Pakistani Forces against Militants.

[53fd]

Seven suspected persons arrested in FATA:

Security Forces (SFs) conducted a search operation in Samghakhi area of Khwezai tehsil (revenue unit) in Mohmand Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and arrested seven suspected persons, reports Dawn.

 

[53fd]

Terror bid neutralised in Balochistan

QUETTA: Khuzdar Police foiled a terror bid on Wednesday by seizing 20 kilogrammes of explosives near Jhalawan Complex. The police reportedly received a tip that some militants wanted to blow up a bridge on the National Highway in the area. A police team, led by Station House Officer Abdul Qadir, rushed to the spot and seized the explosives from near the new bus stop in the Jhalawan Complex area. Police sources said the explosives were planted in a box under a bridge on the National Highway. Bomb Disposal Squad personnel were immediately called in, who reached the scene and defused the bomb. A case has been registered against unidentified militants, while investigation is underway. staff report

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[53fd]

FC seizes 1,400kg of explosives, 3 taken into custody

QUETTA: The Frontier Corps (FC) on Thursday foiled a terror bid in Balochistan, seizing 1,400 kilogrammes of explosive material being smuggled from Chaman to the interior part of the province.

Paramilitary troops during routine checking intercepted a truck near Garang check post, which was en route to Quetta from Chaman. The personnel discovered a large quantity of explosive material including 30 remote control bombs and took three people into custody.

“The explosive materials were being smuggled to interior Balochistan for carrying out subversive activities. Three persons have been arrested and are being questioned,” Colonel Tanveer told reporters.

Answering a question, he said that the explosives were being smuggled from Afghanistan into Balochistan.

FC seizes 1,400kg of explosives, 3 taken into custody – The Express Tribune

 

[Last Hope]

February 17, 2012. Friday.

Pakistan's seven tribal districts near the Afghan border are rife with homegrown insurgents and are strongholds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives. - AP

PESHAWAR: Pakistani troops killed 17 Taliban on Friday in a clash in the country’s troubled northwest, with one soldier and three militiamen also dying, security officials said.

Fighting erupted after Pakistani troops and a government-backed local militia launched a joint operation against the Taliban in the Spindand area of Khyber tribal district, which borders Afghanistan.

“At least 17 militants have been killed in the clash while one Pakistani soldier and three members of the militia embraced martyrdom,” a security official told AFP.

Two security personnel and four militia members were wounded, he said. “The number of injured from the Taliban side is unknown,” he added.

A local administration official in Khyber, Mutahir Zeb Khan, confirmed the clash.

“The target of the operation was a local Taliban group, Lashkar-e-Islam. The fighting started on Thursday evening and the exchange of fire continued at short intervals,” Khan told AFP.

Some 18,000 people fled their homes in Khyber in October last year amid fears of a fresh onslaught of fighting between the army and militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban.

 

[53fd]

31 suspects arrested in Landikotal operation

LANDIKOTAL: The security forces arrested 31 suspects and imposed curfew in Gagra area of Landikotal on Thursday.

According to sources, the security forces launched a search operation and imposed curfew all around Landikotal bazaar while the roads leading to bazaar had also been closed after the security forces arrested 31 suspects.

The common people were confined to their houses because of the curfew and search operation. While lauding the successful operation, they urged the forces and the political administration to avoid arresting innocent people. The security forces had launched the operations last month in various areas of Landikotal.

The forces have also recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from the custody of the alleged militants in Landikotal. Now after these operations, the law and order situation has improved.

During the last one month, the security forces have detained more than 50 suspects and relatives of the prominent militants during night raids and search operations.

This time the people have expressed satisfaction over the actions of the law enforcements agencies and security forces in the area as in the last one month the security situation has improved in all parts of Landikotal and Khyber Agency.

Separately, a woman allegedly kidnapped a 10-month-old Syed Hussain after snatching him from his six-year-old sister in Gagra on Thursday. Syed Wali, an Afghan, told reporters in the Landikotal Press Club that the woman-kidnapper snatched his brother and disappeared.

The political administration has lodged a report against the alleged woman kidnapper. The incident has created panic in the house of the abducted child. This is the first incident of its kind in Landikotal.

Meanwhile, Khyber Political Agent Motahir Zeb told this scribe at Jamrud that the government was eager to clear the areas of Khyber Agency of militants to restore peace and establish writ of the government so that people could lead a peaceful life.

