Pakistan

 

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, one of the largest mosques in the world (Photo by Michael Foley, available at Flickr)

 

As the United States military continues battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the border regions of Pakistan remain an increasingly important variable in the prospects for long-term success in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Top Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders have established strongholds in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), and Baluchistan Province – all areas from which militants launch attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.  In this sub-section, the Critical Threats Project explores these and other issues in several in-depth pieces.

 

Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistan Security Brief: Daily tracking summarizing developments related to the security situation in Pakistan.

 

Analysis

Floods in Pakistan - Maps, Charts and Key Data: CTP has produced several graphics tracking the flood, its severity, the locations of terror-linked aid camps and more.

Floods in Pakistan: CTP analyzes the effects of the historic flooding in Pakistan and how radical Islamists are stepping in to take advantage of the relief efforts.

Pakistan's Army Chief's Extension: The Critical Threats team examines the recent decision to grant Pakistan's Army Chief a 3-year extension and its impact on the country's future.

Swat Operation Anniversary: A look at the state of Swat one year after the Pakistani military's operation to clear the valley of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Qari Hussain Mehsud: A detailed profile of Qari Hussain Mehsud, a top deputy of Hakimullah Mehsud and the TTP's principal trainer of suicide bombers.

TTP Operational Link to Times Square

Orakzai Operation Tracker: The Critical Threats team catalogues and provides background materiel on the Pakistani military's latest offensive against the TTP in Orakzai.

A Sea Change in Pakistan?: CTP and the Institute for the Study of War examine the circumstances surrounding Pakistan's recent arrests of senior Afghan Taliban leaders.

FATA operations after South Waziristan: A new CTP report looks at recent and ongoing operations in the FATA since the end of major fighting in South Waziristan.

The Death of Hakimullah Mehsud: CTP looks at the circumstances surrounding Hakimullah's death, his potential successors, and the future of the TTP.

Phase 1 Analysis: Operation Rah-e-Nijat: A CTP briefing examining the end of the major combat phase of Pakistani military operations in South Waziristan and looking at what may lie ahead.

Waziristan Ground Operation Coverage: The Critical Threats team catalogues and provides background material on the Pakistani military's operation in South Waziristan.

War-gaming the Afghan Taliban: An assessment of the challenges that Pakistan’s security forces would face in an effort to target Afghan-focused insurgent groups.

Pakistan's war against Islamists: A look at the new Pakistani offensive in South Waziristan and what the U.S. reaction to that needs to be.

Hakimullah Mehsud: A look at the Taliban succession crisis following Beitullah’s death, Hakimullah’s subsequent rise to power and the challenges the TTP now faces.

Pakistani Military Options: An assessment of the different strategic options available for the Pakistani military to pursue in the aftermath of Beitullah Mehsud’s demise.

Beitullah Mehsud’s Death: An analysis of the circumstances surrounding the TTP chief’s death and its possible implications for the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistani Military OrBat: An Order of Battle listing Pakistani military units and their deployments in the FATA and NWFP specifically, and in the rest of the country in general.

Punjabi Taliban: An exploration of the increasing entry of the Taliban into Pakistan's core Punjab region.


MapS

FATA Conflict Maps: CTP has produced several maps of areas undergoing military operations. Detailed here are maps of the NWFP and FATA, and close-ins of Orakzai, Kurram and Bajaur agencies.

2009 Waziristan Conflict Map: Militant strongholds, military base locations, key contested areas and week-by-week listings of all incidences of violence relating to the insurgency in the FATA.

 

Biographies

Qari Hussain Mehsud: A detailed profile of Qari Hussain Mehsud, a top deputy of Hakimullah Mehsud and the TTP's principal trainer of suicide bombers.

Hakimullah Mehsud: A look at the Taliban succession crisis following Beitullah’s death, Hakimullah’s subsequent rise to power and the challenges the TTP now faces.

Turkistan Bhittani: A profile of the colorful ‘pro-government’ militant commander from South Waziristan who continues to pose a threat to the Pakistani Taliban.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur: A backgrounder on the most senior Taliban commander in North Waziristan and the principal host of the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

Maulvi Nazir Ahmad: An in-depth look at the second most important Taliban leader in South Waziristan; both the Pakistani government and the Pakistani Taliban are sparring for his support.

Qari Zainuddin Mehsud: An examination of the now-deceased leader of the anti-Baitullah-Mehsud Abdullah Mehsud group.