South Asia Terrorism Portal
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Crumbling Ceasefire Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On September 29, 2022, a Pakistan Army soldier, Sepoy Jamshed Iqbal (27), was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists at the Kharlachi border crossing in Kurram district. Later, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani, through the outfit’s social media account, claimed responsibility for the attack, declaring that the Mujahideen of TTP attacked when the Army tried to surround them, killing three soldiers.
September 28: unidentified militants opened fire at the main gate of the Daraban Police Station, injuring Police constable Ismail, in the Dera Ismail Khan District. TTP later claimed the incident.
September 27: 21 Pakistan Army soldiers were injured in a suicide attack by a suspected TTP militant in the Mir Ali Subdivision of North Waziristan District. The attacker was reportedly identified as ‘Hamza’ in social media accounts. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Besides TTP, the Shura Mujahideen of North Waziristan, also known as the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGB), is also active in the area.
On September 26: two Pakistan Army soldiers, Naik Rasheed (29) and Rasool Badshah, (22), along with an unidentified militant, were killed, during an exchange of fire at a military post in the general area of Azam Warsak in South Waziristan District. TTP later claimed the attack.
September 24: two Army soldiers, Naib Subedar Javed Iqbal (45) and Naik Hussain Ahmed (38), were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Esham area of North Waziristan District. TTP claimed responsibility for the incident.
September 13: three soldiers were killed when terrorists open gunfire on troops from across the fenced border in the Kharlachi area of Kurram District.
According to partial data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management, a total of 40 fatalities have been recorded – eight civilians, 20 SF personnel and 12 militants – since September 2, 2022. On that day, TTP claimed its first ‘self-defense attack’, killing a policeman, Zahuruddin, in the Choudhwan area of Dera Ismail Khan District. This was the first TTP claimed attack since the start of the ceasefire with the government on May 1, 2022.
Importantly, in this latest round of violence several civilians suspected by the TTP to be linked with the government/ security apparatus were also targeted. Prominent incidents of this nature included:
September 14: TTP militants killed a member of the local peace committee, Muhammad Shirin, in the Charbagh Dkorak area of Swat.
September 13: eight persons including, a peace committee member Idrees Khan, and two of his Police guards, were killed and several other people sustained injuries in a remote-controlled blast at Kot Katai village in the Bara Bandi area in the Kabal tehsil (revenue unit), Swat District. TTP claimed responsibility for the incident.
On September 9: four Policemen were killed and two sustained injuries when a convoy of Tank tehsil Chairman Saddam Hussain Khan was ambushed by unidentified gunmen near Pai village in Tank District.
Through social media account, TTP has claimed at least 35 attacks in 14 districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, describing them as either Difai (defensive) or inteqami (revenge) attacks, between September 2, 2022 and September 30. These districts include Khyber, with 5 attacks; Lakki Marwat, 5; Mohmand, Kurram, D I Khan, North Waziristan and South Waziristan, three each; Swat, Kohat, Orakzai, and Mardan, two each; and one each in Bannu, Peshawar and Bajaur.
Meanwhile, the Security Forces (SFs) too have killed eleven militants (eight TTP and three HGB) in four incidents since September 2,2022. Prominent incidents include-
September 23: two TTP terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with SFs in the Sheikh Badin Mountain area of Lakki Marwat District.
On September 5: an Army officer and four soldiers were killed while five terrorists, including ‘commander’ Tufail, were killed during two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in North Waziristan District. The militants who were killed included both TTP and HGB cadres.
From these incidents, it appears that the civilian government in Pakistan is confused. While no reactions are forthcoming from the Federal Government, which is busy with almost daily political firefighting; the provincial government has downplayed the resurgence of violence. On September 20, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Special Assistant on Information to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, blamed anti-TTP elements for the violence, further claiming, “The talks between government and TTP are moving forward. If any agreement is reached then it will be presented before parliament for approval. A general amnesty for militants could not be ruled out.” Saif had visited Afghanistan several times, in connection with peace negotiations with TTP.
