Detail Of Terrorism Update

12 militants were killed and 11 others injured in a clash with Security Forces (SFs) in the Kurram Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on July 29, according to Dawn. SFs launched a search operation in the Marghan Kandaw area of central Kurram Agency on information that militants were regrouping there. As the security personnel reached the area, they came under attack. The SFs retaliated and destroyed an important hideout of the militants. Sources said that the SFs had gained control of major parts of Lower and Central Kurram Agency.

Meanwhile, at least 10 persons were killed and their houses set ablaze in sectarian violence in Kurram Agency , reports Daily Times. Local residents said that men of the Shia sect carried out the attack. The incident occurred in the Sanghbakht village inhabited by the Mengal tribe near the Afghanistan border. Mengal tribesmen are predominantly Sunni and live on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. "They (attackers) first evicted the residents from their homes, ransacked them and killed 10 persons on the spot," the residents said adding that the attack could be retaliation for the attack on a convoy of Shias on July 16 in which 18 persons were killed. Parachinar and other towns of Kurram had been witnessing sectarian violence since a long time and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) used the tense relations between Sunnis and Shias to strengthen their presence in the area. Local residents said that four women and two children were missing in the aftermath of the attack.

Times of India reports that the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoists) cadres shot dead Rajen Mahato, a Trinamool Congress Party Panchayat (village level local self government institution) chief at Kumardihi in the Balarampur area of Purulia District in the night of July 29. Maoist ‘area commander’ Pravatji have taken the onus of the killing and branded him as corrupt.

Separately, in the night of July 28, about 30-armed Maoists raided the house of Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPM's) Belpahari local secretary and Binpur panchayat samity sabhapati (village level local government institution head) Hariram Singh at Gajapathar village and asked him to come out of the house. As he was absent, the armed Maoists dragged the motorbike out of the courtyard and set it ablaze along with the tractor parked outside the house.

In addition, Sheikh Jumer Ali (50), went missing since July 27 evening from Jhargram. Ali's wife Soidesha suspects that the Maoists have abducted her husband. A teacher, Ajit Giri, had also been missing from Jhargram for over a month. He was reportedly abducted by Maoists while he was coming out of the classroom.

Further, in the Bankura area of West Midnapore District Police arrested one suspected Maoist and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession. However, Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma denied the charge.

Meanwhile, helicopters kept droning over the forested hamlets of Jangalmahal as part of air surveillance. The vigil began at 7am on July 30 (today) to keep tabs on the Maoist camps inside the forests. The Security Forces have made some progress in the Maoist-affected blocks, but some Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers complained that they are not getting full cooperation from the State Police while conducting operations deep inside the forests.

One person was killed while another was seriously injured in Quetta in Balochistan on July 29, reports Daily Times. According sources, Haji Habib and Muhammad Tahir were sleeping in their house in Raisani Town on Brewery Road, when armed assailants shot them through the window of the house. Habib died on the spot while Tahir was injured and was taken to the Bolan Medical College Hospital.

Separately, unidentified attackers threw a hand grenade in the house of Wasif Siraj, a Government employee in Railway Housing Scheme on Brewery Road. The grenade exploded in the courtyard of the house. However, no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, unidentified assailants set the Zakat (Obligatory alms in Islam) office in Awaran District on fire causing partial damage to its furniture.

A cadre of the Unified Communist party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), identified as Keshari Prasad Yadav, resident of Parshuram Village Development Committee (VDC) of Bara District, was shot dead by the Ajad faction of Samyukta Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (SJTMM-A) in Bara District on July 29, reports Nepal News. UCPN-M called a bandh (shut down) in the District protesting against the murder. Yadav was a member of the Maoists' Bhojpura Rajya Samiti.

According to Kantipuronline, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Jhalanath Khanal said that his party is ready to support any Prime Ministerial candidate in order to address the national agenda of peace and constitution. However, he urged the Prime Ministerial candidates from the UCPN-M and the Nepali Congress (NC) to withdraw the candidacy and lay a new foundation of national consensus.

