INDIA
PAKISTAN
NEPAL
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
SRI LANKA
Terrorism Update
Latest
S.A.Overview
Publication
Show/Hide Search
HomePrint
 
  Click to Enlarge
   

SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 13, No. 20, November 17, 2014

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

PAKISTAN
Click for PrintPrint

Darkening Tangle
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management

On November 12, 2014, Security Force (SF) personnel reportedly confiscated a few flags, bearing the Islamic State (IS, formerly Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, ISIS) monogram, near the main entrance to the Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), based in a closely-guarded part of the historic city of Taxila, near Islamabad. Some more flags were recovered from nearby electricity poles. 

On the same day, Fahad Marwat, a ‘spokesman’ for Jundullah, an al Qaeda affiliated anti-Shia terrorist group, claimed that a ‘delegation’ from the IS had visited the organisation's leaders in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province, in the preceding week. He added that the purpose of the visit was to see how IS could work to unite various Pakistani militant Islamist groups. Significantly, the Balochistan Government had submitted a ‘secret’ report, dated October 31, 2014, in which it had noted,
It has been reliably learnt that DAISH (al Dawlah al Islamiyah fi al Iraq wal Shâm, ISIS) has offered some elements of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamat (ASWJ) to join hands in Pakistan. DAISH has also formed a ten-member Strategic Planning Wing and now seek to inflict casualties on Pakistan Army outfits who are taking part in operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Meanwhile, on November 13, 2014, wall-chalkings welcoming IS appeared on City Road, Cantonment Road, Dera Ismail Khan Road and Miran Shah Road in the Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There were similar reports from other parts of the country, including Karachi and Peshawar, regarding emerging support for IS.

Again, on October 14, 2014, six top ‘commanders’ of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including its ‘spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid, announced their allegiance to Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi aka Khalifa Ibrahim, the chief of the IS. The TTP leaders included the group's chiefs for the Orakzai Agency, Saeed Khan; Kurram Agency, Daulat Khan; Khyber Agency, Fateh Gul Zaman; Peshawar, Mufti Hassan; and Hangu, Khalid Mansoor. Shahidullah pledged “allegiance to Amirul Momineen Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi” and declared that he would “abide by all his (al Baghdadi's) decisions ... whatever the circumstances I shall be loyal to him and obey his directives”. The TTP later sacked all these leaders, reiterating support for Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Significantly, in June 2014, while announcing the formation of the Islamic State, the group had released a map purportedly showing the areas IS planned to bring under its control within five years. These areas included all of Pakistan within the projected ‘Islamic Caliphate’. In a decisive step towards the goal, in September 2014, IS appointed Abdul Raheem Muslim Dost chief of its 'Khurasan' region. Soon after his appointment, Dost started extending IS outreach into Pakistan and Afghanistan, distributing IS propaganda booklets in the Afghan-Pakistan tribal belt and in some Afghan refugee camps in Peshawar. Several reports emerging since suggest that IS has succeeded in extending its influence in pockets across Pakistan. 

Unsurprisingly, the Balochistan Government's report clearly states that IS has claimed to have “gathered 10-12 thousand followers from the Hangu and Kurram Agency”. Referring to the widespread influence of the IS, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, on October 31, 2014, stated, “IS flags were visible from the south of Pakistan's Punjab all the way to the Federal capital of Islamabad.” Another commentator noted,
If the Pakistan security apparatus fails to check their footprints, it could be a setback for them in future. It appears that the IS wants to focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly at the time when US Forces begin to withdraw from Afghanistan. If not checked, IS will pose a major threat to South Asia and the Persian Gulf.

