Pakistan Security Brief

U.S. drone strike kills 10 suspected militants in North Waziristan; NATO, Afghan and Pakistani military officials meet to improve border coordination; U.S. briefs Pakistan on initial talks with Afghan Taliban; Pakistan rejects Secretary Panetta’s demand for release of Dr. Shakeel Afridi; Prime Minister Gilani files appeal against contempt charges; Islamabad High Court bars Pakistani government from appointing new defense secretary; Police officials raid over 10 madrassas in Peshawar; Senior politician killed in Balochistan; Explosion in Quetta’s Liaquat Bazaar; President Zardari tells Iran he is committed to early implementation of gas pipeline project; Pakistan and Qatar transform friendly ties into strategic relationship; Pakistani Foreign Minister on three-day visit to Russia; Sri Lankan president to visit Pakistan.

 

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

International Relations

  • NATO, Afghan and Pakistani military officials, including the Pakistan Army’s Director General of Military Operations Maj. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem, met on Wednesday at a border coordination center in Torkham to discuss improving coordination along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.[4]

  • On Tuesday, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met with an Iranian delegation led by Iran’s vice president, Ali Seedlou. Zardari told the delegation that Pakistan was committed to implementing the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project earlier than expected, while Seedlou said that Iran had already laid the pipeline within its borders and was prepared to fully implement the project.[5]

  • Pakistan and Qatar have decided to transform their friendly ties into a strategic relationship, and “Qatar is willing to cooperate with Pakistan in all fields,” Qatari leader Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said on Tuesday.[6]

  • During her three-day visit to Russia, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is holding talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on expanding and diversifying bilateral relations in fields such as energy and trade. At a joint press conference on Wednesday, Khar responded to a question on Afghanistan, saying that Pakistan has a policy of providing help and cooperation to any “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven peace initiative,” because it would be the only “lasting solution.”[7]

  • Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will make a three-day visit to Pakistan on February 10 in an effort to further strengthen economic, political and defense relations between the two countries.[8]

Domestic Politics

  • On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s lawyer filed an appeal on his client’s behalf against Gilani’s contempt of court charges and hearing on February 13. The Supreme Court has formed an eight-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to hear Gilani’s appeal on Thursday.[9]

  • The Islamabad High Court barred the Pakistani government on Wednesday from appointing a new defense secretary, until it finishes assessing the constitutional and legal standing of former defense secretary Lt. Gen. (ret.) Naeem Lodhi’s removal from office. The court also issued an interim order to acting Defense Secretary Nargis Sethi to continue the duties of the office until further notice.[10]

Militancy

 



[1] Haji Mujtaba, “U.S. drone attack kills 10 in Pakistan – officials,” Reuters, February 8, 2012. Available at http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE81708120120208?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
“US drone strike kills 10 ‘Haqqani’ militants in Waziristan,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/us-drone-strike-kills-eight-in-pakistan-officials.html
[3] Amir Mir, “Pakistan rejects US demand to release CIA informer,” The News International, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=91636&Cat=2
[4] Sebastian Abbot, “Pakistan Holds Border Talks After Deadly US Attack,” Associated Press, February 8, 2012. Available at http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/officials-us-missiles-kill-people-pakistan-15535933#.TzKL7IHYFBY
[5] Syed Irfan Raza, “Pakistan committed to gas plan: president,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/pakistan-committed-to-gas-plan-president.html
[6] Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, “Pakistan, Qatar convert ties into strategic partnership,” The News International, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=12318&Cat=13
[7] “Khar says Pakistan seeks political solution to Afghan problem,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/khar-says-pakistan-seeks-political-solution-to-afghan-problem.html
[8] “Sri Lankan President to visit Pakistan to boost bilateral ties,” Geo News, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=34471
[10] “Govt barred from appointing new defence secretary,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/govt-barred-from-appointing-new-defence-secretary.html
[12] “JUI-Nazriati leader succumbs to bullet wounds,” Geo News, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=34481
[13] “Security personnel among four hurt in Nasirabad bombing,” The News International, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=91635&Cat=2
[15] “Blast at Double Road injures four in Quetta,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/blast-at-double-road-injures-four-in-quetta.html
[16] “Two killed in Lyari grenade attack,” Dawn, February 8, 2012. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/08/two-killed-in-lyari-grenade-attack.html
View Citations
TIMELINE
Arrow down red
Mar '12
Feb '12
Jan '12