew up six shrines in the Khwa village of Stori Khel area of lower Orakzai Agency, reports Dawn. The militants also blew up six other shrines of Stori Khel. The Stori Khel tribe has been fighting the Taliban militants for over a month to keep them away from their area. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) killed three Taliban militants in the continuing Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) when they tried to attack SFs at the Pungai checkpost in South Waziristan of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 5, according to Daily Times. Read less...

The Taliban militants attacked a primary school with rockets in Barani Kandero area of Salarzai tehsil Bajaur Agency, damaging a part of the school’s building. Read less...

The unidentified militants sent a threatening letter to the administration of Government Boys’ School in Yakkaghund subdivision of Mohmand Agency to close the institution or face the consequences, reports Dawn. The letter written in Pashto language was found on the school premises but it did not bear the sender’s name or address of any organisation. Read less...

Two persons were injured in a landmine explosion in the Jabarzai area of Salarzai tehsil in the Bajaur Agency, reports The News. Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a boys’ school in Nawagai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency, reports Daily Times. Sources said that around 50 militants entered a school in Malkana village, some 30 kilometres southwest of Khar, and planted explosives in the building, which was badly damaged in the resulting blast. However, there was no casualty. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

13 persons were killed when three US drones targeted a house in Sumzalai, 50 kilometers west of Miranshah, in the Dattakhel tehsil (revenue unit) of North Waziristan in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 6, according to Daly Times. Two of the three missiles fired hit the house in Sumzalai at around 4pm (PST), killing seven persons, while the third missile struck the same house at around 4:50pm, killing six people. Mahmood Shah, a former security chief for the Tribal Areas, said he believed the drone strikes over the past week in North Waziristan were retaliation for a suicide attack against the Central Intelligence Agency in Afghanistan. Read less...

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. Read less...

Five militants were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in, exploded in the Darr village of Kurram Agency in the night of January 6. Read less...

A trooper was killed while two others sustained injuries following a rocket attack by militants in Tabi Sar area of Razmak sector in South Waziristan where operation Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation) is being carried out, an ISPR news release said, reports The News. In Shakai sector, the Security Forces (SFs) commenced search and clearance operation in Badar valley, while in Razmak sector, the Army conducted search and clearance operation in Sherkai near Razmak and cleared more than hundred houses, the ISPR said. Read less...

At least 10 Taliban militants were killed and several were injured as gunship helicopters bombed militant’s hideouts in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 7, according to Daily Times. The militants were killed in Mamonzai, Ghaljo and Dabori areas of Orakzai Agency. Three vehicles were also destroyed in the operation. Read less...

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on January 7 unveiled a relief package for militancy-affected areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), announcing tax concessions, rebates in duties and relief in utility bills – in addition to allocating an additional 1 percent share to the province from the federal divisible pool, according to Daily Times. Under the relief package, the province would be divided into three categories: ‘the worst affected’, ‘affected’ and ‘least affected’ areas. Bajaur Agency, Mohmand Agency, Khyber Agency, Orakzai Agency, Kurram Agency, South Waziristan and North Waziristan from FATA; Malakand, Swat, Buner, Shangla, and Upper and Lower Dir from PATA; and Hangu, Bannu, Tank, Kohat and Chitral from settled areas have been categorised as the worst affected areas. The federal government announced an exemption from withholding income tax for areas falling in ‘the worst affected’ and ‘affected’ categories until June 30, 2011. Also, areas in the first category have been given total exemption from sales tax and federal excise duty on commodities manufactured in these areas between January 1 and June 30. Areas falling under category two would be given a 50 percent concession in these taxes. Gilani announced that no penalty or surcharge would be payable by registered taxpayers from areas in the first and second category if they paid the principal amount of outstanding customs duties, sales tax, federal excise duty and income tax by June 30. Read less...

SFs arrested 23 suspected militants from the Bara tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency, reports Dawn. Forces recovered a cache of arms and explosives from their possession. According to the Frontier Corps (FC) officials, the arrests were made during a search operation in Akakhel area of Bara tehsil. Four of the arrested militants were among the most wanted suspects and have been shifted to Peshawar for further investigation, while the others have been shifted to FC camp in Bara tehsil. Read less...

