Current Projects
Changing the Militant Landscape in Pakistan
Since its establishment in 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has proved to be a lethal terrorist group, by perpetrating some of the most brutal attacks in Pakistan. While the leadership is currently based out of Afghanistan, Ahrar has networks in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies of the Federally Administrative Tribal Areas, as well as support structures in others parts of the country. The militant outfit is the brainchild of Omar Khalid Khorasani — an ambitious Taliban commander and a former member of the Pakistani Taliban’s Shura - who parted ways with the Taliban after they pursued peace talks with the government. From August 2014 to date, the group has been found involved in 116 terrorist attacks in Pakistan, against diverse targets ranging from security forces, tribal elders, and minorities to sectarian communities. Last year, Ahrar launched an operation titled “al-Raad” (Thunder). Shortly after, it orchestrated attacks on the Charsadda University, the Christian community on Easter Day in Lahore, Quetta’s Civil Hospital, Session Courts in Mardan and on an FC camp in Mohmand Agency. Earlier this month, it launched “Operation Ghazi”, and has since planned and executed eight gun and bomb attacks. The group’s strategy, it seems, is to employ back-to-back attacks, to create more impact and panic, rather than long intervolved attacks. In the last few years, the Pakistani Taliban’s seemingly weakening capabilities has strengthened Ahrar, although the group has a tendency to accommodate new ideological, political, and operational trends. Khorasani is among the ideologues of the tribal Taliban movement; he also worked as an editor of the Taliban’s quarterly magazine Ihya-e-Khilafat. Previously, he was associated with several Pakistan-based militant organisations, including the banned Harkatul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammad. For the young leader, the siege of the Red Mosque was a turning point. (He even renamed a mosque in his native village Ghaziabad in Mohmand Agency after it...
Pakistan aware of designs behind ceasefire violations: COAS
In yet another loud and clear message to India, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday said that Pakistan was fully aware of Indian designs behind unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) as well as New Delhi’s support for terrorist elements in Pakistan and the region. Targeting of civilians along the LoC is deliberate, under a design and highly reprehensible,” said the army chief during his visit to the restive dividing line in Mattewala and Munaawar sectors, located in Barnala tehsil of Bhimber district in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). It was Gen Bajwa’s second visit to the LoC in Bhimber district, where three army soldiers were killed on Feb 13 and seven on Nov 13 last year in Indian shelling. Earlier, he had visited the area on Dec 2. “On one side it is an effort to divert world’s attention from her [Indian] atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris, and on the other, it is an attempt to dilute our response against terrorism and militancy,” Gen Bajwa said, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations. He said Pakistan was fully aware of Indian designs and its support for terrorism in Pakistan and the region. The case of Kulbhushan Jadhav was evidence of these Indian efforts and his case would be taken to its logical conclusion, Gen Bajwa said of the Indian secret agent who was arrested in March last year. The COAS, who was received on the LoC by Rawalpindi Corps Commander Lt Gen Nadeem Raza, also attended a briefing by the General Officer Commanding on the operational situation. Praising the operational readiness of the troops, he said: “Pakistan army soldiers are known for their professional competence, motivation and selfless devotion for defence of their motherland and are the backbone of the armed forces.” He ordered that unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops be responded to effectively. The COAS made it clear that the army would do its duty to protect the people of Pakistan and...
