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SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 11, No. 10, September 10, 2012

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT


INDIA
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Terror's Lengthening Shadows
Sanchita Bhattacharya
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

Between August 29 and September 2, 2012, Police arrested at least 18 persons across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and claimed to have thwarted a terror module linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI). The module was operating from these States under direction from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as well as handlers in Saudi Arabia.

11 of the 18 arrested, were picked up on August 29, 2012. While six of these 11 arrests were made from the Muni Reddy Palya area of Bangalore (Karnataka), five were arrested from Hubli in the Dharwad District of Karnataka. They all confirmed plans to kill some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as some ‘right wing’ journalists, as well as to target critical strategic establishments.

On the basis of information provided by the 11 arrested in Karnataka, the Aurangabad (Maharashtra) Police arrested another four suspects from the Nanded District of Maharashtra on August 31. On the same day, another suspect was arrested from the Misrigunj area of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. On September 1, the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Bangalore Police, arrested another suspect from Bangalore. Finally, on September 2, Dr. Nayeem Siddique was arrested from Devangere, 265 kilometers from Bangalore.

The arrests, according to sources, followed an investigation over the preceding three months. During interrogation, three terrorists of the neutralized module admitted that they had been asked by Saudi handlers, to carry out surveillance of nuclear installations, including the Kaiga Nuclear Plant in the Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka. The suspects were also aiming to target the Seabird Naval Base at Karwar in Uttara Kannada.

According to investigators, the module was also involved in sending terror recruits to Pakistan with the help of their Saudi Arabia based handler, Abdul Majid, who acted as a link to the LeT. Sources indicate that some 50 persons had been sent to Pakistan through this link between 2003 and 2005.

Investigations also revealed that the self-radicalized group had been trying to broad base its contacts over an extended period of time. Travel details of some of the accused revealed that they had visited Kannur in Kerala, and travelled to Kollam from there, where they were suspected to have met Abdul Nasser Madani, leader of the radical Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), before his arrest on August 17, 2010. Further, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) State president Ashfaq Ahmed confirmed that journalist Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui (one of the 18 arrestees) was a listed member of the SIO and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).

The discovery of a terror module working under the aegis of ISI is not a new development. Investigators are, however, concerned over the extensive connections in Saudi Arabia, where some of the handlers were residing. Confirming the Saudi connection, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, R. Ashoka, disclosed, "We have seized laptops and accessed the calls made by the suspects. The calls have been traced to Saudi Arabia… More than 100 terrorism-related SMSs and emails have been accessed.'' CCB (Bangalore Police) on September 3, 2012, further claimed that Obeidur Rehman (one among the 18 arrested) was in constant touch with LeT ‘commanders’ Furqan and Abu Hanzala in Saudi Arabia. Bangalore city Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji reiterated, “Those arrested have links with Saudi Arabia-based LeT and HuJI and it is suspected that they have more supporters in other States. The arrested were taking orders from their handlers in Saudi Arabia.”

The arrestees included a junior scientist with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), two doctors, and a journalist working with the Deccan Herald newspaper. Interestingly enough, the background of the arrested reaffirmed facts disclosed by Abul Bashar Qasmi Isalhi aka Abu Bashar, arrested on August 16, 2008, for his involvement in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) serial bomb blasts of July 26, 2008. Abu Bashar had revealed, “Terror Groups are on the lookout for young men who speak good English, are comfortable with using the Internet and computer and most importantly they would not look different… new terror recruits who wear clothes such as jeans and T-shirt dress up like any other youngster and be part of the crowd”.

Investigators probing the activities of the neutralized terror module have found, further, that the Saudi Arabia based handlers included Indians. According to sources, “We had reason to believe that a middle-aged medical doctor from Hubli, Dr. Zakir Mohammed, who moved to Saudi Arabia five to six years ago, is the alleged mastermind behind the entire conspiracy, and is responsible for the recruitment and radicalization of youth”.