SFs conducted search operations at Chaghmalal and Jandola sector during Operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan, reports Daily Times. In Shakai sector, Army personnel conducted a search operation and cleared Ghani Khel, Ane Zhawar, Yargha Khel, Ghundaka Mamei Khel near Kaniguram and recovered a large number of weapons. In Razmak sector, SFs conducted search operations near Pash Ziarat, Qalandar, Makeen, Dashkai Algad and Mir Khoni near Makeen and cleared 82 compounds and recovered weapons. Army personnel faced some resistance from militants at Lita Sar Post near Makeen. Read less...

SFs continued shelling of militant’s hideouts in the Kurram Agency, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Eight persons were killed and 11 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the headquarters of the militant outfit Ansar-ul-Islam (AI) in Tirah area of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 8, according to Daily Times. Sources said that a meeting of the AI shura was in progress when the suicide bomber struck. An AI spokesman said the suicide bomber blew himself up when he was stopped from entering the gate. He said the attacker’s target was the AI shura but he failed, as he was not allowed to enter. He said AI ‘chief’ Qazi Mehboobul Haq was also at the madrassa (seminary) when the attack occurred. He said the head of the bomber was recovered by the AI volunteers, and was identified as a member of the Qambarkhel tribe who lived in Bara. He said the bomber was a member of rival militant outfit Lashkar-e-Islam (LI). Read less...

Four Taliban militants were killed and two injured when drones fired two missiles, one at a car and the other at a house, in Palali village in North Waziristan Agency, reports Daily Times. The village is in Tappi area, 20 kilometres east of Miranshah, the North Waziristan Agency headquarters. "The US drone fired two missiles on a house. The house was completely destroyed," a Senior Security Official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "A vehicle parked in the house was also destroyed," he added. Read less...

In Bajaur Agency, two militants surrendered to the SFs in Katkot area of Mamond tehsil. Read less...

One trooper was killed as the Taliban militants fired at the SFs near Mazakai, Ghundi Gar, Pungai, Gani Khel and Sinetiza area of South Waziristan during operations Rah-e-Nijat (path to salvation), reports Daily Times. SFs conducted a search and clearance operation at Tank in Jandola sector in South Waziristan and arrested two suspected Taliban militants. Other clearance operations were also conducted around Tip Sar and Trikhi Kaburai near Gani Khel in Shakai sector. Read less...

Six militants were killed and three others injured in air strikes on suspected militant hideouts in upper Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 8, according to Dawn. Official and independent sources said that three hideouts were targeted by helicopter gunships in the Kunj area of Sheikhan. All the buildings attacked were destroyed and at least six militants were killed. Read less...

The SFs shelled different hideouts of the militants in Kharkay, Kagga and Mulla Syed areas of Bajaur Agency, reports The News. There was no report about the casualties. A civilian was injured when a mortar shell missed the target and hit a house in Kagga area of Mamond tehsil. Read less...

Two militants were killed and three others injured in a clash with the Security Forces (SFs) in Nawagai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency, reports The News. Tribal sources said that during search operation the militants opened fire on the SFs and in an exchange of fire, two militants were killed and three others sustained injuries. The dead militants were identified as Aliur Rehman and Fazal Amin while the injured included Ibrahim, Gul Jan and Sada Khan. Read less...

A US drone strike on January 9 killed at least four terrorists in North Waziristan of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), security and intelligence officials said, reports Daily Times. "A US drone fired two missiles, which hit a compound used as a training centre by militants," a senior security official said. He said that the identity of the militants was not immediately known, adding it was also not clear whether any high-value target was present in the area at the time of the strike. Read less...

A Jordanian Taliban ‘commander’, who moved to Afghanistan in 1999 and stayed on to fight US-led forces, was killed in a US drone attack in Waziristan, extremist websites monitored by US-based Search for International Terrorist Entities (SITE) Intelligence said, reports The News. The Al Fallujah and Shamukh al Islam forums announced the “martyrdom” of Mahmud Mahdi Zeidan on January 10 on the soil of Pakistan. SITE did not specify which drone strike the Jordanian was killed in. Pakistani officials said last week that 13 militants were killed in two US drone strikes in Waziristan, of whom four were foreigners. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) demolished the houses of two local commanders of militants by using dynamite during a search operation in Safi tehsil (revenue unit). Read less...

