Pakistan Security Brief

Mullen links ISI to the Haqqani Network, Pakistan warns of risks to U.S.-Pakistan relations; NATO commander blames attack on Kayani’s inaction; Kayani looks to Rangers to restore trade and industry in Karachi; Karachi blast targeted police chief’s son; Pakistan hopes dialogue with India will resolve Kashmir dispute; Iran closes border with Pakistan following Tuesday’s killing of Shia pilgrims; Remote-controlled bomb kills 5 in Bajaur; Roadside blast injures two outside Quetta; Gunmen kill seven people in separate incidents; Two militants, soldier killed in Swat district; Roadside bomb kills four militants.

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

Karachi Violence

  • During a meeting on Wednesday night, COAS General Kayani spoke to industrialists and traders expressing his concern “over reports of flight of capital and closure of industries” within the city of Karachi due to continued violence.  Kayani called upon the Rangers to “finalize” a security plan that would “restore Karachi’s industrial and trading activities back to normal.”[3]

  • The September 19 Karachi bombing on the home of Chaudhry Aslam Khan, a senior Karachi police officer and the chief of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), which killed eight people, was reportedly targeted at the police chief’s son, according to investigators.  “Intelligence agencies recorded a phone call on September 18 which mentioned targeting a Saudi’s son”; however, it was determined that the Saudi consul general’s son was not in the country.  Security officials were then ordered to tighten security in places “whose names started with the letter ‘S’ or the letter ‘C.’” After the bombing at Aslam’s home, investigators came to the conclusion that “Saudi’s son” was a code phrase for Aslam’s son.  Investigators did not reveal the motivation behind the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) targeting of Aslam’s son.[4]

Pakistan-India Relations

Iran-Pakistan Relations

  • Following Tuesday’s killing of 26 Shia pilgrims in Mastung, Balochistan, Iran has closed its trade gates with Pakistan.  The closing of the gates has suspended trade between the two countries for the third time this year.  Iran has also deployed additional troops to the border in response to recent violence against Shias.  Meanwhile, Pakistan has restricted pilgrims from travelling to Iran without proper travel documentation. Authorities have arrested 250 people in connection with Tuesday’s incident.[6] 

FATA

Balochistan

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa


[1] Mike Mullen, “Statement of Admiral Mike Mullen, U.S. Navy Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Senate Armed Services Committee on Afghanistan and Iraq,” Senate Armed Services Committee, September 22, 2011. Available at http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2011/09%20September/Mullen%2009-22-11.pdf
“Key US senator says Haqqani should be on terror list,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/23/key-us-senator-says-haqqani-should-be-on-terror-list.html
“Karin Brulliard and Haq Nawaz Khan, “Pakistan rejects U.S. allegations about aid to insurgents,” Washington Post, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistan-rejects-us-allegations-about-aid-to-insurgents/2011/09/23/gIQAaKnMqK_story.html
“US can’t live with or without us, says PM,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at  http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/23/us-can%E2%80%99t-live-with-or-without-us-says-pm.html
Kamran Yousaf, “Brittle relations: Islamabad ‘vehemently’ rejects US ‘proxy war’ claims,” Express Tribune, September 23, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/257977/pakistan-warns-us-no-boots-on-our-ground/
[2] Jon Boone and Declan Walsh, “US bomb warning to Pakistan ignored,” Guardian, September 22, 2011. Available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/22/us-bomb-warning-pakistan-ignored
[3] Amir Shafaat Khan, “Rangers asked to protect trade, industries in Karachi,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/23/kayanis-meeting-with-karachi-business-leaders-rangers-asked-to-protect-trade-industries.html
[4] “Target of Karachi blast was SSP CID’s son, claim sources,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at
[5] Huma Imtiaz, “Pakistan for peaceful, just resolution of Kashmir issue: Khar,” Express Tribune, September 22, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/257766/pakistan-for-peaceful-just-resolution-of-kashmir-issue-khar/
[6] Saleem Shahid, “Iran closes trade gate at border with Pakistan,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at
[7] “Four killed in twin blasts in Bajaur,” Express Tribune, September 23, 2011. Available at
http://tribune.com.pk/story/257837/4-killed-in-bajaur-agency-blasts/
“Five killed in Bajaur blast,” The News, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=69110&Cat=7
[8] “Two injured in Quetta remote-controlled blast,” Geo, September 23, 2011. Available at http://geo.tv/9-23-2011/86588.htm
[9] “Four killed in firing on passenger van in Quetta,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/23/four-killed-in-firing-on-passenger-van-in-quetta.html
“Three members of Hazara community killed in Mach,” Geo, September 23, 2011. Available at http://geo.tv/9-23-2011/86604.htm
[10] Essa Khankhel, “Two militants, soldier killed in Mingora operation,” The News, September 23, 2011. Available at
[11] “Khyber blast kills four suspected militants,” Dawn, September 23, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/23/khyber-blast-kills-four-suspected-militants.html
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