At least 330 Pakistani terrorists are already known to be fighting along with IS Forces in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, al Qaeda terrorist offshoot, Jamaat Qaiadat al Jihad fi Shibhi al Qarrat al Hindiya (Organisation of the Base of Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent or Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, AQIS) has made deep inroads into Pakistan. On September 6, 2014, attackers planned to hijack Navy frigate PNS Zulfiqar from the Karachi West Wharf Dockyard. Naval Commandos from PNS Iqbal rushed to the incidents site and a gun battle ensued. One Navy trooper was killed and another seven were injured. Three attackers were killed. On September 11, AQIS claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that the dead attackers included Pakistan Navy officers. Subsequently, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Parliament, on September 10: “We cannot rule out inside help in this attack because without it the miscreants could not breach security. The operation near Karachi shore was an attack by al Qaeda in the subcontinent.”

Significantly, on September 3, 2014, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a 55-minute video posted on the Internet, announced the launch of AQIS to spread Islamic rule and “raise the flag of jihad” across the Indian subcontinent, including Pakistan. Maulana Asim Umar, chief of al Qaeda’s Sharia Committee in Pakistan, was named leader of AQIS.

IS, which has captured large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and is striving to establish a global ‘Caliphate’, is a breakaway faction of al Qaeda, and is deeply aware of the fact that Pakistan provides it an alternate sanctuary in any ‘adverse situation’. Moreover, the rising anarchy and Islamist extremism across Pakistan offer ample opportunity to recruit more fighters, as well as to establish a base in the region, which accounts for over 31 per cent of the world Muslim population. Conscious of these ‘advantages’, IS and AQIS are vying with one another to fill the vacuum created by the failure of governance in Pakistan.

It is useful to note that there are a total of 60 banned organizations in Pakistan, according to the Government's National Internal Security Policy (NISP) 2014-18 document. The document notes,
Pakistan’s economy has suffered a loss of more than US$ 78 billion in last 10 years only. More than 50,000 Pakistanis, including civilian, Armed Forces and Law-Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) personnel, were affected or sacrificed their lives... Pakistan is facing serious traditional and non-traditional threats of violent extremism, sectarianism, terrorism and militancy... Subversive activities and a pattern of targeting the national security apparatus and key installations by the terrorists and non state armed groups have compounded the challenge.

Further, a report prepared by the US Congressional Research Service for distribution to multiple congressional offices in February 2013 noted, “Islamist militant groups operating on and from Pakistani territory are of five broad types: Globally-oriented militants, Afghanistan-oriented militants, India- and Kashmir-oriented militants, Sectarian militants, and Domestically-oriented militants.” The South Asia Terrorism Portal has listed 37 terrorist outfits as ‘Trans-national Organisations’ (which carry out operations in neighboring countries); 12 groups as ‘Domestic Terrorist Organizations’ (which engage in violence within Pakistan), and another four as ‘Extremist Groups’ (engaged in the propagation or imposition of Islamist extremist doctrines and codes).

Islamabad has been forced to take some actions against domestically-oriented terrorist organisations, as the internal security environment deteriorated, creating an existential threat to the state. Nevertheless, as the NISP document notes, even in this regard, "Traditionally, the entire internal security apparatus acts in a reactive rather than proactive manner". Pakistan's orientation to the externally directed terrorist formations, however, remains malefic, as state agencies, prominently including the Army and its Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate, continue to provide covert and overt support to terrorist formations that serve their purported ‘strategic objectives’.

In its latest (October 2014) six-monthly report on the current situation in Afghanistan, the Pentagon observed, "Afghan-and Indian-focused militants continue to operate from Pakistan territory to the detriment of Afghan and regional stability. Pakistan uses these proxy forces to hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan and to counter India's superior military."

Despite the enormous domestic costs of terrorism, the Pakistani state and its agencies continue to create an environment that allows a range of Islamist terrorist formations to operate from and flourish on its soil, even as the state continues to promote radical Islamist ideologies through its various institutions and polices. It is this environment - and substantial direct support to a range of terrorist formations, including al Qaeda - that has made the country extraordinarily vulnerable to the consolidation of global jihadist organisations such as AQIS and IS. Since state agencies are yet to abandon Islamist terrorism as an instrument of domestic political management and strategic extension, it is unlikely that a focused state action will effectively block the expansion of AQIS and IS across the country.