Moreover, revelations by Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari, prime handler of the November 26, 2008, (26/11) Mumbai terrorist attacks, arrested on June 21, 2012, after being deported from Saudi Arabia, and reports regarding the presence of Chinnaswamy Stadium Blast (Bangalore, April 17, 2010) suspect Fasih Mohammed in that country, suggest that Saudi Arabia is emerging as a major hub and operational base for Islamist terrorists operating on Indian soil. Earlier reports had already shown that money from Saudi Arabia was being used for funding the terror machinery of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Indian Mujahideen (IM) in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Funds are mobilized by terrorist organisations in the name of Kifalath (helping the needy). Significantly, two million Indians in Saudi Arabia account for the largest single expatriate community in the country.

India and Saudi Arabia had signed two recent agreements, both on February 28, 2010, relating to the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which came into force on March 17, 2011; and an Extradition Treaty which came into force on March 4, 2011.

The recent arrests have also reconfirmed the ISI’s direct role in terrorist activities in India. Sources indicated that the seized electronic equipment, computers and accessed communications have shown that at least two of the suspects arrested on August 29, 2012, identified as Abdul Hakim Jamaadar aka Abdulla (an accountant) and Dr. Zafar Iqbal Sholapuri had ISI links. Central agencies learnt that these two had gone to Pakistan via Iran and met three ISI officers – Abdul Wahab, Deputy Director of ISI; Hamid, Senior Director of ISI; and Mustafa, a senior ISI officer in Karachi (Sindh). Bangalore-based HuJI ‘commander’ Zakir alias Ustaad alias Guru had directed them to go to Pakistan to meet the ISI officers.

Meanwhile, the existence and penetration of an Islamist terror web in South India has once again been demonstrated with these arrests. Intelligence Bureau Chief, Nehchal Sandhu has underlined the fact that outfits like HuJI and IM have developed a formidable network in Southern India, courtesy SIMI. Other terrorist formations working in the region include Al Badr, which is active in Mysore District, Darsgah-Jihad-o-Shahadat (Centre for Holy War and Martyrdom, DJS) and Tahreek-e-Tahafuz Shaair-e-Islam (Movement for Protection Lions of Islam, TTSI) having strong presence in North Karnataka.

Further, the arrest of five persons from Hubli has once again brought this location under scrutiny. Terrorist activities in Hubli can be traced back to July 2000, when a bomb blast was reported at a church on Gadag Road. Later, the arrest of ‘south Indian commander’ of LeT, Momahed Ghouse alias Riazuddin Naser in January 2008, brought the city back into the limelight. Hubli is also infamous as a SIMI hub, and several training camps had been detected by the Police in 2008 in the jungles on the outskirts of Hubli-Dharwad and the Uttara Kannada District. Riyaz Bhatkal of IM is reported to have set up training camps in this region during his stay there. Analysts believe that Hubli has emerged as a hideout for terrorists because of its strategic location. It is a central point for three states, Maharashtra and Goa in the west, and Andhra Pradesh in the east, facilitating easy movement. Another factor that has worked well with terrorists is the large forest cover that surrounds Hubli.

The pre-emptive detection and neutralization of the terrorist module with linkages across three States, as well as across international borders, is encouraging, but equally underlines the reality that, despite the absence of Islamist terrorism related fatalities outside Jammu & Kashmir through 2012, subversive groups remain active, recruiting and training new members, and planning new attacks. The highest measure of vigilance, as well as aggressive intelligence gathering and operations, remain urgent necessites if the absence of violence is not to become just another hiatus between terrorist outrages.

INDIA
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J&K Police: The Enemy Within
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management

On August 21, 2012, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police neutralized a militant module involved in all the 13 attacks that Srinagar had witnessed since January 1, 2011, with the arrest of two persons: a Policeman, Abdul Rashid Shigan, and a released Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, Imtiyaz Ahmad Gojri alias Raashid. Operating under the shadow name of Omar Mukhtar and General Usman, Shigan was acting as spokesman for Kashmir Islamic Movement (KIM), a shadow outfit of HM. Shigan was the co-conspirator as well as the executor. Meanwhile, on August 27, 2012, Police arrested Manzoor Ahmad Chiloo, a released militant (he was ‘divisional commander’ of HM), and the mastermind of all these attacks.

