South Asia Terrorism Portal

Punjab: Deceptive Recovery 
Tushar Ranjan Mohanty
Research Associate; Institute for Conflict Management

Ten persons, including six Policemen, were killed and another 35 were injured in a suicide attack near a Police check post outside the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz (centre) at Raiwind Town in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, on March 14, 2018. A teenage suicide bomber blew himself up when a Policeman tried to stop him from entering the Markaz. At least 70,000 followers of Tablighi Jamaat were present at the annual congregation. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened more attacks on Police in retaliation for the killing of their “associates” in Punjab.

On January 15, 2018, a Police constable was killed by unidentified assailants in the Bharwal area of Hasanabdal Saddar Police Station jurisdiction in the Attock District of Punjab. The deceased was identified as Head constable Faizan.

According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the Province has registered a total of seven Security Force (SF) fatalities in 2018 (data till March 25, 2018). During the corresponding period of 2017, Punjab also recorded for seven SF fatalities. Through 2017, there were 27 SF fatalities in Punjab, and 21 such fatalities in 2016, indicating a rising trend.

On the other hand, SFs killed 99 terrorists in 2017, as against 139 killed in 2016. Thus, though SFs were able to maintain a positive kill ratio through 2017, the success rate declined from 1:6.61 in 2016 to 1:3.66.

According to SATP four incidents of explosion were recorded in Punjab in 2017, as against two in 2016, though the resultant fatalities declined from 76 in 2016 to 50 in 2017. Punjab also witnessed three suicide attacks in 2017, up from one in 2016, though number of casualties dropped to 209 (49 killed and 160 injured) in 2017 from 375 (75 killed and 300 injured) in 2016. 

           Fatalities in Punjab: 2006-2018*

Fatalities among civilians, however, recorded a steep decline: from 84 deaths in 2016 to 32 in 2017. This could be attributed to the launch of a Province-wide crackdown on February 19, 2017, against terrorist groups, following the February 13-suicide attack  outside the Punjab Assembly building on Mall Road, Lahore, in which at least 14 persons, including eight civilians and six Policemen, were killed, and another 85 were injured. This crackdown forced the terrorists to concentrate their power against SFs, providing some relief to the civilian population.

On February 19, 2017, during a Provincial Apex Committee meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Provincial Government asked the Federal Government to deploy Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) to combat terrorism. It requested the deployment of over 2,000 Rangers in the Province, with policing powers, to conduct Intelligence-based Operations (IBOs) against terrorists, wherever required and with full authority. On February 22, the Federal Government approved the request, and operations commenced.

Moreover, on the same day, February 22, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (elimination of discord) across the country, including Punjab. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army's media wing, described the Operation,

The Rangers conducted their first combing operation in the Rawalpindi area of Punjab on February 22. On December 18, 2018, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) briefing the Senate on action taken by SFs under Operation Radd-ul-Fassad, disclosed that 13,011 operations had been conducted in the Punjab province. The total number of operations conducted in Punjab were almost three times the total number conducted in other areas combined: 4674 (Balochistan 1410, Sindh 2015, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 1249]. Clearly, despite official claims that it remained ‘relatively peaceful’, Punjab had consolidated as a hub of terrorism.    

Indeed, according to an April 23, 2017, report of the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control (MINC) there were at least 113 ‘most-wanted terrorists’ from various Districts of Punjab still in operation. The MINC document divides most-wanted terrorists’ into three categories: 62 Sunni terrorists, 29 Shia terrorists, and 22 potential suicide attackers (sect not mentioned). There is no report available in open sources to suggest how many of these 113 ‘most-wanted terrorists’ have since been killed.