Indeed, current orientations suggest that the Government is inclined to deny, rather than confront and solve the problem, with Federal Minister of the Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on November 11, 2014, dismissing evidence of the presence of IS in the country, declaring, “No organisation of this name exists in Pakistan.”

INDIA
PAKISTAN
Click for PrintPrint

Cyber Wars
Sanchita Bhattacharya
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

In the night of November 6, 2014, Pakistani hackers defaced websites of 22 Government departments and organisations in India. On the defaced websites, the hackers identified themselves as ‘1337 & r00x! - Team MaDLeeTs', greeted the Government of India, and leveled a range of allegations against the Indian Army in Kashmir. "We are not asking for Kashmir. We ask for peace. Nothing deleted or stolen. Just here to deliver my message to the government and the people of India," the hackers wrote, signing off with "Pakistan Zindabad" (long live Pakistan).

On November 1, 2014, Pakistan-based hackers, calling themselves 'Pakistan Cyber Mafia Hackers', hacked two websites of Gujarat Government - the official website of the Commissionerate of Higher Education (www.egyan.org.in) and the official website of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee of Ahmedabad (www.apmcahmedabad.com). The hackers put their logo and some text on the homepages of these websites, which read: 'Hacked by Pakistan Cyber Mafia Hackers', 'Feel the power of Pakistan', 'Pk_Robot was here' and 'Pakistan Zindabad'.

These incidents are the most recent in a rising trend. Indeed, on July 14, 2014, Communications and IT Minister Ravishankar Prasad, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) disclosed,
During the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (till May), a total number of 21,699, 27,605, 28,481 and 9,174 Indian websites were respectively hacked by various hacker groups spread across worldwide. In addition, during these years, a total number of 13,301, 22,060, 71,780 and 62,189 security incidents, respectively, were reported to the CERT-In [Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In)]. These attacks have been observed to be originating from the cyber space of a number of countries including the US, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria and the UAE.  A total of 422, 601 and 1,337 cases were registered under cyber crime related sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) during the year 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The threat of cyber crime lies outside the conventional paradigm of terrorism, but has the potential to do incalculable harm. Indeed, even sustained low grade attacks impose cumulative costs that can be prohibitive. Cyber terrorism, moreover, is not only limited to paralysing computer infrastructures; it also comprehends the use of computers, the Internet and information gateways to support and organize traditional forms of terrorism, such as bombings and suicide attacks. The most common use by terrorists is for secret communications, as well as designing and uploading websites on which propaganda can be pasted, at least occasionally masking secret missives. Direct cyber terrorist attacks use hacking, computer viruses, computer worms, E-Mail related crime, denial of service attacks, etc.

India and the United States (US) have decided to launch an all-out war against terror outfits and to annihilate them in the virtual world as well. Worried by the increasing presence of terrorist organizations in cyberspace, an Indo-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on cybercrime has been activated to dismantle the virtual command centres of terrorist networks across social networks, Indian Government sources stated, "The decision to activate the JWG was taken after weighing threat perception of outfits like IS [Islamic State], al Qaeda, AQIS [al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent], Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Indian Mujahideen (IM) and JMB [Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh] etc., in the cyberspace."

Though such a pattern has long been in evidence, there has been a significant rise in high profile terrorist outreach attempts through the Internet in the recent past, particularly with the emergence of the IS, and the very sophisticated media campaigns this group has deployed. For example, in a 20-second-long audio statement titled 'A message to the Mujahideen and the Muslim Ummah in the month of Ramadan'  released on July 1, 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the IS 'chief', mentioned that Indians, among a host of other nationalities including Chinese, American, French, German, Australian, etc., figure among IS fighters. Another 11-minute-long IS propaganda video featuring a Canadian youth, who identifies himself as Abu Muslim, and uploaded on the internet in the first week of August 2014, clearly underlines IS attempts to reach out to Indian youth, as the video has been subtitled in Hindi, Tamil and Urdu.