With Afghan Cooperation
As the state struggles to contain and put an end to a continuing spell of violence, the military leadership has emphasised that Pakistan and Afghanistan must “fight [a] common enemy, i.e terrorists of all hue and colour”. In comments attributed to Gen Qamar Bajwa by the ISPR, the army chief asserted in a security meeting that border cooperation and coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan is essential. Gen Bajwa is also reported to have reiterated that “Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and shall continue this effort together”. The evident shift in tone of the military leadership from anger and the threat of unilateral action across the Pak-Afghan border to coordinated action against the mutual threat of terrorism is precisely the bedrock on which long-term policy needs to be built. The past is a clear indicator of the futility of unilateralism or the pursuit of policies by either country that the other does not support. Clearly, a bilateral framework of cooperation must accommodate exigencies and there is an urgent need to address the current spate of violence inside Pakistan. As the Charsadda attack yesterday indicates, Pakistan is facing a wave of terror attacks that is reminiscent of the very darkest days in the long fight against militancy. The ebb and flow of militancy in the two countries requires flexible priorities and Pakistan is right in insisting that the anti-Pakistan militants who have found sanctuary in Afghanistan be targeted urgently. If Afghan security forces or the US-led foreign military contingents are unable to act decisively against them, then Kabul should consider allowing Pakistani forces to operate in the border regions where those militants are believed to have found sanctuary. What Pakistan should be mindful of is to not conduct operations, especially putting boots on the ground, in Afghan territory without Kabul’s consent. Difficult as the border region is, mutual respect for territorial integrity and...
Kabul Ready to Talk Intelligence Cooperation With Pakistan ‘At Any Level’: Afghan Official
Afghanistan is ready to hold dialogue with Pakistan for intelligence cooperation at ‘any level’, an Afghan security official has told members of the Pak-Afghan track-II dialogue in Kabul. The Afghan official, speaking informally and off – the-record, said senior security officials of the two countries had planned an ‘interaction’ but three major attacks in Kabul, Kandahar and Helmand on January 10, delayed the process. Nearly 60 people, including five UAE diplomats were killed in the attacks. The UAE ambassador, who was injured in the blast, died of wounds last week. The remarks by the Afghan security official came amid growing tensions over the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Pakistan last week, which claimed the lives of about 100 people and injured over 300 more. “We are ready for deep discussions on intelligence cooperation. We need a better environment. We need engagement. But only meetings and shaking hands will not give results. Sincere and effective engagement is a must to remove the mistrust,” the Afghan official told members of the dialogue titled ‘Beyond Boundaries’ which concluded on Monday. President Ashraf Ghani had put a pause on a memorandum of understanding between the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2015. As the two sides struck the ground-breaking agreement to share intelligence and resources to combat terrorism, it was opposed in Afghanistan and some leaders, including Hamid Karzai, publicly opposed the deal as against the ‘national interests’. Afghan media had also reported then NDS Chief Rahmatullah Nabil had refused to sign the accord. The Afghan official said that Kabul is open for talks on intelligence cooperation at any level to explore options how to deal with the security challenges. “We also want Pakistan to extend its counter terrorism strategy to the region,” he said. “Pakistan may be concerned only about TTP, China has apprehensions about ETIM, Arab states will be worried...
Pak-Afghan stand-off: the way forward
The unilateral border closure by Pakistan on February 15 once again exposed the current extremely brittle and acrimonious nature of its current relations with Afghanistan. Slogans such as “Death to Pakistan, Down with Pakistan,” not only resonated at rallies in Kabul and Jalalabad but also made super-leads of the newspapers and electronic media in Afghanistan.Similar sentiments ran high also during a meeting between a Pakistani civil society delegation and the top hierarchy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) on February 19 at Kabul, a day after Pakistan had handed Afghan officials a list of 76 wanted terrorists nestled in their country. Expectedly, Kabul responded with its list of 85 Taliban and Haqqani Network leaders on the Pakistani soil, which it claimed were involved in “crimes against people of Afghanistan.” Meanwhile, thousands of cargo trucks, passenger vehicles and tens of thousands of people are stranded on both sides of the border. A humanitarian and business crisis indeed, with scores of families separated, and perishable cargo rotting on board trucks. Leading businessmen were all outrage, complaining of massive losses they have suffered in the last five or so years due to intermittent closure of border. It has also resulted in a drastic reduction of Afghanistan’s transit trade through Pakistan. They pointed out that Iran’s Bandar Abbas is more expensive but that is a much more certain and secure rate. Trust on Karachi is minimal due to corruption from the clearing processes in Karachi to the transition through the border at Chaman and Torkham. In many cases massive demurrage charges accruing from delays forced the importers to abandon their cargo. Afghan traders also complained of unusually high taxes on seasonal fruits. We asked them whether one could delink business from politics and whether business could function normally in abnormal political conditions such as the current ones, they offered little response. The halt in...