The continuing policy of the Punjab Government in particular and Islamabad in general, of helping ‘state-owned’ terrorist formations, has created an environment where numerous terror outfits thrive. Indeed, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)-led by 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, who carries a bounty of USD 10 million, continues to receive open support from the highest authorities of the land. In a statement released on December 30, 2017, for instance, the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) justified Hafiz Saeed’s participation in a pro-Palestine rally, also attended by Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali, in Rawalpindi on December 29, 2017, declaring,

Moreover, JuD continues to operate freely from its headquarters at Muridke in Sheikhupura District of Punjab and other offices. According to media reports, the Punjab Government had started taking over all the moveable and immovable assets of the JuD and FIF in the province on February 14, 2018. The action was being taken in pursuance of an ordinance issued by President Mamnoon Hussain on February 12, amending the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, and allowing the state to take action against individuals and organizations proscribed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

However, an unnamed Punjab Government official was quoted as stating, on March 6, 2018,

The officer further disclosed that that JuD and FiF were still freely using the banned groups' offices, despite Pakistan's claims that all the assets of the two formations have been seized and their bank accounts frozen.  

Though terrorism related fatalities in the Punjab Province declined through 2017, after registering a steep increase in 2016, the deep roots of terror formations are so entrenched that long term respite from violence is not possible in the foreseeable future, particularly in view of the selective collusion of the state and its agencies. As long as the terrorism in Punjab - the very heart of Pakistan - persists, the overall situation across the country will remain troublesome.

Deepak Kumar Nayak 
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

A woman cadre of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Irothu Sundaramma aka Sadhana, carrying a reward of INR one million on her head, surrendered before the Superintendent of Police (SP), C.M. Trivikrama Varma, in Srikakulam District on March 17, 2018. Sadhana was involved in a number of Maoist-linked offenses, including an attack at National Aluminium Company (NALCO) Company at Damanjodi in the Koraput District of Odisha on April 12, 2009, in which 11 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were killed.

On March 12, 2018, nine CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police at Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam District. The surrendered cadres were identified as Jartha Venkata Rao (25), Korra Dasu (27), Korra Lingaraju (22), Korra Jagga Rao (23), Plika Narsu (20), Palika Ramesh (23), Korra Bandu (21), Paliaka Baburao (25), and Korra Bangaraju (22). All of them were associated with the ‘Galikonda Area Committee’ of the CPI-Maoist and used to supply food to Dalam (armed squad) members, gather the public for Maoists meetings and act as route guides to Dalam members in the forests.

On March 7, 2018, a CPI-Maoist ‘assistant commander’ affiliated with the Kalimela, Motu and Papuluru dalams in the neighbouring State of Odisha, identified as Madakam Yerraiah (33), surrendered before the Police in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Madakam was allegedly involved in seven violent incidents, including the Balimela boat capsize incident in Malkangiri District of Odisha, in which 38 Security Force (SF) personnel, mostly of Greyhounds [the elite anti-Maoist force of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Police] were killed in 2008.

On March 4, 2018, six CPI-Maoist cadres of the ‘Galikonda and Korukonda Area Committees’ surrendered before the Superintendent of Police (Vizag Rural), Rahul Dev Sharma, in Visakhapatnam District. They were identified as Korra Rajababu (42), Vanthala Sethu aka Tilusu (25), Vanthala Ramakrishna (35), and Vanthala Ravi (30), each of them carrying a cash reward of INR 100,000 on their heads; and Korra Mallana (30) and Pangi Bhaskar Rao (35).

On February 16, 2018, four CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District. Two of them were, identified as Vanthala Lakshmana Rao aka Das (28) and Pangi Lakshman aka Venkat (25), cadres of the CPI-Maoist ‘Galikonda Area Committee’; while another one was identified as Pangi Sombra (18). The identity of the fourth was not disclosed, as he was a juvenile.

On February 14, 2018, nine 'jan militia (People's Army)' members of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District. The surrendered members were identified as J. Bobbili Raju (25), Vantala Veeranna (45), Jartha Balaraju (48), Pangi Mange (45), Jartha Gangamma (40), Kakuri Narayananamma (40), Kakuri Parvathi (20), Jartha Seethamma (40) and Kakuri Lakshmi (35). All of them hailed from Manta Bheemavaram Panchayat (village level local-self Government institution) in Mandapalli village of Koyyur Mandal (administrative sub-division) in the District.

