Five Americans detained in Pakistan
Monday, December 28, 2009
Police are trying to determine whether five Americans detained in Pakistan had planned to attack a complex that houses nuclear power facilities.
The young Muslim men, who are from the Washington DC area, were arrested in Pakistan earlier this month. Pakistani police and government officials have made a series of escalating and, at times, seemingly contradictory claims about the men's intentions. US officials have been far more cautious, but they, too, are looking at charging the men.
A Pakistani government official alleged on Saturday that the men had established contact with Taliban commanders and had planned to attack sites in Pakistan. Earlier, however, local police accused the five of intending to fight in Afghanistan after meeting militant leaders.
The men allegedly had a map of Chashma Barrage, a complex that along with nuclear power facilities houses a water reservoir and other structures, said Javed Islam, a senior police official in the Sargodha area of Punjab province where the men were arrested.
He stressed that they were not carrying a specific map of a nuclear power plant, but a map of the whole Chashma Barrage. The detained men had also exchanged emails about the area, Islam claimed. "We are also working to retrieve the deleted material in their computers," he said.
Pakistan has an arsenal of nuclear weapons, but also has nuclear power plants for civilian purposes.
Any nuclear activity in Pakistan tends to come under US scrutiny after the main architect of its atomic weapons programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, was accused of leaking sensitive nuclear secrets. But, as militancy has spread in Pakistan, officials have repeatedly insisted that the nuclear weapons programme is secure.
A Pakistani police official, Nazir Ahmad, told the Associated Press that the force would ask the courts to charge the five men with collecting and attempting to collect material to carry out terrorist activities in the country. If convicted, the charges carry a sentence of from seven years to life in prison, he said.
Officials in Pakistan and America say they expect the suspects eventually to be deported back to the US, but charging the men in Pakistan could delay that process. The country's legal system can be slow and opaque.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Saturday, Punjab province's law minister, Rana Sanaullah, claimed the men had established contact with Taliban commanders. He said they planned to meet the Pakistani Taliban chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, and his deputy, Qari Hussain, in the tribal region before going on to attack sites inside Pakistan. The nuclear power plant "might have been" one of the targets, Sanaullah alleged.
FBI agents have been granted some access to the men, who are being held in Lahore, capital of Punjab province, and are looking into what potential charges they could face in the US. Possibilities include conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist group.
The five were arrested in Sargodha earlier this month, but are being held in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
posted @ 12:19 PM,
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Two years since Benazir Bhutto's assassination
Two years on from Benazir Bhutto’s tragic assassination, the country still awaits closure on the case. No doubt, the transition from Musharraf’s dictatorship to the democratic dispensation created difficulties in investigating the murder, persuading the government to rely on a UN commission to look into the incident. But the mandate of this inquiry is unlikely to answer the crucial question of who was responsible, and therefore delay, if not thwart, the ends of justice. In our culture, speaking ill of the dead is frowned upon, but the unenviable task of objective analysis of a leader such as Benazir Bhutto’s political career cannot be avoided.
Labels: Benazir Bhutto, Terrorism
posted @ 11:26 AM,
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Rawalpindi Carnage
Saturday, December 5, 2009
In a highly tragic incident 36 innocent people including 17 children, 10 civilian, 9 Army personnel embraced shahadat when terrorists attacked a mosque in Parade Lane, Rawalpindi. Reportedly 4 terrorists approached a mosque inside officers residential colony in Parade Lane, Rawalpindi Saddar and hurled grenades on Namazies followed by indiscriminate firing. Meanwhile two suicide bombers entered the Mosque and blew themselves killing 35 Namazies who were offering Jumma prayers. Security forces personnel in the area responded immediately and 2 other terrorists were killed in exchange of fire.
Read the names of all martyrs here.
Labels: Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 6:02 PM,
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US, India want Pakistan to do more
Thursday, November 26, 2009
WASHINGTON: The US and India on Wednesday welcomed the indictment of seven men by an anti-terror court in Rawalpindi in connection with the Mumbai attacks, but said a lot more needed to be done to curb such attacks. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he welcomed Pakistani steps to rein in extremists, but called for more action, while the US said the indictment was an “important step”. Pakistan has pledged it would do what is necessary to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice,” a State Department official said. “...but a lot more needs to be done to make sure these types of attacks don’t emanate anywhere from Pakistani soil,” the official added. afp
Labels: Extremism, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 4:04 PM,
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Pakistan sees spread of Talibanisation in India
ISLAMABAD: There is the potential for spread of the trends of Talibanisation in India and it would be in mutual interest of India and Pakistan to sincerely cooperate with each other to eliminate the menace of terrorism from region.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said this on Wednesday in a telephonic interview to a private television channel. He said Muslims are second largest population group in India and are facing suppression. He said the Indian leadership should realise this situation could be exploited any time by vested interests.
