Pakistan Security Brief
Pakistan Security Brief – February 18, 2010
Afghan “shadow governors” captured in Balochistan; bomb blast in Khyber kills at least 29; police round up militants in Karachi; roadside bomb hits NATO supply truck in Khuzdar; drone strike in North Waziristan kills four militants; Salarzai tribe in Bajaur implements measures to thwart militants.
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Afghan officials have announced that Pakistan has captured two Taliban “shadow governors” from northwest Afghanistan. Mullah Abdul Salam of Kunduz province and Mullah Mir Mohammad of Baghlan province were reportedly arrested in Balochistan about a week ago. Both men are said to have had a “close working relationship” with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the recently captured second in command of the Afghan Taliban.[1]
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An explosion at a mosque in the Aka Khel area of Khyber Agency has left at least 29 people dead and wounded more than 50 others. A commander of Lashkar-e-Islam and several other militants were reported to have been among those killed in the blast. Security officials say they believe the attack was part of a long standing rivalry between the militant groups Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam.[2]
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Security forces in Karachi have arrested Abdullah alias Abu Waqas, a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander from Bajaur who had travelled to Karachi to train 270 teenage girls to become suicide bombers. Several al-Qaeda linked militants were also arrested in Karachi in a series of raids on Wednesday night. Officials said the suspects came to the city in order to acquire bomb making materials.[3]
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A NATO supply truck travelling from Karachi to Chaman was the apparent target of a roadside bomb attack in Khuzdar district. The blast caused partial damage to the vehicle and injured the driver.[4]
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Four militants have been killed in a suspected US drone strike on a militant compound in Dande Darpa Khel near Miramshah, North Waziristan. A security official has stated that the compound belonged to the Haqqani Network.[5]
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Salarzai tribal elders in Bajaur Agency have announced their decision to implement strict measures to combat Taliban militants in the region. Tribesmen in the area have been warned that offering aid to militants will result in heavy fines and expulsion from their village. The Salarzai elders also announced that the tribe would rigorously guard all points of entry into Mamund Tehsil.[6]
