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Pakistan Security Brief

Contributors: Adam Tohn (current), Zeeshan Mithani (current), Kim Hoffman, Cody Brown (current), Laila Khan (current), Christian Conroy, Sarath Ganji, Asmaa Ahmed, Thomas Smith, Christine Johnson, James Marino, Sam Worby, Alex Della Rocchetta, Eric Carrino, Nicholas Patella, David Kahan, Benjamin Schultz, Brian Wolfe, Jonathan Frist, and Reza Jan (current).

May 24, 2013

Pakistan seeking loan from Saudi Arabia; PML-N leader says Pakistan may wait to go for IMF loan; Kayani tells Sharif no deal with U.S. on drone strikes; Details of Obama's counterterrorism speech and reactions; Kurram clash kills 20 militants and four troops; TTP says it is too early to respond to negotiation offers from PML-N; Sharif meets U.S., Indian ambassadors; PTI says it will cooperate fully with PML-N to counter militancy; Petition submitted by PTI for prosecuting Altaf Hussain for treason; Special court to be convened to hear Musharraf treason case; MQM leader threatens to leave party; MQM reshuffling in wake of poor election showing; Gilani and Ashraf summoned to National Accountability Bureau; Four Indian soldiers killed by rebels in Kashmir; Suicide attack on leader of Afghan religious group kills three; NATO driver killed in attack on convoy; Six people killed in Karachi; Hand grenade attack on school wounds four; CD shop owner killed by hand grenade; Protests by Kutchhi community in Karachi kill one; Lyari gang warfare injures four; Three militants killed in air strikes; Two British citizens arrested for joking about blowing up plane; Forty five Indian fishermen released from prison; Zardari and Sharif meet, agree to cooperate; Li Keqiang wraps up Pakistan visit.

May 23, 2013

TTP spokesman says TTP welcomes talks with Sharif; Thirteen police officers killed in bomb attack in Balochistan; Five people killed in Balochistan, including four women; Sharif's government likely to get $15 billion Saudi bailout; PTI will support PML-N's peace efforts; Sharif announces nomination of brother Shahbaz as chief minister of Punjab; MQM Coordination Committee disbanded; Musharraf denied bail in judges detention case; PPP formally invites MQM to coalition; PML-N and JUI-F “inches away” from coalition deal; Sharif pressed to stop drone strikes; British minister confirms “unprecedented” complaints about Hussain; Chinese Premier meets with Kayani; Obama gives speech on drones, plans to limit targets and increase oversight; U.S. admits to killing four citizens with drones; Pentagon needs for additional funding for Pakistan transportation costs; American killed in drone strike had been arrested by Pakistani authorities; Kayani says army has no interest in used American weapons; India to support Afghan stability, considers Afghan “wish list” of weapons; Two security personnel killed in Kurram operation; LeT commander killed in Indian Kashmir; Two Levies men injured in Bajaur check post attack; several die in violence in northwest Pakistan.

May 22, 2013

Chinese Premier arrives in Pakistan for two-day visit, praises Pakistan in interview; NATO equipment withdrawal through Pakistan begins; Imran Khan released from hospital; PTI protests rigging, ECP, MQM; MQM leader disbands Karachi Organizing Committee; Supreme Court orders revision of case against MQM; Roadside bomb in Karachi detonated; Balochistan advocate general freed by kidnappers; Five people arrested for stealing parts from NATO vehicles; Two paramilitary soldiers killed by IED in South Waziristan; Prayer leader shot inside mosque; India and Afghanistan discuss deepening India's help in Afghanistan's reconstruction; Musharraf released for Bhutto murder case, no bail for judges' detention case; PTI came in second in popular vote; Incoming government will continue BISP, renamed as PISP; ANP claims defeat is due to foreign elements; Drone strikes fallen since 2010, costs becoming clear; British survey shows 63 percent believe drone strikes never justified; Drones report says strikes have minimal impact on recruitment A quarter of proposed development spending to come from foreign loans; Ahmadis persecuted by extremists and government.

May 21, 2013

Musharraf granted bail in Benazir murder case; PTI protests against MQM; MQM protests PTI accusations; Nawaz Sharif indicates willingness to talk to Taliban; PTI, JUI-S pledge to work together for “peace;” Nawaz working on plan to address energy crisis, includes electricity import from India; Imran Khan to be released from hospital; Zardari invites Sharif to dinner for Chinese PM; Kayani calls for international counter-IED conference; Former PM Ashraf apologizes for contempt of court; PML-N not likely to ask MQM to join government; Obama plans to turn over more drone operations from CIA to DOD; Political violence in Karachi and Mardan; Afghan official expects spike in violence due to closure of radical madrassas in Pakistan; Militants torch houses of militia tribesmen in Khyber.