Further, the UCPN-M prepared a letter expressing the party's commitment on the "common paper" of the demands put forth by the United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF), reports Nepal News. A meeting of the Maoist office bearers held at the party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda’s residence reached a conclusion that the party should express written commitment to the conditions presented by UDMF.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai said that his party is ready to finish the important task of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants by separating those among them who want to be integrated into the State Security Forces from those who do not. He also said that this will be done by bringing the Maoist combatants under the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC).

At least 15 people, including five Security Forces, were injured in a clash between Security Forces and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres in Dhaka on July 29, reports Daily Star. The clash erupted when Police tried to block a Shibir procession brought out demanding release of the top Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leaders. Five ICS cadres were arrested in this incident.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court placed JeI Nayeb-e-Ameer (deputy chief) Delwar Hossain Sayedee on a one-day fresh remand in connection with a case filed following an attempt on Prof Humayun Azad's life. He was also placed on a three-day remand in connection with a case filed against Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders for anti-state activities.

Further, the International Crimes Tribunal directed the prison authorities to produce the four detained top JeI leaders before it on August 2. The leaders are Ameer (chief) Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid and two senior assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla. This is the first ever step made by a tribunal in the history of Bangladesh in connection with war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.

Meanwhile, Islamist parties in Bangladesh face a ban from politics after the Supreme Court ruled religion-based organizations cannot participate in political life, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed. Bangladesh banned religion-based politics after it gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, but an amendment to the country’s constitution in 1979 allowed Islamic parties to operate again. In a ruling released on July 28, the Supreme Court struck down the 1979 amendment saying it contradicted secularism, one of Bangladesh’s four founding pillars. "The ruling has paved the way for banning the political parties, which use religion as their main ideal and propagate it," Shafique Ahmed said.

Cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) set ablaze five trucks of the Essar Group at Kirandul in Bailadila hills, an iron ore rich location, in Dantewada District on July 29, during the second day of the week-long ''martyr’s week'' called by the Naxals [Left Wing Extremists], reports IANS.

Two cadres of the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), identified as Thanga Theak of Haflong and J. Lalzarza of Bara Arkap, were arrested by the Army from Bara Arkap village in southern Dima Hasao District on July 28, reports Sangai Express. Theak was a local area ‘commander’ of the outfit. The two cadres were involved in tax collection in the area and also in coordinating movement of militants in the District. The Army also recovered two AK-47 rifles, one rifle, three grenades and more than 300 rounds of ammunition from the area. Pointing out that HPC-D group is in ceasefire in Manipur and its cadres are restricted to a camp in Churachandpur District, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) release said ‘the group is also believed to be involved in the recent blasts on July 21 at Haflong, Mahur and Harangajao’.

In addition, a militant belonging to the Manipur based militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), identified as Sailiam Ramesh, and three National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres, Gautam Boro, Parikshit Boro and Ponkha Basumatary were arrested from different parts of Guwahati city on July 29, reports Sentinel.

Nagaland Post reports that violent incidents in the Northeastern States have dipped down in 2010 compared to the previous two years. Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) on July 28 said, "The Government is aware that the normal lives of common people do get affected due to activities of certain militant groups who indulge in various insurgent activities including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, etc." "Unified Command has been set up in the States of Assam and Manipur to ensure coordinated operations," he said.

Imphal West District Police arrested three Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) cadres from their respective houses on July 29, reports Sangai Express. The three were identified as Loitongbam Basant alias Tampakcha (35), Aribam Thoi alias Merachandra (28), and Yumnam Naoba alias Swami (27).

In addition, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) cadre, Moirangthem Sudeep alias Deep alias Alex was arrested by State Police commandos and Assam Rifles personnel from Maharabi Lamkhai near waiting shed in Imphal West District. One 9-mm pistol with magazine and three lives rounds, one leather bag containing INR 30 and a cellular phone handset were recovered from his possession. Senior Superintendent of Police of Imphal West release stated Sudeep joined PLA in January 2003 through M Eshing Chaoba alias Chaoba and was working in finance section under the command of Manglem of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai.

Security Forces arrested a cadre of Rafiq faction of the People's United Liberation Front (PULF), Anis Khan alias Mani (21) at Lilong Khunou area on July 29. One 9 mm pistol, two live rounds and one Nokia handset have been recovered from the possession of the arrestee.

Meanwhile, a threat by cadres of the City Meitei Mobile Task Force faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) to continue with its series of attacks on Communist Party of India (CPI) workers of Health Minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh in Lamlai Assembly constituency of Imphal East has struck terror among the party workers, reports Telegraph. Cadres of the outfit abducted Yumnam Manaoba (23), son of CPI Lamlai Council secretary Y. Megha on July 19 from their house at Yourabung in Imphal East. Police, however, rescued Manaoba from Imphal West and arrested two cadres of the outfit on July 23. The KCP had alleged that Parijat Singh gave contracts of his Department to his workers and relatives only besides committing irregularities in appointments. The outfit demanded INR 100 million-worth contracts and a sum of INR 20 million in cash from the Health Minister. The Minister dismissed the allegations and said, "If you want contracts, shun violence and join the mainstream."

Orissa Police arrested four cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) identified as Jhinjada Purti, Majara Pingua, Singa Purti and Duka Hembram from Khajuria Pancham village under Daitari Police Station in Keonjhar District on July 29, reports Orissadairy. The Maoists were arrested in course of investigation into the killing of one Durga Devgan (50) of the same village on June 22, 2010.

PTI reports that replying to the budgetary demand in the Assembly for the Home portfolio on July 29, Orissa Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik said incidents of Naxal [Left Wing Extremism] violence declined by 30 per cent in the first six months of 2010 compared to the period of 2009. "68 incidents were reported between January and June this year as against 98 recorded during the same period last year." Top ranking Maoist leaders, Asutosh Tudu alias Motilal Soren, a central committee member, head of eastern politburo P. Ramarao alias Uday, who is also the secretary of Bansadhara divisional committee and Bhaskar alias Pravakar Patra, platoon commander of Kalinga Nagar area committee were among 302 Maoists arrested during 2009 and till July 7, 2010, the CM said. The arrest of Manik Mahato, a prime suspect in the attack on the Jnaneswari Express in West Bengal and Aurobindo Cachhad alias Chandrasekhar, who was the mastermind of the attack on former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Sudam Marandi, were considered as major successes in recent months.

"Security Forces have engaged the Maoists on 29 occasions during 2009 and 2010 (till date) and neutralised 23 of them," the CM said, adding, that firearms and large quantities of explosives were also seized during the period. Making a comparison with neighbouring States, Patnaik pointed out that till June 2010, 68 incidents involving 42 deaths were reported in the State compared to 312 incidents involving 220 deaths in Chhattisgarh, 254 incidents involving 76 deaths in Jharkhand, 193 incidents involving 140 deaths in West Bengal and 164 incidents causing 44 deaths in Bihar. The Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh zonal committee of Maoists, which was causing a problem for the State, was contained to a significant extent due to effective security measures, he claimed. The activities of the Maoist backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) was also contained effectively, the CM added.

Three cadres of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K) were arrested along with arms and ammunition by Assam Rifle personnel from Niuland area in Dimapur District on July 28, reports Nagaland Post. One M-16 rifle along with two magazines and 86 rounds of ammunition and one 7.62 SLR along with two magazines and 89 live rounds were recovered from their possession. They were identified as self-styled ‘Lieutenant’ Phusheto, self-styled 2^nd ‘Lieutenant’ Kireto Yimchunger and self-styled ‘Sergeant’ Ahovi Sema.

The Union Government’s interlocutor R.S. Pandey said on July 29 that there is no breakdown in the ongoing talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). "Talks are being held here in a cordial atmosphere. It will resume in the coming days," Pandey told IANS. "Today we had informal interactions. The talks will continue in the coming days." "We have been able to reach agreement on certain issues. We have yet to agree on certain other issues. But the talks will continue," he added.

Referring to reports from Kohima that the United Nagaland Council (UNC) has threatened to resume the economic blockade on Manipur if the "demands of the Naga people are not accepted by July 31 by the centre", R.S. Pandey added, "UNC threat and talks with NSCN, which are proceeding in a cordial atmosphere, were two separate issues".

Meanwhile, the Co-ordination Committee of the recently merged NSCN-K and Naga National Council (NNC) has said that reconciliation and unity was "hard but possible" and appealed to all other groups to pursue the path of reconciliation. "Reconciliation takes place when two opposing camps do away with apprehensions, past bitterness and acknowledge each other as equals," the Committee said and added that Nagas were blessed for having leaders who were willing to meet, reconcile and work in tandem with once sworn enemies.

Colombo High court on July 28 sentenced two persons to 11 years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for supplying information to the Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to assassinate the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) leader Mangala Samaraweera, reports Colombo Page. The two suspects, G.G. Ranaweera alias Malli and Sampath Thushara were accused of providing information in 2006 on the movements of former minister to assassinate him either in Colombo or in his electorate, Matara.

PTI reports that not satisfied with the prevailing situation in the Naxal-affected areas in the eastern region, the Railways have decided to extend suspension of night movement of trains in parts of West Bengal and Jharkhand till August 3.The decision comes in the back of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) observing a week-long ''martyrs week''. The Home Ministry has already issued an advisory to Maoist-affected states and asked the Railway authorities to tighten security in public places and around their properties to foil any attempt by the Naxalites to strike during this period. The suspension of night operations will remain in vogue from 10 pm to 5 am between Kharagpur and Tatanagar and between Kharagpur and Adra, said a Railway Ministry official. Both the South Eastern as well as the East Coast Railways have diverted or rescheduled several trains in view of the suspension notice.

In view of the ‘martyr’s week’ observance by the Maoists, the Railways have also stepped up vigil in Naxal-hit states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The MHA advisory has also asked the Railway Ministry to ensure proper security to trains and passengers travelling through these states and sought deployment of additional guards in bridges and railway stations. The Railway official said special task forces have been kept on standby to meet any eventuality, while trains are being run in bunches escorted by pilot engines, the official said. Speed restrictions have also been put on the locomotives.

The Centre on July 29 said it was confident of overcoming the Naxal [Left Wing Extremism] problem through its existing two-pronged policy development and Police action to deal with the menace in the affected areas, reported Times of India. Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Government was confident that the problem of Naxals would be dealt with "determination" and "overcome" in the next three years". Chidambaram said while the Central Government acknowledged that the primary role and responsibility was that of States in enforcing law and order in confronting the challenge of Left Wing Extremists, it also recognised its responsibility in assisting the States in every way. Chidambaram said the Centre was assisting the States by providing paramilitary forces, sharing intelligence and funding both development schemes and security needs.

Quite a few Maoists have surrendered and many more want to, said West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on July 29, a day after the State Government issued a notification on its surrender policy for Naxal [Left Wing Extremists], reports The Hindu. The Maoists who surrender will be provided by the State Government INR 150, 000 in fixed deposits each, besides a monthly fund of INR 2, 000 that will be given for three years together with vocational training which the Government had issued a notification for a surrender-cum- rehabilitation scheme detailing the benefits to be provided to those giving themselves up, on July 28.

CM Bhattacharjee also said Maoists were forcibly closing many schools in these areas and forcing students to participate in their programmes. Claiming that the influence of Maoists was waning, he said earlier they would not allow Police to organise football matches but the recent soccer tournament organised by the Police at Lalgarh was watched by over 3,000 villagers. In all 12 teams participated in the tournament. Such tournaments would be organized in Purulia and Bankura, two other Districts affected by Maoists, the CM said.

The CM said that the Central Forces engaged in security operations to flush out Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) from Jangalmahal would stay on in the region till their task was over. Bhattacharjee, replying to questions in the State Assembly on the situation in the Maoist-affected areas said, "The work for restoration of law and order and normality in the Maoist-affected areas has to continue. Thirty-five companies of joint forces are operating in Lalgarh and its adjoining areas. They will stay there till the time they are required to," adding, that he had discussed the matter with the Centre which had the same view.

