Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2010

At least 90 persons were killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden pickup truck in the middle of a volleyball game in the Shah Hasan Khel village of Lakki Marwat District in the Bannu Division of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 1, according to Daily Times. Police said more than 60 persons are being treated at local hospitals. Local Police chief Ayub Khan told Reuters the bomber blew himself up in an SUV in the middle of the field and there was believed to be a second vehicle, which fled the scene. Khan said the bomber drove a vehicle loaded with around 250 kilogrammes of high-intensity explosives into the field, which lies in a congested neighbourhood. Some nearby houses collapsed and “we fear that some 10 or so people might have been trapped in the rubble.” Khan said that more than 20 houses, on both sides of the open ground where the match was being played, had collapsed. In addition, a group of local tribal elders was holding a meeting at a nearby mosque. The mosque was damaged and some people inside were killed, he added further. “Four paramilitary soldiers are also among the dead,” he informed. Another Police official said that some 300 people were on the field when the incident took place. A large number of them are said to have been elderly residents and children. Meanwhile, the NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the death toll might rise further, adding, “The locality has been a hub of militants. Locals set up a Lashkar (tribal militia) and expelled the militants from this area. This attack seems to be a reaction to their expulsion.” Security Forces have cordoned off the village. Read less...

Daily Times quoting Hangu District Police Officer Abdul Rashid Khan said that two suicide bombers were killed when explosives in their jackets went off accidentally due to a malfunction in the Zargari area of the Hangu District in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 1. Read less...

Five militants surrendered at Gwalerai, Jowar and Waliabad area. Read less...

The local Police identified two suicide bombers who were killed in Zargari area of Hangu District on January 1, while the brother of one of the suicide bomber was also arrested. Police identified the bombers as Shafiur Rehman of Hangu and Muhammad Younas of Zargari. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) conducted search and operations in Khawazakhela, Alpurai, Aligrama, Kabal and Nawagai areas of Swat on January 1 and arrested 15 Taliban militants, according to a press release by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Read less...

United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the suicide car bombing, reports Dawn. “The United States strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack on civilians in Pakistan, and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims and all the people of Pakistan,” Clinton said in a statement. “The Pakistani people have seen terrorists target schools, markets, mosques, and now a volleyball game,” she added. Clinton vowed to support the Pakistani people as Washington urges Islamabad to do more to rout al Qaeda sanctuaries and dismantle havens of militants who cross the border and attack US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan. “The United States will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan in their efforts to chart their own future free from fear and intimidation, and will support their efforts to combat violent extremism and bolster democracy,” she added further. Read less...

At least five Taliban militants were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in Kullachi tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Ismail Khan District in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 2, according to Daily Times. A private television channel said the militants opened fire on a SF’s convoy in Maddi area. The convoy was heading towards Taufi area after troops received reports about the presence of a militant ‘commander’, Anwar Gandapur, in the area. During the encounter, the troops killed five militants including their ‘leader’ Ahsaanullah, Maulvi Irfan and Farhan. Read less...

Police registered cases of terrorism against eight militants in Doaba Police Station for deputing suicide bombers to attack targets in Zargari. Read less...

11 suspected persons were arrested during search operations in different areas of Swat. Read less...

A patrolling party moving from Shagai to Piochar shot dead two suspected militants. Read less...

A roadside bomb on January 3 killed at least four people in Hangu District, including former North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Irrigation Minister Ghaniur Rehman, according to Daily Times. The explosion took place in Bagto village, about 10 kilometres from Hangu. Bagto is close to Orakzai Agency, one of the tribal agencies where the military is operating against the Taliban. Hangu District Police Officer (DPO) Abdul Rashid said that three people including Rehman, father of sitting NWFP assembly member Attiqur Rehman, his bodyguard Mashkoor and Frontier Crops personnel Zahir Shah were killed in a remote controlled bomb blast. Two Police Officials were also inured in the attack. However, Associated Press reported that Rehman’s driver had also been killed in the attack. Read less...

Five suspected persons surrendered to SFs in Ningulai near Charbagh. Read less...

Police arrested a 14-year-old would-be suicide bomber, Sharif, at Deewana Baba Police Post in Buner District. Buner District Police said Sharif who was trained by the Taliban, was arrested by Police at Deewana Baba Police Post at 2 pm (PST) when he was returning home from Karachi. Sharif had fled to Karachi during the military operation in Buner. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed two suspected Taliban militants during Operation Rah-e-Rast at Qadir Banda Post near Gwalerai of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 3, according to Daily Times. Read less...

Three suspected militants were arrested during a search operation in Metari Narai near Mir Khoni and Khajuri. Read less...

Four suspected militants surrendered at Watakai near Mingora and Sakhra Read less...

Police arrested four suspected persons from Swabi District and recovered a cache of explosives from their possession. Swabi Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Imran Shahid said 700 kilogrammes of explosives and over 5,000 safety fuse wires were seized, which were hidden in a vehicle coming from Punjab. The driver of the vehicle, Allah Ditta who belonged to Sargodha, Zahirullah, Abdullah Shah and Syed Tariq Shah have been taken into custody for interrogation. Read less...

SFs demolished the houses of two militants in the Samai area in Kabal tehsil (revenue unit). Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) killed three Taliban militants in the continuing Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) at Mora Kandao in Swat District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 5, according to Daily Times. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that one trooper was also injured in the clash. Read less...

The SFs conducted operations in various areas of Swat and arrested eight suspected militants and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition. Read less...

The SFs conducted search and clearance operations in Pash Ziarat of Swat District and cleared a number of compounds of militants and recovered a cache of ammunitions. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed seven militants in separate encounters in the Kabalarea of Swat District in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 6, according to The News. The sources said SFs claimed to have killed three militants in an exchange of fire in the Kokaray area. The slain militants were identified as Mehboob Khan, Khaista Bacha and Salman. Four militants were killed in Bahrain area in another encounter with SFs, the sources added. They were identified as Naseeb Gul, Muhammad Azeem, Ismail and Ayaz. Read less...

The News quoting Government survey reports that up to 8,000 houses were damaged in the restive Swat District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) during militancy spanning over two years and the subsequent military operations. A similar survey in the conflict-hit Mohmand Agency and Buner, Dir Lower and Upper Districts would start from January 10. The Government launched a survey on November 5, 2009 to assess the damage to houses during conflict in the valley. It had to conclude on November 25 but the data collection took extra time. "Actually, the data was being verified," said a Government official on condition of anonymity. The official data about the number of damaged houses has not been made public. However, official sources told The News that 8,000 houses had been registered as fully or partially damaged. An official closely monitoring the survey put the number of damaged structures as a bit on the high side. "Initially, 8,500 houses were recorded to have been damaged. But some cases were dubious which are being sorted out," the official said. The damaged structures included houses, shops and mosques. But, the sources said, houses formed 80 per cent of the buildings recorded as damaged. Militancy started in July 2007 in Swat in reaction to ‘Operation Silence’ on the Red Mosque in Islamabad. Taliban used to blow up or torch the houses of opponents to punish them. On the other hand, the military carried out three phases of Rah-e-Haq operation in Swat. The last operation, named Rah-e-Rast, was launched on May 8, 2009 to wrest control of the District from the Taliban militants. Read less...

Four Taliban militants were killed and four others arrested by Security Forces (SFs) from different parts of Swat and Malakand in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) during Operation Rah-e-Rast (path to truth) on January 7, according to Daily Times. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release stated that SFs conducted search operations in Pul Bela near Bahrain, Kuz Bama Khela, Mera Mai, Muz Durshkhela, Langar, Mashkomai and Chiakolai and killed four militants in the gunbattle. Three militants were arrested and a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from their possession. The SFs also conducted search operations at Panr, Allahabad, Titawali, Dakorak, and Chbaghand Fazagat and arrested a militant. Read less...

Frontier Corps (FC) personnel Noor Sher, who was severely injured in an attack by militants, succumbed to his injuries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Peshawar on January 7. Two SFs were also injured in an attack on the Do Jang checkpost. Read less...

A suspected militant ‘commander’, identified as Irfan, blew himself up during a Police raid in the Adezai village in Matni on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), on January 8, according to Dawn. Six Policemen were injured in the incident. Four suspected militants were also arrested in the raid. Read less...

Daily Times quoting an interview of Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem reports that a large number of Taliban militants in Swat of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have fled to Karachi and South Waziristan to escape the Army operation Operation Sherdil (lion heart) in Malakand division. "I think these militants have fled to Karachi and Waziristan," Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem told Daily Times in an interview. Nadeem said Intelligence Agencies were on the hunt for these suspected militants in Karachi and some of them had already been arrested. "It is because Karachi is a big city and it is not easy to find someone so easily. Secondly, you can find shelter among fellow Pashtuns who number in tens of thousands," said a man in Matta tehsil (revenue unit), whose militant relative was traced in Karachi. Security Officials in Peshawar said the Swat Taliban, loyal to Fazlullah, were being hunted in Karachi where they might set up a command and control structure to gain a foothold in the country’s financial hub. "Some signs of the Swat Taliban have already been seen in Karachi and the security personnel are working on these leads to arrest them," Intelligence Officials added. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested 10 suspected Taliban militants in Swat and Malakand division and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession, reports Daily Times. Four Taliban militants also surrendered at Waliabad, Gokhela and Bhai Kalle. Read less...

Seven Policemen were injured when an alleged suicide bomber blew himself up in a house in Adezai village in Mattani area of Peshawar in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 9, sources said, reports Daily Times. The Security Forces raided a house during a search operation to arrest two Taliban militants Saifullah and Bilal – who were wanted by Police in various cases of terrorism. During the raid, Taliban ‘commander’, Irfan, who was the only one present in the house, blew himself up. Read less...

An Awami National Party (ANP) lawmaker, Alamgir Khalil, in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Assembly survived a bomb attack in Pavaka area under Pishtakhara Police Station area in Peshawar on January 10, according to Daily Times. A Police Official said that the bomb targeting the vehicle of Alamgir Khalil went off at around 4 pm (PST). No casualties were reported. The official said the blast occurred just moments after Khalil’s vehicle passed the area. Read less...

A headless body of a man was recovered by the Police in the Peepal Kalay area in Hangu District, reports Dawn. The militants had attached explosives to the dead body which exploded as soon as the Police team went near the body. However, it was a low-intensity blast and no injuries were reported. Read less...

A teenager, Muhammad Shoaib, was killed and six other boys were injured when an explosive device exploded at a playground in the Civil Lines area of Tank, the headquterer of Tank District, reports The News. “Unidentified militants had planted an explosive device at the playground, which went off at 3.20 pm (PST),” a Police official said, adding that seven boys, who were playing at the ground, were injured in the explosion. Read less...

At least three Taliban militants were killed while nine others were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) during the ongoing Operation Rah-e-Rast (Path to Truth) in Swat of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 13, according to Daily Times. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said that two more militants surrendered before the SFs in Maniari area. SFs conducted a search-and-clearance operation in Qambar near Mingora and village Gada Kot and arrested nine suspected militants. During another search-and-clearance operation in Mora Sar and Udigram, SFs recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Read less...

SFs arrested one of the top ‘commander’ of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), identified as Rafiullah, during a search operation in the Tora Warai area of Hangu District. Officials said that heavily armed troops conducted a search operation in Tora Warai, which is a strong hold of the TTP in Hangu, and held a commander along with nine of his accomplices. The arrested militant Rafiullah belonged to Ferozkhel area in Lower Orakzai. Read less...