On February 8, 2018, a CPI-Maoist dalam member, Muttha Rayi aka Beerayya (29), surrendered before the Police along with his wife and children, in East Godavari District. Rayi was allegedly involved in several incidents of violence, including the killing of 17 personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Odisha, which was travelling in a mine protected vehicle (MPV) in Malkangiri District on July 16, 2008.

According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 31 Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists] have surrendered in the current year, 2018, (data till March 25, 2018). During the corresponding period of 2017, at least 18 Naxalites had surrendered. The number of such surrenders through 2017 stood at 60. In 2016, 26 Naxalites had surrendered. Importantly, on December 18, 2017, Gemmali Kishore aka Chittibabu aka Balarevula Kishore (22), an 'area committee member (ACM)' of ‘Galikonda Area Committee’, who carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head; and Sindri Shobhan (37), who carried a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, both natives of Koyyuru area in the Vizag Agency, surrendered before the Police in Visakhapatnam District.

Moreover, eight Naxalites have already been arrested in the current year (data till March 25, 2018). The SFs had arrested at least 10 Maoists in 2017, in addition to 17 in 2016, according to SATP data.

The SFs, meanwhile, killed two Naxalites in 2017 in addition to five killed in 2016. On February 24, 2017, a Greyhounds team killed two Naxalites, identified as Gemmeli Narayan Rao aka Jambri and Chittibabu, near the Annavaram area under Mampa Police Station limits in Koyyuru Mandal in Visakhapatnam District.

SFs suffered one loss through 2017. On May 5, 2017, a Home Guard, identified as Sheikh Valli, was killed in a landmine blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres on the Lothugedda junction-Balapam stretch in Visakhapatnam District. No such loss was recorded through 2015 and 2016. The last incident, in which a SF trooper was killed in the State, was recorded on January 15, 2014, when suspected CPI-Moist militia members stabbed to death Madivi Somaiah (35), a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Chhattisgarh Police, during a cockfighting event near Kommanapalli village in Dummugudem Mandal in the Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh. At the peak of the Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] insurgency, the (then undivided) State had accounted for 56 SF fatalities in 1992.   

The security situation in the State has clearly improved in great measure over the past years, and these gains were further consolidated through 2017. In 2016, the State registered five civilian fatalities, the third lowest recorded in such violence since 1968. The lowest civilian fatalities (one) were recorded in 1968; followed by three in 1977. At the peak of such violence, Andhra Pradesh registered 218 civilian deaths in 1991. After the formation of CPI-Maoist in September 2004, the highest civilian fatalities in LWE-linked violence in Andhra Pradesh stood at 132 in 2005. Significantly, no fatality has been recorded in this category, thus far, in the current year (data till March 25, 2018).

Other indicators of violence were also suggestive of significant gains. According to SATP data, no major incident (involving three or more fatalities) was recorded through 2017 as against one in 2016. On May 4, 2016, three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Gopal aka Azad (a senior leader of the CPI-Maoist ‘east division committee’ and ‘secretary’ of the ‘Galikonda area committee’), Anand (a senior leader of the ‘Galikonda area committee’), and Parvatakka aka Ramulamma (a dalam member), were killed in an encounter with the Police in Marripakala Forest under Koyyuru Police Station limits in Visakhapatnam District. The number of exchanges of fire between Maoists and SFs (on each occasion Maoists opened fire on seeing SFs during search operations), declined from four in 2016 to three in 2017. No attack targeting economic asset was reported in 2017; there was one such incident in 2016. The Maoists issued bandh (total shut down) calls on three occasions in 2016, but none through 2017. Further, the Maoists were able to organise one ‘praja court (Kangaroo Court)’ in 2016 in Visakhapatnam District, but reportedly failed to organise any such court through 2017.