The arrest of a Policeman in a militancy infested region is not a surprising development. J&K has seen several such arrests in past. According to the partial data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management, a total of 21 Policemen were arrested for their links with militants since 1990. More worryingly, while there were only three such arrests till 2009, 2010 alone witnessed four arrests and it increased to seven in 2011. The current year has already witnessed seven such arrests. Apart from these Policemen, four Army personnel and a Central Reserve Police Force trooper have also been arrested since 1990.

What is astonishing, however, is the magnitude of Shigan’s direct involvement in terrorist activities, and the fact that he was directly in touch with his handlers in Pakistan.

Prominent among the attacks in which Shigan was involved included:

June 29, 2011: Inspector Shabir Ahmad was fired upon and injured at Iqbalabad Bemina.  He later succumbed to his injuries.

December 11, 2011: An attack targeting Minister for Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar was carried out in the Nawakadal area. Though the Minister escaped unhurt, one Policeman died in the incident.

December 24, 2011: An activist of the ruling National Conference (NC), identified as Bashir Ahmad, was shot dead near Dhobi Mohalla in Batamaloo.

April 20, 2012: Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Sukhpal Singh was fired upon and critically injured while on duty near Darishkadal Chattabal. He died later.

May 30, 2012: A troop transport of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was fired upon near Rainawari, resulting in injuries to seven CRPF personnel.

June 28, 2012: Four Rifle grenades were fired at a Territorial Army’s (TA) camp in Batamaloo. There were no casualties.

July 18, 2012: A rifle grenade was fired at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, housing the office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his Cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats of the State. There were no casualties.

August 10, 2012: A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP, retired), Abdul Hameed Bhat, was shot dead near Tangpoara in Batamaloo.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, S.M. Sahai claimed, "With the arrest of Shigan all these cases have been solved." Significantly, apart from the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition, during subsequent raids and searches conducted on Shigan’s Batamaloo house, the Police found that his hand writing matched with statements claiming responsibility, which he had issued to the Press after each attack. A cell phone used to call a local news agency to claim responsibility for the August 10, 2012, killing of DSP Abdul Hameed Bhat, was also recovered.

Earlier, in June 2012, four Policemen working for HM had been arrested. On June 15, 2012, Police summoned Muhammad Abbas Rather for questioning. Rahter was a constable in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and had been assigned to infiltrate into militants ranks. Rather was questioned in connection to an incident of firing on a former HM ‘commander’, Ghulam Hassan Mir alias Shabnam, at Saderbal in the Hazratbal area of Srinagar on June 7, 2012. Shabnam, who had been arrested in 2006 and released in 2007, survived the attack.  Subsequent investigations revealed that all the five to six persons involved in the attack were Police and CID constables who had affiliated with the HM and had carried out the attack on the instructions of one of their ‘commanders’. Rather was subsequently arrested on June 16, 2012, along with another three Policemen, Riaz Ahmad Beigh, Mohammad Ilyas Khan and Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh. In a remand application filed before a Srinagar Court, Police stated, "During his [Abbas] search, Police recovered a document written in Urdu containing information about how to prepare IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and how to use them. The accused met Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Shabir Ahmad alias Adil in Tral area of Pulwama District. During the meeting, he demanded lakhs of rupees from the militant in lieu of sharing information. Then he met Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Riyaz Ahmad Beigh and Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh. It was decided that militants would be provided pictures of Police officials and their residential houses. They also decided to provide information regarding movement of Police officials. Rather was involved in ferrying weapons from one place to another.” IGP Sahai added, "These people were informing the militants about Police officers who are at the forefront of fighting militancy, our operational details. The militants would get prior information…"

In the second week of July 2012, Police arrested Bilal Ahmad Rather alias Mistri, who admitted he was working as an intermediary between militants and the four arrested cops. According to Police sources, in October 2011, Mistri received INR 90,000 from Shabir to be given to Abbas Rahter for arranging weapons and explosives for the terrorists militants. Abbas Rather subsequently went to Tral to hand over the bag of explosives to the militants. Mistri confessed that the arrested Policemen were receiving money from terrorists in lieu of sharing sensitive information about Police officers and their movements.