Motahir Zeb said that every action and raid should be carried out on proper intelligence to avoid any ambiguity.

He also endorsed a suggestion that political administration be taken on board prior to a crackdown in the area.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[53fd]

7 terrorists killed in South Waziristan:

PESHAWAR: A clash, on Thursday, between Pakistani troops and Taliban killed a soldier and seven terrorists in the country’s troubled northwestern tribal area, a security official said.

Fighting erupted after Pakistani troops launched a search operation in a bazaar in Wana, South Waziristan where Talibans are frequently seen. “One soldier and seven terrorists were killed in the operation, one building was later bulldozed in the bazaar,” a security official in Peshawar told AFP. Another security official confirmed the clash and added that the troops were backed by gunship helicopters.

Pakistan launched a major ground and air offensive in South Waziristan in 2009 to clear the area of the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) faction, which has been blamed for some of the country’s worst violence. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[53fd]

Lyari operation: Two close aides of Baba Ladla among 25 suspects detained

KARACHI: The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted a search operation in Lyari and arrested some 25 suspects, including two close aides of notorious gangster Baba Ladla, with weapons here on Thursday.

At around 05:00am a heavy contingent of police and Rangers took part in targeted search operation that was initiated at Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Road area, Hingorabad, Juma Baloch Road, Ghausia Road, Juna Muhammad Road, Dubai Chowk, Art Chowk, Phool Patti Lane, Agra Taj, Bihar Colony, Al-Falah Road, Ahmad Shah Bukhari Road, Gul Muhammad Bhoja Street, Baba Para, Sir Gwad Mohalla, Kachchi Para and others, but they faced strong resistance from the inhabitants, who took to the streets and expressed resentment against the police and Rangers.

The protesters burnt tyres, chanted slogans against law enforcers and accused them of protecting the wrongdoers. The protesters said that LEAs had kicked off search operation just to provide safe passage to the notorious criminals for escape.

They said, “On one hand, our beloved ones are being killed in the city while on the other hand, LEAs instead of arresting wrongdoers, nabbed innocent people during search operation.”

Later, the law enforcers used rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Resultantly, six persons, Halima, 39; Sakeena, 50; Hussain, 30; Nagahi, 65; Haji Muhammad, 40; and Younus, 25; sustained rubber bullet wounds, while one Syed Rahim Shah got injured in a stampede during search at Agra Taj Colony.

The eyewitnesses said the law enforcers had besieged those areas and started house to house search, initially from Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Road late Thursday and later extended the same to other aforesaid parts of Lyari. They said LEAs had detained some 25 suspects, who were shifted to unidentified place for interrogation. DIG South Commander Shaukat said they had been empowered to take stern actions against wrongdoers.

However, the rangers confirmed to have detained three suspects with 51 weapons of different types during the search operation. Sources said the suspects were identified as Sajid, Arshad and Ashraf. They added that suspects Sajid and Arshad were stated to be close aides of Baba Ladla. Further investigation was underway.

Meanwhile, police have booked leaders of outlawed People’s Amn Committee Uzair Baloch, Zafar Baloch and others in connection with the cold-blooded murder of Mohammad Ali Kachchi alias Baba, who was killed on Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road after being kidnapped. Kachchi was going to his welding shop with his friend Imran. SHO Safdar Mashwani said they had registered an FIR (29/12) on the complaint of victim’s father Mohammad Hanif. staff report

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Last Hope]

February 19, 2011. Saturday.

PESHAWAR - Pakistani troops killed 17 Taliban on Friday in a clash in the country's troubled northwest, with one soldier and three militiamen also dying, security officials said.

Fighting erupted after Pakistani troops and a government-backed local militia launched a joint operation against the Taliban in the Spindand area of Khyber tribal district, which borders Afghanistan.

"At least 17 militants have been killed in the clash while one Pakistani soldier and three members of the militia embraced martyrdom," a security official told AFP.

 

[53fd]

17 terrorists killed in Orakzai, Khyber clashes

ORAKZAI/KHYBER AGENCY: Seventeen terrorists were killed and 18 others were injured in encounters with security forces in different areas of Orakzai and Khyber agencies. Three security volunteers were also killed during the encounters. Security forces also demolished four militants check-posts of terrorists through helicopter shelling. Separately, one person was killed and three others were injured in a grenade attack in Kurram Agency. online

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[53fd]

Tribal volunteer killed in Tirah: Two Afghans with suicide jacket held in Hangu

KOHAT, Feb 18: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested two Afghan terrorists in an hour-long operation in Thall tehsil of Hangu district and recovered a suicide jacket and weapons from their possession.