May 20, 2013

Kayani and Sharif in unprecedented meeting; Imran Khan blames MQM for PTI leader's murder, MQM holds protests; Re-polling held peacefully in Karachi and won by PTI; Bail granted to Musharraf and judges' detention case dropped; Sharif calls for Taliban peace talks; Sharif expected to unveil plan for dealing with power cuts; PPP leader alleges rigging by Frontier Corps; Zardari rejects allegations of appointing questionable government officers; Asad Qaiser named speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly; Ongoing talks regarding JUI-F/PML-N coalition; Nawaz says foreign policy agenda to focus on security and economy; Independent members of Parliament from FATA rejects offers of coalition; Soldier killed in attack on polio vaccination team; Several people killed in violence across country; IDP representatives call for peace in Orakzai; Gunmen fire on empty NATO trucks; Body of Hafiz Saeed's bodyguard found; Violence against PTI in Hyderabad; Obama to address legality of drones on Thursday; U.S. lauds Pakistani attempts to make fertilizer less dangerous; Sherry Rehman denounces drone strikes in farewell speech; Karzai to visit India, plans to ask for support against Pakistan; Britain admits to funding polls on drone strikes; British High Commissioner meets with Nawaz Sharif; Pakistan to adopt Chinese GPS satellite system.

May 17, 2013

PML-N has 124 seats, PPP has 31, PTI has 27 in final count; ECP refuses to recount votes in NA-122 or re-poll all of NA-250; Imran Khan expected to leave hospital in two weeks; Votes will be re-counter or re-run for eight national assembly seats; Sharif says corruption will not be tolerated; Kayani wants parliament to serve the people and says army will support further re-elections; ANP to sit in opposition and condemns violence that hindered his party's activities; PML-N invited JUI-F to join coalition; Ashraf appeared before NAB for rental power projects case; Fifteen killed in two mosque bombs; NATO truck driver killed; Head of kidnapping ring arrested; Peace body head killed; Market explosions kill four in North Waziristan; Former JI Nazim killed; Five security personnel killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 100,000 tons of wheat to be exported to Iran in payment for electricity; Pakistan to release 51 Indian fishermen.

May 15, 2013

 Nawaz Sharif visits Imran Khan in hospital to make peace; Coalition agreed open for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government; Independent legislators join PML-N in national and Punjab assemblies; PTI claims evidence of rigging, holds sit-in against vote rigging in Attock; Seven arrested in connection with ballot rigging; Thousands displaced from Kurram; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claims responsibility for Quetta suicide attack; Seven shot dead in Karachi; MQM holds protest against alleged vote rigging in Karachi; Musharraf cannot be tried under Anti Terrorism Act; Kayani calls Imran Khan to inquire after health; PPP to reach out to allies; Top U.S. AfPak official to leave Pentagon; U.S. officials reach out to Sharif; British police investigate Hussain's comments.

May 14, 2013

 Many parties stage protests and sit-ins across the country because of alleged election rigging; PTI has first right to a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Sharif sets goals for first 100 days; Observers pronounce election free and fair; Independents join PML-N in national assembly; Coalitions being worked out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Punjab governor resigns from politics; Zardari calls to congratulate Sharif; MQM candidate demands do-over of election in all of Karachi; NAB summons Ashraf in RPP case, who fails to appear; Ex-PM Gilani takes responsibility for the PPP's defeat; Written agreement barring women from voting surfaces; Musharraf's judicial remand extended; Multiple dead in violent incidents; Security clampdown in Karachi; PML-N will allow Zardari to finish term; Ambassador Sherry Rehman resigns; Death toll from Quetta attack rises to eight; Economists outline steps for new government; Pakistan sends $500 million of exports to India; Remittances to Pakistan total $11.5 billion, trade deficit falls; Sharif reiterates high hopes for cooperation with India; PM Singh turns down invitation to Sharif's oath-taking ceremony; U.S. Ambassador visits Sharif; Afghan Taliban call border skirmishes a conspiracy; Afghan official says Pakistan leadership change represents an opportunity; David Cameron calls Sharif to congratulate him.

May 13, 2013

 Pakistan votes in historic polls; Sharif's victory speech names key targets for improvement; PML-N likely will not need to form coalition government with rivals PTI or PPP; PTI to become main opposition party and lead Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Nawaz Sharif discusses his priorities, including international ties and economic issues; Sharif names Ishaq Dar as next finance minister; Allegations of foul play in Karachi and Lahore; Voting to be re-run in parts of Karachi; Turnout estimated at 60 percent; PPP strong performance only in Sindh; 29 people killed in Election Day violence; Blasts targeting ANP in Karachi kill eleven; Six killed in suicide attack in Balochistan; Polling in FATA peaceful; EU observers: 64 killed on Election Day; Obama congratulates Pakistan on free election; Reporter Declan Walsh expelled from Pakistan; Indian PM congratulates Sharif and hopes for better relations; Cautious optimism in India over Sharif's win; Karzai congratulates Sharif and hopes for peace and brotherhood; Pakistani stock exchange surges in response to Sharif's victory.

May 10, 2013

 Imran Khan gives his last speech from his hospital bed; Report: coalition government likely given close polling between PML-N and PTI; PPP chairman addresses last rally via video link; Mainstream parties agreeing to block women from voting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Two MQM candidates withdraw their candidacies in favor of the PTI; Baloch politicians will be running after boycotting last elections; Baloch National Front calls for strike; Caretaker prime minister issued a contempt notice; Internal TTP letter reveals plans for Election Day violence; Five killed in Miran Shah bombs; Security personnel killed during attack on convoy carrying election papers; IED targeting PPP injures five people in Quetta; Militants blow up Balochistan polling stations; Five injured in Balochistan bomb attack on independent candidate; Blast at JUI-F rally kills one; President Zardari condemns Gilani kidnapping; Army will deploy troops at most sensitive polling stations; Five killed in attack on police van; Militant attack on check post kills three.