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Future of Al-Qaeda and Pak-US relations: A Discussion Forum with Peter Bergen

Islamabad (Thursday, 05 April, 2012): Al-Qaeda has lost in war of ideas and Arab Spring is vivid example of this. US- Pakistan relations will get better in future. Unfortunately, strengths of Pakistan are misunderstood in USA. Pakistan can boast of independent judiciary and thriving media. This was stated by prominent US journalist, author and the director of the national security studies program at the New America Foundation in Washington D.C., Peter Bergen during a discussion forum 'Future of Al-Qaeda and Pak-US relations' organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad. Drawing on his decades– long experience in journalism and extensively writing on the issue of Al-Qaeda in the region, Bergen said that Osama bin Laden had lost relevance even before his death on May 02, 2011. 'There were no large scale protests on his death in Pakistan or elsewhere around the world on Osama demise', he observed. He shared that Osama decision to attack USA on September 11, 2011 was questioned by his confidants, but he chose to go ahead: probably Osama wanted to drag USA in a protracted war in Afghanistan and he succeeded in it. Bergen underlined that though war on terror taxed America heavily, yet the economic cost of this war is far less than the cost of American military's role in World War II and intervention in Vietnam. 'US has achieved significant milestones in war against Al-Qaeda and the most important one to cripple the terrorist organization to a level that it did not mount any attack on US soil so far', he asserted. Regarding Pak-US relations, Bergen underscored that both the countries cannot cooperate in multiple ways and in score of fields. He said that the US always considers Pakistan an important ally and a crucial state in the region and extra-region. He conceded that there is huge misperception about Pakistan among American public and local media is responsible for that. But, he noted that there are grievances on the part of both states, which...

Pakistan Conflict Tracker Monthly Report (March 2012)

Security landscape in Pakistan continued to embroil with persistent incidents of violence during March. Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) regions, the epicenter of fight against terrorism, witnessed major proportion of overall violence in the country. Adding to that, towards the end of the reported month, recurrent ethno-political violence engulfed the biggest city of Pakistan, Karachi, and brought the economic nerve of the country to standstill. The data collected through different sources suggested that 639 people lost their lives in 218 incidents of violence across the country (for details see data sheet). The violent clashes also left 371 people injured across the country. A trail through the data underscores that frequent clashes between militants and security forces, immersed in a violent campaign in FATA and KP regions resulted into the major loss of lives. As noted in pie chart I, militants accounted for almost 50 percent of the total deaths. The second highest number of casualties was of civilians, accounting for 38 percent of the total number. While 12 percent causalities were of security forces and those were mostly recorded in aforementioned insurgency infested areas. Meanwhile, it was noted that a whopping 88 percent of total causalities were of militants and civilians. Furthermore during the current month, three CIA operated drone strikes were also reported in different parts of North or South Waziristan Agency (FATA), resulting in the killing of 33 suspected militants and injuring seven others. During their malicious sabotage campaign to dismantle the state infrastructure, militants blew up 17 schools in different parts of FATA and KP during the course of month. Also, 15 sabotage attacks were reported in parts of Balochistan and Karachi, where miscreants blew up gas pipelines and torched vehicles. A concise look into the instruments of violence suggests that target killing was the major weapon for the violent...

Pakistan Conflict Tracker Weekly Report (March 23-29, 2012)

