Blind Spot in FATA    Punjab: Fundamentalist Asphyxiation

The autopsy report had contradicted the Quetta Police Chief Daud Junejo’s claim that the foreigners had not died due to shooting by law enforcement personnel, but because of a blast which they triggered with the help of explosives and suicide vests. Shah’s report revealed that they died from “multiple bullet wounds”. Significantly, while media reports had then claimed that the victims were unarmed and carried no explosives, footage on several TV news channels had shown SF personnel firing a volley of bullets at the foreigners as they lay on the ground near a security check post.

Earlier, three bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch Nationalist Party – Mengal (BNP-M) activists were found in the Zero Point area of Khuzdar District on December 12, 2011. The victims, identified as Bashir Ahmed, Sanaullah Mardoi and Allah Bakhsh Mardoi, had been abducted earlier, on an unspecified date.

Balochistan has for long earned notoriety as the land of extra judicial killings, disappearances, SF high handedness, and repression, as well as a playground for terrorists operating beyond the frontiers of the Country. The Province witnessed 711 fatalities, including 542 civilians, 122 SF personnel and 47 militants in 2011, as against 347 fatalities, comprising of 274 civilians, 59 SF personnel and 14 militants in 2010, according to partial data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management (ICM, all data till December 31, 2011. These numbers are likely to be underestimates, as access to media and independent observers is severely restricted in Balochistan). Overall fatalities in 2011 thus increased by 104.89 per cent over the preceding year. Incidents of killing rose by 116 per cent, from 150 in 2010 to 321 in 2011. Further, the number of major incidents (each involving three or more fatalities) increased by 152.17 percent, with 58 such incidents recorded in 2011, as against 23 in 2010.

More worryingly, fatalities among civilians increased by almost 97.81 per cent, and at least 123 of 542 civilian killings appeared to be “extra judicial” in nature – that is, executed by state agencies. The victims of these extrajudicial executions were either political activists or people opposing the oppressive nature of governance in the Province.

Annual Fatalities in Balochistan, 2006-2011

Unsurprisingly, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a non-governmental organisation, in a statement issued on December 9, 2011, observed,

Earlier, on September 18, 2011, the Commission had expressed ‘serious concern’ over the increasing number of decomposed bodies of missing persons being recovered from different parts of Balochistan, noting,

A report of the fact-finding mission of the HRCP which visited the Province between May 4 and 7, 2011 had observed,

• Enforced disappearances continue to be a matter of great concern.

• It has been noted that dead bodies recovered have had signs of extreme torture.

• All authority seems to vest with the Security Forces. The civil administration, elected by the people and meant to represent them, appears to have ceded its powers.

Perturbed by the worsening situation, Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on March 2, 2011, remarked that the Government should take practical steps instead of issuing policy statements regarding abduction and targeted killings in Balochistan. Significantly, during the course of the proceedings, Balochistan’s Advocate General Salahuddin Mengal observed,

Regrettably, however, FC Inspector General Major General Ubaidullah Khattak on December 13, 2011, simply dismissed these allegations and claimed that 90 per cent of the missing Baloch persons were involved in criminal activities and had been killed by their own organisations.

Not surprisingly, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, senior leader of the BNP-M, on December 19, 2011, warned that Balochistan would not "remain with" Pakistan if extra-judicial killings of Baloch nationalists and excesses by SFs were not stopped immediately. "Balochistan will not remain with you", Mengal declared, adding that the violence and killings by SFs had taken "Balochistan to the point of no return" and steps had to be taken to engage the youth "who have been driven into the mountains by the Army". Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentarian, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Abdul Qadir Baloch, on February 25, 2011, had alleged that the security agencies were behind the abduction and killing of political workers and national activists in Balochistan.

Baloch insurgents and Pashtun Islamist and sectarian terrorists, meanwhile, retained capabilities to carry out acts of sabotage on a daily basis across the Province. Acts of violence were, crucially, not restricted to a few areas, but occurred in practically every one of the 26 Districts of the Province, including capital Quetta. According to FC data, a total of 1,328 violent incidents took place across the Province in 2011.

Terrorist violence in Balochistan has had a significant sectarian overlay. Balochistan witnessed 89 fatalities in 12 incidents of sectarian violence in 2011. 11 of these occurred in Quetta alone, with 63 persons killed. The remaining incident occurred in Mastung District. In the worst such attack in 2011, 26 Shia pilgrims were shot dead by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) militants in Taftan, a town that shares border with Iran, in the Ganjidori area of Mastung District, on September 20, 2011.