Similarly, on September 3, 2014, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a 55-minute video posted on the Internet, announced the launch of a new wing in the Indian sub-continent, AQIS. Zawahiri described the formation of AQIS as “a glad tiding for Muslims in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujurat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir" and claimed that the new wing would 'rescue Muslims' there from injustice and oppression.

Cyber space has also been exploited by extremists to spread violence and unrest across India. Cyber wing officials investigating communal violence that erupted in July 2014 in the Bareilly District of Uttar Pradesh (UP), as reported on August 5, 2014, found that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was possibly involved in sending controversial pictures to some Facebook users in Bareilly, which led to communal violence in the Meera Ka Paith locality. The origin of the controversial Facebook posts was traced to Secunderabad, Karmagunda and Madanpet - all in Hyderabad (capital city of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) - where SIMI is known to have a considerable base. The officials also found evidence that funds were provided by some banned militant outfits from Jammu and Kashmir, to foment trouble in Bareilly.

Earlier, in 2012, cyber space was used by anti-national elements during the Assam communal strife. Then Union Home Minister (UHM) Sushilkumar Shinde had noted on September 6, 2012, "It is unfortunate that the recent violence caused by the ethnic groups in Assam has been given communal colour... There is an increasing evidence of resort taken by terrorists to the cyber space domain."

Similarly, the 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar (UP) were aggravated by the use of social media networks by suspected terror groups. On November 21, 2013, Shinde had observed, “More recently, the Muzaffarnagar riots were fanned by similar misuse (of social media).”

There is mounting evidence that the abuse of the Internet against India is substantially orchestrated under the aegis of Pakistan's external Intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). A classified note of a high-level security review meeting held in New Delhi in September 2012, noted, "The ISI is now working on a bigger game-plan in training terrorists in the use of cyber and computer technology as the Pakistani agency feels India is not fully equipped in dealing with incidents of cyber war or attack.’’ Importantly, the note observed, the training given to subversive elements by ISI’s cyber experts played a key role in spreading hate campaigns through MMS [Multi-media Messaging Service] and SMS [short message service], targeting people from the Northeast in the wake of ethnic violence in Assam. The note warned that this trend would only increase in days to come, and this was also the reason why ISI was increasingly stressing the recruitment of more educated youth by Islamist terrorist formations. An unnamed Indian intelligence officer stated, further, “It is almost certain that the Pakistani agency was behind the recent cyber attack on India, at least indirectly. Having tasted success they will try it again in future and on a much bigger scale. So we must be prepared to deal with this challenge.”

According to a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) document, till September 15, 2014, the country witnessed 479 riots in which 107 people were killed while another 1,697 people sustained injuries in the current year.

Indeed, concerned at the abuse of cyberspace by terrorist groups, the Union Home Minister (UHM), on June 17, 2014, directed the UMHA to explore the possibility of setting up specialised cybercrime units in each of the country’s 671 Districts. Again on November 4, 2014, while participating in the 100th General Assembly Session of Interpol in Monaco, UHM Rajnath Singh underlined the role of information technology to bring about even better control in the field of cyber security, and preventing misuse of internet social media for spreading extremist ideologies and radicalisation.

The Cyber Security Initiatives taken up by the Indian Government include the setting up of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), a premier organisation providing network backbone and e-governance support to the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, Districts and other Governments bodies; the Cert-In, to "ensure security of cyber space in the country by enhancing the security communications and information infrastructure, through proactive action and effective collaboration aimed at security incident prevention and response and security assurance"; the National Information Security Assurance Programme (NISAP), for protection of the Government and critical infrastructures. Further, the Indo-US Cyber Security Forum (IUSCSF) seeks to establish an India Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) for better cooperation in anti hacking measures; an India Anti Bot Alliance to raise awareness about the emerging threats in cyberspace, under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); and to chalk out ways to intensify bilateral cooperation to control cyber crime in the two countries.