Labels: Indo-Pak Relations, Taliban, Terrorism
posted @ 3:47 PM,
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‘India’s N-sites ground zero for terrorists
Thursday, November 19, 2009
TORONTO : The Canadian media says a nuclear deal could be risky because of terrorist threats to India’s sites. They cite the recent alert at India’s nuclear facilities as a warning to the Canadian government that is keen to clinch the deal.
John Ibbitson of the Globe and Mail says: “India’s nuclear facilities have been placed on high alert, as evidence emerges that two men, one of them Canadian, might have scouted sites for the terrorist attack on Mumbai last year...
“Does Canada really want to help sell nuclear technology to a country that is the midst of such a volatile region, a country that in the 1970s appropriated our first foray into building Indian nuclear reactors to help fashion nuclear weapons, a country whose nuclear reactors would be an ideal ground zero for jihadists?”
posted @ 9:19 AM,
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Schools & colleges shut down
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Some schools in Lahore and others elsewhere in Punjab have shut down once more after the latest bomb blast in the city, which injured 20. Others had never opened since the end of October, when schools across the country were closed following the attack on the Islamic University in Islamabad. The disruption in the life of students has been dramatic. Even during the days some schools opened, bomb drills and other similar exercises dominated thoughts. Attendance remained low and rumours of all kinds flew around campuses. Some schools called in security experts to talk to staff. With the talk of bombs and hostage-taking came fear. Accounts of 'incidents' at various schools added to this, even though it has been impossible to separate fiction from reality.
All this adds a new dimension to society. School administrators, teachers and parents ask how they are to cope with the situation and expect children to do the same without creating damaging paranoia. Security guards and cameras outside gates already contribute to this. One of the issues is that there is no way of knowing when things may change. The factors that give rise to extremism are buried deep in society. Already the very nature of society has changed. The toll on people is enormous. The extent is for the moment probably not fully recognized. But the hesitation to visit markets or parks or restaurants is everywhere. Combined with this we have a lack of hope on other fronts. Little that is positive seems to be happening. This lack of good news affects everyone. The absence of good governance and the lack of law and order adds to a national sense of loss. The question is whether we can find a way back to normalcy and how this will happen. For the moment there are few answers.
Labels: Law and Order, Taliban, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 7:04 PM,
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Madrassas and militancy
Sunday, October 25, 2009
It is important to monitor the political disposition of the faculty and administration of madrassas, their connections with local militant groups and, through them, with the Taliban
Madrassas or Islamic seminaries figure prominently in the discourse on Islamic extremism and militancy in Pakistan. This debate is highly polemical. The people associated with or sympathetic to madrassas describe them as neutral academic institutions devoted to teaching the Quran, the Sunnah and related religious matters. They project them as voluntary organisations engaged in national service, as these provide free food, shelter and education to students, invariably from the poor families, and argue that madrassas have nothing to do with extremism and militancy.
The other extreme perspective views the madrassa as the stronghold of religious extremism and militancy. Almost all of them have a religious-sectarian disposition and socialise children into a narrow religious worldview that inculcates intolerance and bigotry.
No doubt, most madrassas provide free education, food and shelter to a large number of students. These institutions cannot be viewed as neutral seats of learning. Some linkages can be identified between madrassa education and environment and militancy but other factors also contribute to religious extremism and militancy.
Labels: Madrassas, Militancy, Pseudo Islamization, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 11:07 AM,
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Pakistan's response to Indian threats
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that his Indian counterpart Chidambaram should arrest the culprits of the Samjhota Express and Rajiv Gandhi’s killers instead of blaming Pakistan of being incapable of coping with terrorists.
Talking to newsmen he said on Wednesday: “If we talk about the composite dialogue, they should not consider it our weakness at all.” Responding to a question, he said India threatens to attack Pakistan after every three months, adding, “We are a nuclear state and not so weak; rather, we know how to retaliate.
“I ask the Indian prime minister that if they have any information about more Mumbai-like attacks they should share it with Pakistan and we will look into it and would get back in 48 hours. But if India does not share anything then they would be responsible for any incident,” he said.
“I have time and again said there is Indian involvement in Balochistan and we have evidence, which could be shared with India, if they agree to come and sit with us.” Malik said: “We have not received the 7th dossier so far; however, we have arrested all the seven accused of Mumbai attacks.”
