South Asia Terrorism Portal
Dera Ismail Khan: Tenuous Control Tushar Ranjan Mohanty Research Associate; Institute for Conflict Management
On July 21, 2019, a group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants on four motorcycles opened fire on Policemen at the Kotla Saidan checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Two Policemen were killed in the attack. Following the gun attack, a suicide blast took place at the hospital where the victims were shifted. The female fidayeen (suicide bomber) struck at the entrance to the hospital, killing four Policemen and three civilians who were visiting their relatives. 30 others were injured in the two incidents.
The TTP ‘spokesperson’ Muhammad Khorasani, in a statement, claimed the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the killing of a suspected terrorist by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Dera Ismail Khan District on June 23, 2019. Security Forces (SFs) had killed a militant and arrested another after they threw hand-grenades at the Cantonment Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan on June 23.
On March 18, 2019, at least three persons, including two Policemen, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion near a Police vehicle in the Parowa Sub-District of Dera Ismail Khan. The Police van was on a routine patrol in the Parowa area when the bomb, planted on a bicycle, went off.
On March 15, 2019, a CTD Police Constable was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on him in the Muddy area in Kulachi tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Ismail Khan District. Sources stated that the Constable was on his way home after offering Friday prayers, when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.
On February 12, 2019, at least four Policemen were killed and a Station House Office (SHO) was injured in an ambush in the Maharah area of Parowa Sub-District in Dera Ismail Khan District. District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Iqbal disclosed that suspected militants targeted a Police van patrolling the area.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), Dera Ismail Khan District has recorded at least 17 terrorism-related fatalities (11 SF personnel, four civilians and two terrorists) in 2019, thus far (data till July 28, 2019). During the corresponding period of 2018, the Province registered eight terrorism-related fatalities (three terrorists, three SF personnel and two civilians). During the corresponding period of 2017, there were 11 such fatalities (four civilians, four SF personnel and three militants), while these numbers stood at nine (six civilians and three SF personnel) in the same period of 2016.
Year
Incidents
Civilians
Security Forces
Militants
Not Specified (NS)
Total
2000
0
2001
4
5
1
6
2002
2003
2
3
2004
2005
2006
7
8
2007
13
40
63
2008
12
42
37
95
2009
25
68
14
93
2010
10
11
31
2011
20
2012
22
30
2013
9
35
2014
23
2015
26
2016
2017
15
2018
2019
17
134
245
107
104
36
492
More worryingly, total fatalities in first six months and 28 days of 2019 have already crossed the total number of terrorism-related fatalities recorded each year, since 2016.
Dera Ismail Khan has accounted for a total of 492 fatalities [245 civilians, 107 SF personnel, 104 terrorists and 36 not-specified (NS)] since March 6, 2000, when SATP commenced compiling data on Pakistan. These fatalities have been recorded in a total of 134 incidents of killing. 43 of these 134 incidents were 'major (involving three or more fatalities). These major incidents resulted in the death of 362 persons (182 civilians, 72 SF personnel, 84 militants and 24 NS).
The District has recorded a total of 243 violent incidents since March 6, 2000. These include 89 incidents of explosion and 16 suicide attacks.
According to Dera Ismail Khan Police data, 111 Policemen were killed and 180 sustained injuries in acts of terrorism and targeted attacks, between January 2008 and December 2018. During the same period, seven Army soldiers were killed and 14 were injured. Besides, five personnel of the Frontier Constabulary were killed and one was injured. 474 civilians were killed in the 10-year period ending December 2018.
With a population of more than 1.6 million people, Dera Ismail Khan has long been a centre of terrorist activities due to its strategic location. It shares borders with South Waziristan, Tank and Lakki Marwat Districts in KP; Mianwali, Bhakkar and Dera Ghazi khan Districts in Punjab, and the Zhob District of Balochistan. Two of these neighbouring districts, South Waziristan and Zhob, share borders with Afghanistan. Dera Ismail Khan has served as a transit point for militants operating in these areas.
Analyst Syed Kashif Ali in a February 5, 2017, column, noted that, owing to its geo-strategic importance, Dera Ismail Khan served as a gateway for Punjabi militants fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan during the 1980s. During the 1990s, the District became a recruitment-centre for terrorist organisations operating out of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), which have organisational structures, recruitment centres and offices operating openly in the Dera Ismail Khan city.