The Indian Government has also undertaken various initiatives to strengthen the cyber security. On March 25, 2014, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Data Security Council of India (DSCI) with a view to seek expert services from the latter in managing the challenges in cybercrimes and updating officials with the latest technology. Nevertheless, these measures, in addition to earlier initiatives, have failed to adequately deal with the threat, which is approaching alarming levels. On October 31, 2014, while emphasising the severity of the cyber crime threat, UHM Rajnath Singh stated, "It can hit anyone, anywhere and anytime."

Cyber crime and cyber terrorism have now emerged as a national priority, and this is widely acknowledged in the policy establishment. It remains to be seen how long it will take such recognition and concern to be translated into effective action and institutional development to construct and implement a comprehensive cyber security paradigm within India's counter terrorism strategy.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
November 10-16, 2014

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

INDIA

 

Assam

3
0
0
3

Jammu and Kashmir

1
0
2
3

Manipur

0
2
0
2

Meghalaya

1
0
0
1

Left-wing Extremism

 

Jharkhand

1
0
1
2

Total (INDIA)

6
2
3
11

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

9
2
7
18

FATA

3
9
142
154

KP

2
5
6
13

Punjab

1
2
0
3

Sindh

9
5
5
19

Total (PAKISTAN)

24
23
160
207
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


BANGLADESH

The trend towards using female operatives in the Islamist militant outfit in the country is alarmingly growing, say Police: Detective Branch (DB) of Police on November 13 said that the trend towards using female operatives in the Islamist militant outfit in the country is alarmingly growing. The militant outfits are using their female members as a distraction technique to pull the wool over the eyes of law enforcers. Such tendency is largely adopted by the banned organization Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The technique is known amongst the militant outfits as couple module. The JMB planned to set up their den in West Bengal (India) by using this technique. Dhaka Tribune, November 14, 2014.

Government is waiting for copy of SC verdict to decide over execution of Mohammed Kamaruzzaman, Law Minister Anisul Huq: Law Minister Anisul Huq while taking to reporters at his office in Dhaka city on November 11 said that the Government is waiting for the copy of the Supreme Court (SC) verdict to decide over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Senior Assistant Secretary General Mohammed Kamaruzzaman. The Law Minister further told the media that the jail authorities were asked to take preparations for the execution." The Indpendent, November 12, 2014.


INDIA

Bardhaman terror links spread to Jharkhand, says report: The officials of Central intelligence agencies have unearthed the network of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Bardhaman (West Bengal) terror modules link in Jharkhand. Sources in the government stated that JMB terrorists had opened two Jihadi Madrasas (Islamic seminary) in Sahibganj District of Jharkhand to recruit and train terror modules. The Bardhaman terror handlers were already operating two separate madrasas in Simulia and Murshidabad, which was primarily focusing on female Jihadis. New Indian Express, November 15, 2014.

Cyber attacks grown nearly five times in last three years, says report: Cyber attacks have grown nearly five times in the last three years and most of them have been found to be originating from the IP addresses located in China. "Most of the cyber attacks that we have tracked show IP addresses located in China but we are unable to establish if the attacker is from China. We need international cooperation for handling such crimes," National Technical Research Organisation NTRO Director of cyber security, Alok Vijayant said. Times of India, November 14, 2014.

CPI-Maoist in 'turmoil' but could attack soft targets, warns Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh: The Union Minister of Home Affairs (UMHA) Rajnath Singh on November 12 said Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was in "turmoil" due to growing desertions, absence of fresh recruitment and low morale among its armed cadres, but cautioned that it had the potential of bouncing back with a spectacular attack against soft targets in its stronghold areas. Times of India, November 13, 2014.

Assam Police keeping close watch on NGOs and madrasas to unearth jihadi links, states DGP Khagen Sarma: Assam Police is keeping a close watch on several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and madrasas (Islamic seminary) across the state to unearth jihadi links, if any, Director General of Police (DGP) Khagen Sarma stated on November 12. A joint team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Assam Police has discovered valuable leads in the recent Bardhaman blast case, Sarma added. "We are scanning some NGOs, madrasas and other places which might have been used by jihadi elements as shelter and for funds," he said. Times of India, November 13, 2014.