Officials said that following information the police cordoned off Said Shah Banda village in Thall tehsil and made announcement on the loudspeaker that nobody should come out from their house as they were expecting a battle with terrorists. The police elite force and commandoes taking part in the operation were also backed up by armoured personnel carriers.

Later, after one hour search the police arrested Habibullah and Said Wali, residents of Paktia province of Afghanistan, along with a suicide jacket and weapons from a house they had recently hired on rent.

The officials said that the two did not put any resistance at the time of their arrest.

They said that the suspected terrorists had rented a house in area close to the Kurram Agency, which had a long porous border with Afghanistan.

The officials said that during preliminary investigations the terrorists revealed that they were planning to target some place in Hangu district for which they had prepared a plan and a suicide jacket.

The bomb disposal squad said that 12 kilogrammes of explosives were attached to the suicide jacket, also containing ball bearings, bolts, nuts and a dual ignition system.

The accused were shifted to an unknown place in Hangu district for further investigation and a case had been registered against them under the Terr-orism Act in Thall police station.

In Khyber Agency, a volunteer of Zakhakhel Peace Committee was killed and another received injuries in renewed clashes with a banned militant outfit in Tirah valley on Saturday.

Sources said that activists of Lashkar-i-Islam attacked a bunker, which they lost to their rival group Tawheedul Islam, mostly comprising Zakhakhel tribal volunteers.

In exchange of fire, one volunteer of Zakhakhel was killed while another received injuries.

There were also reports about Lashkar-i-Islam’s retaking the bunker and capturing three Zakhakehl volunteers.

In Bazaar Zakhakhel area, two children and two women were critically injured when a mortar shell fell on a house.

In Nowshera, a policeman was killed and another suffered wounds when a vehicle of suspected militants hit them near Pabbi on Saturday.

Police sources said that two constables, Tauseef and Umair, were patrolling the area on a motorbike.

“They signalled a suspected car to stop between Pabbi and Taru Jabba, however, the inmates of the car opened firing on them,” they said.

Both the policemen took positions on the road to target the fleeing suspects but another vehicle of suspected militants hit them, killing Tauseef on the spot and injuring Umair.

The injured was referred to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar in critical condition.

The suspected militants riding in two vehicles managed to escape after the incident.

Police cordoned off the locality soon after the incident and started search operation but there was no report of any arrest.

Tribal volunteer killed in Tirah: Two Afghans with suicide jacket held in Hangu | Provinces | DAWN.COM

 

[53fd]

Lashkar’s ‘back broken’; Bara cut off from Tirah

PESHAWAR: Lashkar-i-Islam, a militant outfit of Bara sub-district of Khyber tribal region, has suffered a string of major setbacks in areas linking up with the remote Tirah valley in a spectacular coordinated blitz, senior administration and security officials said.

“It was spectacular,” Political Agent, Khyber, Motahirzeb said. “Bara has now been cut off from Tirah. This has broken the back of Lashkar-i-Islam that has remained unchallenged in the area for seven years,” he said.

Inspector General, Frontier Corps, Maj-Gen Nadir Zeb said security forces were able to take over major heights in Meera Sar, Lawatta, Lakaro and Inzar, successfully cutting off the plains of Bara sub-district from Tirah valley.

“There was some heavy fighting and we lost some people but in the end we took control of the heights,” the IGFC said.

Backed up by helicopter gunships, soldiers from Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and a tribal lashkar of Zakhakhel and its sub-tribe of Ziauddin launched an all-out attack on LI, leading to some heavy fighting.

Six men of the tribal lashkar were killed and seven wounded, while the security forces too, lost seven of their men, four of them died when they hit a landmine, sources said.

The tribal lashkar also launched an attack and captured an LI base camp at Astana, the sources said.

Officials said that LI was contemplating a counter-attack to recapture Astana camp, but arrangements were in place to face off the enemy.

This was the first time in seven years that the security forces entered the area and captured the heights that lay astride on the way to the remote Tirah valley on the borders with Afghanistan.