Separately, Federal Minister of Interior Rehman Malik, on July 13, 2011, disclosed that, over preceding three years, 134 Punjabi-speaking people had been killed in Balochistan.

As in previous years, Islamist terrorists left no stone unturned to attack and disrupt the principal NATO supply lines to Afghanistan, which pass through Balochistan. Partial data compiled by SATP recorded 59 attacks in Balochistan in 2011, on oil tankers and trucks ferrying NATO supplies, marginally down from 66 in 2010. However, the loss of lives in these attacks rose from 12 in 2010 to at least 19 in 2011.

Rising extremism and violence, attacks on NATO convoys, and the arrest of high profile al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists has repeatedly demonstrated the presence of the Quetta Shura and al Qaeda networks in North Balochistan. Since 2009, at least 22 al Qaeda and six Afghan Taliban militants have been arrested in the region. The Pakistan establishment, however, continues to brazenly deny this reality. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani on August 4, 2011, dismissed media reports about the existence of Quetta Shura or the presence of Mullah Omar or al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri in Balochistan. Similarly, Federal Minister of Interior Rehman Malik stated, on June 5, 2011, "The propaganda of the Taliban Quetta Shura is baseless, if anyone has concrete evidence about their claims, it must be shared with Government." And further, "Over 30 raids have been conducted on the presence of Taliban across Balochistan, but they were not found."

However, the arrest in Quetta of senior al Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauritani, believed to have been responsible for planning attacks in the US, Europe and Australia, along with two other “senior al Qaeda operatives”, Abdul Ghaffar Al Shami aka Bachar Chama and Messara Al Shami aka Mujahid Amino in a joint raid by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the FC, disclosed on September 5, 2011, proves the hypocrisy of the Pakistani claims.

The lackadaisical approach of the Pakistani establishment has evidently emboldened the extremists. While the number of SF personnel killed in 2010 stood at 59, it has increased considerably to 120 in 2011. At least 28 people were killed and over 60 injured in two suicide attacks targeting the residence of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the FC, Brigadier Farrukh Shehzad, in Quetta on September 7, 2011. The attacks targeted and wounded the DIG, whose Force was involved in the arrest of Younis al-Mauritani and two other al Qaeda operatives in Quetta, in an operation announced on September 5, 2011.

The quantum jump in violence can be attributed to the rising desperation among the Baloch nationals. Despite Balochistan’s natural resource wealth (including the country’s largest deposits of coal and copper, as well as copious quantities of other minerals), Balochistan is Pakistan's poorest province, with 45 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. There is rising resentment in the Province over the fact that, despite the annual revenue of USD 1.4 billion that the Province’s gas output generates, the Federal Government remits only USD 116 million in royalties back to the Province.

Baloch nationalist Insurgent groups, on the other hand, continued to sabotage economic infrastructure, mostly gas pipelines. According to the SATP database, 2011 recorded at least 52 incidents of attack on gas infrastructure, as against just three in 2010. At least 170 such incidents have been recorded since January 1, 2005. Significantly, the insurgents involved in these attacks focus on targeting the economic interests of the Provincial and Federal Governments, rather than causing loss of life. Of the 711 fatalities recorded in the Province in 2011, Baloch insurgents are confirmed to have been involved in the killing of 69 civilians and 43 SF personnel. The material losses inflicted by the Baloch insurgents, however, are very substantial. The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Balochistan General Manager Mohammad Haroon had noted, on February 14, 2011, “Last year [2010], the SSGC suffered a loss of over PKR 100 million due to targeted attacks on gas pipelines. The company has suffered an equivalent loss this year [2011] too, as attacks have picked up.”

Meanwhile, the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan (initiation of the rights of Balochistan) package which was approved by the Parliament on November 23, 2009, acknowledging the widespread deprivation and neglect that prevailed in Balochistan, failed to deliver. The package, included six constitutional, five political, 16 administrative and 34 economic proposals, and set a three-years implementation period. It has, however, so far succeeded in ‘delivering’ just 34 of the 61 proposals – though even for these the actual benefits accruing to the people are questionable. The Federal and Provincial Governments are, moreover, yet to initiate several mega-projects that are part of the reforms package.

Another ground for resentment is the Government’s policy of compensation to victims of violence. On June 28, 2011, the Supreme Court was informed that PKR 400,000 was being paid by the Balochistan Government as compensation to heirs of common citizens who fell victim to bomb blasts, target killings or sectarian violence, compared to PKR two million paid to the heirs of deceased SF personnel. The Court, expectedly, asked the Federal and Provincial Governments to consider removing the discrepancy by enhancing, to a reasonable level, the amount of compensation for common citizens arguing, “Is a common citizen a lesser species?”

Islamabad has sought to pacify the Baloch by offering peace talks with the nationalist rebels. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, on June 5, 2011, stated that the Government was ready for ‘political dialogue’ with estranged Baloch leaders, in the larger national interest. Again, on October 11, 2011, he declared that the Government wanted reconciliation and remained prepared to hold talks with “dissident Baloch brethren” to find an amicable solution to the issues of Balochistan. The Baloch, however, appear to have lost faith in the establishment. Balochistan BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, on July 15, 2011, had noted that the Government was neither strong enough nor serious enough to resolve the Balochistan issue. He added, further, that announcements of packages, and the formation of jirgas and committees, were aimed at deceiving the Baloch people.

Islamabad’s policy of encouraging Islamist extremists, while using brute force against those demanding genuine rights and redressal of long standing grievances, can only lead to a continuing blood bath in the resource rich Province, creating more trouble for the increasingly crippled national economy. Peace can only remain elusive in Balochistan as long as Islamabad’s duplicity persists.

[South Asia Intelligence Review]

News Briefs

34 militants and 15 SFs among 51 persons killed during the week in FATA: Twenty two militants and six soldiers were killed during a clash when Security Forces (SFs) captured a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stronghold in the Jogi area of Central tehsil (revenue unit) of Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 25.

Seven militants and two soldiers were killed during a clash in Jogi area of the Central tehsil in Kurram Agency on January 24.

At least five militants were killed when United States (US) drone fired two missiles on a house and a vehicle at Mohammad Khel and Degan village in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency on January 23. Dawn; Daily Times; The News; Tribune, January 24-30, 2012.

Sunni Tehreek to become a political party: The proscribed Sunni Tehreek, known as a religious organisation, announced on January 29 that it was converting itself into a political party to be called Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST). The announcement was made by the head of the Tehreek, Maulana Sarwat Ejaz Quaderi, who was addressing the "Pakistan Bachao Janisaran-e-Mustafa Conference", held at Nishtar Park in Soldier Bazaar of Karachi. Dawn, January 30, 2012.

US acknowledges Pakistan doctor's help in Abbottabad Operation that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden: United States (US) Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on January 28 acknowledged publicly for the first time that a Pakistani doctor provided key information to the US in advance of the Navy SEAL's assault on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad on May 1, 2011. Panetta acknowledged that Dr Shakeel Afridi had in fact been working for the US intelligence, collecting DNA to verify the 9/11 mastermind's presence. Daily Times, January 29, 2012.

Musharraf will face arrest if returns, says Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani: Former President General Pervez Musharraf will definitely be arrested if he returns to the country, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said. "In fact, there had been murder charges against him, and there had even been some very grave charges against him, and the Supreme Court had already given a verdict against him," Gilani said. Daily Times, January 28, 2012.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a decline in the number of bomb blasts in 2011, says Peshawar City Police study: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a decline in the number of bomb blasts in 2011 compared to 2010, revealed Peshawar City Police study. Yet this is hardly a cause to rejoice, as the death toll from the attacks was actually higher than the previous year. Tribune, January 28, 2012.

President Asif Ali Zardari's media adviser Farahnaz Ispahani fled the country fearing her abduction by the ISI: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's media adviser Farahnaz Ispahani alleged that she ran away from the country over fears that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might abduct her to force her husband, former Ambassador to the United States (US) Husain Haqqani, to sign a confession and implicate the President in the Memo Gate scandal. Indian Express, January 25, 2012.

Afghan Taliban share 'peace' blueprint with Pakistan: The Afghan Taliban shared with Pakistan the 'functional blueprint" of their formal talks with US officials in the Gulf state of Qatar. It is possibly the first time that the Afghan Taliban has shared details of what they will be discussing with US negotiators, even though they haven't divulged what had been previously discussed. Tribune, January 25, 2012.

Human Rights suffer under Army power grab in Pakistan, says HRW World Report 2012: Pakistan's fledgling democratic Government, under increasing pressure from the military, appeased extremist groups, ignored army abuses, and failed to hold those responsible for serious abuses accountable in 2011, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its World Report 2012. Targeted killings and other attacks on civilians by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and sectarian and ethnic militant groups, as well as killings of journalists, were commonplace during the year, it said. Daily Times, January 24, 2012.