Army Wants Joint Anti-Terror Fight With Afghanistan
After days of talking tough on Afghanistan in the aftermath of recent militant attacks, the Pakistan Army on Monday spoke about fighting terrorism jointly with Afghanistan. The change in mood at the military headquarters coincided with the receipt of a demarche from the Afghan foreign ministry demanding arrest and handover of 85 leaders of Taliban, Haqqani Network and other terrorist groups and action against 32 alleged terrorist training centres, besides a warning that continued violence would push Kabul to seek international sanctions against “terrorist groups and their supporters”. The Afghan demands came after Pakistan handed over a similar list of 76 Pakistani terrorists based in Afghanistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement issued after what was described as a ‘high-level security meeting at GHQ’ chaired by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, said: “Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and shall continue this effort together”. Kabul says it has delivered a list of 32 terror camps on Pakistani soil The comments clearly contrasted with the earlier tone which bordered on unilateralism. The military had soon after the suicide attack at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan closed down border crossings with Afghanistan and the troops pounded ‘terrorist targets’ along the border. Gen Bajwa had himself told US commander in Afghanistan Gen Nicholson that the Afghan government’s inaction against terrorists was testing Pakistan’s policy of cross-border restraint. Media reports also said that Pakistan had sent reinforcements to the border and deployed heavy armaments. ISPR quoted Gen Bajwa as explaining at the meeting that “enhanced security arrangements along Pak-Afghan border were for fighting common enemy”. He also repeated the oft-mentioned refrain of targeting “terrorists of all hue and colour”. Gen Bajwa issued directives for cooperation with Afghan forces in checking “illegal movements” and...
‘15,000 Military Personnel Protecting CPEC’
The government has deployed 15,000 military personnel, as part of the Special Security Division (SSD) and Maritime Security Force (MSF), to protect projects under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Both forces will work under the interior ministry, in coordination with the provinces, to ensure the safety of locals and foreigners working on CPEC projects. “The SSD is a force that will provide security to 34 CPEC related projects, while the MSF will safeguard the Gwadar port and other coastal areas of the country,” Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC, told Dawn after a committee meeting in Parliament House on Monday. He said the SSD had been deployed in six zones from Gwadar to Gilgit-Baltistan, including all four provinces and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). “Under its terms of reference, the SSD will be responsible for the security of the area within a 5km radius of CPEC-related projects,” he said. In addition, the SSD will also patrol different areas of the corridor, especially where road-building projects are under way. Both the SSD and MSF were formed in view of possible threats to the $48 billion CPEC and the foreign nationals presently engaged in infrastructure and power generation projects being commissioned under its umbrella. He said the SSD and MSF were raised over the course of a year and that both forces were equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, equipment and vehicles. “Most SSD personnel are serving armymen,” he added. Responding to a question regarding the concerns raised by provinces regarding an overlap in security duties being performed by the SSD and the provincial police, Senator Sayed said the terms of reference of the SSD were developed in consultation with provincial governments to remove any concerns they might have. According to a press release, the committee was briefed by senior officers from the ministries of defence, interior and communication. The briefings...