Two Taliban militants were arrested during a search and clear operation at Shiekh Yousaf Adda of South Waziristan Agency. Three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from their possession. Read less...

Unidentified militants shot dead two tribal elders in the Pandyalai sub-division of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 10, according to The News. Tribal sources said the slain elders were identified as Malik Adam and Malik Mukhtiar of Safi Tehsil. “The unidentified people killed Malik Adam when he resisted a bid to kidnap him from his Hujra (guest house),” the sources added. Read less...

Eight Taliban militants and one trooper were killed during a clash between Taliban militants and Security Forces (SFs) in the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) in South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 11, according to Daily Times. The Inter-Services Public Relations sources said that eight Taliban militants were killed during a clearance operation in the area around Katori Sar and Jangwam. Read less...

In the same Agency, SFs conducted clearance operations at Maiol, Sukai and Laghar Sar area and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition. Read less...

The Taliban militants fired on a checkpost at Pash Zairat in Razmak sector of South Waziristan Agency, killing a trooper and injuring three others. Read less...

Four Taliban militants and a soldier were killed in a gunbattle when dozens of Taliban militants attacked a checkpost in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 12, local sources said, reports Daily Times. They said more than 30 Taliban militanst attacked the Ghanam Shah checkpost in Bezai tehsil (revenue unit) of Mohmand Agency. The slain soldier was identified as Gul Shireen. Six troopers were also injured in the attack. “They came from three sides and attacked the post with automatic weapons and rocket launchers,” said a local administration official, Zabit Khan. He put the number of injured troops at three. A military official confirmed the casualties and said four Taliban militants had been killed in the Security Forces’ retaliation. Read less...

Two unidentified passers-by were killed in an exchange of fire between Security Forces (SFs) and militants in Qambarkhel area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 13, according to The News. Meanwhile, SFs set ablaze 10 vehicles owned by the militants and two vehicles were taken into custody. SFs also raided an auto-workshop in the area where several vehicles owned by members of the banned militant outfit were parked for repair. Read less...

Unidentified militants attacked a SF checkpost in Piazha Band Khel with mortar and small arms in the Razmak sector, which was effectively repulsed and 40 compounds belongs to militants were cleared. Read less...

Unidentified militants fired six rockets at the Shikari Ridge checkpost near Janata and Sararogha in the Jandola sector of South Waziristan Agency, reports Daily Times. However, no casualties were reported. Read less...

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. Read less...

The Chief of the pro-government Khwazai Peace Committee, Muhammad Akbar, and one of its member, Gulistan, were killed and seven others persons sustained serious injuries in a roadside blast at Dorbakhel area of Halimzai subdivision in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 14, according to The News. The sources said that anti-Taliban Khwezai Peace Committee chief Muhammad Akbar, along with several armed men, was on way to his hometown from Ghallanai, the headquarters of the troubled Mohmand Agency. When they reached the Dorbakhel area, their vehicle struck a roadside explosive device planted by the militants. The injured persons were identified as Aziz Khan, Hukam Khan, Samar Gul, Abdul Wahid, Abdul Sattar, Gul Khan and Yousaf. Spokesman of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mohmand Agency, Ikramullah Mohmand, claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

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 Read less...

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. Read less...

One Ibrahim Kukikhel, the tribal malik (leader) and head of the Kukikhel Qaumi Jirga, was shot dead while his wife and a son were injured in Wazirdand area of Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency. Read less...

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) warned the Government against continued drone attacks in the Tribal Areas amid reports that TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud is “under treatment” for “serious injuries” sustained in a drone strike on January 14. The TTP warning came in a one-minute audio message, purportedly recorded in Hakeemullah’s voice, released by the group to local journalists a day after the drone strike targeted him in South Waziristan. “There are reports that Hakeemullah was wounded in the attack and is under treatment at an undisclosed location,” official sources said, but did not say what type of injury the TTP chief was being treated for. “There is a 20 percent chance that Hakeemullah will survive,” said the officials, citing sources close to top Taliban leaders. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the military was investigating reports of Hakeemullah’s death. “So far, we do not have confirmation of him either getting killed or getting injured. It will take a little more time,” ISPR Chief Major General Athar Abbas said. Read less...