During the previous week, the violence further escalated as compared to the past three weeks. But, the salient feature of the week was a sudden upsurge in violence in the largest metropolis of Pakistan, Karachi during the last two days of the week: where the killing of a member of an ethnic political party (Muthida Qaumi Movement, MQM) unleashed an appalling cycle of violence in the city. The data collected through different sources suggests that 135 people lost their lives in 45 incidents of violence across the country, and once again it was the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and tribal regions, which witnessed majority of violence during the course of the week (for details see data sheet). The violent clashes also left 58 people injured across the country. Moreover, it were the militants who bore the major burnt, as 62 militants were killed in different incidents, whereas the military-militants– clashes left 43 militants and seven security personnel dead. The second highest number of casualties was of civilians, where 50 civilians were killed and 37 were left injured. The major loss of civilian lives was recorded because of the ferocious wave of target killings throughout the country. Furthermore, the current week, like the previous one, marked no CIA operated drone strikes in any part of North or South Waziristan Agency, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). Meanwhile, militants continued their sabotage campaign, blowing up gas supply lines, telephone exchange, community health centre, mobile phone towers and a government boys– primary school in different areas of KP and tribal regions. Ten different sabotage attacks were reported during the course of the week and most these occurred in KP. Raging militancy in KP and FATA again resulted in a major chunk of loss of lives and 37 percent of the total causalities of the current week were the result of recurrent clashes between militants and security forces, especially in the aforementioned areas. A concise look into...

Weekly Data Sheet (March 23-29, 2012)

“Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan” organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad

'Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan' organized by theCenter for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad Islamabad (Thursday, March 29, 2012): When state institutions begin patronizing crime, how can common citizens feel safe? Worsening of law and order has emerged as the biggest threat to Balochistan because people carrying ID cards allegedly of intelligence agencies are abusing their authority for personal gains. These were the views expressed by speakers and duly sanctioned by the participants at a roundtable discussion forum,'Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan' organized by theCenter for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad at its office. National Party of Balochistan's vice president and senator, Mir Hasil Bizenjo termed the failure of law and order situation in Balochistan as the biggest threat to the province. He underlined that people carrying ID cards allegedly of intelligence agencies are abusing their authority for personal, financial and political gains. 'They get involved in all types of crimes from kidnappings to car snatching to drug smuggling', he noted. Dilating upon the apathy of state security apparatus, he mentioned that security forces cannot apprehend any influential criminal because of the nexus between political elite, criminal gangs and agencies. No security agency dares stopping or preventing these people from criminal activities. Thus, they operate with impunity, practically unchecked. 'When state institutions begin patronizing crime, how can common citizens feel safe?' he raised a crucial questions about the intentions of the state. 'State writ is absent in Balochistan. Levies and FC have become ineffective because of the collusion between criminal gangs and politicians–, he lamented. Discussing the prospects of change in Balochistan as a result of new elections, he said that new elections bring relative changes in the province, but it cannot alter the...

"Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan" organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad

'Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan' organized by theCenter for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad Islamabad (Thursday, March 29, 2012): When state institutions begin patronizing crime, how can common citizens feel safe? Worsening of law and order has emerged as the biggest threat to Balochistan because people carrying ID cards allegedly of intelligence agencies are abusing their authority for personal gains. These were the views expressed by speakers and duly sanctioned by the participants at a roundtable discussion forum,'Decoding Nexus between Criminal Gangs and Insurgents in Balochistan' organized by theCenter for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad at its office. National Party of Balochistan's vice president and senator, Mir Hasil Bizenjo termed the failure of law and order situation in Balochistan as the biggest threat to the province. He underlined that people carrying ID cards allegedly of intelligence agencies are abusing their authority for personal, financial and political gains. 'They get involved in all types of crimes from kidnappings to car snatching to drug smuggling', he noted. Dilating upon the apathy of state security apparatus, he mentioned that security forces cannot apprehend any influential criminal because of the nexus between political elite, criminal gangs and agencies. No security agency dares stopping or preventing these people from criminal activities. Thus, they operate with impunity, practically unchecked. 'When state institutions begin patronizing crime, how can common citizens feel safe?' he raised a crucial questions about the intentions of the state. 'State writ is absent in Balochistan. Levies and FC have become ineffective because of the collusion between criminal gangs and politicians–, he lamented. Discussing the prospects of change in Balochistan as a result of new elections, he said that new elections bring relative changes in the province, but it cannot alter the...

