Suicide Attacks
At least 13 persons, including four lawyers and three Policemen, were killed and 41 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the entrance of District and Sessions Court in Mardan District on September 2, reports Dawn. The Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) claimed responsibility for the attack. District Police Officer (DPO) Mardan Faisal Shahzad said that the attacker detonated a hand grenade before exploding his suicide vest.
A suicide bomber killed at least 28 people and wounded more than 45 others as they attended Friday prayers at a mosque in Pekhan Killay area of Anbar tehsil (revenue unit) in Mohmand Agency on September 16, reports Daily Times. Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA), breakaway faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility of the attack. Deputy Chief of Mohmand Agency administration Naveed Akbar said that the bomber came in as Friday prayers were in progress, and blew himself up in the main hall. “The suicide bomber was in a crowded mosque, he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is greatest) and then there was a huge blast,” Naveed Akbar said.
Bomb/IED Blasts
A terror bid was foiled when an eight kilogram of bomb was defused at Bakhtiarabad area of Lehri District on August 26, reports Dawn. However, the railway track was damaged.
Two personnel of the bomb disposal squad (BDS) were killed when two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hit a BDS and local Khasadar force team in Koz Chamarkand area of Safi tehsil (revenue unit) in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on September 4, reports Daily Times. A security official confirmed that a BDS team of MR 203 Wing was on routine patrol when an IED planted by militants blew up, killing Zarbad Shah Khattak. Another IED exploded in Nawapas area near the Pak-Afghan border. Khasadar force Hawaldar Nabi received critical injuries in the explosion and died on way to hospital. The splinter group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) claimed responsibility of both the attacks.
Separately, one security personnel was martyred and another injured in a mine blast in Chamar Kand area of Mohmand Agency September 4, reports Daily Times.
A Policeman was killed while two other persons were wounded in a bomb attack on a police patrol near Aslam Dheri on Pajagi Road of Peshawar on September 4, reports Daily Times. Police officials said unidentified militants had planted explosives in a pressure cooker alongside a road near Aslam Dheri, which went off as a patrolling party onboard a Police vehicle passed through the area. The driver of the patrolling vehicle identified as Naveed Khan, a resident of Sheikh Killay, was killed in the explosion. Two local residents, Sudais (10) and Yousuf (40) sustained minor injuries in the blast.
Four passers-by sustained injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Rustam Bazaar in South Waziristan Agency on September 7, reports The News. According to official sources, the militants had planted the explosive device near the wall of a medical store. The owner of the medical shop, Naik Muhammad, was the resident of Frontier Region (FR) Bannu.
At least four Police personnel were injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Karakar area of Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on September 12, reports Dawn. According to reports, the blast occurred near a police mobile, which was on a routine patrol. Four personnel were injured in the blast. The Police mobile was partially damaged in the explosion.
At least two Policemen were killed and 10 others, including five Policemen, were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near a Police training centre on Sariab Road in Quetta on September 13, reports Dawn. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two persons, identified as Ghulam Rasool Gola and Mehmood Gola, the workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), were killed when a motorbike hit a landmine planted on the roadside in Puleji area of Naseerabad District on September 15, reports Dawn. Ghulam Rasool died on the spot while Mehmood succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.
Targetted Killings
At least three people, including a brother of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)’s District councilor and two Policemen, were killed on August 29 after militants attacked their vehicle in Rabaat Bazar area of Lower Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports The Express Tribune. According to reports, Shad Nawaz remained unhurt in the attack while one assailant was injured in the crossfire. Police said that Shad Nawaz, an active member of the JI, was travelling along with his entourage when heavily armed men opened fire at him.
Further, an official of the Special Branch Police, Iftikhar Khattak, was killed near his house at Chughulpura in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, when unidentified motorcycle borne assailants opened fire on him on August 29, reports The News.
Two persons, including a civilian and a Levies official, were killed when a group of four terrorists attacked Christian Colony in Warsak Dam area of Peshawar on September 2, reports Daily Times. Two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, a Policeman and two private guards sustained injuries in the attack. JuA claimed responsibility for the attack. According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists detonated at least five explosive devices before opening sporadic firing on the unarmed Christians.
An unidentified dead body was found on Mauripur Road near the Quaid-e-Azam Truck Stand in SITE Town of Karachi on September 2, reports The News.
A bullet-riddled dead body, identified as that of an alleged criminal Muhammad Aslam (35), was found near Coast Guard Road in Korangi Town on September 2, reports The News. Zaman Town Station House Officer (SHO) Raheem Khan said that the victim was a criminal.
An unidentified bullet-riddled dead body of a man was found in the Lyari River, within the Gadap City Police limits in Karachi on September 4, reports The News.
A gangster, affiliated with the Uzair Baloch gang, identified as Shamo (25) was shot dead by unknown armed assailants in Marwari area of Lyari Town on September 4, reports Dawn. Superintendent of Police (SP) Lyari Aftab Nizamani said Shamo was involved in extortion.
Two labourers, identified as Javed Ali and Muhammad Asif, were shot dead by unidentified armed assailants while they were sleeping in their camps at Maraw Chowk in Mastung District on September 5, reports Daily Times.
Separately, two Policemen, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Abdullah and his constable son, were killed when unidentified militants opened fire at them on Masjid Road in Mastung District on September 5, reports Dawn.
In another incident, unidentified militants opened fire at a levies official in Kandao area of Mastung District, killing him on the spot on September 5, reports Dawn. No outfit claimed responsibility for the killings.
Two bullet-riddled dead bodies of ethnic Baloch were the recovered from storm-water drain on Mauripur Road in Saddar Town of Karachi on September 6, reports The News. The toll of dead bodies from the same spot has reached seven in the last one and a half month. The Baloch, victims were found with their limbs tied with a rope and appeared to be between 30-35 years of age.
Unidentified armed assailants shot dead the son of a renowned leader, Malik Zebur Rehman, in Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber Agency on September 8, reports The Express Tribune. Four Khasadar officials were also injured in the attack. The security officials arrested four suspects from the area after the incident.
A trader, belonging to the Bohra community, identified as Hakim Feroz, was shot dead while another was injured when unidentified militants opened fire at them in a targeted sectarian attack in North Nazimabad Town of Karachi on September 9, reports Dawn.
A senior member of the polio eradication campaign, identified as Doctor Zakaullah Khan, was shot dead in a targeted attack in provincial capital Peshawar on September 11, reports Dawn. Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a breakaway faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to carry out more attacks.
An unidentified dead body of a young Baloch man was found near the Mauripur Truck Stand area in SITE Town of Karachi on September 16, reports The News. This is the eighth dead body since the start of August this year.
A Police officer was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at a bus stop in Quetta on September 23, reports Daily Times. According to Police sources, the victim identified as Sub-Inspector Muhammad Zafar Wazeer, was on his way to work, when two armed assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled from the scene.
Miscellaneous
Five unidentified dead bodies were recovered from Chattar area of Naseerabad District on August 24 and were handed over to the family on August 26, reports Daily Times. The bodies were identified as that of Noroz, Mir Hassan, Tariq, Haleem and Kareem Bakhsh.
Separately, one Frontier Corps (FC) officer and one militant were killed while three FC personnel were during an exchange of fire in Sariab Road area of on August 26, reports Dawn. Frontier Corps (FC) Spokesman Khan Wasey stated that security personnel were on routine patrolling close to a railway track when they were attacked by “miscreants”. “One security personnel was killed in the attack,” the spokesperson informed, adding that one “miscreant” was killed as a result of timely retaliation.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed four suspected terrorists in a shootout in Manawan area of Lahore, the capital city Punjab, reports The News on August 28. The suspects opened fire on CTD officials as they raided a hideout. Four suspects were killed and three others managed to flee in the ensuing shootout. Laptops, prohibited literature and large cache of explosives were also recovered during the raid. The dead were identified as Zubair, Abdul Wahab, Adnan and Atiqur Rehman.
Police Constable Wajid Khan sustained injuries when an unidentified armed assailant opened fire at a patrolling Police van in cantonment area of Kohat District on August 31, reports The News. Separately, the Police on August 31 arrested a suspected militant, identified as Abdul Samad, and seized two bombs placed under a bridge in Charsadda District, reports The News.