The Pakistani Army leadership,on the other hand, seemed to have realized the challenge. On September 28, 2022, at the Corps Commanders conference, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff, directed the troops to go after terrorists as they have increased attacks, particularly on security forces, declaring,
However, Ayesha Siddiqa, an expert on Pakistan's security establishment, in a report published in Gandhara/Radio Free Asia on September 21, noted that there was little interest within the Pakistani military for any major kinetic action this time, as compared to earlier confrontations, due to the lack of western aid:
Before the recent surge, the last TTP-claimed attack was on April 29, 2022. TTP had claimed killing two soldiers while attacking a Pakistani military check point in the Khadi area of Mir Ali tehsil, North Waziristan District.
The rise in violence also comes after the suspension of talks following suspicious assassinations of prominent TTP and HGB commanders in Afghanistan. While, the role of the Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI) is suspected by the militants, internal rivalries too cannot be ruled out.
On August 23: unidentified assassins killed top HGB ‘commander’ Yasir Parkey, along with three accomplices, in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.
Earlier, another four TTP leaders had been killed, including:
August 8, 2022: TTP 'intelligence chief' and member of its 'military commission', Abdul Rashid aka Uqabi Bajauri, was killed in a landmine explosion in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Uqabi belonged to the Bajaur District of KP.
August 7, 2022: Three TTP 'commanders' and a driver were killed in a roadside mine explosion in Barmal District, Paktika Province, Afghanistan. The killed 'commanders' included Omar Khalid Khorasani, Hafiz Daulat Khan and Mullah Hassan Swati, while the driver was reportedly the son-in-law of Omar Khalid Khorasani.
These killings have caused widespread resentment and suspicion among the terrorist formations. An August 27, 2022, internal note issued by TTP’s Military Commission (South) head Badshah Mehsud, instructed leaders to avoid meeting Emir Noor Wali Mehsud for two months without permission from Badshah Mehsud.
There are also instances of differences amongst TTP factions coming to fore. A September 25, 2022, report, suggests the reemergence of TTP divisions along largely the North (Malakand Division) – South (Bannu, North and South Waziristan) axis. While the local Pakistani Taliban leadership of Mohmand, Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Buner and Malakand, more aligned with Salafism, believed that the fighting should resume in the wake of Khorasani’s assassination, the Mehsud-led central leadership did not agree to the proposal. Subsequently, TTP commander Saifal aka Mullah Burjan of Swat, recommenced his activities in the district. The TTP command is divided into two ‘commissions’ – North and South – and further into seven provinces, DI Khan, Mardan, Peshawar (includes Khyber and Dera Adam Khel), Malakand (includes Bajaur), Kohat, Hazara, and Bannu.
Besides the attacks claimed by TTP, directed against both SFs and civilians, cases of extortion have also surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a September 29 report, extortion has become rampant. In one instance, based on a police report filed with the local counterterrorism department, TTP militants had abducted 10 employees of a telecom company and demanded PKR 100 million ($418,000) for their release. Similarly, in another such case, an unnamed Swat based official disclosed, TTP militants were paid PKR 25 million ($103,000) as protection money by an unnamed provincial lawmaker.
However, the head of the TTP's grievance commission, Abu Yasir, rejected these claims, asserting:
Meanwhile, the prospect of the TTP taking over the tribal areas has led to several protests by citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In one such incident, on September 16, 2022, a large number of people took to the streets in Swat Valley against incidence of militancy in the area, demanding police action. This was in response to the September 13 killing of eight persons, including peace committee member Idrees Khan, in Swat District.
In the current circumstances, the fate of the negotiations looks murky. Further, Pakistan’s federal political leadership, embroiled in coping with the twin economic and political crisis, is finding it difficult to throw its weight behind the talks. At the same time, full-scale operations necessary to contain TTP are also looking unlikely, with unrealistic hopes of an accommodation still alive. The ongoing conundrum in KPK is, consequently, likely to continue, with violence rising.
Jharkhand: JJMP - A Withering Force Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On September 22, 2022, Vikas Lohra aka Abhijeet ji ‘area commander’ of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was shot dead by cadres of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), another CPI-Maoist splinter group, at Sarle under the Burmu Police Station limits in the Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Taking responsibility for the killing, TPC ‘area commander’ Vikram ji said that they had been on the lookout for Vikas Lohra for the past months, for his involvement in the killing of six TPC associates. In 2017, six militants, including TPC ‘sub zonal commander’ Sagar Ganjhu, had been killed.
