Executive Summary
Acute violence revisited the volatile province during first week of the year. Landmine explosions, kidnapping for ransom, target killings, clash between security forces and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TT) militants and sabotage activities were major highlights of the week. In the worst episode of violence, clash between TTP militants and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in Murgha Kibzai area of Zhob district on 4th of January left five militants dead. In sum, violence took the lives of 19 people across the province.
PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif condemned the persistently deteriorating law and order situation and demanded an immediate end to military operations in Balochistan. He announced during his two day visit to Quetta that an All Parties Conference (APC) will be convened soon in Islamabad to discuss the explosive situation in the province.
Pakistan People Party (PPP) lawmakers Afzal Nadeem Chan accused the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) for creating law and order situation in Balochistan and termed the civilian government ¿dummy–.
| Nature of Incidents |
Dead FC Army Civilian |
Injured |
||
| Landmine explosions+ bomb blasts |
4 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
| Abductions |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Sectarian attacks |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Subversion attacks |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Dead bodies found |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Target killings |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Gas incidents or natural incidents |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| Militants |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Total |
19 |
10 |
||
Week in Review
a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction
- During a routine patrol, a vehicle carrying FC personnel hit a landmine planted by the Baloch militants in the restive Sui area of Dera Bugti, in which three paramilitary troops were killed and two others injured on January 2. The banned Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the incident.[1]
- Two men, identified as Sitham Khan and Zulfiqar Ali, were shot dead in Goht Shadi Pert area, in the vicinity of Barija Levies Thana of Jhal Magsi District on January 2. In a separate incident, the bullet-riddled body of a missing shopkeeper identified as Wazir Khan Marri was found dumped near Eastern bypass, in a suburb of Quetta. In a landmine explosion, at least five children were injured in the Sui area of Dera Bugti District. Separately, two security personnel, identified as Hawaldar Hazrat Umer and Sepoy Shukat Ali, were injured in a land mine explosion in Tuba Nukani area of Dera Bugti District.[2]
- Unidentified militants blew up an eight-inch-diameter gas pipeline in Loti Gas Field area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan on January 3. No one claimed responsibility for the incident.[3]
- According to security officials, five TTP militants were killed and 13 others arrested in a clash with the FC men in Murgha Kibzai area of Zhob District on January 4. Moreover, security forces also seized a rocket launcher and several machine guns.[5]
- Unidentified militants shot dead an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), Ghulam Raza Bangash, in Nawan Killi area of Quetta on January 5 in a seemingly sectarian attack. In a separate incident, one security personnel was killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion in Maro area of Dera Bugti District when they were clearing the area of landmines.[6]
- A man, identified as Shaban, was killed and his friend Abid Khan sustained injuries in a landmine explosion in Jan Beri area of Dera Bugti District on January 6.[7]
- A British national and health programme manager of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Khalil Rasjed Dale, was on his way home from work in a clearly-marked ICRC vehicle when he was abducted some 200 meters away from an ICRC residence in a high security zone of Chaman Housing Scheme Quetta. In the backdrop of Khalil abduction, Balochistan police has carried out several raids and arrested some 50 people for investigation on January 6. No group has taken responsibility for the incident.[8]
- According to police officials, unidentified men blew up an 18-inch diameter gas pipeline in Ghot Jani Khan in Jaffarabad on Saturday, January 7, and resultantly gas supply to the provincial capital, Quetta, and some other parts of Balochistan suspended soon after the incident.[9]
- Five people, including three children, died in separate incidents of suffocation as temperatures and gas pressure plummeted in Quetta Hazara Town on January 8.[10]
- A case was registered on January 4 against three Iranian security personnel for allegedly killing a Pakistani citizen in a cross-border attack. Meanwhile, Iran once again warned Pakistan that it would seal the border if administration officials continued to follow a ¿discriminatory policy– sources said.[4]
b) Political Front
During his two days visit to Quetta; PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif on Friday, January 6 said that the people of Balochistan were not satisfied with the government Balochistan package and demanded that appropriate steps should be taken to address the issues faced by the Baloch people. While talking to the media after meeting Talal Bugti, the son of late Nawab Akbar Bugti, Sharif asked that why the government had failed to prosecute the murderers of Nawab Akbar Bugti. He termed the ongoing ¿kill and dump– operation a ¿malicious act– on the part of security forces.[11]
Furthermore, PPP lawmaker Afzal Nadeem Chan said on January 7 that ISI and MI are active in Balochistan while the civilian government is a mere bystander. He said that everyone knows it well that who is in control of the Balochistan affairs, but no one dare say it in open. ‘I am saying that ISI and MI are controlling the province and I am not afraid of paying a price for it,’ Chan said.[12]
Despite the recent surge in political temperatures, the ruling PPP has responded positively on January 8 to a proposal from the PML-N to convene an APC to discuss the unfolding situation in Balochistan. The presidential spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar said: ‘The PPP believes in consultation to find solutions to all contentious issues. The party will consider assembling a high-level delegation to participate in the proposed conference, if and when it is held.’[13]
[1] Balochistan insurgency: Sui landmine blast kills 3 troops–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/315029/4-killed-in-sui-landmine-explosion/
[2] Three people killed in separate incidents in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F3&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#3
[3] Gas pipeline blown up in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F4&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#5
[4] Border violation: Iran 3 security men booked for manslaughter–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/316212/border-violation-irans-3-security-men-booked-for-manslaughter/
[5] Five TTP militants killed in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F5&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#2
[6] Two SF personnel killed in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F6&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#5
[7] Civilian killed in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F7&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#3
[8] ICRC worker kidnapped: Police arrest 50 suspects for questioning ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/317499/icrc-worker-kidnapped-police-arrest-50-suspects-for-questioning/
[9] Pipeline blown up in Jaffarabad less than 24 hours after being repaired–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/318033/pipeline-blown-up-in-jaffarabad-less-than-24-hours-after-being-repaired/
[10] 5 suffocate to death in Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/318434/5-suffocate-to-death-in-balochistan/
[11] Government should have registered a case on Bugti’s murder: Nawaz ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/317666/government-should-have-registered-a-case-on-bugtis-murder-nawaz/
[12] Civilian killed in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F7&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#3
[13] APC on Balochistan: PPP backs PML-N proposal–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/318317/apc-on-balochistan-ppp-backs-pml-ns-proposal/