Labels: Indo-Pak Relations, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 5:35 PM,
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Pakistan accused over bomb in Iran
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The News, Pakistan, Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Even as Pakistan continues to face accusations from India of having harboured on its soil terrorists who played a part in the attacks in Mumbai, similar accusations have come in from another neighbour. Iran claims that there was involvement of agents based in Pakistan with elements inside Iran in the suicide bombing on Sunday in the town of Pisheen, near the Pak-Iran border, which killed seven members of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran and 42 other people. The use of a suicide 'belt' laden with explosives reminds many of attacks in Pakistan. But this is of course not enough to pin any theory on. The tactics of terrorism are learnt quickly and any group can mimic strategies seen elsewhere.
Our envoy in Tehran, summoned by the Iranian foreign ministry, has acted correctly in extending assurances that all efforts will be made to secure borders and track down anyone who may be involved. But Islamabad needs also to keep in mind that the new charges from Iran will add to the perceptions that we are a nation unable to control the militancy that has sprung up in our midst. The continued turmoil in Balochistan of course adds to the problem. This is an issue we need to bring under check. Terrorism needs to be thwarted. Otherwise we will continue to face embarrassing accusations and a consequent increase in tensions in the region.
Labels: Iran Pakistan Relations, Terrorism
posted @ 3:56 PM,
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Iran urges Pakistan to ‘confront’ bombers
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday urged his Pakistani counterpart to confront a Sunni rebel group which Tehran says is behind the bombing on the Revolutionary Guards that killed dozens.
“Iran and Pakistan have a brotherly relationship but the presence of terrorist elements in Pakistan is not justifiable,” Ahmadinejad told Asif Ali Zardari during a telephone call received from the Pakistan leader, Iran’s official IRNA news agency said.
“The Pakistani government should help to quickly arrest these criminals so they can be punished,” the Iranian president said, adding: “The criminal terrorists must be seriously confronted by setting up a bilateral timetable.”
Labels: Iran Pakistan Relations, Terrorism
posted @ 3:50 PM,
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Attack on GHQ
Monday, October 12, 2009
RAWALPINDI: Army commandos stormed the besieged security building of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in the wee hours of Sunday and rescued 44 men taken hostage by five terrorists on Saturday.
Four militants were killed in the process and a top terrorist was arrested in a critically injured condition. Two commandos and three hostages were also killed during the rescue operation. Some 42 military and civilian employees of a section of the GHQ, who were taken hostage at about 11:40 am on Saturday, were freed at 6:03 am on Sunday, but the search and clearance operation continued till 9:30 am, security sources said.
Earlier, nine captives, including two officers, managed to escape from the besieged building under cover of darkness and joined the troops, who were planning to storm the building and provided useful information about the exact location of the terrorists, the sources said.
more
Four militants were killed in the process and a top terrorist was arrested in a critically injured condition. Two commandos and three hostages were also killed during the rescue operation. Some 42 military and civilian employees of a section of the GHQ, who were taken hostage at about 11:40 am on Saturday, were freed at 6:03 am on Sunday, but the search and clearance operation continued till 9:30 am, security sources said.
Earlier, nine captives, including two officers, managed to escape from the besieged building under cover of darkness and joined the troops, who were planning to storm the building and provided useful information about the exact location of the terrorists, the sources said.
more
Labels: 9/11, Taliban, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 4:02 PM,
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Singh demands dismantling of ‘terror infrastructure
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 16, 2009
SHARM EL-SHEIKH: India’s prime minister said on Wednesday “the infrastructure of terrorism” must be dismantled, remarks clearly directed at rival Pakistan. Manmohan Singh is to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday on the sidelines of a summit in Egypt of the Non-Aligned Movement. “The infrastructure of terrorism must be dismantled and there should be no safe haven for terrorists because they do not represent any cause, group or religion,” Singh said in his speech in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “Terrorists and those who aid and abet them must be brought to justice,” he told presidents and others top officials from the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement.
Source
SHARM EL-SHEIKH: India’s prime minister said on Wednesday “the infrastructure of terrorism” must be dismantled, remarks clearly directed at rival Pakistan. Manmohan Singh is to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday on the sidelines of a summit in Egypt of the Non-Aligned Movement. “The infrastructure of terrorism must be dismantled and there should be no safe haven for terrorists because they do not represent any cause, group or religion,” Singh said in his speech in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “Terrorists and those who aid and abet them must be brought to justice,” he told presidents and others top officials from the 118-member Non-Aligned Movement.
