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Balochistan Weekly Monitor (January 2-8, 2012)
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...
CRSS Media Team’s New Year Gathering
CRSS' counter radicalisation advocacy/media team is working in various parts of KP and FATA to provid a counter narrative against extremism through live radio programs and field stories. The Team gathered on the morning of New Year along with the CRSS administration to enjoy an open air BarBQ lunch in Islamabad. The lunch was followed by a detailed discussion on the progress made by the team as well as the way forward for future ventures. Mr.Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS, individually asked every member of the team for their opinion as well as feedback for improvements. The discussion proved to be a fruitful platform for sharing and brainstorming of new ideas. Mr. Gul guided the staff to work on the important tasks such as Interviewing Peace Committees' members and highlighting their sacrifices to promote a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility. He also renewed the team's motivation by appreciating their work under tough conditions. Team members from Waziristan, Orakzai, Bannu, DI Khan, Swat, Khyber, Islamabad and Peshawar shared their field experiences and expressed their commitment to work as a national responsibility for playing a positive role for reforms and peace in the region.
CRSS Media Team's New Year Gathering
CRSS' counter radicalisation advocacy/media team is working in various parts of KP and FATA to provid a counter narrative against extremism through live radio programs and field stories. The Team gathered on the morning of New Year along with the CRSS administration to enjoy an open air BarBQ lunch in Islamabad. The lunch was followed by a detailed discussion on the progress made by the team as well as the way forward for future ventures. Mr.Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS, individually asked every member of the team for their opinion as well as feedback for improvements. The discussion proved to be a fruitful platform for sharing and brainstorming of new ideas. Mr. Gul guided the staff to work on the important tasks such as Interviewing Peace Committees' members and highlighting their sacrifices to promote a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility. He also renewed the team's motivation by appreciating their work under tough conditions. Team members from Waziristan, Orakzai, Bannu, DI Khan, Swat, Khyber, Islamabad and Peshawar shared their field experiences and expressed their commitment to work as a national responsibility for playing a positive role for reforms and peace in the region.
Pakistan Security in 2011
The following document gives an overview of the state of security in different parts of Pakistan. The primary objective of 'Pakistan Security in 2011' is to provide a glimpse of the country continued perilous journey ´ moving from one political or security setback to another with a direct bearing on the economy. In 2011, Pak-US relations in war on terror plunged to its lowest point in its decade long history. The Raymond Davis case of January 27, US raid to kill Osama bin Laden of May 2 and NATO attack on a Pak-Afghan border post badly impacted the bilateral relations, and thus tossed the volatility of security in Pakistan into the air. Indeed, severing of Pak-US ties also had repercussions for economy in Pakistan during the course of the year. Security Overview Pakistan security conditions remained volatile all through 2011. As many as 3,250 people fell prey to militancy related violence across the country while almost 700 security personnel were killed as a result of ongoing conflict between militants and security forces in different parts of Pakistan during the current year.[1] A Pakistan Security Report 2011, published by the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), counted about 7107 people dead across Pakistan in 2985 incidents of violence of various nature during 2011.[2] FATA Pakistan semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) ´ spread over about 27,200 sq.kilometres bordering Afghanistan ´ remained embroiled in the military-militant hostilities. Known abroad as the world 'most dangerous place,' FATA is home to some of the most lethal militant organization like the Tehreeke Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkare Jhangvi, and the Afghan Haqqani Network ´ which , according to US military and intelligence officials, are the local supporting arms of Al Qaeda. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army media wing, almost 473 military men were killed and 1543 injured in ongoing military operations in the volatile tribal...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Dec. 26, 2011- Jan. 1, 2012)