Two United States (US) drone strikes killed at least 11 Taliban militants in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 15, according to Daily Times. The first attack took place in Zanini village near Mir Ali, about 30 kilometres east of Miranshah, capital of North Waziristan Agency. “US drones fired four missiles at a Taliban compound and at least five Taliban were killed,” a senior security official said. The officials said five US drones flew over at low altitude above the area, and two of the drones descended further and fired four missiles at the compound, destroying it completely. The second attack killed at least six Taliban militants in Bichi village. “At least six Taliban were killed,” said the security official. Read less...

Asmatullah Muaviya, one of the main ‘commanders’ of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) Punjab chapter, was among the 10 persons killed in a US drone strike on January 14 in South Waziristan of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a private television news channel reported on January 16, according to Daily Times. The drone had targeted a militant’s compound at Shaktoi village on January 14. Muaviya was responsible for recruiting and training young men from Punjab and Pakistan occupied Kashmir for suicide attacks across the country. Earlier, a local news agency also reported the death of Qari Hussain and Muhammad Mehsud in the Shaktoi strike. Qari Hussain, who had a 50 million head money, was believed to be a “master trainer” of suicide bombers. Read less...

Five militants were killed in clashes with Security Forces (SFs), while two troopers were injured in a remote-controlled bomb attack in Spin Qabar area of Bara of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 16, according to Daily Times. Sources said that terrorists attacked a SF convoy with a remote-controlled device in the Spin Qabar area at around 3pm (PST), injuring two Army troopers. A militant was killed in clashes with SFs during search operations following the attack. Also, four other militants were killed after a shell landed on a militant hideout. Read less...

SFs conducted search and clearance operations in Jabrai Chinkolai, Gidar Sar, Shin Bargane, Shalun and Chungai, arresting six suspected terrorists. The SFs also conducted operations at Hassan Khel Bannu and arrested two suspected militants and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, APP reported. Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a civil dispensary at Sultan Khel in Landikotal. According to the local political administration, unidentified militants planted explosive material inside the dispensary and the three-room facility was completely destroyed in the attack. NATO oil tankers parked nearby were not damaged and no casualties were reported in the blast. Read less...

A US drone strike on January 17 killed at least 20 Taliban militants, including foreign terrorists (Uzbeks), in a South Waziristan Agency area in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Daily Times. The attack took place in Shaktoee – 40 kilometres southeast of Miranshah in North Waziristan Agency. This bombing was the 10th US drone strike to hit the tribal belt in the month of January. Read less...

Militants blew up a Government primary school for boys in the Nadir Khan village of the Landi Kothal tehsil of Khyber Agency, reported The Dawn. According to official sources, militants planted two powerful bombs which exploded simultaneously. The school was completely destroyed but no casualties have been reported so far. So far, militants have destroyed more than 15 schools in Khyber Agency Read less...

On Shakai Sector, the SFs conducted search and clearance operation in the Zawar Darman Khel, Shankai - Dargai and killed at least one militant. Read less...

The militants also fired with small arms in the Narakai and Ghundai Sar Post Khaisura areas near Shakai which was effectively responded. On Razmak Sector militants fired with small arms at the SFs near Razma. No casualty was reported in theses incidents. Read less...

The SFs conducted search and clearance operation at Hassan Khel and arrested four suspects in the operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation), in South Waziristan on January 17, according to The News. Read less...

The SFs conducted search and clearance operation near Ladha and detected and destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device. Read less...

Two militants were killed in a clash with the Security Forces (SFs) in the Mulla Said area of Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit). Read less...

Two tribesmen, including a prominent tribal elder and agency councillor, were killed in two separate incidents. The councillor Abdul Qayyum Khan of Kausar village was on his way to Khar town from Sadiqabad when unidentified assailants opened fire killing him. Another tribesman, identified as Hakim Khan, was killed when a bomb planted by militants in the Shaida Shah area of Nawagai sub-division exploded. Read less...

A SF was abducted from Bara, while four militants were arrested during a raid. Read less...

