Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistan Security Brief – June 3, 2010

Haqqani network fleeing North Waziristan ahead of “imminent” military operation; half of Orakzai still under Taliban control; terrorist arrested with bomb making equipment in Bajaur; UN legal expert says US extrajudicial killings via drone strikes may be a war crime; judge allows delay in indictment of Faisal Shahzad; suspect in Lahore’s mosque attacks also wanted in connection with attack on Sri Lankan cricket team; Corps Commanders conference begins in Rawalpindi; three injured in Peshawar rocket attack; attack on NATO fuel tanker injures two; man arrested and weapons cache seized in Balochistan.

FATA

• Intelligence officials and local residents are reporting that the Haqqani network is starting a “strategic retreat” from North Waziristan and relocating its fighters to the southeastern provinces of Afghanistan in order to avoid a direct confrontation with Pakistani military forces. Increased US pressure on Pakistan to launch an operation in the region and the recent announcement that operations in Orakzai Agency were now complete has allegedly led to a popular perception among militants that a military operation in North Waziristan is imminent. It is still unclear whether militants from Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s network are also relocating.[1]

• Approximately half of Orakzai Agency is still under Taliban control, according to locals and officials, despite the Pakistani military’s announcement on Tuesday that operations in the agency had come to a “successful conclusion.” Locals indicated that although the military has been successful in clearing militants out of Lower Orakzai, “the battle is far from over” in the upper and central parts of the agency. Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas conceded that “the job is yet to be completed in western Orakzai” and that “stabilization operations may continue.” However, Abbas also pointed out that the army had secured the northern areas of Orakzai bordering Khyber Agency, which has made it much more difficult for the TTP to attack Peshawar and NATO supply convoys heading for Afghanistan. (For detailed bi-weekly updates on the security situation in Orakzai CLICK HERE) [2]

• On Wednesday, a suspected terrorist was arrested in Takora village of Bajaur Agency and discovered to have bomb making materials in his possession. The Bajaur Levies say they were on patrol when they spotted the suspect, an 18 year-old Afghan national, as he was apparently trying to enter the agency. Also in Bajaur, a tribesman was shot to death in Mamund sub-district by unknown gunmen who later fled the scene.[3]

Drone strikes

• A special rappoteur to the UN Human Rights Council, Philip Alston, issued a report on Wednesday stating that the “prolific” use of extrajudicial targeted killings by US drone strikes may be war crimes and could set a “damaging example” that could be followed by other countries. Alston, a New York University law professor, went on to criticize the US for having an “ever-expanding entitlement for itself to target individuals across the globe.” Another point of contention was the fact that drone strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan are operated by the CIA, a civilian organization, rather than by the military. Alston further stated that the military’s drone strike program was “by no means perfect” but acknowledged that it has a stronger legal basis for carrying out such attacks and has demonstrated a “relatively public accountability process” when compared with the CIA.[4]

NY bombing trial

• A request by US prosecutors for a delay in seeking an indictment against Faisal Shahzad was approved by a judge on Wednesday. The delay, which was approved by Shahzad, will be in effect up until June 21 and will allow prosecutors more time to negotiate with Shahzad’s lawyers.[5]

Punjab

• Police have identified one of the terrorists involved in Friday’s mosque attacks in Lahore as a Samiullah, a man who is also wanted in connection with last year’s attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Samiullah is reported to be a member of the Punjabi faction of the TTP and reportedly makes frequent trips to Waziristan. Additionally, the police in Lahore have made “special security arrangements” for this Friday’s prayers.[6]

• The Corp Commanders conference at the army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi is currently underway. The meeting, chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, will evaluate a variety of security issues faced by Pakistan.[7]

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

• One woman and two children were injured on Wednesday evening when unknown militants fired three rockets at Peshawar from the Akakhel tribal area in Khyber Agency. The injuries were caused when one of the rockets struck a house in the Abdarra area near Peshawar airport. No casualties or property damage from the other two rockets was reported.[8] 

Balochistan

• Armed men riding a motorbike attacked a NATO fuel tanker at the Pirak Railway Station in Sibi town on Wednesday, wounding two people. Police say the attackers shot at the vehicle with small arms before setting it on fire. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.[9]

• Security forces arrested a man and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition found in his possession during a raid in the Sambaza area of Zhob district in Balochistan on Wednesday.[10]