Source
Labels: Indo-Pak Talks, Mumbai Attacks, Terrorism
posted @ 8:01 AM,
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Shortage of Afghan forces, civilian experts
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The News International, Thursday, July 09, 2009
WASHINGTON: The commander of US Marines in southern Afghanistan said Wednesday there was an urgent need for more Afghan security forces as well as civilian experts to back up a major offensive against Taliban insurgents.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The fact of the matter is we don't have enough Afghan forces, and I'd like more," Brigadier General Larry Nicholson told reporters in a teleconference.
"Imagine if I had 4,000 Marines with 4,000 Afghan forces. I mean, it would not even be comparable to even the relative success that we've had over these first seven days," the general said from Camp Leatherneck, a Marine base in Helmand province.
He said that the US military and Kabul government were working to deploy more Afghan forces to the south while expanding the country's army and police forces.
Source
WASHINGTON: The commander of US Marines in southern Afghanistan said Wednesday there was an urgent need for more Afghan security forces as well as civilian experts to back up a major offensive against Taliban insurgents.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The fact of the matter is we don't have enough Afghan forces, and I'd like more," Brigadier General Larry Nicholson told reporters in a teleconference.
"Imagine if I had 4,000 Marines with 4,000 Afghan forces. I mean, it would not even be comparable to even the relative success that we've had over these first seven days," the general said from Camp Leatherneck, a Marine base in Helmand province.
He said that the US military and Kabul government were working to deploy more Afghan forces to the south while expanding the country's army and police forces.
Source
Labels: Terrorism, US Invasion of Afghanistan, War on Terror
posted @ 9:32 AM,
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Terrorists slaughter 18 injured colleagues
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The News International, Wednesday, July 01, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Security forces on Tuesday stated that the militants in the Biha Valley of Swat had slaughtered 18 of their own wounded comrades, as they could not be moved out along with the retreating miscreants.
“It has been reliably learnt that during the clearance of Biha Valley, 18 wounded terrorists, who could not be taken to safety, were slaughtered by their own people on orders of their commanders,” an ISPR statement said on Tuesday.
More
ISLAMABAD: Security forces on Tuesday stated that the militants in the Biha Valley of Swat had slaughtered 18 of their own wounded comrades, as they could not be moved out along with the retreating miscreants.
“It has been reliably learnt that during the clearance of Biha Valley, 18 wounded terrorists, who could not be taken to safety, were slaughtered by their own people on orders of their commanders,” an ISPR statement said on Tuesday.
More
Labels: Military Operation, Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 3:19 PM,
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Expanding war
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, June 27, 2009
The first targeted suicide bombing has killed two soldiers in Muzaffarabad. Till now, Azad Kashmir had not been caught up in the bitter war between militants and the military being fought in Pakistan. The attack on an army vehicle has dangerous implications. The Kashmir area has a sizeable military presence, given its disputed status with India. The potential for attack is immense. Such a development could also bring extremist forces still based in Kashmir into the conflict and thus make it even more complicated than it already is. The expansion of the war is something Pakistan must avoid at all costs. The militants have indeed used similar tactics in the past, by bringing the bloodshed into cities and towns across the country. They may be planning a similar strategy in Kashmir. There is indeed also growing desperation in the militant camp, given the onslaught of the military. The visit by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to South Waziristan underlines the determination to tackle the militants. What is important at this point is to work towards ending the war as soon as possible. This of course is easier said than done. The killings in Muzaffarabad demonstrate once more that we are dealing with a ruthless enemy. The Taliban must be prevented from succeeding in this. There is a need also to build opinion in Kashmir against terrorism and by doing so possibly prevent that region too stumbling into a war that has already taken a heavy toll on almost everyone who lives in this part of the world.
Source
The first targeted suicide bombing has killed two soldiers in Muzaffarabad. Till now, Azad Kashmir had not been caught up in the bitter war between militants and the military being fought in Pakistan. The attack on an army vehicle has dangerous implications. The Kashmir area has a sizeable military presence, given its disputed status with India. The potential for attack is immense. Such a development could also bring extremist forces still based in Kashmir into the conflict and thus make it even more complicated than it already is. The expansion of the war is something Pakistan must avoid at all costs. The militants have indeed used similar tactics in the past, by bringing the bloodshed into cities and towns across the country. They may be planning a similar strategy in Kashmir. There is indeed also growing desperation in the militant camp, given the onslaught of the military. The visit by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to South Waziristan underlines the determination to tackle the militants. What is important at this point is to work towards ending the war as soon as possible. This of course is easier said than done. The killings in Muzaffarabad demonstrate once more that we are dealing with a ruthless enemy. The Taliban must be prevented from succeeding in this. There is a need also to build opinion in Kashmir against terrorism and by doing so possibly prevent that region too stumbling into a war that has already taken a heavy toll on almost everyone who lives in this part of the world.