Government responsible for poor law and order in Balochistan, says Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi: Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, expressing concern over the worsening law and order situation in the province, on January 21 said that it was the responsibility of the provincial Government to improve security to the satisfaction of the people. Talking to reporters after the 10th Convocation of the Balochistan University, the Governor said, "I have been saying this from the very first day that law and order is very poor in the province. It makes no difference whether I am satisfied or not, but this question should be asked from the people."

As many as 14,362 people, including 150 women, have "disappeared" in Balochistan since 2001 and 370 mutilated bodies have been found in different parts of the province so far, said Qadeer Baloch, Vice President of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons on January 16. Daily Times; The New, January 17-22, 2012.

Chief Justice of Pakistan will monitor Sindh Government on Karachi violence: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on January 21 warned that he would not tolerate any violation of the orders of the apex court. "Any violation of the orders of Supreme Court would be taken seriously and would entail strict action." Taking notice of the killings of lawyers and other citizens in Sindh, CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry assured the people of Karachi and Sindh that the judiciary would not leave them alone and would monitor the actions of the State apparatus. Tribune, January 22, 2012.

De-radicalisation centres being set up in FATA: The Government is establishing two de-radicalisation centres to ensure psychological and economic rehabilitation of those people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) who renounce militancy. These centres are being set up in Sikandaro area of Bajaur Agency in FATA and Government Degree College in Tank town of Tank District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is adjacent to the militancy-infested South Waziristan Agency. Dawn, January 21, 2012.

Pakistan to re-open NATO supply routes: Pakistan expects to reopen supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan, halted after a NATO cross-border air attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 26, 2011, but will impose tariffs, a senior security official under the condition of anonymity told Reuters on January 19. The official said the fees were designed to both express continued anger over the November 26 attack and raise funds for the state to fight homegrown Taliban. Reuters, January 20, 2012.

Peace talks between Islamabad and TTP faltering, says a Senior Security Officer: Peace talks between Government and al Qaeda-linked Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants have made little progress, a Senior Security Official told Reuters on January 19. The official said the group, seen as the biggest security threat to the strategic United States (US) ally, had flatly rejected a demand that it works through tribal elders to reach a deal whereby fighters approach authorities and lay down their arms. "They felt it would be humiliating," the official said. Daily Times, January 20, 2012.

PKR 101 million bounties on Pervez Musharraf's head: Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of slain Akbar clan chieftain and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Akbar Bugti, on January 16 announced head money for former Army dictator and President Pervez Musharraf. "We will give PKR 1 million in cash and a bungalow worth 100 million rupees to anybody who kills Musharraf. And we'll also provide him full security," Shahzain Bugti said. "The gallows are ready for Musharraf. There will be serious consequences, if the government does not arrest him upon his arrival," he warned. Indian Express, January 17, 2012.

40 civilians and 38 militants among 92 persons killed during the week in FATA: At least 15 militants were killed and several others got injured while there terrorist hideouts were destroyed in an air attack by Security Forces (SFs) in different areas of Orakzai Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 12.

At least 11 militants were killed and six others got injured when jet fighters pounded their hideouts in Jabba, Toor Semath, Akhunkot, and Mir Qalamkhel localities in Mamozai tehsil (revenue unit) of Orakzai Agency on January 11.

A powerful bomb planted in a pick-up van exploded at a petrol station in Jamrud bazaar in Khyber Agency, killing 35 persons, four of them Khasadar personnel, and injuring 78 others on January 10. In addition, after a lull of about 55 days, the United States (US) resumed its drone operation by killing four suspected militants in the out skirts of Miranshah in the North Waziristan Agency.

The dead bodies of 10 Frontier Constabulary (FCB) paramilitary troops were recovered from Dabori town of Orakzai Agency on January 9. Dawn; Daily Times; The News; Tribune, January 9-15, 2012.

Journalist Saleem Shahzad's killers could not be traced, reveals investigating commission report: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdaus Ashiq Awan said on January 12 that according to the report of commission investigating the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad, his killers could not be traced. He, however, added that the Police and Law Enforcement Agencies have been directed to continue investigating the case. Daily Times; Dawn, January 13, 2012.