Executive Summary After a fragile lull in violence during past weeks, acute violence revisited the province during the week in focus. A car explosion outside the residence of a Baloch politician reportedly carried out by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and killed 13 people was the hallmark of the week. In sum 15 people were killed in different episodes of violence across the conflict stricken province. According to Balochistan Police Department estimates during 2011, 59 people were killed in target killings, 91 people of Shia community in sectarian violence, 480 people were abducted, 231 mutilated bodies were found of missing persons, and 218 security personnel were killed in exchange of fires and bomb blasts across Balochistan. Lawmakers in Balochistan Assembly on December 28 severely slated Interior Minister Rehman Malik for sabotaging peace and reconciliation process in Balochistan with his superfluous statements and words. Senator Hasil Bizenjo alleged that repression at the hands of the security agencies and the denial of even the most basic human rights are among the major issues in Balochistan. He termed the state 'as a major violator of human rights in the province'. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/ Subversion and Abductions A bullet riddled body of Gulam Qader, son of Doshamby, a resident of Nasirabad, Turbat was discovered by Balochistan Levies on December 27 in Murgap area of Turbat city, about 900-kilometer south of the provincial capital.[1] Inspector General of Balochistan Police Rao Amin Hashim underscored on December 28 that target killings of settlers in Balochistan, especially people belonging to Punjab has significantly declined during the current year. He noted that on the contrary there is a sharp increase in the discovery of bullet-riddled bodies of missing persons, sectarian violence and kidnappings for ransom in the chronically volatile province. He mentioned that as many as 59 settlers were gunned down this year and the number is...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Dec. 19- 25, 2011)
Executive Summary An unusual respite in violence prevailed in Balochistan during this week, as there was not a single violent incident reported across the province. But, Balochistan saw number of political activities and social demonstrations during the week. Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani stressed the need for political unity and harmony among all political parties to quell the prevalent environment of conspiracies. Veteran Baloch sardar and former chief minister, Sardar Attaullah Mengal severely criticized the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package, and termed it as a mere joke with the Balochis. Provincial Minister for Labor and Manpower Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar Musakhail slated Frontier Corps (FC) for its failure to check deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan. The enraged residents of Quetta over gas load shedding took out the streets against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and blocked the road that connects Quetta with the rest of Pakistan. They demanded that the government should ensure adequate and smooth supply of gas during chilly winter season. People belonging to the Hindu community in Balochistan held a protest against the government for its failure to protect the lives of those belonging to minorities. Week in Review a) Political Front Chief Minister Raisani while welcoming the return of President Asif Ali Zardari to Pakistan on December 19 urged political forces to join their hands and maintain unity and harmony among their ranks in order to thwart conspiracies hatched against democracy. He warned: 'All political parties should learn from mistakes they have committed in past and how democracy was derailed. It would create difficulties for Pakistan if democracy is again derailed.' He also underlined that the issue of the memo has been settled following a statement issued by the former US national security advisor, General (Retd.) James Jones.[1] Sardar Attaullah Mengal, who was in Karachi while talking to media before his meeting with...
Balming Bruised Balochistan
By: Imtiaz Gul The veteran Baloch sardar and former chief minister of Balochistan, Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal, rang the alarm bells again. After his meeting with PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on December 19 in Karachi, he cautioned that the atrocities against the Baloch havepushed the situation in chronically volatile province to a ¿point of no return–. He reprimanded the Pakistani security establishment, and held 'the Punjabi army' responsible forinhuman treatment of the Balochis. 'Baloch youth don–t want--- a Pakistan in which they receive mutilated bodies of their compatriots--- they are being systematically eliminated and forced to seek refuge in the mountains,' observed the founding chief of the Balochistan National Party. It is to be noted that Sardar Ataullah Mengal is one of three sardars in the province, whom former President Parvez Musharraf, termed anti-state. The other two are late Sardar Nawab Akbar Bugti and Sardar Khair Bux Marri. Mengal also accused Interior Minister Rehman Malik of using bullying language against the Balochis; emulating the tone and rhetoric of former president Musharraf. Against the backdrop of this strident disdain expressed by a sane politician against the federation; one needs to look beyond political narrative of this ever ticking ¿time bomb– of Pakistan. The history of state vs. province relation suggests that despite the efforts by the former to address the thorny issues in the province, the situation on ground never took a turn for the better. And this unfolding fragility of the situation in Balochistan reached to its climax during 2011. Indubitably the area-wise largest but population-wise tiny Balochistan province most probably as much a microcosm of Pakistan security and political crisis as is FATA; almost 450 murders since January so far; dozens of abductions, and hundreds of attacks on key security and utility installations suggest that the province is currently going through one of the worst phase of its political,...
Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan
International Conference Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan (08-09 December 2011, Islamabad, Marriott Hotel) Prologue Pakistan has become a ¿frontline state– in the ongoing War on Terror both as a result of its history of collusion with the terrorist groups and its newfound role of going against these terrorists in corroboration with the international coalition. Consequently, the country has suffered tremendous losses of human lives and development opportunities, especially in the past decade. One part of the problem is that the definition of security for the country so far has mainly been given from a military-strategic point of view. As a result, while Pakistan was busy to secure its borders, it has started falling apart from within. And thus today, it is related with all kinds of ills, which are generally attributed to characterize a ¿failed state–. So, in order to discuss and debate the issues of peace and conflict in Pakistan, Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Pakistan,andCenter for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, in media partnership withThe Express Tribune, Pakistan organized a two day international conference on 'Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan', atMarriott Hotel, Islamabad. This international conference aims at broadening the perspective by focusing on the interface between human and military security, the role of the government and Pakistan role in the region. How has the existing approach triggered the wave of violence that now threatens the very core of Pakistan? How is it related to the conflicts in its provinces? What are the most pressing needs that have to be addressed in order to secure Pakistan future as a peaceful state and prosperous society? How can it improve its relations with its immediate neighbors and cooperate in the region in order to secure peace and stability? And last but not the least: what shall be the nature of its relationship with the...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (Dec. 12- 18, 2011)
Against the backdrop of relatively calm previous two weeks in Balochistan, violence and terror revisited the province during the current week.The highlight of the week was a clash between Frontier Corps (FC) and a group of armed men in the Balgater area, which left six attackers dead and two FC personnelinjured. In sum, 13 people were killed as a result of different episodes of violence across Balochistan. FC Balochistan Inspector General, Major General, Ubaidullah Khattak denied any involvement of FC in the ongoing 'kill and dump operation' in the province. He claimed that 99 percent of the people who were bullet-riddled were criminals and had been killed by their affiliates. In a seminar, titled 'Attacks on journalists and media freedom', at the Quetta Press Club, Mr. Imtiaz Alam, General Secretary of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) stressed that the government institutions and armed forces should not impede the work of media in the volatile province. He urged the government to constitute a committee to investigate the killing of journalists in Balochistan. Because of the fear of target killing and the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, more and more teachers are quitting their jobs in Balochistan, where education sector is already suffering due to state apathy and mismanagement of resources. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversions and Abductions Three more bullet-riddled bodies of Balochistan National Party activists identified as Allah Baksh and his two nephews Sanaullah and Bashir Ahmed were found dumped in Khuzdar district on December 13, some 300 kilometers from the provincial capital. All of them belonged to Ferozabad area in Khuzdar and they were missing from two months.[1] On December 14, a vehicle of the paramilitary troops during its routine patrolling hit a landmine near the Mand Balo area of Balochistan, killing at least two security personnel while five others were injured. No group has taken the responsibility...
Pakistan-US Tiff redefining Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan
The year 2011 is likely to go down in history as a watershed in the Pakistan-US relations. The relations touched an all-time low with the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO-attack from Afghanistan on Nov 26th, triggering a series of events which suggest that continued US-NATO pressures have unintentionally invited an unusual show of unity betweeen Pakistan's civilian and military leadership. Here is a special Post penned by Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, on the subject: Pakistan remains in the eye of the storm. It continues to be the subject of speculation and controversies revolving around the alleged nexus between its security apparatus and some of the Al Qaeda-linked militant groups. Its rather stern response to 26/11 ´ an over two-hour intermittent NATO attack on one of its 890 border posts in the border region that left two dozen Pakistani soldiers dead ´ has further fueled the western coalition's frustrations. This response climaxed with a two-day Envoys Conference in Islamabad on Dec 13th. After the conference, the message that came out of the hurriedly called gathering, also addressed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, sent out a message that practically amounts to a redefinition of the decade-old counter-terror cooperation with the United States; Pakistan will not accept transgression of its territorial integrity under any circumstances and its cooperation with US/Nato/Isaf is based on respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, was the unanimous view of ambassadors who had been summoned from various capitals to discuss the post 26/11 situation. 'Under no circumstances, could Pakistan accept flagrant transgression of our territorial frontlines. This remains the base line and there can be no compromise on our sovereignty, dignity and national honour,' PM Gilani told the concluding session. The envoys unanimously called for a complete recast of cooperation with Washington, and also recommended scrapping agreements and...
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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.