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ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT-2022
Year 2022: Proxy Terror Returns in Big Way The year 2022 ended with the deadliest month (thus far) for Pakistan’s security personnel over a decade, with the emergence of a new terror triad comprising TTP, BLA and Daesh-Afghanistan as the biggest threat to the country. Security forces lost at least 282 personnel during 2022 (with 40 fatalities only in December being the deadliest month of the year) in attacks that included IED ambushes, suicide attacks, and raids on security posts, mostly in the Pakistan Afghan border regions. The country suffered as many as 376 terror attacks this year, though banned terror outfits such as Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daish (Islamic State Khorasan), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for 57 of these strikes. As a whole Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province) experienced an exponential rise in violence whereby the fatalities there went up by 108%. Total fatalities from terrorist violence were as many as 973 – a 14.47 spike compared to 2021. The highest victims of violence were civilians, government officials, and security personnel (62% of the total fatalities) while the militants, insurgents and other outlaws were counted for the remaining 38% of all fatalities this year. Among civilians there were some foreigners as well – 4 Chinese and a former commander of the Afghan police. Soon after the TTP called off the year-old ceasefire on November 28, an unprecedented spate of terrorist violence ensued in KP and Balochistan like never before, with over two dozen attacks in the month of December alone. This took the fatalities in the province (including ex-FATA) to nearly 64% of all the fatalities in the country i.e., followed by Balochistan which suffered 26% of terror-related deaths. In total, 1714 persons were the victims of violence during 2022 resulting from 513 incidents of violence and counter-violence in the country. In Balochistan, insurgent groups such as BLA and BNA (Baloch Nationalist Army) took the...
Education for Girls a Must but Should not be a condition for Supporting Needy Afghans
As the world agonizes over Afghan Taliban’s clampdown on girls’ education and exclusion of females from employment, tribal elders and intellectuals from Pakistan and Afghanistan’s border region remain divided over the issue. This division became obvious during a Pak-Afghan Tribal Stakeholders Dialogue held at Peshawar. While most of the two dozen participants declared education as a fundamental right for girls, many attempted to justify Taliban’s orders by saying impediments to girls’ education are not entirely due to religion but cultural and tribal attitudes of the society too. Currently, around 850,000 Afghan girls are out of secondary schools - up to 80% percent of the total female student population above the primary education level. The dialogue, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in collaboration with OESP, Afghanistan, was meant to measure the potential leverage of the tribal leaders with the Taliban regime on the issue of education and employment for women. The participants of the dialogue included tribal elders from the bordering areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan ( Ningarhar, Shinwaar, Mohmand, South and North Waziristan, Kurram, Khyber). Some of the elders opined that the international community should not make its support for the needy millions in Afghanistan conditional with the permission to girls’ secondary education and employment. The Pakistani elders expressed concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the problems following the influx of refugees into Pakistan. They also stressed the need for the world community to nudge Taliban into compliance with the commitments they made in the Doha Peace Agreement, especially concerning Afghan girls’ education and human rights. They noted that governments on both sides should realize and legitimize the tribal leaders’ centuries-old role in peacemaking. Only the masses (Oolas) can bridge the gap, therefore, the consultation process and people-to-people...
United but Delusional: Taliban Fail to Stabilize Afghanistan
As the Taliban expedite regressive measures to pull back all the modest but relatively significant progress Afghanistan made in the last two decades, the international community stands flummoxed and disappointed with the de facto rulers, unable to fathom the future course of action. The direction in which Afghanistan is going is heartbreaking. So, no road map ends up in this place that we would have ever wanted: the statement came from Karen Decker (United States Deputy Chief of Mission in Afghanistan) at a recent press conference. The Taliban have received substantial traction from world leaders. There have been ample attempts to talk to the ruling group about upholding human rights, eradicating terrorism, and ensuring social welfare. The de facto rulers have been expecting the world and their people to look at them with a softer lens, but the reality is that they have not changed themselves. They were referred to as Taliban 2.0 when Abdul Qahar Balkhi (spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) appeared in an interview on Al-Jazeera. Balkhi, with his impeccable diction and tribal attire, made an impression that the Taliban can speak the West’s language but still retain their individuality. The status quo suggests they are fluent in English, but certainly not 2.0. On the parochial and orthodox measures taken since August 15, 2021, and their most recent decision to close higher education institutions for girls, the Taliban have received severe backlash from the international community. The recent – acrid yet factual – critique on the Taliban comes from Karen Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan. Decker spoke to the media on the Taliban’s unity versus disintegration of the Afghan political opposition parties, the hardliner Qandahar group, and the plight of human rights in the country. Taliban ban women from universities Decker said that the US has been talking to the Taliban for months at very senior levels of...
