Pakistan Security Brief

Police arrest Musharraf, Senate calls for treason case, U.S. claims neutrality in case; U.S. Secretary of State stresses need for cooperation despite differences with Pakistan; IED injures three in Peshawar; Attackers injure polio team members; Air strikes kill eight in Khyber and North Waziristan; Militants fire rockets at political rally; Assailants blow up pipeline to Punjab; Six killed, child injured in Karachi violence; Zardari condemns security situation for candidates and parties; ECP moves to allow eexpatsto vote overseas; Army calls for aid to support additional earthquake relief.

Musharraf’s Arrest

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry testified in front of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, where he explained that while certain aspects of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship are strained and disagreeable to either or both parties, such as the imprisonment of the doctor involved in the Osama bin Laden manhunt, the overall need for cooperation overwhelms those issues.  Kerry cited cooperation over nuclear weaponry, transportation routes to and from Afghanistan, and intelligence cooperation as key examples of successful collaboration between the two countries that could not be sacrificed to push specific contentious issues.[2]

Militancy

Domestic Politics

Earthquake

  • On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon extended an offer to send support for relief efforts for areas affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Pakistan on Tuesday.  Secretary General Ban offered help from the UN “if asked to do so,” as did U.S. aid agencies, after the earthquake devastated the Mashkhel area of Balochistan.  According to reports, the earthquake destroyed 20,000 peoples’ homes, killing between fifteen and eighty people, depending on the source.  The Pakistan Army called for support from relief agencies on Thursday to supplement the helicopters, trucks full of supplies and equipment, and hundreds of soldiers they have already deployed to the area.[12]


[1] “Pakistani police arrest former president Musharraf,” Reuters, April 19, 2013. Available at www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/19/us-pakistan-musharraf-idUSBRE93I04K20130419 
“Treason: Senate passes resolution calling for Musharraf’s trial,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537724/treason-senate-passes-resolution-calling-for-musharrafs-trial/
“Pervez Musharraf arrested in Pakistan,” New York Times, April 19, 2013. Available at www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/world/asia/pervez-musharraf-arrested-in-pakistan.html
[2] “Can’t ignore Pakistan’s cooperation over few things,” The News, April 19, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-97435-Cant-ignore-Pakistans-cooperation-over-few-things%3a-Kerry
[3] “Roadside bomb blast hurts 3 in Adezai,” The News, April 19, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-97499-Roadside-bomb-blast-hurts-3-in-Adezai
[4] “Polio team targeted: two levies personnel injured in K-P,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537714/polio-team-targeted-two-levies-personnel-injured-in-k-p/
[5] “militants targeted in Darra air strikes,” Dawn, April 19, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/04/19/militants-targeted-in-darra-air-strikes-2/
[6] “Four die in air strikes,” Dawn, April 18, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/04/19/four-die-in-air-strikes/
[7] “Rocket attack on election rally in South Waziristan injures 2,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537705/rocket-attack-on-election-rally-in-south-waziristan-injures-2/
[8] “Gas pipeline blown up in Rajanpur,” The News, April 19, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-97418-Gas-pipeline-blown-up-in-Rajanpur
[9] “Six more killed in Karachi violence incidents,” The News, April 19, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-97487-Six-more-killed-in-Karachi-violence-incidents
“Blast in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth injures child,” Dawn, April 19, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/04/19/blast-in-karachis-sohrab-goth-injures-child/ 
[10] “Security issue: President concerned over threat to candidates,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537666/security-issue-president-concerned-over-threat-to-candidates/
[11] “Security issue: President concerned over threat to candidates,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537666/security-issue-president-concerned-over-threat-to-candidates/
“Overseas Pakistanis to be given the right to vote,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537425/overseas-pakistanis-to-be-given-the-right-to-vote-ecp/
[12] “Pakistani army appeals for aid for quake-hit Balochistan,” BBC, April 18, 2013. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22203935
“Balochistan earthquake relief work hampered by distance, terrain,” Express Tribune, April 19, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/537664/balochistan-earthquake-relief-work-hampered-by-distance-terrain/
“Quake wipes out nearly entire Pakistai town near Iranian border,” Washington Post, April 18, 2013. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/quake-wipes-out-nearly-entire-pakistani-town-near-iranian-border/2013/04/18/d8a8b91c-a853-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html
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