Pakistan Security Brief

Protestors attack Christian neighborhood in Joseph colony; Drone strike kills two militants in North Waziristan; IED kills four at mosque; Zardari inaugurates Pak-Iran pipeline despite sanctions, stock market plummets; Zardari and Kayani discuss security situation; Indian army to return fire against ceasefire breaches; Prime Minister Ashraf welcomed to India, U.S. expresses support; Pakistani supply chain to Afghanistan severly backlogged; EU offers observers for Pakistani elections; Several militants killed in Tirah valley; LeJ issues anti-Shia propaganda; Attacks in Karachi kill three, 39 arrested in connection with criminal activity; Terrorists elude security forces; Security forces shutdown Kohat in response to intelligence reports; 12 held captive by militants; FC arrests eight and recovers large weapons cache in Dasht.

Drone Strike

Pakistan Iran Pipeline

TTP Responds to Malik

Indo-Pak Relations

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • According to the Express Tribune on Saturday, the American land supply route through Pakistan into Afghanistan is severely backlogged and supports only a fraction of the cargo it could. U.S. Military Transportation Command data shows that, since July, 5,000 of 7,000 backlogged containers have been cleared but only 40 new containers have traversed the route since it reopened. This is compared with the 28,000 containers shipped to Afghanistan through more expensive routes during that time.[6]

Elections

Domestic Politics

  • On Thursday, Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met with President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss what Kayani’s commanders meeting termed the “rapidly deteriorating law and order” in Pakistan.  Kayani met with his top advisers on Wednesday, where they expressed concern over increasing sectarian attacks, especially in Karachi and Quetta.  During his meeting with Zardari, Kayani reiterated the army’s support for free and fair elections, and talked about inefficient and improper use of civilian law enforcement assets.[8]

Christian Community Targeted

Militancy


[1] “Attack, Said to Be Drone Strike by U.S., Kills 2 in Pakistan,” The New York Times, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/world/asia/drone-strike-reported-in-pakistan.html?ref=asia
[2] “President inaugurates historic gas pipeline,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/519089/president-inaugurates-historic-gas-pipeline/
“Don’t invite sanctions over IP project, warns U.S.,” Pakistan Today, March 9, 2013.  Available at  http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/09/news/national/dont-invite-sanctions-over-ip-project-warns-us/
“Stock market plummets over Iran pipeline sanction fears,” Dawn, March 11, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/11/pakistan-stock-market-plummets-over-iran-pipeline-sanction-fears/
[3] “Fear us, don’t mock us: TTP warns of backlash over provocations,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/518958/fear-us-dont-mock-us-ttp-warns-of-backlash-over-provocations/
“TTP’s back broken, claims Malik,” Express Tribune, March 9, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/518285/ttps-back-broken-claims-malik/
[4] “LoC violations: Indian army chief issues stern warning,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013.  Available at  http://tribune.com.pk/story/518538/loc-violations-indian-army-chief-issues-stern-warning/
[5] “Despite hostilities, Ashraf welcomed in India with open arms,” Express Tribune, March 9, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/518217/despite-hostilities-ashraf-welcomed-in-india-with-open-arms/
“Pak PM visit to India augurs well: Victoria Nuland,” The News International, March 9, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91449-Pak-PM-visit-to-India-augurs-well%3a-Victoria-Nuland
[6] “Pakistan supply routes open but move gear slowly into Afghanistan,” Express Tribune, March 9, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/518192/pakistan-supply-routes-open-but-move-gear-slowly-into-afghanistan/
[7] “EU offers to send observers for Pakistan elections,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/519114/eu-offers-to-send-observers-for-pakistan-elections/
[8] Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Kayani conveys army’s concerns to Zardari,” Dawn, March 8, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/08/kayani-conveys-armys-concerns-to-zardari/
[9] “Attack on Christians Follows Claim of Blasphemy in Pakistan,” The New York Times, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/world/asia/explosion-rips-through-mosque-in-peshawar-pakistan.html?ref=asia
“Joseph Colony tragedy: police arrest more than 100 miscreants,” Geo, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91572
[10] “Attack on Christians Follows Claim of Blasphemy in Pakistan,” The New York Times, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/world/asia/explosion-rips-through-mosque-in-peshawar-pakistan.html?ref=asia
[11] “36 militants killed in Khyber, Orakzai, The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-21476-36-militants-killed-in-Khyber,-Orakzai
“Fighting in Tirah Valley: Clashes, strafing by jets leave 28 dead,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/518084/fighting-in-tirah-valley-clashes-strafing-by-jets-leave-28-dead/
[12] “36 militants killed in Khyber, Orakzai,” The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-21476-36-militants-killed-in-Khyber,-Orakzai
[13] “Polio workers freed on payment of Rs20,000 each,” The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-164363-Polio-workers-freed-on-payment-of-Rs20,000-each
[14] “Blast kills child in Khyber Agency,” Geo, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91612
[15] “Pak Army captain, two soldiers killed in IED blast in Orakzai region,” Dawn¸ March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/11/pak-army-captain-two-soldiers-killed-in-ied-blast-in-orakzai-region/
[16] “Wave of terror: Anti-Shia propaganda and threats emerge in Lahore,” Express Tribune, March 11, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/517948/wave-of-terror-anti-shia-propaganda-and-threats-emerge-in-lahore/
[17] “MQM man shot dead in New Karachi,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/09/mqm-man-shot-dead-in-new-karachi/
“Karachi: Two alleged weapons suppliers arrested,” Geo, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91532
“Grenade blast in Karachi’s Landhi area kills two,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/11/blast-in-karachis-landhi-area-injures-three-police/ 
“Bodies of 2 more Baloch missing persons found in Karachi,” The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91610-Bodies-of-two-more-Baloch-missing-persons-dumped-in-Karachi
“Suspects arrested with weapons, stolen goods,” The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91669-Suspects-arrested-with-weapons,-stolen-goods
[18] “Terror suspects escape police watch,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/09/terror-suspects-escape-police-watch/
[19] “Kohat tense after security threat,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/09/kohat-tense-after-security-threat/
[20] “Kohat tense after security threat,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/09/kohat-tense-after-security-threat/
[21] “FC seizes huge cache of weapons, explosives in Dasht, arrests eight,” Dawn, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91463
[22] “Suspect held with chemical in Quetta,”  The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91538-Suspect-held-with-chemical-in-Quetta
[23] “Firing on a car leaves one killed, one injured, two abducred,” Geo, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91597
[24] “Roaside bomb blast kills three soldiers at Dogar village near Afghan border,” Geo, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91720
[25] “Three shot dead in Bajaur,” The News, March 11, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-164197-Three-shot-dead-in-Bajaur
View Citations
TIMELINE
Arrow down red
Apr '13
Mar '13
Feb '13