Pakistan Security Brief
Pakistan Security Brief –March 16, 2010
US drones target a compound and vehicles in North Waziristan; battle between militants and tribesmen leaves ten dead; President Zardari calls for a counter-terrorism strategy; the TTP offers the Punjab government a deal; President Karzai unhappy about Baradar’s arrest; Pakistan prepares to pursue legal action against militants; protestors destroy vehicles in Lahore.
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A US drone attack on Tuesday stuck a compound in the mountainous Zawah area of Datta Khel sub-district in North Waziristan. At least ten people were killed in the strike. The dead militants were affiliated with local Taliban elements led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur and some of them were also said to be Arabs.[1]
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On Tuesday a firefight between tribesmen and militants in Kurram Agency left ten militants dead and another seven wounded. A group of 50 militants intended to kidnap a member of the local anti-Taliban tribal force, but tribesmen foiled the attempt.[2]
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President Asif Ali Zardari called for working on a counter-terrorism strategy and an effective intelligence sharing mechanism between the US and Pakistan on Tuesday. Zardari also said the US should help Pakistan overcome its energy crisis by assisting with civilian nuclear technology in order to “help bridge the trust deficit between the two countries.” He reiterated calls for the U.S. to transfer combat drone technology to Pakistan.[3]
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Abdul Wali (alias Umar Khalid), the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander in Mohmand Agency, offered a deal to the Punjab Government on behalf of the TTP on Monday. In exchange for not acting against TTP, Wali said the group would stop targeting public and government places in Punjab.[4]
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An aide told reporters that President Karzai “was very angry” when he heard the news that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar had been arrested in Pakistan with the help of US intelligence. The Afghan government was holding secret talks with Baradar, Mullah Omar’s second in command.[5]
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In a meeting on Monday jointly presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reviewing the progress of investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in terrorist acts it was decided that “action would be taken against the persons against whom there was solid evidence of connection with the militants and terrorists.” This comes the day after the army notified the government it would be transferring custody of 4,000 men detained in operations across the northwest to civilian authorities.[6]
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Six buses were burnt and 16 others damaged in a protest by transport owners and students against the Lahore Transport Company who they accused of unjustly impounding competitors’ vehicles.[7]