According to a November 2, 2017, report, Superintendent of Police (Vizag rural), Rahul Dev Sharma claimed that only 10 'hardcore' Maoist leaders were left in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and close to 'Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) zone', each with eight to 10 followers. Sharma further stated,

The Baliguda encounter refers to two successive operations in the Bejingi Forest area between Ramgarh and Panasput in the Malkangiri District of Odisha on October 24 and 27, 2016, where SFs killed at least 30 Maoist rebels.

Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP), N. Sambasiva Rao, had stated, earlier on October 21, 2017,

Rao also appealed to the Maoists to define their expectations from the Government and appealed to them to shun violence and join the mainstream.

Rao also appealed to the Maoists to define their expectations from the Government and appealed to them to shun violence and join the mainstream.

Even so, the remaining Maoist challenges refuses to die. The Maoists orchestrated at least four incidents of landmine explosion in 2017, as against one incident in 2016. In one of these incidents on December 5, 2017, the Maoists triggered a landmine blast and fired upon the Police team near Jakkam village in the Injari Panchayat of Pedabayalu Mandal in the AOB region, during their ‘People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Week’ celebrations between December 2 and 8, 2017. In addition, the Maoists were involved in at least two incidents of arson in 2017, as against none in 2016.

On April 21, 2017, DGP Sambasiva Rao stated that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and some Police officers were on a Maoist "hit list". The Maoists had issued death threats to Naidu and some Police officers, holding them responsible for the Baliguda encounter in which 30 rebels were gunned down.

Moreover, according to the latest data made available by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on July 18, 2017, out of 106 Maoist-affected Districts, at least eight Districts were still in Andhra Pradesh. These include Anantapur, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. Similarly, Visakhapatnam, one of the 35 worst Maoist-affected Districts falls within Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Governments - both at the Centre and State level - through 2017, continued to provide augment past measures. According to an August 10, 2017, report, the Centre allotted a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion, the 39th Battalion, to provide security for the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, and the Chief Minister's camp office-cum-residence located in the capital region, Amaravati. The battalion is the first central force unit deployed to the State capital, and will also take up anti-Naxal operations along the Telangana and Chhattisgarh borders and in the AOB region. CRPF Commandant V.V.N. Prasanna Kumar disclosed,

The tremendous consolidation in Andhra Pradesh occurred despite the fact that the Police continues to lag in terms of capacities. At least 11,596 Police posts were vacant in the State as on January 1, 2017, against a sanctioned strength of 61,048, a deficit of 18.99 per cent, according to the latest data provided by the Bureau of Police Research and Development [BPR&D]. Moreover, against the sanctioned strength of the apex Indian Police Service (IPS) Officers in the State at 144, just 120 officers were in position (a deficit of 16.66 per cent), weakening decision-making in the Force. Further, the police-population ratio (Policemen per hundred thousand population) in the State was 95.74 per 100,000, , according to BPR&D, as on January 1, 2016, far lower than the appallingly low national average of 137.11 [over 220 Policemen per 100,000 population are considered necessary even for ‘peacetime policing’]. In addition, as on Januarys 1, 2016, the Police/Area Ratio (number of Policemen per 100 square kilometres) for Andhra Pradesh was 30.95, as against the sanctioned strength of 36.93. The all-India ratio was 60.83, as against a sanction of 77.83 per 100 square kilometres [Disaggregated data of population/area for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana was not available for 2017].

Andhra Pradesh Police has fought the Maoist insurgency over the years, sacrificing valuable lives, and has been successful in driving the Maoist out of the State. The Maoists on other hand, continue to exert efforts to recover influence and some of their lost ground in the State. Addressing the capacity issue in policing – not only in terms of numbers of personnel and officers, but also in all dimensions of resources, technologies, skills, structure and processes – will ensure that this challenge is not only neutralized, but that the possibilities of any future resurgence are also written off.