Militants blew up the house of a tribal elder, who was considered to be a staunch supporter of the Government, in the Masozai area. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed 10 Taliban militants and arrested five others in a clash in North Waziristan in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 18, according to Daily Times. The clash occurred when the militants opened fire on a checkpoint in the border town of Lwara Mandi, a bastion of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. Troops retaliated and killed 10 militants. Read less...

Taliban militants attacked lashkar (pro-Government tribal militia) personnel in Mohmand, resulting in the death of one tribesman and three militants. The attack took place as the militia men manned a security post in the Bazai section of Mohmand, 70 kilometres away from Agency headquarters. The militants attacked the checkpost in the Daag area and killed a volunteer, Hazratullah Khan. The volunteers retaliated and killed three militants and injured two others. The fleeing militants took away the bodies and their injured men along with them. Also two tribesmen sustained injuries when an explosive device went off in Lagharai area of the sub-division. Read less...

Terrorists blew up a boys’ primary school in Landikotal tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency. The explosion occurred in the Ashraf Kalay village school at 3am (PST). While all seven rooms of the school were destroyed in the attack, there were no casualties. The attack was blamed on the Lashkar-e-Islam, main terrorist group in the Agency. Read less...

Three militants were killed as a bomb exploded near central Kurram .They were trying to plant the bomb near the basic health unit in Dogar in central Kurram, but the bomb went off prematurely killing all three of them. Read less...

Five Taliban militants, including ‘local commander’ Hamad, were killed when militants opened fire at members of a peace committee in Baizai tehsil in the Mohmand Agency. Two committee members were also killed and two others injured in the clash. Read less...

Law enforcement agencies arrested a suspected Kashmiri woman in a shopping centre raid in Haleemzai tehsil. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) during a search operation exchanged fire with the Taliban near Kunar Sar area in Admi Kot area of South Waziristan. 10 Taliban militants were killed and five others arrested during the operation. In Jandola Sector, two soldiers were killed in a bomb blast near Janata, where the SFs defused three roadside bombs. Read less...

Six Taliban militants were killed when a US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Degan village of North Waziristan’s Dattakhel tehsil (revenue unit) in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 19, reports Daily Times. The strike took place at around 6:30pm (PST). Read less...

A clash took place between the militants and armed members of Baizai peace committee in Torkhel area near Pak-Afghan border. No loss of life or damage to property, however, was reported. Read less...

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. Read less...

During clearance and search operations in the Tabai area in Dir, Security Forces (SFs) arrested 13 suspected militants and seized a car. Read less...

Five Taliban militants, including Ghulam alias Adil, a key ‘commander’, were killed and two others injured in a raid conducted by members of the peace committee at Khewzai area of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 20, according to Daily Times The lashkars (tribal militia) also ‘arrested’ 17 suspected militants and seized two rifles during search operations in Gawakai and Warasta villages. Read less...

In Bara tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency, terrorists attacked a SF’s convoy with rockets but no casualties were reported, while five suspected attackers were arrested. Read less...

One soldier was killed while eight others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) in near Janata in Jandola Sector of South Waziristan Agency. Read less...

Roadside bomb killed two tribal elders and a woman travelling on a bus in Salarzai District of Bajaur Agency. 20 other passengers were injured in the explosion. The two men were members of a tribal militia formed to fight the Taliban militants. Read less...

Several militants were believed to be killed and their hideouts destroyed when gunship helicopters attacked various areas of Safi and Baizai subdivisions in the Agency. Four vehicles and three motorbikes owned by militants were also destroyed in the bombing in Shandara area. The reports about the casualties and destruction of militants’ positions, however were not confirmed by the official sources Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a Government school in Mano area of Salarzai subdivision of Bajaur Agency. With this incident the number of educational institutions destroyed so far by the militants in Bajaur Agency rose to 72. No casualty was, however, reported. Read less...

Clashes between the Security Forces (SFs) and terrorists left at least nine terrorists dead in Mohmand Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 21, reports Daily Times. The SFs engaged terrorists at several hideouts with helicopter gunships in the Matta, Bahadar Killi in Suran Valley, Mathai Chaqorai Markaz, Methai Markaz, Jarobai Dara, Gulmain, Shamshah and Shandara areas of the region. A terrorist was killed while planting an improvised explosive device (IED) on the Narai-Zara Road. He was identified as Malikhel. Read less...