With no breakthrough in the over three year old Samjhauta Express blast case which was being investigated by the Haryana Police, the Union Government has finally handed over the probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), reports Times of India. "The Samjhauta blast case has been handed over to the NIA," special secretary (internal security) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs U.K. Bansal told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi on July 29. The case will be the third one to be probed by NIA after Goa's Margao town and Gujarat's Modasa bomb blast cases in which Hindu extremist groups are suspected to be involved.

Underlining the need to remain engaged with Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his British counterpart, David Cameron, on July 29 called on Islamabad to be indiscriminate in cracking down on terror groups operating from its soil, reports Times of India. "We believe that Pakistan should be as serious in paying attention to terror on its western borders as on the eastern borders. I sincerely hope the world community would use its good offices to promote this," Singh said at a joint press conference with Cameron here. "It is not acceptable, as I have said, for there to be within Pakistan existence of terror groups that cause terrorism within Pakistan, outside Pakistan, in Afghanistan, India and elsewhere in the world," added Cameron. At the same time, Pakistan should be encouraged to take steps to see that terror was reduced. "We want to work with Pakistan to make it fight the LeT [Lashkar-e-Toiba] and Afghan or Pakistan Taliban. The Pakistan Government has taken steps and it needs to take further steps to reduce terrorism in Afghanistan, India and the streets of London. I think the right thing is to have discussion with Pakistan frankly, clearly and openly. Next week, I will have discussions with the President of Pakistan, he said.

Making the same point, Manmohan Singh hoped that Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would accept the invitation to visit India later this year so that "sooner or later" the dialogue was restored to the "proper sense of purpose."

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on July 29 urged his Western allies to destroy Islamist militant sanctuaries in neighbouring Pakistan after thousands of secret US files were leaked, reports The News. "The time has come for our international allies to know that the war against terrorism is not in Afghanistan’s homes and villages," Karzai told a news conference in Kabul. "But rather this war is in the sanctuaries, funding centres and training places of terrorism which are outside Afghanistan. "Whether we are able to destroy these sanctuaries or not is another question. Our international allies have this ability, but the question is why they are not doing it."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign Office reacted sharply to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s suggestion of a NATO operation inside Pakistan, saying the comments were "incomprehensible", reports Daily Times. "We don’t see any reason as to why these remarks should have been made by the Afghanistan President," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.

Separately, rejecting the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s comments, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that most of the Afghanistan war stalwarts had left Pakistan for other places due to crackdown by Armed forces. Qureshi said Pakistan has the largest deployment of its forces on western borders. "More than 150,000 troops have been deployed there and about a thousand border posts erected. These steps will benefit both Pakistan and Afghanistan," he noted.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on July 29 assured the Senate that the issue of hostile statements against Pakistan made by British Prime Minister David Cameron would be taken up at a diplomatic level and warned that such statements could adversely affect the war against terrorism, reports Daily Times. Responding to points of orders raised by Raza Rabbani and others in the Senate, Gilani said NATO and world forces had miserably failed to curb violence and terrorism in Afghanistan. "Pakistan has never claimed to be a super power, but is currently undertaking efforts against terrorism in its best capacity," he said, adding that Pakistan had lost more soldiers compared to NATO and other forces fighting against terrorism. He urged the international community to understand Pakistan’s problems and help the country.

US Vice-President Joe Biden said in an interview aired on July 29 that Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was "changing" its behaviour towards Afghanistan, reports Dawn. Biden downplayed leaked documents which suggested that between 2004 and 2009, elements of ISI, armed, trained and financed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) despite Islamabad’s anti-terror alliance with Washington. "I’m getting very close to what I shouldn’t be talking about in terms of classification," said Biden. "But what was talked about in those leaks were the intelligence community within the ISI. That is the sort of the CIA of Pakistan. That has been a problem in the past. It is a problem we’re dealing with and is changing."

Meanwhile, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen asked the ISI to "strategically shift its focus", as any ties with the terrorist outfits that has come to light in the wake of the WikiLeaks episode is unacceptable. "There have been elements of the ISI that have got relationships with extremist organisations, and we consider that unacceptable," Mike Mullen told reporters at a Pentagon news conference along with defence secretary Robert Gates. "In the long run, I think that the ISI has to strategically shift its tied in great part to what the secretary's laid out focused on its view of its own national-security interests," Mullen said in response to a question in which he was asked to respond to the remarks made by the British Prime Minister David Cameroon in India that Britain would not tolerate export of terrorism by Pakistan.

Pakistani Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani on July 29 renewed Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and asked India to enter into result-oriented talks with Islamabad towards resolution of the decades-old Kashmir conflict, reports Daily Times. "For us the most important thing is the rights of the Kashmiri people - we are committed to finding a resolution to the Kashmir dispute," Haqqani said at an international conference at the Capitol Hill, the seat of the US Congress. Pakistan, he said, was serious about resolving the longstanding conflict and expects reciprocity from New Delhi, as Islamabad wanted good relations with its eastern nuclear-armed neighbour. "We look forward to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India on Kashmir," he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is concerned about "influence of India in Afghanistan" and does not want to be caught in a "pincer movement" on the issue, the country's envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani, has said, reports Indian Express. "The Pakistani government is working very hard at bringing about normalcy in relations with India, but there are outstanding issues that keep cropping up there as well," Haqqani told PBS. "We are concerned about the influence of India in Afghanistan because we have had conflict with India and we do not want to have a situation in which we are caught in a pincer movement," he said in response to a question. "The government in Pakistan, including our military and our intelligence services, are very clear about the future direction. We want good relations with our neighbours, have no intention of trying to carve out a sphere of influence in Afghanistan," he said.

Former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Hamid Gul on July 29 said that he never ordered Indians killed, reports Times of India. He has described the 91,000 leaked US military documents, which allege close connections between Pakistan and Taliban militants, as "fictional". Gul, Director General of ISI from 1987 to 1989, said there was "much bashing of the ISI and of the Army indirectly in this case, and they feel that I am probably a convenient whipping boy". Instead, Gul has blamed General Ashfaq Kayani, Pakistan’s present Army chief. Gul, who headed ISI when Pakistan and the US were supporting Islamist militants in their fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan, is mentioned a number of times throughout the leaked intelligence reports. In one report, Gul, who has been an outspoken supporter of the Taliban, is alleged to have dispatched three men in December 2006 to carry out attacks in Afghanistan's capital. However, in an interview in Rawalpindi, Gul said that it was "fictional" and went on to say that "it only depicts the intelligence failure on the part of US and whoever else, but much of it, I think, has been contributed by Afghanistan intelligence".

The Sri Lanka Government maintains that the Tamil Diaspora is now divided into two groups and the majority is supporting its efforts towards improvement of the living standards of Tamils in the northern and eastern provinces, reports The Hindu. Government spokesman and Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference in Colombo on July 28 that the group representing the Tamil Diaspora, which was forced to fund the militant activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was now willing to contribute to the welfare of the war-displaced civilians. The Minister was referring to an interview given to a local daily by Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, who succeeded V. Prabhakaran as LTTE chief until he was taken into custody by the Sri Lankan security agencies in August 2009.

Earlier in an interview with The Island newspaper, KP answered questions on a wide range of issues, including his capture, breakdown of the various attempts to negotiate peace and a desperate bid to thwart annihilation of the LTTE's military leadership in May 2009. He was confident that a group of like-minded Tamils based in various parts of the world would support the initiative for the benefit of Sri Lankan Tamils, and said President Mahinda Rajapakse was genuine in his efforts at resolving differences among communities and helping to re-build the war devastated regions. "Within a year of the conclusion of the war, the majority of the people displaced by the conflict are back in their villages and ex-combatants of the LTTE are undergoing rehabilitation and the international community, too, is supportive of Sri Lanka's efforts. None of these would have been possible without the political leadership given by President Rajapakse," he told the paper.