India urges Myanmar to crack down on ULFA-I: During the interaction between Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Myanmar President Thein Sein on November 12 at Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar, India has pressed Myanmar to mount a crackdown on the Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) led by 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, besides Meitei militant outfits operating from Myanmar. According to sources, India asked the Myanmar President, Thein Sein to assist in getting six wanted militants including Jyotirmoy Bharali, who looks after the ULFA's Myanmar operations."The Assam tribune, November 13, 2014.

Government finds 'foreign hand' in radicalising youth in madrasas, says report: A discreet survey of the country's madrasas (Islamic seminary) by the government has reportedly found the foreigners teaching there, largely Bangladeshi instructors who have managed to acquire Indian identity documents, to be a key source of indoctrination among young Indian Muslims. The report, submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) in October, 2014, has flagged the mushrooming of unaided and unregulated madrasas along the Indo-Bangladesh or Indo-Nepal border in West Bengal, Assam and Terai region. Times of India, November 13, 2014.

India and US step up cooperation to track Dawood Ibrahim, says report: India and the United States (US) stepped up cooperation to track Dawood Ibrahim, who generally lived at Karachi (Sindh) in Pakistan till recently, of late started shifting his base frequently and purportedly moved to different locations within and outside the neighbouring country. The officials of India and US may discuss the issue of bringing the elusive D-company chief to justice during the third round of bilateral Homeland Security Dialogue, which is likely to take place in New Delhi later this month or early next month. The dialogue will be co-chaired by Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and US Secretary for Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. Deccan Hearld, November 13, 2014.

55 camps of North East insurgent groups in Bangladesh, says BSF official: A Border Security Force (BSF) official stated that "At least 55 camps of northeast India militants are still functional in different parts of Bangladesh and opposite to Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam's borders with Bangladesh". The northeast militant outfits running camps in Bangladesh territories include Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). Morunge Expres, November 11, 2014.

'JMB planning to carry out terror attacks in India', says report: Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) allegedly involved in the October 2, 2014 Bardhaman blast, was planning to carry out terror attacks in India, in addition to the outfit's plans to trigger explosion in the neighbouring country. According to the sources who questioned Sajid, alleged to be a mastermind of the blast, JMB was trying to set up a terror network in West Bengal, particularly in three Districts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda, and in Assam through armed struggle besides having an 'Shariyat' rule in Bangladesh, official sources said. New India Express, November 13, 2014.

LeT and JeM operatives recruit local youths to trigger violence in Jammu and Kashmir, says report: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operatives are recruiting youths to trigger large-scale violence to thwart the poll process in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Sources in the security establishment claim that with infiltration bid by terrorists organisations from across the border being effectively curbed by the alert forces on the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC), the terror groups are now vigorously pushing ahead their plan-B by intensifying their recruitment bid to carry forward their `bloody agenda'. Times of India, November 10, 2014.


NEPAL

Remove Bhattarai as CPDCC chair, if you can, says Pushpa Kamal Dahal: On November 14, Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda challenged the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) coalition to replace UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai as the chairman of the Legislature-Parliament's Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC) if they wanted to issue the constitution using their majority at the Constituent Assembly (CA). Nepal News, November 15, 2014.

New statute by January 22 at any cost, says ruling parties to diplomatic community: Ruling parties have assured the diplomatic community that they would bring a new statute by the January 22 deadline even if it requires them to put contentious issues in constitution writing to vote in the Constituent Assembly (CA). Speaking at a function organized to brief Kathmandu-based diplomats on ongoing political developments and efforts being made so far to promulgate new statute, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli said ruling parties will continue make efforts for consensus till the end. My Republica, November 13, 2014.


PAKISTAN

142 militants and nine SFs among 154 persons killed during the week in FATA: At least 34 terrorists were killed during ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on November 16. According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), some important militant 'commanders' and foreign terrorists were among those killed.