The District, which had earlier served as a transit route for militants, progressively transformed into a terror hub after the emergence of TTP. The other major extremist group operational in the District is the sectarian Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). These outfits began creating havoc in the District in 2007, as in the rest of the Pakistan. Like other parts of Pakistan, Dera Ismail Khan has witnessed relative improvement, after the peakof 2007-09. However, the threat persists, as indicated by the recent surge in fatalities. As Dar Ali Khattak, Regional Police Officer (RPO) for Dera Ismail Khan, notes, “The situation is now under control, but we have to stay alert to cope with the threat.”
Though a semblance of peace has been established in Dera Ismail Khan District, as a result of several operations launched against domestically oriented terror formations over the years, no steps have been taken to de-radicalise the wider society, which continues to serve as a fertile ground for extremists to breed and thrive.
Manipur: The Kukis: Marginal Fire amidst Talks Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate; Institute for Conflict Management
On July 22, 2019, the ‘public relations officer (PRO)’ of the Kuki National Front (KNF), Demkhohao Kipgen aka Haobem, was killed in Kangchup Chiru Village under the Moltam Block in Kangpokpi District. KNF blamed the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) for the killing.
KRA and KNF are part of two separate conglomerations of Kuki militant groups, the Kuki National Organization (KNO), formed in 1988, and the United People’s Front (UPF), formed after Kuki-Paite clashes in 1997-98.
KNO accounts for 14 constituent groups: KRA; Kuki National Army (KNA), the armed wing of KNO; Kuki National Front – Military Council (KNF-MC); Kuki National Front – Zogam (KNF-Z); United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA); Hmar National Army (HNA); United Komrem Revolutionary Army (UKRA); United Minorities Liberation Front (UMLF); Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV); Kuki Liberation Army (KLA); Pakan Reunification Army (PRA); United Old Kuki Liberation Army (UOKLA-Khoipu-Maring); United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA); and Kuki National Front–Samuel (KNF-S).
Similarly, UPF comprises of eight groups: KNF; Zomi Revolutionary Organisation (ZRO)/Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA); Kuki Revolutionary Army–United (KRA-United); Zomi Defence Force (ZDF), United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF), Zomi Defence Volunteers (ZoDV); and Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D).
KNO denied its involvement in the July 22, 2019, attack.
On July 13, 2019, suspected KNA militants killed ‘2nd lieutenant’ John Gangte, the United Kuki Liberation Front’s (UKLF’s) ‘commander’ for Moreh [Tegnoupal District], at Ngamkhai Veng in Tegnoupal District. KNA is part of the KNO grouping, while UKLF is under UPF.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), a total of 48 militants have been killed in 25 incidents of internecine clashes between Kuki militant groups since August 22, 2008. These include two incidents and two fatalities in 2008, two incidents and two fatalities in 2009, two incidents and two fatalities in 2013, nine incidents and 14 fatalities in 2015, three incidents and four fatalities in 2017, two incidents and two fatalities in 2018 and two incidents and two fatalities in 2019.
Significantly, on August 22, 2008, KNO and UPF signed a Suspension of Operations SoO agreement with the Union Government, and the Manipur State Government. The agreement included an understanding that all the parties involved would abide by the Constitution of India and commit themselves to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
Prior to the tripartite agreement, there used to be inter and intra group clashes in these two militant conglomerates, in continuous turf wars to establish factional supremacy. According to SATP, there were 23 such clashes, resulting in 64 fatalities, between January 1, 2005, and August 21, 2008.
Though these clashes have relatively declined after the 2008 SoO, intermittent killings persist.
Meanwhile, since the signing of the SoO Agreement on August 22, 2008, it has been periodically extended, most recently on August 17, 2018, with effect till August 31, 2019.
Five rounds of talks have taken place between the two rebel organisations and the Government. The fifth round of talks took place in New Delhi on June 25, 2019. When asked about what transpired during the talks, KNO ‘spokesperson’, Seilen Haokip, stated,
Prior to the talks, P.S. Haokip, KNA ‘president’ and ‘commander-in-chief’, observed, on September 13, 2018,
Significantly, during the last (fourth) round of talks on January 10, 2018, UPF spokesperson, Aaron Kipgen, and KNO negotiator, Seilen Haokip, had signed and submitted a draft outline of the political demand for formation of a territorial council before the Government of India’s (GoI’s) interlocutor Avadhesh Behari Mathur, who replaced the previous interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, on January 2, 2018. Their demands also included "constitutional" safeguards for Kukis in Manipur. The initial demand for a separate State has now been scaled down to that of a territorial council, due to the State Government’s reservations. Nothing much had been achieved during earlier rounds of talks.