Afghanistan Weekly Field Report | 12 to 18 February 2017
Countrywide Conflict Displacement The total number of individuals displaced by conflict in 2016 has risen to 652,690 as joint teams finalise assessments of those displaced last year. In 2017 so far, 15,445 individuals have been verified as displaced, with 18 out of 34 provinces recording some level of forced displacement. Northern/North Eastern: In keeping with the previous weeks’ trends, the region remained volatile with NSAGs taking control of several additional villages in Faryab province, adding to areas already captured this year in Khaja Sabz Posh and Shirintagab districts, and increasing insecurity along the Maymana highway. Unconfirmed reports indicate that 400 families from Gurzad village in Shirintagab district were displaced as a result of this fighting, with assessments due to commence shortly. In 2017 so far, 3,137 verified IDPs have been displaced from the region; approximately 20 per cent of the country total. Eastern: Intense cross border shelling and airstrikes from Pakistan into Afghanistan - hitting Parchaw Rina and Machmegee villages of Lal Pur district - continued for two days during the week following suicide bombings in Pakistan on 13 and 16 February. As a result, unconfirmed reports indicate that between 1,200 to 2000 individuals were displaced to Chaknawar, Mohmandara, Goshta, Ghanikhel and within Lal Pur District. Assessments are due to commence shortly. Western: Throughout the week, Farah registered a number of armed clashes between ANSF and NSAG forces while Hirat experienced low key armed clashes in Karukh, and Ghoryan districts. As a result, 199 individuals were displaced to Qalae-Naw city (Badghis) and 371 people to Hirat city. In 2017 so far, 1,576 verified IDPs have been displaced from the region; approximately 10 per cent of the country total. ANSF conducted clearing operations in Guzara district. Southern: Frontline clashes and airstrikes remained active throughout the week in Hilmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul. Unconfirmed...
Afghanistan Weekly Field Report | 12 to 18 February 2017
Countrywide Conflict Displacement The total number of individuals displaced by conflict in 2016 has risen to 652,690 as joint teams finalise assessments of those displaced last year. In 2017 so far, 15,445 individuals have been verified as displaced, with 18 out of 34 provinces recording some level of forced displacement. Northern/North Eastern: In keeping with the previous weeks’ trends, the region remained volatile with NSAGs taking control of several additional villages in Faryab province, adding to areas already captured this year in Khaja Sabz Posh and Shirintagab districts, and increasing insecurity along the Maymana highway. Unconfirmed reports indicate that 400 families from Gurzad village in Shirintagab district were displaced as a result of this fighting, with assessments due to commence shortly. In 2017 so far, 3,137 verified IDPs have been displaced from the region; approximately 20 per cent of the country total. Eastern: Intense cross border shelling and airstrikes from Pakistan into Afghanistan - hitting Parchaw Rina and Machmegee villages of Lal Pur district - continued for two days during the week following suicide bombings in Pakistan on 13 and 16 February. As a result, unconfirmed reports indicate that between 1,200 to 2000 individuals were displaced to Chaknawar, Mohmandara, Goshta, Ghanikhel and within Lal Pur District. Assessments are due to commence shortly. Western: Throughout the week, Farah registered a number of armed clashes between ANSF and NSAG forces while Hirat experienced low key armed clashes in Karukh, and Ghoryan districts. As a result, 199 individuals were displaced to Qalae-Naw city (Badghis) and 371 people to Hirat city. In 2017 so far, 1,576 verified IDPs have been displaced from the region; approximately 10 per cent of the country total. ANSF conducted clearing operations in Guzara district. Southern: Frontline clashes and airstrikes remained active throughout the week in Hilmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul. Unconfirmed...
Sabawoon Showcase: February 15, 2017
Importance of Sports for Peace and Healthy Life The latest episode of Jwandai Jazbey (living spirits) discussed the significance of sports for peace and healthy life. Other discussion points included the role of Sports Directorate Peshawar, participation of females in sports, under-23 games, scarcity of play grounds in the region, and current situation of sports activities in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Mr. Saleem Raza, District Sports Officer, Peshawar, and Mr. Mohammad Imran, World Shaolin Wushu Champion from Peshawar, were the in-studio guests. Mr. Raza said: “Sports Directorate of KP have been actively working to promote sports in the province. It will soon arrange under-23 games including 13 games for boys and 15 for girls.” Mr. Imran said: “For a healthy mind, we need a healthy body. Playing games thus becomes important.” A live caller in the show asked how to participate in the under-23 games especially those for blind people. About Sabawoon Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is designed to highlight the local issues and promote the fundamental governance values, such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women. Socio-cultural affairs are discussed in Ranra on Thursday.
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.