Meanwhile, on August 25, 2012, the Rajouri Police arrested four persons and neutralized a Police-Territorial Army (TA)-militant nexus involved in illegal activities. The arrested persons included Police Constable, Abdul Rahim, TA trooper, Mohammad Hanief, a suspected terrorist, Mohammad Rashid aka Kaka, and a civilian, Aurangzeb. Investigations later revealed that the TA soldier had sold a Chinese grenade to Kaka for INR 5,000. Kaka had been approached by Aurangzeb, who wanted to trap his brother, Javed Ahmad, in a terrorism case by planting a grenade at his shop at Darhali Bridge in Rajouri. Another Policeman, Basharat Hussain, is also under investigation in this case.  

The complicity of some policemen in militancy-related activities has now become an issue of major concern, as modules operating with the help of Policemen have been particularly difficult to identify and neutralize. After the August 21, 2012, arrests, IGP Sahai conceded, “Normally any militant attack that took place in Srinagar was solved in a couple of months. But for the past 18 months Police had failed to uncover these 13 attacks, which took place in Srinagar.”

More disturbing is the failure of the Police Department in tackling the problem at an initial stage, despite ample evidence. Indeed, Shigan had been discharged from the Police in 1998, while undergoing basic training, following his involvement in militant activities. He had also been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) after Police recovered a pistol and some ammunition from his residence. He was, however, reinstated to the Police Department in 2002 on the orders of the State High Court. Despite his background, there was no check on his activities for such a long period, raising questions about the Departmental mechanisms to check such eventualities.

Similarly, all the four Policemen arrested on June 16, 2012, had recurrent allegations of extortion against them in the past years. However, they were being shielded because of their role in undercover operations. Moreover, when Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh (arrested on June 16, 2012) was detained by the Kolkata (West Bengal) Police in December 2008 in the aftermath of November 26, 2008 (26/11) Mumbai attacks for supplying SIM cards to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, the cases against him were dropped after the J&K Police informed their Kolkata counterparts that he was an undercover agent, and was trying to infiltrate into the terror group.

J&K appears to be poised at the end of an over two decade-old militancy. It now needs a strong Police Force. As Director General of Police Ashok Prasad, noted, “the challenge for State Police has changed from counter-insurgency to law and order”. However, the existing turncoats within the 76,805 strong Police Force, can undermine the state’s efforts to maintain peace and restore normalcy.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
September 3-9, 2012

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

BANGLADESH

 

Left-wing Extremism

0
0
1
1

INDIA

 

Assam

0
1
0
1

Jammu and Kashmir

0
2
1
3

Manipur

1
1
2
4

Nagaland

1
0
2
3

Left-wing Extremism

 

Karnataka

0
0
1
1

Bihar

0
1
0
1

Total (INDIA)

2
5
6
13

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

9
2
1
12

FATA

9
2
27
38

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

4
0
4
8

Punjab

2
0
3
5

Sindh

25
1
0
26

Total (PAKISTAN)

49
5
35
89
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


INDIA

India vulnerable to global terrorism, says IB Chief Nehchal Sandhu: India is vulnerable to the global nature of terrorist strikes, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Chief Nehchal Sandhu has said, on September 6, citing the attack on an Israeli diplomat's vehicle on February 13, 2012 at New Delhi. Sandhu said the terrorist attack on the diplomat's vehicle indicated that India is becoming a hub for global terrorists seeking to target foreigners in the country. Indian Express, September 8, 2012.

DGPs warned of nationwide IM resurgence: In the annual conference of Directors General of Police /Inspectors General of Police being held in New Delhi, for the first time it was officially declared that Indian Mujahideen (IM) 'has Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) patronage'. DGP's across India have been warned that the IM's resurgence is taking place with new modules set up in New Delhi and Bihar. Deccan Chronicle, September 8, 2012.

BKI militant Kulwant Singh alias Guddu planned major operation in Punjab, says report: Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant, Kulwant Singh alias Guddu, who was arrested on September 1, had planned a major extremist operation in Punjab during the forthcoming festival season. According to Police sources, Guddu was trying to recruit members in a bid to revitalize BKI. He was liaising with senior BKI militants abroad to revive the outfit. Day & Night News, September 4, 2012.