The paramilitary force seized a huge cache of weapons during raids in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town and Landhi Town of Karachi on September 2, reports The News. According to Sindh Rangers, paramilitary soldiers conducted an intelligence-based raid on a godown in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and found weapons, including 8mm rifle, Kalashnikovs and sniper rifle’s bullets. Later, the law enforcers recovered weapons, including one light machinegun, five sub-machineguns, a repeater rifle and hundreds of bullets, from Landhi No-4.
A woman was killed when unidentified militants hurled hand grenade and opened fire at the house of a pro-government tribal elder Malik Nasir Khan in Shah Alam Sali area of Michni in Lower Mohmand Agency on September 8, reports The Express Tribune. An official of political administration said that the house had also been attacked in the past but the occupants escaped unhurt.
Separately, a suspected facilitator, who is believed to have spearheaded an attack on tribal elders in Ambar, was arrested by political administration in Mohmand Agency on September 8, reports The Express Tribune.
At least nine suspected terrorists were killed in air strikes in Kukikhel area of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on September 9, reports Dawn. Military officials said two hideouts were also destroyed in the airstrikes.
Three terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with Police in Killi Qambrani, within jurisdiction of Kechi Baig Police Station in Quetta on September 9, reports Daily Times.
A large quantity of weapons was seized by the Sindh Rangers during an intelligence-driven raid at a hideout in Lyari Town in Karachi on September 9, reports The News. As per the details, the weapons include are a Light Machine Gun, six Submachine Guns, three 303 rifles, three 7mm rifles, two 44 Bore rifles, five 12 Bore Pump Action and nine 30 bore pistols.
At least eight suspected militants and a Security Forces (SF) official were killed during an ongoing combing operation in the mountainous tribal area of Rajanpur District along the border between Punjab and Balochistan on September 10, reports The Dawn. According to military sources, the SFs were carrying out the combing operation in the Gayandari area on the Provincial border. Several ‘feraris’ (fugitives) were arrested and arms and ammunition were also recovered from them, it said.
Two suspects were shot dead by Police in during an encounter in Phuleli and SITE areas of Hyderabad District in Sindh on September 11, reports The News. A Station House Officer (SHO) was injured in the alleged encounter between the police and suspects.
Separately, a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist, identified as Wahid alias Saddar Bush, was killed in Police shootout in Ittehad Town of Baldia Town in Karachi on September 11, reports The News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) West Pir Mohammad Shah said that the Manghopir Police along with Mahee Garri check post in-charge Malik Sarfaraz Awan were checking vehicles on Northern Bypass when they were signaled two men on motorcycle to stop. However, the two lobbed a grenade on the Police van injuring Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Awan. Following this, the Police chased the fleeing terrorists and in a shootout killed one of them while the other escaped.
Further, Police on September 10 claimed to foil a terrorism bid in Karachi ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and apprehended three suspects from Madina Colony in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city, reports Dunya News. The arrested persons have been affiliated with TTP and were planning to carry out a terrorist attack ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
A suspected militant was killed and another injured in a three-hour long encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) during a search operation in Dringen Nullah area of Sui tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Bugti District on September 16, reports The Express Tribune. Two SFs were also injured in the shootout. The FC spokesperson said that the militants involved in the encounter belonged to Baloch Republican Army (BRA). He said that a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and 400 kilograms of explosives, an Improvised-Explosive Device, 40-metre-long fuse cord and 300 meter detonating cord were seized from the hideout, which was later demolished.
Separately, the Frontier Corps personnel arrested a local leader of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) from Sheikhri area of Kalat District on September 16, reports The Express Tribune. The FC spokespersons said that two other militants were arrested from the Sami area of Turbat District, while five others were taken into custody from Buleda area of the same District.
Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four terrorists affiliated Daesh (also known as Islamic State/IS) terror network in Lahore on September 16, reports The News. According to official details, the arrested militants were planning to target government buildings and sensitive installations in Lahore. Explosives were also seized from their possession. The suspects were identified as Syed Abdul Alam, Hafeezur Rehman, Nisar Ahmed and Tasawur Ameen.
Security Forces on September 20 arrested five alleged facilitators of militants, including three women, and three militants of Afghan origin in two different operations in Tangi and Shabqadar tehsil (revenue unit) of Charsadda District, reports The Express Tribune. A police official at the Mandani police station confirmed the arrest of three suspected militants, identified as Imdad Ullah, Hashim Khan and Muhammad Nabi, in Mandani area of Tangi tehsil. Moreover, five alleged facilitators of militants were arrested in a raid on a house in Sro Kali area of Shabqadar tehsil.
Police on September 23 thwarted a major terror bid by neutralizing three Kilogrammes bomb at Bacha Khan square in Peshawar, reports The News. According to Police, one suspected militant was arrested while planting a three Kilogrammes bomb at Bacha Khan square. Police called Bomb Disposal Squad who defused the bomb.
PAKISTAN
August 22 attacks in Karachi were preplanned: DG Rangers
Director General Sindh Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said on Monday, Aug 29 that the August 22 violence in Karachi’s security Red Zone was a planned conspiracy. The DG Rangers was speaking to journalists after visiting the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and meeting the victims of arson attacks. During their investigations, he said, they learnt that the August 22 attacks were a preplanned activity, which was committed by unit and sector activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Major General Akbar said the six key suspects the Rangers had arrested had told them the names of other MQM activists who brought sticks, those who brought weapons and those who shot dead a citizen and injured other people that day. He said raids were being conducted to arrest the suspects that were on the run. He said that it was midday when office-bearers of the MQM’s Labour Division assembled unit and sector activists to carry out attacks on media houses. At two banks situated between the Karachi Press Club and a media house near the Fawara Chowk, the Labour Division members acted as facilitators in the attacks, he added.
He said that after the Labour Division officials were instructed by their Central Committee or by unidentified members to facilitate their men, they sheltered the miscreants inside a bank and also provided lunch to them.
Those sheltered men who were hiding nearby after the provocative speech by the MQM founder attacked a media house and also created a law and order situation in which a person was shot dead and several others were injured, he said.
The DG Rangers stated that among the six arrested suspects was one Jawed, who belonged to the MQM Labour Division and was a facilitator. One suspect on the run, Buland Khan, was identified by the suspects in custody, he said. All the six accused were handed over to the police for further legal proceedings. Raids are being conducted for the arrest of the remaining accused.
MQM completely dissociates itself from Altaf
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) head, Dr. Farooq Sattar, on Saturday, Aug 27 called an end to what he termed an undeclared ban on his party. He stated the MQM was no longer associated with the party chief and demanded that the party’s political isolation should come to an end. Farooq Sattar claimed that the MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero, had been sealed illegally and unconstitutionally and that there was no point of this action after the party’s disassociation from Altaf Hussain.
“When we say that we have disconnected with London, it means that we are no more in contact with them. Stop doing speculation,” Sattar said, while addressing a press conference in Karachi. Stop doubting our intention. If somebody is not clear, he should consult some Urdu linguist for an explanation of what we have said.”
Sattar went on to say that the MQM was only asking for political ownership, which is their due legal and political right. “Stop our victimisation through the media. Stop pressurising us through these so-called analysts. We won’t take any dictation either from here or there. You cannot seal the headquarters of a political party only because of the controversial statements issued by an individual who has already dissociated from the party,” warned Sattar.
The MQM leader said that more than 20 party offices had been demolished so far despite the fact that many of them were legal and the properties were donated by MQM’s well-wishers. “Even if these offices were illegal, why these offices were not demolished earlier.”
“I hereby inform the federal and provincial governments that our offices and members have nothing to do with the statements of Altaf Hussain. Stop pushing us towards negative approach. We showed positivity and expect the same from the government.” If there are any criminals in the MQM, go ahead, arrest them but the MQM and terrorism are two different entities, he claimed.
Dr. Farooq Sattar said following the August 22 events, the MQM took an unprecedented step of the party’s history. “We felt our responsibility without any consultation and came to the conclusion that the time had come to draw a line,” he said. The politician said that the MQM Pakistan had no connection with Altaf Hussain and the London chapter of the party now. “We have parted ways with Altaf Hussain and the London Secretariat,” he said. “We have fully disowned and denounced the August 22 speech,” he claimed, adding that no MQM representative would attend any talk show if the process of victimisation did not stop.