One Taliban militant was killed and five others injured in a gunbattle between the SFs and the militants at the Ghutti Sar check post. Three suspected militants were arrested in Mohmand Agency when they opened fire on the SFs at Marjana and Ghanam Shah posts. Read less...

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. Read less...

SFs seized a vehicle, four sub-machineguns, 10 pistols and RDX in Michni Post area of Khyber Agency. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) attacked the stronghold of local and foreign Taliban militants killing 15 of them and arresting 25 others in Machis camp near Miranshah in North Wazristan in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 22, reports Daily Times. Read less...

the SFs arrested nine suspected Taliban militants from different areas in Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur agencies and Dir District while an IED was detected and neutralised at Gogra Chowk in Bajaur Read less...

Two militants and a soldier were killed in a clash at Bilandkhel area in Orakzai Agency. The SFs also claimed to have arrested 49 suspected persons during the search operation. Read less...

Unidentified men had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the roadside in Talai village in Salarzai in Bajaur Agency. A woman was killed and 23 passengers injured when a vehicle hit the device. Also, SFs arrested three suspects from Kitiari and Kas Shagai areas and Adda in Hangu Read less...

14 Taliban militants and three Security Force (SF) personnel were killed while 12 other Taliban militants were injured in clashes in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 23, local sources said, reports Daily Times. The sources said three SFs and nine Taliban militants were killed when Taliban attacked the SFs in Chapri Ferozkhel area of Lower Orakzai Agency. 12 Taliban militants were also injured in the clash. The sources also said that five Taliban militants were killed and 20 others arrested after a clash with the SFs in Khoedakhel area of Upper Orakzai Agency. Read less...

One Security Force (SF) was killed and another injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Khyber Agency. Subsequently, in a search operation, SFs killed three militants and arrested 12 others. The slain militants included senior ‘commander’ Gul Hakim. Further, four militants were arrested from Bara tehsil (revenue unit). Read less...

Taliban militants claimed to have shot down a US drone in Hamzoni village near Miramshah, the main town in North Waziristan. Government and Military officials confirmed the plane crash but were not sure about the cause of the incident. Read less...

Taliban militants killed seven persons on suspicion of spying for the US in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 24, reports Daily Times. Read less...

At least 11 suspected militants were killed when SFs, backed by helicopter gunship and artillery, pounded their positions in Kurram Agency. Official sources said that four hideouts of the Taliban were destroyed. Six SFs were also reportedly injured in the clash. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed 15 militants in a gunfight in Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 25, reports Daily Times. According to a statement issued by the Frontier Corps (FC), the clash took place after the Taliban militants had attacked a Security check post in the Tindo area of the Agency. As reported earlier, 11 militants were killed in the incident. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 25 backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunship targeted Taliban strongholds across the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), killing 21 militants in the Kurram and Bajaur Agencies, reports Daily Times. “Air strikes by the jet fighters continued for more than two hours. 10 terrorists have been killed and several hideouts were destroyed,” a paramilitary Frontier Corps official in Khar said. Read less...

SFs also arrested 23 suspected militants during search and clearance operations in various areas of Khyber Agency in the last 24 hours. Read less...

Militants killed one person and freed two out of the four abducted tribesmen in Salarzai. The militants had earlier abducted four tribesmen from Mano area in Salarzai. Read less...

Taliban militants in North Waziristan claimed to have shot down another US drone in Boya village of Dattakhel tehsil near the border with Afghanistan but failed to provide any proof in this regard. Read less...

Three militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when gunship helicopters fired at suspected hideouts of insurgents in Mamond and Salarzai tehsils( revenue units) in Bajaur Agency on January 26,according to The News. Read less...

12 Taliban militants were killed and three others injured in clashes between Salarzai laskhar (pro government Tribal militia) and militants in Chinnar village of Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 27, according to Daily Times. The volunteers from the Salarzai lashkar, backed by Security Forces (SFs) were on their way to Mula Said and Chinnar areas when a group of armed militants attacked them. The SFs and members of the lashkar repulsed the attack killing 12 militants and injuring three. One trooper was killed in the attack. Read less...