Maoists creating corridor along Western Ghats, say Police: An increase in the activities of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Dakshina Kannada District indicated that the Left Wing Extremists were working towards their plan of creating a corridor along the Western Ghats from the northern tip to Wayanad in Kerala, a Police officer, who had served in the region, said. The officer, now on central deputation, said that in 2006 the Maoists devised the plan to spread their activities in the Western Ghats. The increase in the number of sighting of Maoists in Dakshina Kannada indicated the creation of that corridor, he added. The Hindu, September 8, 2012.

Rajasthan home to Naxals seeking safe haven and funds, says report: Naxals (Left Wing Extremists) are targeting Rajasthan for fund-raising activities through dacoities and extortion in a bid to step up their operations in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, top intelligence sources revealed on September 3. Sources say they also have the plan to include Rajasthan in the 'Red corridor'. Daily Pioneer, September 7, 2012.

42 terror camps across LoC, says GOC 15-Corps Lieutenant General Om Prakash: General Officer Commanding 15-Corps, Lieutenant General Om Prakash said on September 1 that 500-600 militants were ready to infiltrate from launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC) where more than 42 militant camps were operating. "The recent incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan were aimed at infiltrating militants into Kashmir," he said. "It isn't possible for the Army to bring down infiltration to zero level. You can't give guarantee of zero percent infiltration due to geographical reasons," he added. Daily Excelsior, September 4, 2012.

Online rumours on Assam riots terror handiwork, says Union Home Minister: Union Home Minister (UHM) Sushil Kumar Shinde on September 6 said the recent ethnic violence in Assam is handiwork of the terrorists. He noted that the "motivated" online rumours were evidence of terrorists misusing cyber space. Nagland Post, September 8, 2012.

'Illegal infiltrators cross border through few patches where fencing is not feasible due to difficult terrain and riverine areas', admits Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran: Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran told Lok Sabha (Lower house of Parliament) on September 5 that illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators cross the border through few patches where fencing is not feasible due to difficult terrain and riverine areas. "As this activity takes place clandestinely, no specific details are available about the magnitude of this illegal migrants staying in India including Northeastern states," he said. Times of India, September 7, 2012.

Four Kangleipak Communist Party factions reach consensus with Government, says report: Four factions of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), who have signed an agreement for peace talk with the Centre, were likely to surrender en-masse to the Government. After signing a peace agreement with the Centre on July 31, leadership of the four factions of KCP - KCP- Taibangangba, KCP-Lamphel, KCP-City Meetei and KCP-Pakhanglakpa -were engaged in talks with officials of the Manipur Government to chalk out modality of the peace dialogue and ground rule to be maintained by the cadres of the factions during the peace talk. Nagaland Post, September 8, 2012.


NEPAL

USA removes UCPN-M from its terrorist list: Unites States of America (USA) has removed the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) from its global terrorist organisations list. It stated that the party has demonstrated a credible commitment to pursuing the peace and reconciliation process in Nepal. Nepal News, September 7, 2012.

Mohan Baidya faction to present 70-point demand to Government: Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist-Baidya) 'chairman' Mohan Baidya on September 5 said that his party was going to present a 70-point demand before launching a peaceful protest movement to make it to power. He further warned that his party would take up arms if the demands were not addressed. The 70-point demand would also include the 40 demands the then Maoist party had presented to the Government before launching the armed insurrection in 1996. Nepal News, September 7, 2012.

UCPN-M chairman Prachanda and Mohan Baidya agree to divide party property: Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-Maoist) 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Mohan Baidya led Communist party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist-Baidya) 'chairperson' Mohan Baidya on September 3 agreed to share the property of the party between the two parties. A meeting of the taskforce formed for resolving the dispute over the ownership of party property Monday morning took the decision to this effect. Nepal News, September 4, 2012.


PAKISTAN

27 militants and nine civilians among 38 persons killed during the week in FATA: The Security Forces (SFs) on September 9 claimed to have recovered 19 bodies of militants during a search operation in areas along the border in Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Three persons, including a minor girl, were killed when a mortar shell fell on the house of one Kaptan Khan, a resident of Kandawo village in Sipah area of Khyber Agency on September 6. In addition, dead bodies of three persons were found in Badi Sia area of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency.