Another seven militants were killed in an encounter with SFs during a search operation in Datta Khel area.

Four soldiers were killed and at least eight were missing after militants using rockets and grenades stormed Spara Gher checkpoint in Dattakhel area.

At least 30 suspected militants were killed and a number of militant hideouts were destroyed in Dattakhel area on November 14.

Five militants were killed, including a key Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) 'commander' Spinbat, in a clash with peace committee members of Tauheedul Islam (TI) in Narai Baba area of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency on November 13.

At least 19 militants were killed during air strikes in Sandapal and Akakhel areas on November 12.

At least 15 militants and six security personnel injured during a clash between militants and SF personnel in the Shirin Dara area of Orakzai Agency on November 11.

SF personnel in precise aerial strikes in Daras area of Khyber Agency killed 13 militants including some foreigners on November 11.

Nine militants were killed and 12 others injured on November 11 in a clash between SF personnel and militants in the Akakhel area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit).

Six militants were killed in a United States (US) drone strike in Doa Toi area of Dattakhel tehsil in NWA on November 11.

Three Levies officials were killed while two other officials injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the roadside blew up in Chargo area of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur Agency while escorting polio teams on November 11.

At least four militants and two soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire during clearance operation near the Afghan border in Gharlamai area of NWA on November 10. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia Online; The Nation; The Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, November 11-17, 2014.

Islamabad's Security 'inextricably linked' with Afghanistan, says Pakistani Army: Pakistan's military on November 14 told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who is on his first state visit to Pakistan that the security of the two countries was 'inextricably linked'. A tweet from Major General Asim Bajwa, head of the military's public relations wing, said Ghani's trip took place amid a positive atmosphere and that border cooperation was "in focus". "Tribute to Pakistan sacrifices, Bodes well for region," he said, adding, "Security, stability a shared goal. Our security inextricably linked". Daily Times, November 15, 2014.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar releases pictures of Wagah suicide bomber: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) Jama'at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) wing on November 13 released the pictures of the suicide bomber who allegedly attacked Wagah border in Lahore District of Punjab on November 2, 2014, killing at least 61 people. The group's spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan emailed and tweeted pictures of the bomber, identifying him as Haneefullah alias Hamza. The pictures showed the alleged bomber sitting in front of a green backdrop with two automatic weapons, a pistol, two copies of the Quran along with white and black militant flags. Tribune, November 14, 2014.

Islamic State group visited militants operating in Balochistan, claims Jandullah 'spokesman' Fahad Marwat: Jandullah 'spokesman' Fahad Marwat on November 12 claimed a 'delegation' from the Islamic State (IS) group has visited Jundallah's leaders in Balochistan Province. He said that the visit took place this week in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province. He further said that the purpose of visit by the IS was to see how it could work to unite various Pakistani militant groups. Times of India, November 13, 2014.

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan rules out the presence of IS militants in Pakistan: Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on November 11 ruled out the presence of Islamic State (IS) militants in Pakistan. "No organisation of this name exists in Pakistan," the Interior Minister said. The statement comes days after the provincial government of Balochistan conveyed a confidential report to law enforcement agencies warning of increased footprints of IS, also known by the Arabic acronym Daish, in Pakistan. Dawn, November 12, 2014.

ISIS spreading tentacles in Pakistan, reveals Balochistan Government Classified Report: Pakistan's security agencies have warned the Government about the increasing threat from the (Islamic State) ISIS militant group. A classified report by the Provincial Government of Balochistan conveyed to the Federal Government and law enforcement agencies warning of increased footprints of the Middle Eastern terrorist group, also known by its Arabic acronym of "Daish". Times of India, November 8, 2014.


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]

Publisher
K. P. S. Gill

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


A Project of the
Institute For Conflict Management



To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe.

Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) to a friend.

 

 

 

 

 
Copyright © 2001 SATP. All rights reserved.