Even though the Territorial Council has been discussed and mooted as a possible solution, issues related to implementation of the Bodo Accord have been raised within the Kuki groups. KNO ‘spokesperson’ Seilen Haokip noted, “On paper, the BTC [Bodo Territorial Council] is very good but the issue lies with the non-implementation, which we don’t want to happen. If so the talks will go nowhere.”
Conspicuously, the talks have dragged on without yielding any substantive results, and the groups involved – KNO and UPF – are showing signs of frustration. The latest round of internecine clashes between the Kuki groups may have resulted out of dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of talks, and may adversely impact on future talks.
Indeed, on May 1, 2019, GoI interlocutor A.B. Mathur had cautioned,
Disturbingly, the criminal nexus of Kuki SoO groups came to light with the recovery of missing arms of the Manipuri State Security Forces from the residence of top UKLF and KRA leaders in 2018. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the arms case.
Given the relative peace that now prevails in Manipur, there is a need to conclude the several ongoing peace processes in a time bound manner. Pro-longed processes lead to mounting violations of the ground rules, and missteps are likely to flare up in violent conflagrations.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia July 22-28, 2019
Security Force Personnel
Terrorists/Insurgents
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
Manipur
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Odisha
INDIA (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
PAKISTAN (Total)
Assassination attempt targeting vice-presidential candidate Amrullah Saleh kills 20 persons including 16 civilians in Kabul Province: An assassination attempt targeting vice-presidential candidate Amrullah Saleh killed 20 persons, including 16 civilians and four militants, and injured 50 others at Green Trend office in 4th police district of Kabul City in Kabul Province on July 28. Four militants carried out a complex suicide attack which included a Vehicle borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack followed by firing. Tolo News, July 29, 2019.
US military mission has not changed due to negotiations with the Taliban, says Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford: The United States (US) chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford who arrived in Kabul on July 24 said negotiations with the Taliban have not changed the military mission in Afghanistan. "Day to day, the mission hasn't changed for General Miller and the team, and they are still taking the fight to the Taliban and supporting the Afghan military," Dunford said. Tolo News, July 25, 2019.
Ready to join the Taliban, says Atta Mohammad Noor: Former Governor of the Province of Balkh and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jamiat-e-Islami party of Afghanistan, Atta Mohammad Noor, says he is ready to join the Taliban if needed to prevent the establishment of a Government which comes to power through an unfair and rigged election. “Come what may, we will not accept this fraudulent, tyrant and dictator government, even if it comes through a crisis or war and even through joining the Taliban,” stated Atta Noor. Tolo News, July 25, 2019.
Taliban can take part in the upcoming presidential elections, says spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah: An official from Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s Office on July 24 said the Taliban can take part in the upcoming presidential elections after the group begins negotiations with the Afghan Government. “The door is opened for the Taliban whenever they are willing to come and sit with the Afghan government and take part in democratic and national stages,” said Fraidoon Khwazoon, a spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah. Tolo News, July 25, 2019.
Can win the war in Afghanistan in a week but don’t want to kill 10 million people, says US President Donald Trump: The US President Donald Trump has claimed that he could win the war in Afghanistan in a week and could wipe the country ‘off the face of the earth’ in ten days. However, he said he did not want to kill ten million people, suggesting that Pakistan could play a vital role to ‘help the U.S. out.’ He made the remarks during a press conference with the visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House. The Khaama Press, July 23, 2019.
Central Government confers powers to eight states to act against Sikhs For Justice: The Central Government has empowered eight states, including Punjab and Delhi, with a “sizeable presence of Sikh population” to take action against Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) if they try “to brainwash Sikh community in favour of Khalistan movement”. US-based SFJ was banned under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) earlier this month "for openly espousing the cause of Khalistan" and "pushing for Sikh Referendum 2020." Economic Times, July 26, 2019.