CRSS Roundtable with Turk MP Kayaturk

Burhan Kayaturk , eminent member of the Turkish Parliament, and the President of Turkey-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association, says Turkey is always willing to help Pakistan in any possible way. Mr. Kayaturk, decorated with Pakistan 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz' civilian award in Islamabad on March 23, expressed these thoughts in a round-table discussion with distinguished Pakistani analysts and academics at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad. Mr. Kayaturk underlined the need for greater interaction between people from both countries which he said 'can benefit the entire region'. Mr. Kayaturk, an engineer by profession, is a well-known figure in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Afghanistan for his work on several projects in the region. He represents the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the Turkish Parliament. Former ambassadors Arif Ayub and Ayaz Wazir, former Air Vice-Marshal Shahzad Chaudhry, Assistant Professor at Quaid-i-Azam University Salma Malik and CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul, were among the round-table on Pakistan's current situation and its relations with neighboring countries.

Weekly Data Sheet (March 16-22, 2012)

Pakistan Conflict Tracker Weekly Report (Mar.16-22, 2012)

Violence across Pakistan subsided during the current week in comparison to the previous two weeks. As data collected through different sources suggests that 107 persons lost their lives in 60 episodes of violence, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and tribal regions. During the violent clashes 51 people also got injured across the country. (See data sheet) In total 60 violent attacks were reported during the week in different areas of the country. During the course of the week nine military vs. militants– clashes resulted in the killing of 36 militants, while one security person also got killed. As a whole, 48 militants were killed in different circumstances. Meanwhile, 52 civilians also perished during different episodes of violence and the major loss of civilian lives was recorded in the form of recovery of dead bodies in Khyber Agency (FATA). As in Khyber Agency a fierce battle for control is under way between Lashkar-i-Islam militants and pro-government tribal lashkar (force), backed by the security forces. Unlike the past week, when the scores of militants were killed in CIA operated drone attacks, no such strike was reported during the week. CIA operated drones struck thrice and killed 33 militants in different parts of North and South Waziristan. Furthermore, militants fighting against state and security forces in KP and tribal region continued their fierce sabotage campaign to demolish state infrastructure and blew up nine schools in different areas. As in case of previous two weeks, during the current week, again ongoing military operations against militants in KP and FATA resulted in the majority of causalities. Figures in the above chart depict that almost one third of the total dead persons during the week were killed as a result of frequent clashes between militants and security forces, especially in KP and FATA regions. Mapping the territory of violence, one finds that target killing was the instrument of choice for the militants to inflict violence...

Militants Take out another Police Officer

The latest target-assassination in a suicide bombing of a senior police official in Peshawar on Thursday, yet again underscores the threat that the Pakistani security apparatus continues to face. Kalam Khan, a daring and prominent police commander led several anti-Taliban operations in the troubled northwestern Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province, died on the spot. Eyewitness said the bomber walked across the roadto get close enough to the vehicle before triggering his device. Officials said Khan had been receiving death threats for his role in the anti-militant operations. The killing is the latest in the attacks in Peshawar in the past two months after a long lull, and is also the latest in the string of strikes targeting senior police and security officials ´ more than 700 since the Islamist militants began reacting to the government crackdown on various groups nestled in the region in the last five years. In August 2010, one of the top three senior police officials of the province, Sifwat Ghayur became the victim of a suicide bombing while returning home from duty in Peshawar city. Earlier in January, 2007, the Peshawar city police chief, Malik Saad was among the victims of a deadly suicide bombing that took at least 30 lives. Similarly, Deputy Inspector General Abid Khan, and the district police officer in the southern district Bannu, Iqbal Khan have also been among those senior police officials who were either the direct or indirect targets of the suicide bombings, usually claimed by the vicious, Al-Qaeda linked Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ´ also called Al-Qaeda Force Multiplier. TTP has also been targeting members or heads of the community police ´ Lashkars that were formed with the support of the government to head off the militant threat in the suburban areas of Peshawar, the capital of the KP province. A suicide bomber mowed down 17 mourners early this week on the outskirts of Peshawar, when he blew himself up during the funeral of the wife of a Lashkar...