‘Four militants behind 2009 attack on Sri Lankan team killed in shootout’
Pakistani officials on Sunday, Aug 28 said four extremists, allegedly involved in a 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team, have been killed in a shootout with police.
The officials did not identify the militants or their armed group. The attack on the cricket team had left killed six police and two bystanders and wounded six cricket players. The Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an affiliated extremist group had claimed the attack, which was carried out by 10 gunmen.
A counter-terrorism official says the shootout erupted late on Saturday on the edge of Lahore, when other gunmen tried to break the militants out of police custody. Another senior official confirmed the account. Both spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.
Second, third tier Baloch militants surrendered or killed
The Balochistan government has claimed to have either eliminated or coerced into surrender the second and third tier leadership of rebel organisations and is now focusing on disassociating their exiled top leaders from the outfit cadres on the ground.
Official claims come at a time when there is an increase in violence across the province in recent months after two years of a fragile calm.
Over 600 rebels were killed in 1234 combing operations jointly conducted by the law-enforcement agencies in last 13 months, reveal official figures accessed by Geo News (ASKKS Programme). Over 15 key commanders of banned outfits were also killed in recent operations started by the Frontier Corps, Levies and counter-terrorism forces with the help of information collected through the Intelligence Fusion Cell (IFC) in the province. Over 1025 separatists have also surrendered under the government’s efforts to bring Baloch dissidents into the national mainstream by engaging all stakeholders to execute peace programmes announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last year.
“Our policy offering them a carrot and using a stick is bearing fruits now,” said Balochistan government spokesperson Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar. It’s a positive and productive development — the policy of reconciliation to bring rebels into national mainstream will be continued, Kakar told Geo News.
100 Afghan students arrested from seminary in Balochistan
Security Forces (SFs) on August 28 sealed a seminary in Eastern Bypass area Quetta and took 100 Afghan students into custody, reports Dawn. The arrested students were studying in seminary without any valid documents. “A search operation was conducted inside the seminary and the Afghan students were arrested under Foreigners Act,” said a security official. SFs also recovered suspicious literature and other material from the seminary.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Government on August 28 claimed to have either eliminated or coerced into surrender the second and third tier leadership of rebel organisations and is now focusing on disassociating their exiled top leaders from the outfit cadres on the ground, reports The News. According to the official figures, over 600 rebels were killed in 1, 234 combing operations jointly conducted by the law-enforcement agencies in last 13 months. At least 15 key commanders of banned outfits were also killed.
654 MQM-linked target killers arrested since 2013, reveals Rangers Director General Bilal Akbar
Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar during a meeting of the Sindh Apex Committee headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on August 31, informed the participants that 848 target killers involved in 7,224 cases have been arrested since September 4, 2013, out of which 654 suspects are affiliated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), reports Daily Times. The MQM suspects have confessed to being involved in 5,863 incidents of target killings.
5 suicide bombers and one civilian killed during operation in Peshawar
At least one civilian and four suicide bombers were killed after terrorists attacked Christian Colony of Peshawar in the morning of September 2 and exchanged fire with Security Forces (SFs), reports Dawn. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa confirmed “all four suicide bombers were killed” and a clearance operation is underway. Firing reportedly began around 6am, when terrorists attacked the colony. The gunmen were wearing suicide jackets, the sources said. Two of the attackers detonated their suicide jackets, and two others were killed by SFs.
Separately, one five kilogram improvised explosive device (IED) along with two hand-grenades was recovered and defused near the Karkhano Market of Peshawar on September 1, reports The News.
IS footprints eliminated from Pakistan, says Army
The Pakistan Army said on September 1 that the footprints of the militant Islamic State (IS) group had been eliminated from Pakistan, reports Dawn. “They tried to [sneak] into Pakistan but failed and [were] apprehended,” Inter-Services Public Relations Director General (ISPR) Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa told reporters during a briefing. In all, 309 people had been apprehended thus far, including 25 Afghans and other foreign nationals and 157 “freelancers” and fighters from smaller groups. He said that major terrorist attacks planned by IS acolytes on targets including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign embassies, consulates and their staff, Islamabad airport, prominent public figures, media persons and law enforcement personnel, had been averted.
“A proactive approach and the efforts of law enforcement agencies have forestalled the threat of Daesh for the time being and the network has been busted. But the threat is not over yet, as their presence in neighbouring Afghanistan is still [something] we are worried about,” he remarked, referring to the IS by its more popular Arabic acronym. Lieutenant General Bajwa said Daesh was still operating in some parts of eastern Afghanistan and could still try to make ingress into Pakistan.
Terror attack foiled in Karachi
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Investigation wing claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack on the eve of Eidul Azha by arresting five sectarian terrorists Karachi on September 5, reports The Express Tribune. The five militants were identified as Syed Amir Hussain Rizvi alias Babar, Zianul Abideen alias Sunny, Faizyab Ali alias Sheraz, Syed Mohsin Hussain alias Talha alias Pagal and Syed Abbas alias Ashar alias Hamza. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Arif Hanif said that the arrested militants were involved in sectarian violence in the city. “Besides, they had been involved in various cases of sectarian violence and had completed their homework to carry out targeted killings of religious scholars, leaders and doctors belonging to the rival sect,” Hanif claimed, adding, “They had planned to attack their newly selected targets on the eve of Eidul Azha.”
At least 13 persons injured as Police foil suicide blasts targeting Eid prayers in Sindh
At least 13 persons, including five Policemen, were injured as Police foiled two separate suicide blasts during Eid prayers in Khanpur tehsil (revenue unit) of Shikarpur District in Sindh on September 12, reports Dawn. Police sources said four suicide attackers infiltrated Khanpur during Eid prayers. Two of the attackers targeted an Eid prayer ground where one assailant blew himself up, injuring 10 people, two of whom were Policemen. The other attacker fled, Police sources said. Two other attackers targeted an Imambargah but were stopped by Police at the entrance on account of appearing suspicious. One of the attackers blew himself up after he was stopped by guards for a search, whereas the other was arrested, Police added.
402 combing operations conducted during last three days in Punjab
The Punjab Police carried out 402 combing operations during the last three days all over the province and arrested 443 suspects, besides 76 proclaimed offenders, reports Dawn. Most of the arrests were made in Faisalabad, Kasur, Lahore, Chinot, Bhakar, Nankana Sahib and Hafizabad. A Senior Police Officer privy to the information said that the combing operations had been launched in all the Districts of the province on the basis of the information from the Police sources about the presence of suspects and criminals. He said the operations were enhanced in the wake of Eidul Azha. “The Punjab Police checked 13,230 people in 402 combing operations during last three days and arrested 443 suspects”, the Police official said adding that the raiding teams also managed to arrest 76 proclaimed offenders wanted in many heinous crimes. During raids, the Police also recovered 139 illegal weapons from the custody of the arrested criminals, he said. Of the total, he said, Faisalabad police arrested 98 suspects and three POs in 46 combing operations carried out in various parts of the District.
Similarly, Lahore Police conducted 26 combing operations and arrested 31 suspects, Nankana Sahib Police arrested 17 suspects in nine operations, Kasur 75 suspects in 33 operations, Chiniot Police arrested 35 suspects and a PO in five operations, Bhakar Police arrested 28 suspects and four POs in 27 operations, Hafizabad Police 17 suspects and six POs in 32 operations and Sialkot arrested 10 suspects in 14 combing operations. The official further shared that the Mianwali Police conducted six combing operations, Attock four, Mianwali six, Sialkot 14, Mandi Bahauddin 17, Gujranwala eight, Sahiwal, five, Multan, six, Jhang five, Pakpatan seven, and Rajanpur Police carried out three combing operations, making arrest of many suspects and criminals.