A tribal elder, Malik Saleh Khan, had a narrow escape when a roadside bomb went off in Nawagai tehsil (revenue unit) Read less...

After several days of silence, rumours were once again circulating that chief of the banned militant group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hakeemullah Mehsud had died of fatal injuries that he had sustained in a drone attack in Shaktoi village of South Waziristan on January 14. However, sources close to Hakeemullah Mehsud denied such reports and claimed he was in good health. Read less...

Taliban militants killed a pro-government lashkar leader in Bajaur Agency. The body of Malik Manaris Khan, 47, was found in Salarzai town. He was abducted on January 25 along with two other tribesmen, Malik Ali Baz and Malik Muhammad Rehman. The former is still held captive by the militants while the latter has been released. Read less...

The political administration has warned tribal chieftains of a military operation if they do not take action against terrorists who have fled Mehsud areas of South Waziristan and have taken refuge in North Waziristan. Read less...

According to The Dawn, differences among militants in Bajaur Agency which have been simmering for some time have widened and one group is reported to have replaced local Taliban ‘chief’ Maulana Faqir Mohammad with Maulana Mohammad Jamal (Maulvi Dadullah). Tags Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed nine militants and injured five others in a clash in Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 28 according to The News. The militants attacked a SFs’ check post in the mountainous Mulla Said area in Salarzai tehsil, 20 kilometres northeast of the agency headquarters Khar, with heavy weapons. Three SFs were injured in the attack. SFs repulsed the attack and in the ensuing gun battle, nine militants were killed and five others were injured. In addition, one soldier was killed while six others were injured in Bajaur Agency. The SFs also arrested 14 suspected militants from different parts of the Tribal Areas. Read less...

SFs killed four Taliban militants in Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) in South Waziristan Agency, reports Daily Times. Also, in Jandola and Shakai sectors, the SFs seized huge caches of weapons. Read less...

Fighter jets bombarded a Taliban hideout in the town of Sewai in the Mamoond tehsil (revenue unit) killing 10 terrorists and injuring 15 others. Read less...

Five suspected militants were killed and four others sustained injuries in a drone attack in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan, according to The News. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed 24 Taliban militants in air strikes and clashes in Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 29, reports Daily Times. In one incident, the fighting erupted when militants attacked a check post manned by the Frontier Corps and members of an anti-Taliban militia in the Chinar town. Troops retaliated and killed 14 militants. A paramilitary soldier was also killed and three others were wounded in the clash. Read less...

A suicide bomber killed 16 people, including 14 civilians and two Police officers, and wounded 20 others at a police check point in the Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 30, said local Government official Bakhat Pacha, reported The Hindu. The attacker, on foot, struck a market area in the region’s main town, Khar, he added. Read less...

In the Agency, suspected US missiles killed nine alleged militants, officials said. Overnight on January 30, three suspected US missiles hit a compound and a bunker in the Mohammad Khel area of North Waziristan Agency, part of a surge of the drone-fired strikes, said intelligence officials. Two missiles attack hit the compound being used by the militants, killing seven of them, the intelligence officials added. The third killed two more insurgents in the bunker, they said. Read less...

Nine Taliban militants were killed when fighter jets bombed Taliban hideouts in Swoi and Damadola areas of Mamoond tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 31, according to Daily Times. Security Forces (SFs) captured Swoi, a stronghold of the Taliban, using heavy artillery in the operation. “Fighter jets and helicopter gunships are bombing and shelling Taliban hideouts and bases in Mamoond and Salarzai,” the AFP quoted administrative official Jameel Khan as saying. “Ground troops are also taking part in this offensive,” he further added. Read less...

The SFs arrested five suspects from Khajuri and Mir Ali areas during the Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation). Read less...

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.” Read less...

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. Read less...

Two civilians were killed in the same area when a shell hit a house. Two Security Force personnel were also injured during the operation. Read less...

Two paramilitary troopers were killed in Mohmand when one of the mules they were riding to fetch water stepped on a landmine, a local official, Zabit Khan said. The AP news agency quoted Zabit Khan as saying that the mine had been recently planted by suspected Taliban militants in a village dirt track. Read less...