This is the lone killing, in the current year, of a JJMP cadre involved in the turf war with TPC.
According to data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), one JJMP cadre has been killed in the current year, thus far (data till October 2, 2022). During the corresponding period in 2021, at least three cadres were killed, while another one was killed in the remaining period of 2021, taking the total to four JJMP fatalities through 2021. A total of 18 JJMP cadres have been killed since the formation of the group in 2007-08. Significantly, of these five were killed by Security Forces (SFs) and 11 in factional clashes, while two were lynched by civilians.
On the other hand, JJMP cadres have killed eight civilians and a lone SF trooper since 2007-08. The last civilian killing was reported on March 28, 2022, when suspected JJMP cadres killed the wife and three-year-old daughter of former JJMP ‘commander’ Amarjit Lakra aka Ashok, near Kanchan More in Janawal village under Chainpur Police Station limits in Gumla District. It was alleged that, in October 2021, Amarjit, and his companions had killed JJMP's ‘platoon commander’ Sukar Oraon and fled with weapons and money. Since then, JJMP militants were looking to kill him. Amarjit’s house was also destroyed by the JJMP cadres. However, JJMP ‘spokesperson’ Karmaveer issued a press release and vehemently denied attacking Amarjit and his family, stating, “our organization has no hand in this attack and some people are taking the name of JJMP organization to defame it.”
The lone SF fatality connected to JJMP activities was reported on September 28, 2021, when a Deputy Commandant of the Jharkhand Jaguars was killed in an exchange of fire between SFs and JJMP cadres during a combing operation in the Saliya Forest area of Latehar District. One JJMP cadre was also killed in the encounter.
In 2007-08, Sanjay Yadav aka Manjit ji, a CPI-Maoist renegade ‘area commander’, with a bounty of INR 1.5 million on his head, first started his own gang and then formed JJMP. Yadav had joined the Maoists in year 2004-05, due to financial difficulties at home. He subsequently created a 50-member strong cadre base, trained in operating sophisticated weapons. On February 5, 2011, Yadav, who styled himself as the ‘zonal commander’ of JJMP, declared, “We have formed this outfit as we do not agree with the ideology of the Maoist organisations operating in the state.” After the formation of the JJMP, he continued to carry out operations in Gumla, Lohardaga and Latehar. Later, on March 27, 2018, influenced by the ‘Nayi Disha’ (new direction) surrender policy as well as pressure from family members, he surrendered before the then Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Amol Vinukant Homkar, in Lohardaga District.
After Yadav's surrender in 2018, it was alleged that the Police and SFs had provided weapons to local fighters to support JJMP against the Maoists. Interestingly, in the same year, a photograph of JJMP's current 'supremo', 'zonal commander' Pappu Lohra, with Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) personnel, went viral. The photo was from the time of an ongoing search operation against Naxalites [Left Wing extremists, LWEs] in 2018. At that time Pappu Lohra was helping the Police and SFs in operations against other Naxalite organizations. Later, when questions were raised on the SFs' role, senior Police officers admitted, off the record, to a tacit policy of encouraging renegade or expelled Maoists to form separate armed groups, in order to reduce the influence of Maoists in the area. An unnamed senior Police officer in the State capital, Ranchi, thus stated, on July 14, 2016,
Indeed, over the years, villagers as well as several civil society activists had accused the Police of supporting militias such as the JJMP. Nevertheless, when the organization later became a nuisance for the Police, the Government started taking action against JJMP.
To contain the menace, the Government has placed a reward on eight infamous JJMP cadres, among the List of 136 Naxalites/Criminals with rewards on their heads. These eight include:
Further, according to an October 1, 2021, report, recommendations of rewards were processed for the following JJMP cadres: prize money of INR 500,000: Lovelesh Ganjhu (‘sub zonal commander’, Latehar), Ravi aka Sumesh Oraon (member, Garhwa), Rajesh Yadav aka Rajesh Tiger (member, Lohardaga), Rajeshwar Prasad aka Bhola (member, Lohardaga), Ramdev Lohra aka Sadhu (member, Lohardaga), Amit Lohra (Member, Latehar) and Mukesh Ram aka Kullu (Latehar). Prize money of INR 100,000, was envisaged for Shiva Singh (resident of Godna, Latehar), Ganesh Lohra aka Vikas ji Bhagwan (resident of Panki, Palamu) and Shiv Poojan (resident of Garhwa).