Top Pak-Afghan Ulema urge Taliban Government for Girls Education
The return of the Taliban in Afghanistan meant that the nature of relevant stakeholders in the region had changed, and so did their agency. The current theocratic system of governance in Afghanistan calls for inclusion of religious fraternity in the dialogue on the issues of public concern - given their potential of influence on Taliban leadership – and relying on them to advocate for the protection of fundamental human rights of Afghans. For the last several years, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has been successfully engaging Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II actors on regional peace and security, economic and cultural connectivity, human rights, youth development issues, through its multitrack diplomacy initiative Beyond Boundaries. As part of Beyond Boundaries (V), given the changes in context and nature of stakeholders post August 15, 2021, the Center engaged religious scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss and devise recommendations on issues of mutual interest. The discussions keenly focused on the state of women’s rights in Afghanistan, economic repatriation and unfreezing of Afghan assets, an all-encompassing system of governance including all ethnic groups, and regional peace and security. Throughout the dialogues held in 2022, the religious scholars voiced ardent support for Afghan girls’ and women’s rights to education and work. They also remained open to the idea of including religious fraternity in matters beyond the issues of vice and virtue, for instance, bilateral trade, human rights, peace, security and tolerance in the region, governance, etc. The major watershed in the engagement with the religious fraternity is a comprehensive joint statement – issued by the eminent religious stakeholders and institutions from both countries – underscoring the need for more synchronized cooperation on core bilateral issues, stabilization of the Afghan economy and social infrastructure, and normalizing education for girls and women. Joint...
Violence in Pakistan: Surge in Militant Attacks
Balochistan: This month (December, 2022), Balochistan in particular since eight days (19th-27th Dec) has experienced a wave of simultaneous terrorist attacks across several areas. Then on Dec 19, an Intelligence Bureau sub-inspector was gunned down in Peshawar, while a suicide attack in North Waziristan claimed the lives of a soldier and two civilians. On 19th December, at least thirteen people were injured in a blast near the Umar Farooq Chowk in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district. In a Dawn report, Khuzdar SHO Muhammad Jan Sasoli, while confirming the blast stated that the explosive was attached to a motorcycle in the area. Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and declared an emergency in hospitals across the city.”Terrorists who target innocent people are enemies of the nation. No religion or society gives permission for this bloodshed,” he said in a statement On 20th December, a Levies soldier was martyred and another injured after unidentified armed militants attacked a checkpoint in Bhat area of Balochistan’s Kharan district. Kharan Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Musiani told Dawn News that almost twenty-five to thirty militants attacked the post. Later on, 24th December, as per official, police sources confirmation (to Dawn News), two more incidents occurred, in which at least five security personnel belonging to the FC and Levies were martyred in Turbat and Chaman, respectively. The banned TTP took responsibility for the Chaman attack. Last but not least, 25th December saw even more violence with multiple attacks taking place simultaneously on the same day: On Quetta’s Sabzal Road, according to a statement issued by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, at least four people were injured. In his statement, CM Bizenjo also directed police to continue intelligence-based operations against terrorists and “leave no stone unturned in taking the enemies of peace to task”. He further instructed that the best medical...
Bilawal’s ten day US trip results in a telephone call with Blinken
Pakistans Foreign Minister since gaining position in April, 2022, has extensively travelled abroad and made over 10 foreign trips, in just eight months. However, with his recent trip (in December) to the US over ten days, Bilawal failed to get an in-person meeting with Blinken and had to settle for a phone conversation.More tangible results need to be seen from the US, in assuring Pakistan that the present recalibration of US-Pakistan ties serve not just US interests but is beneficial to Pakistan also. On December 14-21, 2022, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari traveled to the United States for an official visit. This trip covered multiple multilateral and bilateral meetings in New York City and Washington, D.C. During this visit, the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone with FM Bilawal and discussed various common agenda`s. The Secretary committed US support to Pakistanis as they recover from recent devastating floods. In their respective talks, they both stressed the value of close cooperation and expressed their common desire for the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan to be successful. Reiterating the United States’ continued support for Pakistan in its battle against terrorism, Blinken expressed compassion for the victims in the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Previously, in May 2022, Bilawal had an hour long meeting with Blinken at the UN headquarters in New York. This was their first face-to-face meeting following their extensive telephone conversation on May 6.They covered the full spectrum of Pakistan-U.S. relations and discussed global and regional situation. Then, on a 10-day trip in September 2022, Bilawal attended the UNGA summit in New York and spoke with Blinken on the sidelines as part of a renewed effort on both sides to mend their strained ties following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to official sources, Bilawal’s visit was intended to explore ways to build a sustainable...
US Willing To Fund Afghan Border Security: Bilawal
WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said the United States is willing to provide Pakistan funds to enhance border security for preventing cross-border attacks from Afghanistan. Responding to queries from Dawn, the foreign minister said that during his visit to the US Congress last week, two senior senators — Bob Menendez from New Jersey and Lindsey Graham from South Carolina — told him that they were provided “funding in the 2023 budget to help us with border security”. Senator Menendez chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations while Senator Graham, a senior Republican, heads the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said, while emphasising the strong standing of the two lawmakers. Responding to a question about the US offer of help to improve relations with India, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said: “They never brought up India other than in public statements.” On Washington’s offer to mediate with India, FM says relations with Delhi ‘not discussed in meetings, only public statements’ At a news briefing in Washington on Dec 19, US State Department’s Spokesperson Ned Price noted Afghanistan-based terrorist groups like the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan have recently increased attacks on Pakistani targets and offered help to Islamabad to deal with the “increasingly dangerous threat”. “We have partnered with our Pakistani friends to help them take on this challenge. We stand ready to assist, whether with this unfolding situation or more broadly,” Mr Price said. During the foreign minister’s visit to the UN headquarters in New York last week, both India and Pakistan engaged in a war of words over occupied Kashmir and other issues. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar called Pakistan “the hub of terrorism” that “hosted Osama bin Laden”. In his riposte, Mr Bhutto-Zardari reminded that India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once called “the butcher of Gujarat” and that while bin Laden was dead “Mr Modi lives and is India’s prime...
HAQQANI-BAJWA FILES CONSPIRACY: Where did the Regime Change Operation Actually Come From?
Documents shared in an extensive tweet thread indicate how a former CIA station chief in Islamabad and Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US were hired to lobby for PTI in Washington. The alleged conspiracy resulted in the ouster of Imran Khan as prime minister in April. On 20th Dec, 2022, journalist Waqas Ahmed shared a series of tweets that have since become the top trend on social media, revealing new information, according to which Iftikhar Durrani of PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) hired Mr. Robert Grenier to lobby on their behalf in Washington, DC, on July 16, 2021. This was disclosed in Mr. Greiner’s jointly signed FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) declaration dated July 17, 2021. However, it was the government of Pakistan that was paying him. Based on the information provided, there was no news about it at the time, but about a year later, in August 2022, Pakistani media outlet “The News” shared the FARA declaration and reported on it under the headline “PTI hired CIA veteran to advise on US ties: documents”, describing how Greiner was hired by PTI to lobby for and offer advice on Pakistan-Us relations. This information, nevertheless, proved to be inaccurate because the relationship between Mr. Grenier and the Government of Pakistan ended on October 31, 2021, and a FARA Supplement covering the six-month period ending in Jan 2022 disclosed information about the payments made by the Government of Pakistan to Mr. Grenier. A total of $150,000 was granted for research—not lobbying. Although Grenier abruptly filed an amendment to the Supplemental Statement in November 2022 (far after the PTI administration had dissolved). Question remained; Did Grenier pay anyone on behalf of the principal (Durrani/GoP)? Turns out, yes. None other than former Pakistani Ambassador to DC, Mr Husain Haqqani, who received two payments of $20,000 and $10,000. It also clarified that Durrani was a non-entity throughout the scheme. Formerly a staunch supporter of the former...