Officials said the operation was in line with the strategy to re-establish the writ of the government in Bara which has remained under curfew for over two years now, flush out LI from the area and cut off its links with Tirah valley that is now home to its chief Mangal Bagh.

Officials say that militants fleeing Orakzai could head to Tirah and if Bara was not brought under control, they could pose serious security threat to adjacent Peshawar.

“Tirah has been totally cut off. LI men will no longer have the luxury of riding bikes, pick-up trucks and mules,” Motahirzeb said. “The forces have done a commendable job and it must be acknowledged,” he said.

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/19/lashkars-back-broken-bara-cut-off-from-tirah.html

 

[53fd]

Key Taliban commander arrested in Swat

SWAT: Police claim to have arrested the uncle of a key Taliban commander in the Chaparyal area of the valley on Saturday. Police said that commander Bakht Ravan, an uncle of key Taliban commander Ibn-e-Amin, had been arrested after they received information from intelligence sources. Police raided a house in Chaparyal area and arrested Ravan who was wanted by the police for his involvement in several terror incidents. It was also claimed that the detained commander was wanted for the Gowalrai Mosque killings in which 14 people from the same family were killed. inp

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\02\19\story_19-2-2012_pg7_9

 

[53fd]

Explosives recovered from Lower Dir

LOWER DIR: District police on Saturday averted a terrorist attack by recovering 25 kilogrammes of explosive material in the Khwar area. The police received information that miscreants had stashed explosive material in a cave at Balo Khan, Khwar. The police, along with Bomb Disposable Squad (BDS), rushed to the spot and recovered the explosives, which could have been used for terrorist activities. The Zimdara police registered a case and started an investigation. app

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[53fd]

Attempt to blow up gas pipeline foiled

QUETTA: Security forces on Saturday foiled an attempt to blow up a gas pipeline with explosives and arrested three suspects in Sui area of Bugti Tribal Territory. According to an official, security forces acted on a tip-off and recovered explosive materials attached to the gas pipeline. “Three suspects were also arrested for questioning,” he added. staff report

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\02\19\story_19-2-2012_pg7_10

 

[53fd]

Pakistan mulls crackdown on Jundullah

By Manzoor Qadir

ISLAMABAD: In order to earn the confidence of Iran, Pakistan has decided to launch an operation against a banned militant organisation in Balochistan, Daily Times has learnt.

Pakistan and Iran have important economic ties and also co-operated in suppressing Baloch national movements in the past, that is why Pakistan does not afford annoying its strong neighbour.

Reportedly, Iranian’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pressed the Pakistani authorities to take action against Jundullah, and the Pakistan authorities assured the visiting president that Pakistan would not allow any group to use its territory to launch terrorism against neighbouring countries.
Jundullah was founded in 2002 to defend the Baloch minority in the poor, remote and lawless region of southeast Iran. Nowadays, it is believed a number of Jundullah activists are based in Balochistan and are active in the Baloch areas of Iran and Pakistan.

The Iranian government has accused the Jundullah group of carrying out a series of attacks in Iran, including a suicide bombing on October 18, 2009, which killed six commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
In addition to this, Iran continued to hold Pakistan responsible for covertly aiding Jundullah until the arrest of the then group head, Abdolmalek Rigi, on February 23, 2010, by Iranian authorities on a tip-off of Pakistan’s spy agency when Rigi was flying from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan.
Rigi was prosecuted and hanged by Tehran on June 20, 2010. According to reports, during the trial, Rigi accepted being funded and trained by US, which helped in reducing tension between both neighbouring countries.

Various media reports also supported Rigi’s confession that the CIA had been involved in supporting Jundullah and using it not only to destabilise Iran but also affect the cordial ties between Iran and Pakistan.

Islamabad’s decision to start operation against Jundullah looks another example of its foreign policy shift after the decision of resuming Pak-Iran gas pipeline project despite tremendous pressure from the United States.

On the other hand, Washington had been pushing Islamabad to carry out a military operation against the Haqqani group but Pakistan was reluctant to launch the operation.

Pakistan replied that military assault on Haqqani hideouts would quickly engulf the entire tribal region in a war that the Pakistan Army could not win. Later, Washington started pressing Islamabad to force Afghanistan-based insurgent groups to join peace talks.

The fresh decision of wiping out Jundullah suggests that Pakistan has decided to take its on course in the larger interest of regional peace and stability.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan