Pakistan Security Brief

Pakistani government steps down after historic five year term; Pakistan pushes for UN ban on drones; Court rules CIA must disclose more about drone strikes; Zardari calls Chinese President Xi; Rabbani expresses army support for civilian-led Taliban negotiations; TTP no longer pursuing peace talks with the government; Suicide bombers attack court in Peshawar; TTP and AI clash in Tirah valley, killing 20; Militants detonate car bomb in North Waziristan; Rangers arrest LeJ leader; Over twenty killed in targeted violence across Karachi; Lyari gang leader Pappu killed; India expresses hopes for MFN status; Egyptian President Mursi visits with Zardari; Malik indicted for contempt of court; Pakistan and Turkey conduct joint air force operation.

Government Steps Down

Militancy

Drone Strikes

China-Pakistan Relations

Taliban Negotiations

India-Pakistan Relations 

Pakistan-Egypt Relations

Domestic Politics

  • On Monday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the former Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, be indicted by March 25 for contempt of court charges issued when he changed the investigatory commission looking into the Pakistan Steel Mills corruption case in February. [20]

Pakistan-Turkey Joint Operation

Elections

  • The Chargé d'Affaires of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Akira Kono, announced on Monday that the Japanese government will extend a $2 million grant to Pakistan through the United Nations Development Program. The grant will support the electoral process of Pakistan. [22]

Bus Tragedy


[1] Declan Walsh, “Pakistan government steps down with elections due,” New York Times, March 16, 2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/world/asia/pakistan-government-steps-down-with-elections-due.html
 Nathan Hodge, “Pakistan Government Ends 5-Year Term,” Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2013.  Available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323639604578366402936821068.html
[2] “Two blasts firing in Peshawar,” Express Tribune, March 18, 2013.  Available at  http://tribune.com.pk/story/522610/two-blasts-firing-in-peshawar/
“Four killed in suicide attack at Peshawar’s judicial complex,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92770-Four-killed-in-suicide-attack-at-Peshawars-judicial-complex-
“Blast heard in Peshawar, firing continues,” Dawn, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/18/blast-heard-in-peshawar-firing-continues/
[3] “20 killed as fighting rages between TTP, AI,” The News International, March 17, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-21642-20-killed-as-fighting-rages-between-TTP,-AI
[4] “5 injured in NWA vehicle blast,” The News International,  March 17, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-7-165753-5-injured-in-NWA-vehicle-blast
[5] “Wanted LeJ leader arrested in Rangers’ raid,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-165857-Wanted-LeJ-leader-arrested-in-Rangers-raid
[6] “Rangers arrest 13 criminals in operation,” The News International, March 17, 2013.  Available at www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-165708-Rangers-arrest-13-criminals-in-operation
“Two gunned down in Kharadar,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92588-Karachi%3a-Two-gunned-down-in-Kharadar
[7] “College principal gunned down in Karachi,” Pakistan Today, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/18/city/karachi/govt-college-principal-gunned-down-in-karachi/
“Karachi: TTP activist killed in police encounter,” Geo, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=92797
[8] “Arshad Pappu killed in Karachi’s Lyari area,” Dawn, March 17, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/17/arshad-pappu-killed-in-karachis-lyari-area/
Faraz Khan, “Tortured to death: Gangster Arshad Pappu’s body found in Lyari,” Express Tribune, March 17, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/522155/tortured-to-death-gangster-arshad-pappus-body-found-in-lyari/
“Police pick up Arshad Pappu’s close aide,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92724-Karachi%3a-Police-pick-up-Arshad-Pappus-close-aide
“Two policemen gunned down in SITE,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92687-Karachi%3a-Two-policemen-gunned-down-in-SITE
[9] Zahir Shah Sherazi, “Militants bomb CD shops near Peshawar,” Dawn, March 17, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/17/cd-shop-blown-up-in-peshawar-2/
“Woman shot dead in Peshawar,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92567-Woman-shot-dead-in-Peshawar
[10] “Firing by rival groups keeps highway shut,” Dawn, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/18/firing-by-rival-groups-keeps-highway-shut/
[11] “Blind murder: army official shot dead,” Express Tribune, March 16, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/522019/blind-murder-army-official-shot-dead/
[12] Peter Finn and Julie Tate, “Appeals court rejects CIA’s argument over acknowledging drone operations,” Washington Post, March 15, 2013.  Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/appeals-court-rejects-cias-argument-over-acknowledging-drone-operations/2013/03/15/7514a9de-8d95-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html
Controversial weapon: Pakistan seeks UN ban on unilateral drone strikes,” Express Tribune, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/522508/controversial-weapon-pakistan-seeks-un-ban-on-unilateral-drone-strikes/
Charlie Savage, “Court says CIA must yield some data on drones,” New York Times, March 15, 2013.  Available at  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/us/court-says-cia-must-yield-some-data-on-drones.html?_r=2&
[13] “President Zardari felicitate his new Chinese counterpart, The News, March 18, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92563-President-Zardari-felicitate-his-new-Chinese-counterpart
[14] “China arms Pakistan,” Radio Free Europe, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.rferl.org/content/china-arms-pakistan/24931314.html
[15] “Army not against dialogue with Taliban: Gen Rabbani,” The News, March 18, 2013. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-166000-Army-not-against-dialogue-with-Taliban:-Gen-Rabbani
[16] “Pakistani Taliban suspend talks with government,” Dawn, March 18, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/18/ttp-suspends-talks-with-government/
[17] “India hopes Pakistan will soon give it MFN status,” Pakistan Today, March 18, 2013. Available at http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/17/news/profit/india-hopes-pakistan-will-soon-give-it-mfn-status/
“Despite new tensions, India seeks closer trade ties with Pakistan,” Washington Post, March 15, 2013.  Available at  http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/despite-new-tensions-india-seeks-closer-trade-ties-with-pakistan/2013/03/15/364bf2f4-8d93-11e2-adca-74ab31da3399_story.html
[18] “Pakistan names 15 members for Joint Business Council with India,” Pakistan Today, March 18, 2013. Available at http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/17/news/profit/pakistan-names-15-members-for-joint-business-council-with-india/
[19] “President Mursi arrives in Islamabad on landmark visit,” The News International, March 18, 2013.  Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-92760-President-Mursi-arrives-Islamabad-on-landmark-visit-
[20] “Rehman Malik to be indicted for contempt of court,” Dawn, March 18, 2013. Available at http://dawn.com/2013/03/18/rehman-malik-to-be-indicted-on-mar-25/
[21] “Indus Viper II: Airmen from Pakistan, Turkey hold joint drill,” Express Tribune, March 18, 2013. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/522514/indus-viper-ii-airmen-from-pakistan-turkey-hold-joint-drill/
[22] “Japan provides $ 2 million to ECP for general elections,” Pakistan Today, March 18, 2013. Available at http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/18/news/national/japan-provides-2-million-to-ecp-for-general-elections/
[23] “Bus carrying soldiers plunges into ravine in Pakistan killing 24,” Fox News, March 16, 2013.  Available at http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/16/bus-carrying-soldiers-plunges-into-ravine-in-pakistan-killing-24/
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