Lok Sabha passes UAPA Amendment Bill 2019 to ban individuals as terrorists: The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) on July 24 passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2019, intended to allow designation of an individual, wanted for terror-related crimes, as "terrorist". The bill, with its amendments to give more bite to anti-terror provisions. The Times of India, July 25, 2019.
GoI provided INR 18 crore assistance to State Governments for civilian victims of terror, states Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy: The Government of India on July 24 said that it has provided INR 18.02 crore to State Governments from 2016-17 to 2018-19 as financial assistance for civilian victims of terror and communal violence. The Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy stated in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) that the Ministry is administering a scheme "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victim/Family of Victims of Terrorist/Communal/LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED Blasts on Indian Territory" for assistance to civilian victims. Business Standard, July 25, 2019.
LeT and IS working with Pakistani army to target Indian assets in Afghanistan, says sources: The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is working closely with Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan and has drawn up plans with the Pakistan Army to target Indian and United States (US) assets and interests in the war-torn country, sources said on July 22. During a recent meeting between LeT operatives and a team of Pakistan Army and the country’s spy agency Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) in Jaba area of Dangam District in Kunar Province of Afghanistan, the terror group was directed to attack Indian and US assets, the people, including intelligence officials and diplomats in New Delhi and Washington, said on condition of anonymity. Hindustan Times, July 23, 2019.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratifies increasing top court bench to 7 justices: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on July 23 ratified the amendment put forward by the government seeking to increase the number of judges at the Supreme Court. Prior to the amendment, the number of justices at the apex court was five. Two additional appointments will be finalized, increasing the number of judges, including the Chief Justice, to seven in total. The Edition, July 25, 2019.
Will visit Pakistan whenever formally invited, says Afghan Taliban: Afghan Taliban on July 25 said that they will visit Pakistan whenever they received a formal invitation, as they routinely pay visits to regional and other countries to explain their position regarding peace process and to address to others’ concerns. Comments from Suhail Shaheen, Taliban political office spokesman in Qatar, came days after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said in Washington he will meet the Taliban leaders in Pakistan on his return to convince them to hold negotiations with the Afghan government. Daily Times, July 26, 2019.
"We still have 30,000-40,000" terrorists, admits PM Imran Khan: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 23 said that about "30,000 to 40,000" terrorists who had trained and fought in "some part of Afghanistan or Kashmir" were in his country. NDTV, July 25, 2019.
40 militant groups were operating in Pakistan, says PM Imran khan: Successive Governments in Pakistan did not tell the truth to the United States, in particular in the last 15 years, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said on July 23, adding that there were 40 different militant groups operating in his country. "We were fighting the US war on terror. Pakistan has nothing to do with 9/11. Al-Qaida was in Afghanistan. There were no militant Taliban in Pakistan. But we joined the US war. Unfortunately, when things went wrong, where I blame my government, we did not tell the US exactly the truth on the ground," Khan said. The Times of India, July 24, 2019.
No evidence to point IS role in Easter Attacks, says senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne: Head of Criminal Investigation Division, senior Deputy Inspector General, Ravi Seneviratne on July 24 while testifying before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks stated that the Easter attack has been the handwork of home-grown terrorists. He further said that as per the investigation conducted on this case, no evidence was found to support Islamic State (IS)’s role in carrying out April 21 Easter serial bombings. Daily Mirror, July 25, 2019.
Revenue loss from Easter Sunday carnage LKR 50 billion and raising, states Finance Ministry report: A Ministry of Finance report submitted to the Parliament on July 22 revealed that the Easter Sunday serial bomb attacks (April 21) had caused a revenue loss of LKR 50 billion. The report states, “The Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2019 submitted to the House revealed that an initial estimate on the impact of the Easter Sunday attacks on the government revenue in the short term indicates that the direct contribution to the government revenue by affected sectors such as finance, tourism, trade and construction, will come down by Rs [LKR] 50 billion approximately." The island, July 24, 2019.
State of Emergency extended by another month: President Maithripala Sirisena issued a proclamation declaring the state of emergency for another month starting from July 22. President first enforced the state of emergency after the serial bombings on April 21 by a group of terrorists. More than 250 persons were killed in the serial bombings. Daily Mirror, July 23, 2019.
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
To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe. Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) To A Friend