“Ukraine Will Never Stand Alone”: Biden To Zelensky At White House Meeting
Zelensky in US: Joe Biden pledged that the United States would lend its support against "Russian aggression" for as long as it takes. Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday won vows of long-term US support including a new missile defense system during his first foreign trip since Russia's invasion, with President Joe Biden promising him, "You will never stand alone." Three hundred days after Russian leader Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine with hopes of swift conquest, Zelensky enjoyed a hero's welcome on a lightning trip to Washington, but he also made clear he would not accept any pressure to compromise. Zelensky -- whose media savvy and rugged demeanor have helped rally the world to Ukraine's cause -- kept his trademark military fatigues rather than switching to a suit as Biden rolled out the red carpet, affectionately putting his hand over the wartime leader's shoulder as they entered the White House. "You will never stand alone," Biden told him at a joint news conference. "The American people are with you every step of the way and we will stay with you -- we will stay with you -- for as long as it takes." Biden said that Americans "understand in our bones that Ukraine's fight is part of something much bigger." "Together I have no doubt we'll keep the flame of liberty burning bright and the light will remain and prevail over the darkness." Zelensky will later deliver an address to Congress, which is finalizing a new $45 billion package for Ukraine heading into the new year, before flying back with barely half a day on the ground. - More military aid - Zelensky flew in secret to the United States straight after a risky visit to the frontline in Bakhmut, where Ukrainian and Russian troops have both endured heavy tolls in shooting and shelling over the past two months. Zelensky presented Biden with an award that he said was handed to him on the ground by a "real hero" -- a captain on the ground of a HIMARS rocket system that has been a...
S Jaishankar: India beefs up military at tense China border
India's foreign minister has said that the country has scaled up troop deployment along a disputed border with China to an unprecedented level. S Jaishankar added that India wouldn't let China "unilaterally change" the status quo at the border. His comments came days after Indian and Chinese forces clashed in a disputed area along the border in Arunachal Pradesh state. India said that the encounter began due to "encroachment" by Chinese troops. China's foreign ministry has said that according to their knowledge, the situation on the border was "generally stable" and the two sides were maintaining dialogue on the issue. India-China border dispute explained in 400 words Shadow of 60-year-old war at India-China flashpoint India and China share a disputed 3,440km (2,100 mile) long de facto border - called the Line of Actual Control, or LAC - which is poorly demarcated. Soldiers on either side come face to face at many points, and tensions sometimes escalate into skirmishes or clashes. Both sides have been trying to de-escalate since a violent brawl in June 2020 in the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region much further to the west - 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers died in the battle. The latest flare-up - the first in more than a year - occurred on 9 December, and resulted in minor injuries to a few soldiers. Both sides immediately disengaged from the area, the Indian army said. Mr Jaishankar was answering questions about the incident while speaking at an event organised by media company India Today on Monday. "Today, you have a deployment of the Indian Army on China border that we never had. It is done to counter Chinese aggression. The Indian Army today is deployed to counter any attempt to unilaterally change LAC," he said. China hasn't responded to the comments yet. The latest clash had led to a political uproar in India last week, with opposition parties walking out of parliament after their demand for an immediate discussion of the border...
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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.