AFGHANISTAN

447 militant 'commanders' killed, 10844 militants injured and 2068 arrested in operations conducted by ANDSF in 'Afghan solar year 1396', says MoD Afghanistan: Ministry of Defense (MoD) Afghanistan Spokesman Brigadier General Dawlat Waziri said that 447 militant 'commanders' were killed, 10844 militants were injured and 2068 were arrested in operations conducted by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in 'Afghan solar year 1396 (March 2017 to March 2018)'. 447 'commanders' included 375 Taliban militants and 72 Islamic State (IS) militants. Bakhtar News , Marh 21, 2018.

4000 militants killed by ASF in 'Afghan solar year 1396' in Northern Afghanistan, states Commander of 209 Shaheen Army Corps General Amanullah Mubeen: Commander of 209 Shaheen Army Corps General Amanullah Mubeen stated that 4000 militants (affiliation not specified) were killed, another 2500 were injured and 200 militants were arrested in 84 operations conducted by Afghan Security Forces (ASF) in 'Afghan solar year 1396 (March 2017 to March 2018)' in the Northern Provinces of Afghanistan. 500 heavy and light weapons and dozens vehicles belonging to militants, 800 round of different type of mines were recovered, and several insecure areas were cleared from militants, Mubeen added. Bakhtar News , March 22, 2018.

Afghan Police conducted more than 5,000 independent operations against militants in 1396 Afghan solar year, says MoI spokesman Najib Danish: Ministry of Interior (MoI) Afghanistan Spokesman Najib Danish said on March 20 that the Afghan Police conducted more than 5,000 independent operations against militants in 'Afghan solar year 1396 (March 2017 to March 2018)'. In total 6465 planned operations, 3663 special operations by Afghan Commandos, 4631 Air-strikes, 209 night raids were conducted. He added that nine suicide attacks were prevented in the year 1396.  Tolo News, March 21, 2018.

Jamiat-e-Islami 'commander' Ghulam Nabi Shuja joins Taliban in Faryab Province: Police Security Chief Mohammad Naeem Andarabi confirmed on March 20 that Jamiat-e-Islami 'commander' Ghulam Nabi Shuja, has joined the Taliban along with at least 100 of his fighters. The Taliban in a statement confirmed Shuja's move. Tolo News, March 21, 2018.

INDIA

KLF 'chief' and his Pakistan-based associate masterminded the killings of RSS workers, says NIA': The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the killings of the workers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a Pastor, has revealed a network of conspirators of Khalistani Liberation Force (KLF) and supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with further connections through Dubai, France, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy and Pakistan. As per the probing, the KLF 'Chief' Harminder Singh Mintoo-who is currently in Patiala Jail and his associate based in Pakistan-Harmeet Singh had masterminded the killings of RSS workers with intentions to destabilise the law and order situation and revival of Khalistan terror in Punjab. Times of India, March 21, 2018. 

Pakistan encourages Sikh youth based in Europe and US against India, says Union Ministry of Home Affairs: With expressing its concern over the 'developments' in Sikh militancy, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) claimed that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is encouraging the Sikh youth based in the Europe and the United States (US) against India. Reportedly, 'commanders' of Sikh militancy outfits based in Pakistan are under pressure from ISI to further expand their terror plans and activities not only targeting Punjab but also other regions of India. UNI, January 20, 2018.

Islamic State and al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent pose "new challenges" to the security environment, says Union Ministry of Home Affairs: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has alerted about the activities of individuals returning from Islamic State (IS) controlled regions in Syria, where both transnational organisations-IS and al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) pose new challenges to the security in the region. Through the misuse of social media and the Internet, the terror outfits are radicalising the youth which in-turn is a biggest challenge in recent times. Deccan Herald, March 22, 2018. 

Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company is a powerful transnational crime-terror organisation, says US Legislators: The United States' (US) Lawmakers on March 23 has emphasised that the Pakistan-based Dawood Ibrahim led D-Company has varied in many business, including drug proceeds, and emerged as a 'powerful' transnational crime-terror organisation. According to the US and Indian Intelligence officials, Dawood Ibrahim-a 'most wanted' criminal is based in Karachi in Pakistan, but his presence has been declined by Pakistan. Tribune, March 24, 2018.