In order to take on the extremists operating in the State, the Lohardaga Police resorted to a poster campaign at different prominent locations, besides bus stands and block offices in the district, to seek the help of the common people to arrest extremists associated with JJMP, TPC and CPI-Maoist.
JJMP is one among 18 Left Wing Extremist groups operating in Jharkhand. Other significant outfits include the CPI-Maoist, People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and TPC. PLFI is a CPI-Maoist splinter group formed by Dinesh Gope, founder and current ‘chief’ of the outfit, a renegade Border Security Force (BSF) trooper, who was the younger brother of Suresh Gope, a petty criminal who operated in areas around Ranchi. Likewise, TPC is another CPI-Maoist splinter group, formed by Brajesh Ganjhu aka Sardar ji, a former CPI-Maoist cadre in the Lawalong area of Chatra in 2001, and formally constituted in 2002, after a number of cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Jharkhand walked out of the parent formation, complaining of the domination of the Yadav caste in the decision-making process.
According to a July 14, 2016, report, JJMP and TPC were in a continuous competition to establish their dominance over ‘levy’ collection and areas of operation.
JJMP, mostly involved with ‘levy’ demands from businessmen and contractors, was more akin to an organized crime gang than any ideology-driven movement. Indeed, in a recent incident on September 17, 2022, angered by the failure to meet its ‘levy’ demand, a nine-member armed squad of JJMP created a ruckus at construction site of a bridge being built under the Chief Minister Gram Setu Yojana on the Hathu River at Chete village in the Garhwa District. JJMP cadres assaulted laborers and employees of the Construction company and warned them to stop construction work as the ‘levy’ had not been paid. JJMP cadres also snatched half a dozen mobiles and, before fleeing, damaged a JCB machine.
Analysis of the data, however, indicates that JJMP failed to create significant impact in the State, even as it suffered severe losses at the hands of SFs, as well as in the turf war with other LWE groups. Moreover, internal fissures further weakened the group, resulting in the formation of another two factions. On December 14, 2021, with the arrest of seven Jharkhand Kranti Morcha (JKM) cadres, including Shankar Ram aka Saurabh, who was the ‘chief’ in Latehar District, it came to light that Ram, along with few others, had formed JKM on an unspecified date in 2021. After Ram’s arrest in the Patki Forest under Sadar Police Station limits, the current operational status of the outfit is uncertain.
Further, on November 29, 2021, seven JJMP cadres rebelled and formed the Jharkhand Jan Sangram Senani (JJSS), with Diwakar aka Bahura and Amar Oraon as its joint ‘chiefs’. Diwakar and Oraon fled with many sophisticated weapons after killing Sukar Oraon, ‘chief’ of JJMP in Gumla. Unconfirmed reports claimed that JJSS cadres were establishing contact with unemployed youth in villages in the Gumla, Chainpur and Ghaghra Blocks, and presently counted 17 armed cadres in the organization. The group reportedly possesses AK-47s, INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles, pistols and Light Machine Guns (LMGs).
On September 22, 2022, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren held a high-level meeting to review law and order in the State, including extremism and crime control. Information disclosed during the meeting indicated that there had been a steady decline in the incidents of militant violence in the State due to SF operations. Nevertheless, the CPI-Maoist succeeded in executing 22 incidents, PLFI 13 incidents, TPC nine and the JJMP 10, in the current year.
In their action against JJMP, SFs had arrested at least 14 cadres in the current year (data till October 2, 2022). During the corresponding period of 2021, two JJMP cadres were arrested. A total of 14 JJMP cadres were arrested through 2021. Since 2007-08, when JJMP was formed, at least 66 JJMP cadres have been arrested by the SFs.