Source
Labels: Azad Kashmir, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 9:38 AM,
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‘India has most local terrorist organisations’
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Daily Times, Pakistan, Thursday, June 25, 2009
NEW DELHI: India has the largest number of indigenous terror organisations in the world, the Times of India has reported.
It said the Home Ministry has designated the CPI (Maoist) as the 34th terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Of the 34 organisations, seven are transnational groups. National Liberation Council of Meghalaya, Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup of Manipur and Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj, which though virtually unheard of, are considered deadly enough by the government to be designated as terrorist organisations, the daily said.
More
Labels: India, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 4:03 PM,
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Six PAF men face death, 51 jailed for contacts with terrorists
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, June 25, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Fifty-seven men of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ranging from chief technicians to officers were arrested over their alleged contacts with terrorists and involvement in anti-state activities. According to reports, the arrests were made during the last one and a half to two years after conducting an inquiry.
Sources disclosed that six officials were sentenced to death. Among them were Khalid Mehmood, Senior Technician Karam Din, Technician Nawazish, Niaz and Nasrullah while 24 were arrested and dismissed from service for opposing the policies of then President Pervez Musharraf. The PAF men, allegedly found involved in having contacts with terrorists, were given strict punishments.
More
Sources disclosed that six officials were sentenced to death. Among them were Khalid Mehmood, Senior Technician Karam Din, Technician Nawazish, Niaz and Nasrullah while 24 were arrested and dismissed from service for opposing the policies of then President Pervez Musharraf. The PAF men, allegedly found involved in having contacts with terrorists, were given strict punishments.
More
Labels: PAF, Pakistan Air Force, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 10:08 AM,
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Army, people united against Taliban: Zardari
Saturday, June 13, 2009
* President announces cantonment in Swat, pay raises for soldiers, government employees
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: The nation’s soldiers are fighting the Taliban with the support of the people and parliament to ensure Pakistan’s survival, President Asif Ali Zardari said late on Friday.
The president said he saluted the “brothers and sisters” who were displaced by the war, and were facing hardship for the sake of the nation. He also announced the establishment of an army cantonment in Swat to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Read More
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: The nation’s soldiers are fighting the Taliban with the support of the people and parliament to ensure Pakistan’s survival, President Asif Ali Zardari said late on Friday.
The president said he saluted the “brothers and sisters” who were displaced by the war, and were facing hardship for the sake of the nation. He also announced the establishment of an army cantonment in Swat to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Read More
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism, War on Terror, Zardari
posted @ 9:59 AM,
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Curbing extremism
Friday, June 12, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan
Friday, 12 Jun, 2009
AN amendment to the Pakistan aid bill moved in the US Congress requires, among other things, that Islamabad implement economic, legal and social reforms that would discourage “violent Islamic extremism”. Pakistani citizens must demand the same from their government. The fight against extremism in any form concerns Pakistan most deeply and directly, for as events in the country’s north-western areas illustrate, extremism and the militancy it sponsors represent a potent threat to the writ of the state. Firstly, of course, the militants must be effectively neutralised. The army operation should be taken to its logical conclusion and all areas be brought under the control of the government, while the millions of people affected must be rehabilitated. Reconstruction efforts need be initiated, in which regard the involvement of local people may well prove invaluable. Not only would they have an idea of where the money is best spent but such involvement would help return to them a sense of ownership.
Read More
AN amendment to the Pakistan aid bill moved in the US Congress requires, among other things, that Islamabad implement economic, legal and social reforms that would discourage “violent Islamic extremism”. Pakistani citizens must demand the same from their government. The fight against extremism in any form concerns Pakistan most deeply and directly, for as events in the country’s north-western areas illustrate, extremism and the militancy it sponsors represent a potent threat to the writ of the state. Firstly, of course, the militants must be effectively neutralised. The army operation should be taken to its logical conclusion and all areas be brought under the control of the government, while the millions of people affected must be rehabilitated. Reconstruction efforts need be initiated, in which regard the involvement of local people may well prove invaluable. Not only would they have an idea of where the money is best spent but such involvement would help return to them a sense of ownership.
Read More
Labels: Extremism, Madrassas, Militancy, Terrorism, US Aid
posted @ 9:49 AM,
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