Enforcement Directorate attaches INR 300,000 terror funds in Jammu and Kashmir: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 22 said it has attached INR 300,000 cash of alleged terror funds in connection with its money laundering probe against terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which operates in the Kashmir Valley. The Central probe agency said that it attached the cash, in Indian currency, after it was found that the money was the 'proceeds of crime' of terrorism and that it was to be delivered to hardcore militant Mohd Hussain Dar alias Raju by his associate Abdul Hamid Lone.  Daily Excelsior, March 23, 2018.

Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai replaces Syed Ali Shah Geelani as the chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat: Senior Hurriyat Conference leader, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, on March 19 replaced Syed Ali Shah Geelani as the chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH). A TeH spokesman in a statement said that the TeH led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on March 19 held a meeting at its office in Srinagar and elected senior member Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai as the party chairman. Daily Excelsior, March 20, 2018.

Tri-party talks between Manipur Government, GoI and UNC held: Representatives of the Manipur government, Government of India (GoI) and United Naga Council (UNC) held a round of talks to find a solution to the UNC's demand to revoke the previous Congress government's decision to create seven new Districts in the state. UNC was represented by Kamei, general secretary S. Milan, president of All Naga Students' Association, Manipur Seth Shatsang, and president of Naga Women's Association Asha Wungnam. Telegraph, March 24, 2018.

MALDIVES

Maldives Government removes the State of Emergency in the Island, says report: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav inaugurating the election operation and management training organized for election officers, assistant election officers, and District election officers to be deputed in National Assembly (The Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen on March 22 lifted 45-days of State of Emergency (SoE) that outlawed protests on the Muslim-majority Islands. Opposing the Supreme Court of the Maldives orders to release the political prisoners, President Abdulla Yameen had imposed the emergency from February 5 for 15 days but later he extended the SoE for another 30 days with the Parliament's approval. Maldives Times, March 23, 2018.

NEPAL

FSFN participation in Government uncertain due to differences over the content of the political agreement': Participation of the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) in the Government has become uncertain as differences have surfaced over the content of the political agreement. Although the FSFN has sought the Government's written commitment to amend specific articles of the constitution within certain timeframe, the Government, according to sources, is not in favor of inking such an agreement. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has been reiterating that the constitution can be amended on the basis of necessity and relevance. My Republica, March 21, 2018.

 

PAKISTAN

509 Hazaras killed in terror-related incidents during last five years in Quetta, says NCHR report:A report released by National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) on March 19 stated that 509 members of Hazara community were killed and 627 injured in various incidents of terrorism in Quetta during the last five years. The NCHR report titled "Understanding the Agonies of Ethnic Hazaraz" lists the incidents of attacks on Hazara community from January 2012 to December 2017, based on the data shared by the Balochistan Home Department.Dawn, March 21, 2018. 

No hot pursuits into Pakistan, says Pentagon:The United States (US) Department of Defence on March 20 ruled out hot pursuits into Pakistan to take out terrorists who flee Afghanistan. In a briefing for Indian and Afghan media outlets, a Pentagon spokesperson also said that if Pakistan wants to keep militants within its borders, it could do so, as long as they do not disturb peace and stability in Afghanistan..Dawn, March 21, 2018. 

US won't resume security aid to Pakistan till it allays concerns on terror safe havens, says Pentagon: The United States (US) will not resume security aid to Pakistan until it addresses America's concerns on terrorist safe havens, the Pentagon said on March 20, underlining that Islamabad's action against militants would not only help Afghanistan but also protect India and the entire region. The US in January suspended more than USD 1.15 billion security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups like the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network within its border and showing unwillingness to take decisive actions against them. Times of India , March 21, 2018.