Mounting SF pressure has led to the surrender of two JJMP cadres in 2022 (data till October 2), for the first time, since its formation in 2007-08. On July 16, 2022, a JJMP ‘area commander’, identified as Sanjay Prajapati, who carried with a reward of INR 200,000, surrendered before the Police in Latehar District; and on January 8, 2022, JJMP ‘sub-zonal commander’ Bhavani Bhuiyan aka Bhagirithi, a resident of Huntar in Palamu, active in Latehar and Garhwa Districts, who was earlier associated with TPC and had joined the JJMP in 2016, surrendered before the Police in Palamu District.
Further, in combing operations on six occasions, SFs recovered arms belonging to / meant for JJMP, in the current year (data till October 2, 2022), in addition to six such incidents through 2021. Since 2007-08, at least 23 such incidents of recovery are on record.
SFs have succeeded in curbing the JJMP menace, establishing dominance in the areas where the group was active. A residual challenge persists, to contain the lingering strength of the outfit through further and sustained operations.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia September 26 - October 2, 2022
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
NS
Total
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
India (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
Sindh
PAKISTAN (Total)
Total (South Asia)
35 persons killed and 82 injured in a suicide attack on Kaj Education Center in Kabul, says UNAMA: On October 1, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tweeted that 35 persons were killed and 82 injured from suicide attack on the Kaj education center in Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul. No one took responsibility for the attack. Hasht-e Subh Daily, October 2, 2022.
55 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus leave for India: A group of 55 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan have left for India and reached New Delhi. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan called on the Afghan Sikhs and Hindu community to not leave Afghanistan, saying that it remains committed to their rights. Tolo News, September 26, 2022.
Afghanistan is rapidly becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups, says Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirajuddin Mehruddin: The Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirajuddin Mehruddin said that "Afghanistan is rapidly becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups." Mehruddin said that the participation of Afghanistan in the process of regional cooperation is a key to the success of efforts undertaken by the international community. Tolo News, September 26, 2022.
Only five influential Taliban leaders opposed to opening of girls' schools in Afghanistan, says UN's special rapporteur Richard Bennett: The United Nation's special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said that only five influential Taliban leaders, including its Amir (supreme leader), Haibatullah Akhundzada are opposed to the opening of girls' schools in Afghanistan above the sixth grade. Tolo News, October 3, 2022.
Door of negotiations is open to all countries, including US; says IEA's Mawlavi Abdul Kabir: On October 2, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mawlavi Abdul Kabir said the door of negotiations and understanding is open to all countries, including the United States (US). Abdul Kabir, in a meeting with a number of academic and scientific figures of the country, said that talks are open to all countries around the world, including the US. Ariana News, September 20, 2022.
Ansar al-Islam is now focused on collecting funds, increase organizational strength; says counter-terrorism officials: Counter-Terrorism officials said that Ansar al-Islam is now focused on collecting funds, increase organizational strength, and avoid arrest, is now sending its permanent members abroad. In the last three months, the Ansar al-Islam had sent a member to Saudi Arabia and complete paperwork of four others for their journey to Oman, said counter-terrorism officials. The Daily Star, September 30, 2022.
Foreign militants' numbers up in J&K, says CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh: An uptick has been noticed in the number of foreign terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) post the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan but the overall strength of militants in the Valley is low and can be capped below 200, outgoing Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General (DG) Kuldiep Singh said on September 29. He said all the Security Forces operating in Kashmir are working in a coordinated manner and terrorist incidents have gone down post the abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile State in 2019. Daily Excelsior, September 29, 2022.
UHMA declares PFI and its affiliates as 'Unlawful Association': The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, therefore, on September 28, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) found it necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization. PIB, September 28, 2022.
Nagaland Government bans PFI: On September 29, Nagaland Government has banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and organizations affiliated with it in the state. In an order, State government said that the Central Government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has declared the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts, including Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an unlawful association. News Service Division, September 29, 2022.
Supreme Court releases President from the case related to Easter Sunday attack:The Supreme Court ruled, on September 26, to remove the current President Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is named as a respondent in the fundamental rights petitions filed against the State for its failure to prevent the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on April 21, 2019 despite having prior knowledge, from the case. The apex court's decision said according to Article 35(1) of the Constitution, a case cannot be maintained against a sitting President and Ranil Wickramasinghe is entitled to immunity as the current President. Colombo Page, September 26, 2022.
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.
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