Army warns of "serious ramifications" and "consequences" for the country: The Army on January 11 warned of "serious ramifications" and "consequences" for the country over Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's allegations that the Army Chief General General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha "unconstitutionally" submitted their response in the memo scandal to the Supreme Court. "There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has leveled against COAS [Chief of Army Staff] and DG ISI and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the constitution;" an statement said. Gilani had earlier termed the affidavits submitted by Army Chief and ISI to the court "unconstitutional and illegal". Daily Times, January 12, 2012.

Al Qaeda monthly magazine Hiteen published and circulated in Pakistan, reveal media reports: Al Qaeda continues to preach jihad (holy war) in Pakistan through an Urdu monthly magazine, Hiteen. The 200-page magazine, Hiteen, is delivered by post to not only the Deobandis but also to Ahl-e-Hadith and Barelvis to convert them to al Qaeda's point of view. Hiteen was started in June 2011, a month after Osama Bin Laden's killing on May 1-2, 2011. The magazine has stories which preach jihad and praise Bin Laden. Indian Express, January 11, 2012.

CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expresses concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, expressing concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, on January 9 observed that the number of missing persons in the province was increasing day by day. He said that uncertainty prevailed in the province as bullet-riddled bodies were found every day. Daily Times, January 10, 2012.

45 militants and 17 SF among 65 persons killed during the week in FATA: At least six militants were killed and 12 got injured on January 6 after Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and its rival Zakhakhel tribal force exchanged gunfire to gain control of a key base in Bazaar Zakhakhel area of Landikotal in Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants on January 5 killed 15 Frontier Constabulary (FCB) personnel in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency.

Security Forces killed 10 militants and injured five others during an operation in the Central Kurram Agency on January 4. In addition, at least six LI militants and a volunteer of Zakhakhel lashkar were killed in renewed clashes between LI and the tribal lashkar (tribal militia) in Bazaar-Zakhakhel area of Khyber Agency. Dawn; Daily Times; The News; Tribune, January 3-9, 2012.

Various factions of Taliban join hands at Shura-e-Muraqba: A 'peace accord' was reached among various factions of the Taliban at Shura-e-Muraqba (Council for Protection), a joint five-member council formed by the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan TTP, along with other Pakistani militant outfits, on January 2, 2012. The TTP on January 3 declared it would end attacks against civilian targets in Pakistan, but its campaign against the Pakistani SFs would continue. Dawn; Daily Times; The News; Tribune, January 3-9, 2012.

Five million illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan, says the Ministry of Interior: The National Assembly was told on January 6 that about five million illegal immigrants were residing in different parts of the country due to local and regional disturbances. In a written statement, the Ministry of Interior told the National Assembly that out of the five million illegal immigrants, approximately two million were Bangladeshis, 2.5 million were Afghans, and 0.5 million other nationals, including Africans, Iranians, Iraqis and Myanmarese, who had been living in the country for more than three decades. Daily Times, January 7, 2012.

Thousands gather to honor former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's assassin Malik Mumtaz Qadri in Punjab: Thousands of people gathered at Data Darbar in Lahore on January 4 in support of the former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer's assassin Malik Mumtaz Qadri, and called for his release. The participants, mostly Barelvi Muslims, held up portraits of Qadri and chanted slogans in his honor. They raised their arms and pledged to follow Qadri "against every blasphemer".

Meanwhile, Planning and Development Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor on January 6 said that peace and order in the province could not be guaranteed if blasphemy against the Holy Prophet continued. He said the faithful would not always wait for court orders in such cases. Ghafoor suggested that the minority members should wait until the court decided Aasia Bibi's fate. Tribune, January 5-7, 2012.

'Secret' talks with TTP reach decisive phase, reveals an Intelligence Official: 'Secret talks' between Pakistan's security agencies and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who have reportedly splintered down into many different groups entered a decisive phase on January 4. Now both sides are hoping their negotiations will culminate in a 'lasting' agreement which will restore peace in the country's lawless tribal lands. "We have drawn the broader outlines for a possible accord. And what we're now working on are minor details," said an Intelligence Official, who claimed the results of the 'year-long' peace process would be unveiled shortly.

Meanwhile, al Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani militants have held a series of meetings aimed at containing what could soon be open warfare between the two most powerful TTP leaders. Hakimullah Mehsud, the head of the TTP and his deputy, Wali-ur-Rehman, were at each other's throats, the sources said. "You will soon hear that one of them has eliminated the other, though hectic efforts are going on by other commanders and common friends to resolve differences between the two," one TTP 'commander' said. Dawn; Tribune, January 4-5, 2012.

[South Asia Intelligence Review]