REGIONAL
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Police found political instigation behind Gulshan and Sholakia militant attacks, says Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan
The Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on August 26 said that Police found political instigation behind Gulshan and Sholakia militant attacks, reports New Age. He Said “Those arrested in connection with the attacks had involvement with Jamaat politics. Later they joined different militant groups. The killers of 1971, who had killed Bangabandhu in 1975, are now hatching conspiracy against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Our government is facing all conspiracies strongly. The masterminds behind the attacks will be brought to book soon. Militancy would be uprooted from the country through the united efforts of country’s people.”
Three militants including mastermind of Gulshan attack killed in Narayanganj District
Three militants including Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of Gulshan attack and his two close aides were killed in a Police raid in Paikpara area under Narayanganj District on August 27, reports The Daily Star. The identities of the two other militants could not be known. Police recovered an AK-22 rifle, one pistol, several magazines and four live grenades from the area.
JMB ‘military commander’ and another key operative killed in gunfight with Police in Bogra District
A ‘military commander’ and another key operative of Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh were killed in a gunfight with Police in Bogra District on August 29, reports The Daily Star. The deceased militants were identified as Khaled Hasan alias Badar Mama (30), a military commander of the northern region of JMB and Ripon alias Golam Tareque alias Abu Ibrahim (29). Two constables Babul Akhtar and Abdul Mottalleb suffered injuries in the incident. A foreign-made pistol, four bullets, two homemade bombs, bomb-making materials and a knife were also recovered from the spot.
Neo JMB military commander killed in Dhaka city
The ‘military commander’ of “Neo JMB”, who gave arms training to the Holey Artisan and Sholakia attackers, was killed during a raid in Dhaka city’s Mirpur area on September 2, reports The Daily Star. Before being shot dead, Murad alias Jahangir Alam alias Omar, called by militants ‘Major Shaheb’, attacked the Policemen trying to capture him and injured three of them. Police recovered a pistol from the spot.
Four female JMB ‘suicide squad’ members arrested in Sirajganj District
Detectives in a drive arrested four female members of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)’s ‘suicide squad’ at Boroitola village in Sirajganj District on September 5, reports The Independent. The arrestees were identified as Fulera Khatun (45), Sakila Khatun (18), Salma Khatun (16) and Rajia (35). Police recovered huge Jihadi books and computers from them.
ISB planned to wage jihad in Bangladesh from northern District of Panchagarh, reveals Singapore court document
A Singapore court document reveals that Islamic State of Bangladesh (ISB), founded in Singapore in March, planned to wage jihad in Bangladesh from the northern District of Panchagarh, reports The Daily Star on September 7. The document was revealed when produced to Singapore court during trial of radical group’s jailed chief Rahman Mizanur. Its members discussed a timeline for attacks in Bangladesh and a list of targets including Police personnel and people from Hindu, Christian and Buddhist communities. The ultimate goal of the group was to overthrow the Government and establish an Islamic State (IS)-sponsored caliphate in Bangladesh, said the document.
ABT militant arrested in Cox Bazar
A militant of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) was arrested from his Moulvibazar residence in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar District on September 9 for plotting to carry out subversive activities ahead of the Eid-ul Azha, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee is identified as M Ali (40).
India – Internal Dynamics
Maoists kill police informer in Chhattisgarh
Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres killed Sanjeet Kumar Rathod alias Thakur Nabbe (24) from Chintalnar village in Sukma District on August 26, citing him as a ‘Police informer’, reports The Hindu. The Maoists were looking for Thakur Assi and Thakur Nabbe. They found Nabbe in a vehicle. He was abducted and killed. “We have been warning Nabbe for long, but he continued to provide our party’s information to the police,” said a statement from the Jagargunda area committee of the CPI-Maoist. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) S.R.P. Kalluri said Nabbe was a “Maoist supporter as per police records.” Police sources from Bastar said Nabbe was working for “both sides.”
IS running terror class in India: report
A radicalised Kerala schoolteacher, Yasmin Ahamd (29) who was arrested at Delhi airport on August 2 before she could board a flight to Kabul has revealed that Islamic State (IS) is now running “terror classes” in the country, Mumbai Mirror reports on August 30. 40 young men and women have already been indoctrinated there by fugitive IS recruiter Abdul Rashid, who persuaded Mumbai graduate Ashfaq Abdul Majid to join the group, which controls swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. Ashfaq is believed to have left India on June 2, 2016. The information provided by Yasmin, has deepened counter-terror agencies’ worries as it confirms the growing perception that IS has overtaken extremist outfits as the biggest threat to national security.
Suspected JJMP cadres kill dhaba owner in Jharkhand
One 47-year-old dhaba owner, Umesh Sahu, was killed by suspected Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) cadres at Bishunpur in Gumla District on August 31, triggering a massive roadblock by villagers for over five hours, who demanded better Policing, reports The Telegraph. The blockade was removed after Superintendent of Police (SP) Chandan Jha pacified protesters. JJMP is a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).
Two JMB leaders are in India: Bangladesh
Bangladesh suspects two top leaders of a reorganized Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) took secret refuge in neighbouring India to mobilise weaponry and financial support for the banned outfit to carry out the July 1 terrorist attack on a Dhaka cafe, according to reports on August 31, reports The Assam Tribune. One of the two JMB leaders, Shariful Islam Khaled, is also blamed for hacking to death his liberal university professor, who was on the way to work, in April, 2016. Mamunur Rashid Ripon alias Jahangir and Khaled left for India in April, days after the murder of the Rajshahi University professor, the report said. “(Mamunur Rashid) Ripon and Khaled went to the neighbouring country in April and they have been hiding there since then,” it quoted the Police’s counter-terrorism and transnational crimes (CTTC) unit chief, Monirul Islam, as saying. He said Bangladesh has already informed India about the militants’ possible stay in Kolkata in West Bengal.
Six Assam Rifles personnel killed in an ambush in Nagaland, claims NSCN-K
The Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) on September 3 claimed that six personnel of the 5 Assam Rifles (AR) were killed while four others sustained critical injuries, in the September 2 ambush near Aghunato town in Zunheboto District, reports Morung Express. According to a press release from the ‘Ministry of Information & Publicity (MIP)’, NSCN-K, cadres of the Naga Army, NSCN/GPRN under “Operation Dawn” carried out the ambush at around 4:00 pm while the 5 AR were returning to Zunheboto in a convoy of four vehicles. “It is confirmed that six jawans were killed on the spot and four sustained critical injuries and more than dozen sustained less critical injuries,” the MIP claimed and further added that the number of deaths could be as high as 8 to 10. The last truck was completely destroyed after falling into a roadside ditch, while two other trucks were also partially damaged having been fired upon from close quarters, the MIP stated. “The ambush spot was immediately cordoned off and no police or administrative officials were allowed to enter until the dead soldiers were transported away,” the MIP further claimed.
However, AR sources earlier denied any such fatalities. Army sources said four AR jawans were only injured and were rushed to nearby hospital for medical aid.
Two TPC cadres killed in rival war in Jharkhand
Two Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) cadres were killed in a rival war in Palamau District on September 6, reports New Indian Express. The Police recovered two bodies of the TPC cadres from Bhelwahi village of the District. According to a Police official, both TPC cadres were gunned down by a rival group. TPC is a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist.
‘Indian rebels cultivating opium in Myanmar’, says arrested NSCN-K militant
A self-styled ‘captain’ of Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), who was arrested by the Assam Police on September 6, revealed how most of the Indian militant outfits based in Myanmar, barring the Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA—I), have taken to opium cultivation as a source of income in one of Asia’s biggest opium producing areas known as the Golden Triangle, spread over Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, reports The Times of India on September 7. Tobatobite Sumi alias Boni Mech, an Assamese Mech Kachari origin member of the NSCN-K, had come down from the Myanmar base last March. He told interrogators he was in the city for treatment. Giving several facts about the Myanmar base of the NSCN-K, which by virtue of being a Myanmarese rebel group in ceasefire with its Government, has ‘rented’ out parts of the area under its control in Saigang to the Indian outfits. If the rebel group is engaged in either gun running or opium cultivation, they have to pay 15% of their income to the Khaplang group.
One person arrested with huge cache of arms in Bihar
Police seized huge cache of arms and ammunition, including twelve magazines of AK-47 rifle, and arrested one person near Kurkuri Bridge under Beur Police Station in Patna District on September 11, reports The Times of India. The arrested person has been identified as Sanjay Kumar Rai, a resident of Beur. Police said the cache, which also included 2014 pieces of 7.62mm bullets and 3200 bullets of 8mm bore, was probably meant for supply either to Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) or criminals. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rakesh Kumar said Sanjay was carrying the ammunition in a shoulder bag and the bullets were packed in small packets. “He told us that the consignment was being brought to Patna from Gaya. It is not immediately known the consignment was meant for whom. Cartridges of AK-47 are usually not sold in the open market. It means that the consignment was meant either for Maoists or criminals,” Kumar said, adding that Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF) officials would also interrogate the arrested arms smuggler.
22 persons from Kerala have already joined IS, reveals IS recruit Yasmin Zaid
Yasmin Zaid, the radicalised schoolteacher from Kerala who was arrested at Delhi airport last month before she could board a flight to Kabul (Afghanistan) in her attempt to join Islamic State (IS), has told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that at least 22 people from Kerala had left India between May and July this year to join the terror outfit, Mumbai Mirror reports on September 13. Yasmin told the interrogators that among the 22 people, six were women and three infants, and all of them exited India in batches, from Bangalore (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Mumbai (Maharashtra). She also provided information on fugitive IS recruiter Abdul Rashid, saying she had in fact married him on May 3 during a nikah conducted over the phone.
The NIA sources said that Yasmin told the interrogators that Rashid and his first wife Ayisha were in touch with a couple from the UK, who were actively championing IS on the internet. Yasmin has already told the NIA that IS was running “terror classes” in India, and that 40 people had already been indoctrinated by Rashid, who also persuaded Mumbai graduate Ashfaq Abdul Majid to join the group. “Yasmin revealed that Rashid is a vital cog in Daesh’s India operations. In fact, he provided her with Rs 1.5 lakh to facilitate her travel to Afghanistan,” an NIA source said.
Govt bars Zakir Naik’s NGO from receiving foreign funds
The Government on September 12 issued a gazette notification to ban an NGO, run by preacher Zakir Naik, from receiving foreign funds directly and asked Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to seek prior permission from it before releasing any money to it, reports India Today. The gazette notification, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), said that Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) has violated certain provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) and therefore “would obtain prior permission from central government before accepting any foreign contribution”. The UMHA said the decision has been taken after a preliminary inquiry conducted by it found that the NGO was carrying out activities contrary to the provisions of the FCRA under which it has to function. The Reserve Bank of India, henceforth, has to inform the Home Ministry about all funds coming to the NGO and permission has to be taken from the ministry before releasing them to IRF.
Explosives recovered in Meghalaya
Shillong Police recovered a huge cache of explosives hidden in a suitcase and a school bag from Umsohlang in Upper Shillong in East Khasi Hills District on September 13, reports The Shillong Times. Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem said that some boys who had gone to the stream at Umsohlang for fishing saw the suitcase and informed the village headman who contacted the Jhalupara Beat House. A Police team from Jhalupara went to the spot and took possession of the suitcase and the school bag. 85 gelatin sticks, 90 electronic detonators, one shotgun, seven live cartridges, 135 LEDS pellets and water bottles, among other things were recovered.
Maoists float new front organisations in Andhra Pradesh
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have floated six new front organisations in Andhra Pradesh to infiltrate mass agitations like the one for capital area farmers’ rights and Bhogapuram land losers issues, according to State and Central Intelligence agencies, reports Deccan Chronicle on September 16. As guerrilla squads have weakened and their capability to carry out attacks has been almost neutralised by the Police, the extremists are focusing on front organisations. Fronts which were defunct or had become inactive have been activated. A top official of anti-Maoist intelligence said, “We have information that Maoists have floated six new front organisations on Amaravati farmers’ rights issues in land acquisition and land pooling areas. Apart from that they have also used the death of Rohith Vemula at the Hyderabad Central University to strengthen themselves under the pretext of fighting caste oppression.” “Intelligence has found that top Maoist leaders are in touch with the frontal groups. Their recruitments have come down. So they are trying to focus on universities and colleges particularly in Nellore and Ongole by raking up the issue of Rohith Vemula. At the 2015 plenary the CC decided to focus on strengthening mass agitations and have started giving more funds to front organisations.” Earlier, most of these groups were Hyderabad centric. Now they have shifted attention to AP.
DRG jawan killed
A District Reserve Group (DRG) jawan was killed and two others were injured in an encounter with Communist Party of India-Maoist in the interior forests of Kondagaon District on September 21, reports The Times of India. The encounter took place while a joint team of DRG and District Force was carrying out an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] operation in the forests of Mardapal Police Station area, Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Bastar Range), SRP Kalluri said. Security Forces (SFs) had been conducting the operation since yesterday (September 21) based on specific inputs about the movement of ultras in restive Ranapal and Kudur area of Mardapal, located around 350 kilometres from State capital Raipur. While they were cordoning off a forest pocket close to Kudur village, a group of armed rebels opened indiscriminate fire on them, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire, he said. According to the IGP, the Naxals are unhappy with the construction of a bridge on a river near Kudur that connects Kondagaon to Abhujmarh region (considered a Maoist bastion) and therefore they often target SFs in this area.
Meanwhile, a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan, who was critically injured in an encounter with the Maoists in Sukma District last week, succumbs to his injuries in Raipur on September 21, reports PTI.
Two SF personnel injured in blast triggered by Maoists in Chhattisgarh
Two Security Force (SF) personnel were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District on September 22, reports The Times of India. The incident took place when a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and District Forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation in Madded Police Station area, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bijapur, Mohit Garg said. The composite squad had launched the operation from Madded, around 450 kilometres from Raipur. When they reached near Gorna rivulet, the rebels detonated an IED and opened indiscriminate fire on the SFs leading to a gun-battle, he said. However, rebels soon fled the spot on finding SF personnel zeroing on them, Garg said, adding, “Two jawans sustained injuries in the explosion and were airlifted to Raipur for treatment.” Those injured were assistant constable Sadanandam Dhannur and secret trooper Abhaiyya Jabba. SFs have launched a combing operation in the region to arrest the attackers, he said.
Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during period Aug 26, 2016 to Sept 25, 2016:
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Assam | 06 | 00 | 03 | 09 |
| Manipur | 02 | 00 | 02 | 04 |
| Meghalaya | 04 | 00 | 00 | 04 |
| Left wing | 09 | 04 | 05 | 18 |
| Total | 21 | 04 | 10 | 35 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
Human Rights Organizations urge Parliament to remove statute of limitations to book perpetrators of torture during armed conflict era
Human Rights organizations urged the Parliament to remove the statute of limitations to book the perpetrators of torture during the armed conflict era, reports Republica on September 8. Human rights organizations like Accountability Watch Committee, Justice and Rights Institute-Nepal (JuRI-Nepal) and Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) appealed to lawmakers that the statute of limitations should not come into effect in the crimes defined by the international humanitarian law. “As Nepal is a party to international law for a long time, the bill should remove the statute of limitations so that it can be effective for war-era crimes. The trial of Nepal Army Colonel Kumar Lama in Britain has shown that torture is a crime under universal jurisdiction. To avoid such situation in future, the bill should not have statute of limitations,” said Advocate Raju Chapagain of JuRI-Nepal.
Madhesi leaders threaten to withdraw support for PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Madhes-based parties have expressed dissatisfaction with Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal over the delay in moving forward with the amendment of the Constitution while some of their leaders even threatened to withdraw their support from the Government, reports Republica on September 15. During a meeting with the PM on September 14, leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and the Federal Alliance (FA) expressed dissatisfaction over the PM not organizing even a single meeting to formally discuss the matter of constitutional amendment. “I told the PM clearly that we had voted for him in the prime ministerial election as he had agreed to address the demands of the Madhes movement and amend the Constitution. However, he is yet to hold a single meeting with the UDMF regarding this issue. Therefore, I told him that we cannot continue our support to the government if he keeps on delaying in this regard,” said Anil Jha, chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP).
Two pressure cooker bombs went off at two schools in Kathmandu
Two pressure cooker bombs went off at two schools in Jorpati of Kathmandu on September 20, reports The Himalayan Times. The explosions took place at Akashdeep School and Manakamana School. No human casualties have been reported in the explosions. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also found planted in Kanchanjunga School in Dallu, Rai School and East Pole School in Jorpati, Kantipur Boarding School in Chappal Karkhana and Radiant School in Lalitpur.
Meanwhile, Police on September 20 arrested two cadres of Maoist Communist Central of Nepal (MCCN) for alleged involvement in planting and detonating the bombs at the private schools in Kathmandu, reports Republica. The two arrested have been identified as Shankar Lakhe (31) and Chandra Bahadur Tamang (24). Both are central committee members of the outfit.
Separately, Min Bahadur Devkota, co-coordinator of the MCCN, on September 20 claimed that it planted and exploded bombs in several private schools in Kathmandu, reports The Himalayan Times. He said that they carried out the incidents after the talks with Private and Boarding School’s Organisation, Nepal (PABSON) and National Private and Boarding Schools Association Nepal (NPABSON), organisation of private school operators, failed. He further warned of closing all schools if the MCCN’s demands were not met by PABSON and NPABSON.
Sri Lanka – Internal DynamicsEx-LTTE cadre escapes from prison
An ex-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre who was undergoing treatment at the Jaffna Prison Hospital while being remanded at the Jaffna Prison has escaped from hospital on August 24, reports Daily Mirror. The accused is identified as Rasaiya Anandarasa.
Meanwhile, officials on August 26 said that the Government has decided to grant bank loans at concessionary rates to ex-LTTE cadres for self-employment purposes, reports Daily Mirror. The parliamentary oversight committee of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Ministry has discussed this matter and decided to proceed with the granting of loans at low interest rates to the ex-combatants reintegrated into society after rehabilitation. About 12,000 LTTE combatants surrendered to the military during the final stages of the war and underwent rehabilitation which included the provision of vocational training skills.
Sri Lankan Human Rights Orgnaizations organizes peace walk to build reconciliation among the divided ethnic communities
Sri Lanka Human Rights Organization on August 25 organized a peace walk from the North to the deep South of the island with the aim to build reconciliation among the divided ethnic communities of Sri Lankans, reports Colombo Page. Secretary of the organization Jayantha Kalubovila said “We began this journey to build reconciliation among communities at a time the people of Sri Lanka are divided on ethnic lines.” The walk is due to arrive in Hambanthota after passing religious shrines of all faiths at Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Chilaw, Wennapuwa, Negombo, Moratuwa, Kalutara, Galle, and Matara, Kalubovila said. During the march, the organization will look into providing remedies to the injustices faced by the people in the North, Kalubovila said.
Meanwhile, a team of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians led by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on August 26 to discuss matters pertaining to the people in the North and East, reports Daily Mirror. During the meeting Sampanthan had drawn the attention of the Prime Minister towards unauthorized constructions and resettlement taking place in the North and East. “The TNA delegation also raised concerns over temples and statues being erected in the area. They pointed out that they were not against the resettlement of Sinhala people in the area, but that some elements were trying to instigate communal tension and unrest over resettlement,” the Opposition Leader’s Media Spokesman said.
UN chief asks SL to reduce military presence
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Sept 03 urged Sri Lanka to speed up returning land to war-battered minority Tamils and reduce the army’s presence in their areas to help reconciliation after decades of ethnic bloodshed. The UN Secretary-General said he welcomed some symbolic steps taken by the new government to ensure reconciliation, but there should be more momentum to ensure lasting peace, seven years after the 37-year civil war ended.
“I also urge you to speed up the return of Tamil land so that the remaining communities of displaced people can return home,” Ban said at a public lecture attended by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. In parallel, the size of the military force in the former war zones of North and East could be reduced, helping to build trust and reduce tensions.” Ban is due to wrap up his two-day visit later Friday after a visit to the Tamil heartland of Jaffna, where he will tour the village of Veeman Kamam, where war-displaced civilians were given their land back by the military earlier this year.
However, Tamil groups still maintain 32 camps for internally displaced persons in the peninsula.
Over 100,000 Tamils cannot access their homes in the region either because they have been completely destroyed during decades of fighting or the land is still occupied by the military.
“There is still much work to be done in order to redress the wrongs of the past and to restore the legitimacy and accountability of key institutions, particularly the judiciary and the security services,” Ban said.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Malaysia allegedly attacked by LTTE sympathisers
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Ansar was assaulted by a group of protestors allegedly linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after he refused to divulge the details of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a visit to Malaysia, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on September 4, reports India Today. The attack on High Commissioner Ibrahim Ansar at the was allegedly carried out by the LTTE sympathisers, who were protesting against the visit of Rajapaksa, under whose leadership the Lankan troops defeated the LTTE ending the nearly three decade-long civil war. Speaking from Kuala Lumpur, the opposition legislator Lohan Ratwatte told the local media that Ansar was seeing off the joint opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardana at the airport when he was attacked allegedly by the LTTE sympathisers. Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is coordinating with local law enforcement authorities to identify the perpetrators and assist with the investigation.
Confirming the report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack on a diplomat, adds Colombo Page. “The Government of Sri Lanka condemns this act of violence on one of Sri Lanka’s diplomats in the strongest terms,” the Ministry said in a statement. The High Commissioner is receiving medical attention in Kuala Lumpur. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka is seized of the seriousness of this incident and is taking all necessary action in this regard through diplomatic channels,” the Ministry said.
Several organisations stage demonstration in Killinotschchi District calling upon Government to free Tamil political prisoners
Several organizations and the parents and relatives of Tamil political prisoners staged a demonstration in the Killinochchi town of Killinotschchi District on September 5 calling upon the Government to free Tamil political prisoners, reports Daily News. The group said the Government must release the political prisoners in keeping with the pledge given to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to grant them a common amnesty on September 4. The protesters said the TNA should take the issue up with the Government again, because the pledge was issued by the Government to the TNA. Killinochchi District TNA parliamentarian S. Sridharan was also present at the demonstration.
Indian Coast Guard detain suspected LTTE militant
The Mandapam Station (Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) detained a Sri Lankan Tamil, suspected to be a militant of the now defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on September 13, reports Colombo Page. ICG personnel who were on routine patrolling spotted the 41-year-old suspect identified as A. Arul Jayarathinam alias Rajan, a resident of Mullaitivu District in Northern Province, when he was stranded in the third islet in the Gulf of Mannar on September 13, Police sources said. Preliminary enquiries revealed that the suspect had served in the terrorist organization and reached the islet clandestinely on September 12-night. He told the ICG officials that he fled from his native village fearing harassment by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The Coast Guard handed him over to the Marine police of the Coastal Security Group.
INTERNATIONAL
Turkey army, Kurd-backed forces clash in Syria
Kurdish-backed fighters clashed with the Turkish military in tanks on the Syrian side of the border on Saturday, Aug 27 a monitoring group and Kurdish sources said.
“Turkish tanks advanced today near Al-Amarneh in Aleppo province, south of the border, and clashes broke out between them and fighters backed by Kurdish forces,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
A source within northern Syria’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region confirmed the clashes between local fighters and Turkey’s army which has launched an incursion to expel jihadists from the border region. He said the local fighters were Arabs allied with the Kurds.
Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into Syria to bolster a military offensive against jihadists and Kurdish fighters.
The deployment resulted in Ankara-backed Syrian Arab rebels wresting the border town of Jarabulus from the Islamic State jihadist group within hours on Wednesday. Al-Amarneh is also on the border, eight kilometres south of Jarabulus.
Barrel bombs kill 15 civilians in Aleppo
At least 15 civilians were killed in a barrel bomb attack on a rebel-held district of Syria’s Aleppo city on Saturday, Aug 27 the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. The Britain-based group said regime aircraft had dropped two explosive-packed barrel bombs several minutes apart on the Maadi district of eastern Aleppo.
The strikes hit “near a tent where people were receiving condolences for those killed this week in the neighbouring district of Bab al-Nayrab,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. The Observatory said dozens more were injured in the two strikes and the death toll was expected to rise.
Saturday’s deadly strikes come after 15 people, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on Bab al-Nayrab on Thursday. The local Shabha Press news agency said 23 people were killed in Saturday’s attack, and published photos showing several of the dead, including a man who appeared to have been riding a motorbike at the time of the strike.
Syria’s regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs — crude, explosive devices — on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians. Other parties to the conflict are not known to have used the weapons.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Syria envoy urged warring parties to state by Sunday whether they will commit to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the embattled city of Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura has led global calls for the pause that the UN and aid groups like the Red Cross say is desperately needed by civilians trapped in the midst of brutal fighting between regime and opposition forces.
Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, has endorsed the plan.
Two Ukrainian soldiers killed in separatist east
Two Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in fresh clashes between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the country’s war-torn east, the military said on Sunday, Aug 28.
“Over the past 24 hours, as a result of fighting, we lost two of our servicemen while another four soldiers were wounded,” Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists. He did not specify the exact location where the soldiers had perished along the 30-kilometre-wide buffer zone separating the two sides’ forces.
Lysenko again accused insurgents of violating peace agreements by shelling government-held areas with heavy weaponry including mortars and cannons.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated this month after the Kremlin accused Kiev of plotting armed incursions into Russian-annexed Crimea.
Kiev said last week that pro-Russian insurgents had killed three of its soldiers in the worst violence seen in the separatist east for a year.
Militants kill three Tunisian soldiers in ambush near Algerian border
Islamist militants killed three Tunisian soldiers and wounded seven others on Monday, Aug 29 opening fire on them with rifles and rocket propelled grenades after their patrol hit anti-tank landmines, an army spokesman said.
Jihadists use the remote, mountainous region along the Algerian border as a base and the military has been hunting them down in the rugged terrain with patrols and air strikes on suspected training camps.
Army spokesman Belhassen Ouslati said the three soldiers had been killed in the landmine blast and that clashes were continuing after the ambush in the Mount Sammama area.
Since the 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s democracy has been held up as a model for a region wracked by violence and instability.
But Islamist militants are one of the key challenges for the new Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who officially took office on Monday.
‘IS bomber’ kills 71 army recruits in Yemen
An Islamic State group militant rammed his explosives-laden car into an army recruiting centre in Aden on Monday, Aug 29 killing 71 people in the deadliest Jihadist attack on the Yemeni city in over a year. The army, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, is training young recruits to join its nationwide war against Huthi rebels and their allies, as well as Jihadists.
Aden is the temporary base of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which was forced into exile after Iran-backed insurgents seized Sanaa and other parts of the war-torn country. Security officials told AFP the attacker drove the car bomb into a gathering of recruits at a school in the north of the port city.
The recruits were among 5,000 newly enrolled soldiers being trained to fight the Huthi rebels in the north along the border with Saudi Arabia, military sources said. Although the complex was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials said.
Witnesses said some recruits were buried when a roof collapsed after the blast which left a gaping hole on the building’s facade.
Debris was scattered around the complex and nearby buildings were damaged. The assault killed at least 71 people and wounded 98, medical sources told AFP.
They could not immediately verify whether all those who died were army recruits. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Twitter that its hospital in Aden “received 45 dead and at least 60 wounded” following the explosion.
Attacks in the city are often claimed by jihadists from either al-Qaeda or IS, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in the south and southeast. IS claimed Monday’s bombing on its official propaganda outlet, Amaq.
Earlier this month, a suicide bomber drove his vehicle into a large group of army reinforcements sent from Aden to fight jihadists in neighbouring Lahj, killing five soldiers, military officials said.
No group has claimed that attack. But on July 20, four policemen were killed in a bombing attack in Aden that was claimed by IS.
Iran deploys Russian-made S-300 missiles at its Fordow nuclear site
Iran has deployed the Russian-supplied S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system around its Fordow underground uranium enrichment facility, Iranian state media reported on Monday, Aug 29. Iranian state TV on Sunday aired footage of deployment of the recently delivered missile system to the nuclear site in the central Iran.
Iran and the six major powers reached a landmark nuclear deal in 2015 aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for lifting nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Tehran over its disputed nuclear work. Enrichment of uranium at the Fordow facility, around 100 km (60 miles) south of Tehran, has stopped since the implementation of the nuclear deal in January.
Russia, under pressure from the West, in 2010 canceled a contract to deliver S-300s to Iran.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted that self-imposed ban in April 2015, after an interim deal was reached between Iran and the six powers. In August, Iran said that Russia had delivered main parts of the system to the country, adding that the missile system would be completely delivered by the end of 2016.
The IRGC’s Esmaili did not say whether the system was operational, but added: “Today, Iran’s sky is one of the most secure in the Middle East”.
Iran’s top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the country’s military power was for defensive purposes. “The S-300 system is a defence system not an assault one, but the Americans did their utmost to prevent Iran from getting it,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.
Cluster bombs killed, maimed over 400 in 2015
Cluster bombs killed or injured more than 350 people in Syria and Yemen last year and evidence is growing that Russian forces are using the munitions in Syria, a report said on Thursday, Sept 1. Handicap International, which compiled the study, said there was “compelling evidence” that Russian forces were using cluster munitions in Syria, a claim denied by Moscow.
The NGO said almost all the victims around the world were civilians and in a third of the cases, children bore the brunt of their devastating effect. The group urged signatories to the 2008 Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions to demand that the warring sides to stop using them.
The Oslo signatories are to meet in Geneva next week.
A total of 248 people were killed or wounded by the munitions in Syria in 2015, the report said, with civilians making up the vast majority of the victims.
Around the world, a total of 417 victims, dead or injured, were recorded in 2015.
Syria has seen a sharp rise in the use of cluster bombs, with 76 attacks recorded from September 2015 to July this year, the charity said, warning that the real number was probably far higher. The rise in the number of attacks roughly coincided with the start of Russian military intervention in Syria, it said.
“There is compelling evidence that Russia is using cluster munitions in Syria and/or directly participating with Syrian government forces in attacks using cluster munitions on opposition-held areas of governorates such as Aleppo, Homs and Idlib, and on armed opposition groups,” the report said.
Cluster bombs, which consist of canisters that spray bomblets indiscriminately, also killed or maimed 104 people in Yemen. In Yemen, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting rebels is accused of using the munitions.
Reporter shot in Syria claims gunman now US-backed rebel
A reporter for Britain’s Times newspaper who hit the headlines after being kidnapped and shot in Syria said on Saturday, Sept 3 that a recent Facebook video appeared to show the gunman was now a US-backed rebel.
Anthony Loyd was seized along with photographer Jack Hill in 2014 as they were returning to Turkey after several days working in the conflict zone of Aleppo.
Loyd was shot twice in the leg while being held captive and both men suffered severe beatings after Hill and the guide tried to escape. However, Loyd said he recently saw his shooter, whom he named as Hakim Abu Jamal, in a video waving around a Kalashnikov gun while celebrating a US-backed rebel group victory in the border town of al-Rai.
“It was with some surprise watching a video of a victorious band of western-backed rebels that I noticed the face of America’s newest ally in the war against Isis in Syria,” he wrote in Saturday’s Times. “It was the face of a man I last saw in May 2014 when he leant forward to shoot me twice in the left ankle at almost point-blank range while my hands were tied,” he added. “He shot me in the middle of a crowd of onlookers, after a savage preliminary beating, denouncing me as ‘a CIA spy’. Now, it seems, he works with them,” he added.
Loyd was hooded and tied up and put in the back seat of a car, while Hill and the guide were put in the boot before being driven to a warehouse in the town of Tall Rifat.
Hill and the guide managed to break out and overpower their main captor. The guide escaped but Hill was recaptured and beaten, and Loyd was shot to stop him trying to leave. He said Jamal was the ringleader of the gang, who hoped to secure a kidnap bounty from the two men, and criticised the CIA’s vetting process. “Centcom, the US Central Command, did not respond to Times requests over three days this week to explain how such a well-known hostage taker with family connections to extremists could have passed US vetting procedures,” he wrote.
Drone strike kills seven al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen
A possible US drone strike killed seven suspected al-Qaeda operatives in central Yemen, a security official said. The official said a missile fired by what was “probably an American drone” hit an apartment building in the Al-Wadi area of Marib province, east of the capital Sanaa, killing seven people late on Sunday, Sept 4.
The United States, which rarely acknowledges its years-long unmanned drone campaign in Yemen, is thought to have carried out dozens of strikes against what it says are al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) members.
AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by the conflict between the government and Iran-backed rebels to expand their presence in the Arabian Peninsula country.
The US has vowed to continue its campaign against AQAP, which it considers to be the al-Qaeda network’s deadliest franchise.
A Saudi-led Arab military coalition that backs the Yemeni government has also turned its sights on AQAP, targeting it with air strikes.
The coalition is supporting pro-government forces which launched an offensive this year to retake several towns from AQAP.
Bomb blasts kill 48 in Syria
A string of bomb attacks hit across mostly government-controlled areas of Syria on Monday, Sept 5 killing several dozen people including at least 35 in President Bashar al-Assad’s coastal stronghold of Tartus, state media said. At least 48 people died in the multiple blasts, with dozens also wounded in the double bombing outside of Tartus city, which is home to a Russian naval base.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for one of the blasts, against a Kurdish security post in Hasakeh, but there were no immediate claims for the other attacks in Tartus, on government-held Homs city and at an army checkpoint on a road outside Damascus.
In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, “the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded,” according to state television. Quoting the head of Al-Bassel hospital in Tartus, the channel said 35 people had been killed and 43 others wounded in the attack.
Tartus has been largely spared the worst violence of Syria’s conflict since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. It has become a refuge for many Syrians fleeing the fighting that has displaced more than half the country’s population.
In the northeast of the country, at least eight people were killed by a bomber on a motorbike in the city of Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces, though the regime is also present. Syrian state media said the dead were six members of the Asayesh security forces and two civilians. IS claimed the attack in a statement circulated on social media.
N Korea test-fires three ballistic missiles
North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, Sept 5 South Korea said, in a new show of force as world leaders meet at the G20 summit in China.
The missiles were fired into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) from the North’s Hwangju county at around 0300 GMT, a spokesman for Seoul’s defence ministry said. The sabre-rattling follows the North’s submarine-launched ballistic missile test some two weeks ago.
“They are speculated to be Rodong missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometres and were fired without navigational warning to Japan,” the spokesman said in a statement.
Britain jails cleric Choudary for IS support
Radical cleric Anjem Choudary, long a thorn in the side of British authorities, was jailed in London on Tuesday, Sept 6 for five-and-a-half years after being convicted of encouraging support for Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
Supporters of the 49-year-old and his co-defendant Mohammed Mizanur Rahman — who received the same sentence — shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) from the public gallery as the judge announced his decision, according to an AFP journalist.
Judge Timothy Holroyde, in the ruling handed down at the Old Bailey court, said Choudary was “calculating and dangerous” and had shown no remorse.
Dressed in a white robe, Choudary showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. “A significant proportion of those listening to your words would be impressionable persons looking to you for guidance on how to act,” said the judge. Commander Dean Haydon, Head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the men “certainly had an influence in radicalising others, poisoning the mind of vulnerable people in the communities. “They were certainly in contact with terrorists overseas,” he added outside court.
C Africa militia kills at least 20
Central African Republic: Militia fighters in the Central African Republic have killed at least 20 people and wounded several more in attacks in the centre of the country, a police source said on Sunday, Sept 18. The police source said the attacks, which continued on Saturday, claimed 19 lives in several villages in the Kaga Bandoro region and several more in the regional capital of the same name.
MONUSCO, the UN mission in CAR, said the attacks followed clashes between ex-Seleka and their longtime foes in militias collectively known as anti-Balaka. In a statement, MONUSCO said it had sent troop reinforcements to Kaga Bandoro and the village of Ndomete, which was particularly affected by the violence, “to prevent any deterioration of the situation.” It said it had “already intervened in Ndomete to separate the warring parties in order to avoid reprisals against the civilian population.”
Kaga Bandoro is the fiefdom Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC), an ex-Seleka splinter group. It is led by Noureddine Adam, who faces international sanctions for his alleged role in intercommunal killings in 2013 and 2014. Violence in CAR over recent years has claimed thousands of lives and prompted hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, even if the presence of French and UN troops has gone some way to improving security.
Somali general killed in suicide car bomb attack
A top Somalia general known for fighting the Jihadist Shabaab group, was killed on Sunday, Sept 18 when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed car into his vehicle, officials and witnesses said. General Mohamed Roble Jimale Gobale was killed along with four of his security guards in the attack in the capital Mogadishu that was claimed by the al-Qaeda linked Shabaab.
Witnesses said Gobale’s vehicle was travelling on the road when another vehicle rammed it, causing a massive blast. The attack took place after the convoy had left the military hospital and was heading towards the defence ministry.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent his condolences to the general’s family, his spokesman said.
The attack was claimed in a statement broadcast on the Shabaab’s Andalus radio and quoted by a pro-Shabaab website.
Gobale was the commander of the army’s Third Brigade. He had fought the Shabaab since 2007, leading a brigade that battled its militants in several neighbourhoods of the capital until they were forced out in 2011. Since then, they have continued their attacks on government, military, civilian and foreign targets in a bid to overthrow the internationally-backed government.
The group is expected to try and violently disrupt elections which are to be held later this month and in October.
Team of medics killed in attack Raids shake Aleppo
Intense air raids shook Syria’s Aleppo and killed a team of medics as the UN Security Council held crisis talks on Wednesday, Sep 21 on reviving a failed ceasefire. The mood at the UN meeting in New York was likely to be tense after the United States said it held Russia responsible for a deadly air strike on an aid convoy.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were both to address the council, ahead of more talks on salvaging the truce — which collapsed on Monday — later this week. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the meeting it was a “make or break moment” for Syria, urging world powers to use their influence to help re-start political talks so Syrians can “negotiate a way out of the hell in which they are trapped”.
Russia and the United States co-sponsored the ceasefire plan, with Kerry warning it could be the “last chance” to try to end Syria’s civil war, which has killed more than 300,000 people in five years. But peace efforts have been hindered by attacks on aid workers, most recently a deadly raid on a medical team near Aleppo late on Tuesday.
The Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organisations (UOSSM) said the strike hit two of its ambulances in Khan Tuman, a village south of Aleppo city, as workers evacuated victims from a previous strike. It said two nurses and two ambulance drivers were killed and another nurse was critically wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said the initial raid killed nine medical staff affiliated with the Army of Conquest rebel alliance.
On Wednesday, heavy bombardment pummelled Aleppo city and the wider province, key battlegrounds in Syria’s conflict.
The Britain-based Observatory said dozens of raids hit the city’s east overnight, as regime troops advanced on rebels in Aleppo’s southwestern outskirts.
US arming Syrian Kurdish militia, says Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of sending more weapons to a Syrian Kurdish militia in defiance of Ankara’s repeated insistence it is a “terrorist” organisation. Although the US views the the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia as its most significant ground ally against jihadists, Ankara says the fighters are “terrorists” linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which for decades has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.
Erdogan said late Thursday, Sep 22 that three days earlier the US sent “two planes with weapons” to Kobane in northern Syria for the YPG and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing. In a speech in New York after attending the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said Washington was mistaken in using the YPG as an ally in the fight against IS.
“If you think you can finish Daesh (IS) off with the PYD and YPG, you cannot, because they are terrorist groups as well,” he said in remarks posted on the presidential website.
Current Threat Levels
City/Region Threat Level
Islamabad Level 2 **
Karachi Level 2 **
Lahore Level 2 **
Punjab Level 2 **
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Level 3 **
Peshawar Level 2 **
Quetta Level 2 ***
Upper Balochistan Level 3 ***
Lower Balochistan Level 2 **
Upper/ Rural Sindh Level 2 **
Gilgit and Northern areas Level 3 **
Tribal areas, close
to Afghan border Level 3 ***
Index to Threat Level References
Threat Level 1 *
Indicates there is no threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required.
Threat Level 2 **
Indicates there is no specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling.
Threat Level 3 ***
Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Level dictates that Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation.
Threat Level 4 ****
Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff.
Threat Level 5 *****
Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion/ occupation by enemy.