Seven militants were killed on September 4 in Batwar Khas, Chachagi, Kambeli, Tendo Dag and Kumbat areas of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur Agency, near the Afghan border, as SFs kept up their attempts to drive out the fighters from their hideouts. Two security men and a civilian were killed when their vehicle was attacked on Miramshah-Dattakhel Road near Kharh Qamar area in North Waziristan Agency. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia Online; The Nation; The Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, September 4-10, 2012.

25 civilians and one SF among 26 persons killed during the week in Sindh: Six people were killed in separate acts of target killing in Karachi, the Provincial capital of Sindh, on September 8, 2012.

At least six people were shot dead in separate acts of violence in Karachi on September 7.

Five people, including an Ahmadi and a former income tax commissioner, were shot dead in separate incidents of violence in different parts of Karachi on September 6.

Five persons, including an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), were killed in different incidents of violence in Karachi on September 5. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia Online; The Nation; The Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, September 4-10, 2012.

Upto 43 organisations, trusts and groups banned for terror links in Pakistan, claims Interior Ministry Report: Up to 43 organisations, trusts and groups have been outlawed so far by the Government for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, according to figures released by the Interior Minister on September 9. Of the 14 organisations that were banned in 2012, most were based in Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan. From amongst the 43 banned outfits, two were banned before the 9/11 attacks for propagating sectarian violence namely Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Muhammad - both declared illegal in 2001. Three organisations found on the list were proscribed by the United Nations (UN). One of the three groups included Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD), which was accused by Indian authorities of complicity in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Tribune, September 10, 2012.

US to designate Haqqani Network as terrorists: The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on September 7 that it is designating the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network, accused of high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, as a terrorist organisation. Clinton said in a statement that she had told the US Congress that she would brand the Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), subjecting the group and its members to additional sanctions, including an asset freeze. Daily Times, September 8, 2012.

Army repulsed 17 cross-border attacks in 2012: Major General Ghulam Qamar, the operation commander in Swat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) on September 6 said that Pakistan Army repulsed 17 major attacks of militants from across Afghan border since February 2012. He also said that 260 attackers were killed while 40 security personnel lost lives in these attacks. Dawn, September 7, 2012.

TTP operating in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to generate funds from traders and big shots, reveal interrogations: Two suspects operating a network for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for generating funds via extortion and kidnapping were arrested by a joint investigation team of Security Forces and Capital Police on September 5. On the basis of revelations made by them, efforts are in progress to arrest the leader of the network operating from United Kingdom (UK). Dawn, September 6, 2012.

Recovery of missing persons top priority, says Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on September 5 said the recovery of missing persons remained the top priority for the Supreme Court, adding that the Security Forces had failed to restore peace and order in Balochistan. Hearing the Balochistan unrest case at the Supreme Court's Quetta Registry, Chief Justice Chaudhry said the court knew what law had to do. He expressed his anguish over the attitude of the defense and federal secretaries who did not appear before the court. Pakistan Today, September 6, 2012.

HRCP warns against groups sympathetic to militants: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on September 3 warned all institutions, especially political parties, of the catastrophic consequences of their failure to resist militancy. The commission said, "The barbaric beheading of 12 Pakistani soldiers and killing of others, by the Taliban adds a new grisly chapter to the long list of outrages committed by extremists." Pakistan Today, September 4, 2012.

Pakistan ready to give Taliban 'safe passage': Pakistan has agreed to provide safe passage to the Afghan Taliban leaders willing to participate in reconciliation talks with the Afghan Government. An unnamed US official said that the US and Pakistan had formed a working group to facilitate safe passage to Afghan Taliban leaders willing to visit Kabul for talks with Afghan officials. Dawn, September 10, 2012.


SRI LANKA

UPFA won all the three PCs election: The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won all three provincial councils - North Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa election held on September 8. The UPFA was able to win all the three Provincial Councils securing 63 seats out of 114. Significantly, the UPFA won 14 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council out of 35 seats, while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) secured 11.

Meanwhile, TNA which secured the second highest number of seats at the Eastern Provincial Council on September 10 said it would stake a claim to form the council with the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the United National Party (UNP). The UNP and SLMC both secured four seats each. Daily Mirror, September 10, 2012.


The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

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Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


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