Pakistan Security Brief
Three killed in Wednesday’s drone strike said to be foreigners; Benazir Bhutto’s son announces start of political career and declares war on the TTP; Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif suggests anti-drone protests are isolating Pakistan; California man pleads guilty to terrorism charges; Militants kill six in Lyari gang wars.
Drone Strike
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A Friday article in The News reported that the three men killed in Wednesday’s drone strike in North Waziristan agency were foreigners, and “probably Arab nationals.”[1]
Domestic
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On Friday, Bilawal Bjutto Zardari, the son of Benazir Bhutto and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), delivered a speech at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where he formally announced the start of his political career. Bilawal criticized the government’s attempts to negotiate with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and suggested strict conditions for dialogue with the organization, including surrendering arms and offering “blood money” for victims of terrorist attacks, and respect for minorities.[2]
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On Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that those involved in anti-drone protests are pushing Pakistan into isolation at a time when the government has sought to strengthen relations with other countries. Sharif did not directly reference the protests in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) that have suspended the transport of NATO supplies through the Torkham pass. The Prime Minister’s speech followed a bill passed in the U.S. Congress the previous week that linked Coalition Support Fund reimbursements to the reopening of supply routes.[3]
Militancy
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On Friday, a California man, Sinh Vinh Ngo Nguyen, pleaded guilty to a federal terrorism charge before a U.S. District Court. Nguyen, who used the Internet and Facebook to connect with al Qaeda, admitted to attempting to assist the organization by providing weapons and training.[4]
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On Friday, unknown militants killed six Lyari gang war suspects, in the Pak Colony area of Old Golimar, Karachi. According to police, the killings were likely the result of an ongoing rivalry between Lyari’s Uzair Baloch and Baba Ladla groups. In an unrelated event, unknown persons threw a hand grenade at a house in Karachi’s Ferozabad area, killing a seven-year old girl. Lastly, a suspect in the attack of Shafiq Tanoli, a former police Station House officer (SHO) of Maripur, died in hospital.[5]