Giving details of the search operation, Major Sulaiman, Media Coordinator for the Security Force’s operation in Dir Lower, said the SFs launched operation in Jandole area and arrested two militants, whose identity could not be ascertained immediately. Six rocket launchers, four hand-grenades and Kalashnikov rifles were recovered. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two militants besides recovering arms and ammunitions during a search carried out in Jandole area of Lower Dir District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 14, according to The News. Read less...

The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), front organisation of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), on January 14 has declared suicide bombings un-Islamic and said those involved in killing of Muslims were playing in the hands of the US, India and Israel, according to The News. “Gun, grenade and suicide attack is no solution to any problem in Pakistan,” said JuD Central Vice-President Colonel (retd) Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry while speaking at a news conference in Peshawar. “Islam does not allow attack on a Muslim, let alone suicide attack,” he said. Read less...

Two caves were discovered in Kass area in Maidan from where explosives were recovered and defused. Two remote-controlled bombs planted on a roadside in Anbar area in Adinzai were also defused by the SFs and the house of a militant was demolished in Lajabuk area. Read less...

The bullet-riddled dead bodies of seven Taliban militants were recovered while an anti-Taliban leader was also killed in different areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 15, according to Daily Times. “The dead bodies of five militants were dumped in two different areas of Darra Adam Khel,” said Major Fazalur Rehman, spokesman for the Frontier Corps (FC). Read less...

Two dead bodies, including that of Taliban ‘commander’ of Khawazakhela area Mohammad Rehman, were recovered from Khawazakhela in Swat, official sources said. Read less...

The Police arrested a tribal elder along with his three sons involved in terrorism while recovering a huge cache of arms and five suspicious vehicles from their hideout in Khwasi Banda, according to Dawn. The district Police officer, Dilawar Khan Bangash said that they had received reports about the involvement of Khan Akbar's family in terrorist activities. The Police arrested them during a raid at the house of the tribal elder in Khwasi Banda in Jarma area of Kohat while seizing Kalashnikovs, pistols, repeaters and five suspicious vehicles parked at a secret place. The main accused Khan Akbar and his three sons Inamullah, Eid Akbar and Amanullah were later brought to Kohat. Preliminary investigations revealed that they had relations with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and had registered themselves as internally displaced people to sneak into Kohat from Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in December 2009. Read less...

Two militants were killed by the Security Forces (SFs) in the in Malakand area of North West Frontier Province on January 17, reported Daily Times. The SFs also conducted search and clearance operation at Delai. Read less...

Malakand Levies claimed of arresting 13 suspected persons during a search operation at Salgaro Banda under Malakand Agency in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 18, reports Daily Times. Some of them were identified as Jalandar, Jawad, Khanzeb, Sajid, Ilyas, Delawar, Arif, Shakirullah, Lal Karim, Amirzeb, Ahmad Said and Amin Shah. The Levies personnel also arrested two proclaimed offenders Mukaram and Abid. Read less...

Eight terrorists shot dead two Awami National Party (ANP) activists in Pir Baba area of Buner District in North West Frontier Province(NWFP) on January 19, according to Daily times.. The terrorists abducted Union Council Malakpur Secretary General Amin Khan and Sultan from the village of Beshonai. They were then taken to the Ellam Mountain where the terrorists opened fire on the two activists killing them on the spot. Read less...

Police arrested six militants, including a teenage would-be suicide bomber, and recovered explosives from their possession during an operation in mountainous Bahadar Baba area in Nowshera, reports The News. The arrested militants included Haider alias Kosa, stated to be the militants’ ‘commander’ in the Orakzai Agency and reportedly the mastermind behind the assassination of noted religious scholar Maulana Hasan Jan. Read less...

Five persons, including an Awami National Party (ANP) member of the provincial assembly, Aurangzeb Khan, were injured in a remote-controlled bomb explosion in Peshawar in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 20, reports The News. Read less...

Five militants, including a ‘commander’, were killed in a clash with Security Forces (SFs) in Madyan area of Swat District in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 21, according to The News. Two of the militants were identified as Nadir Khan and ‘commander’ Sultan Akbar. Read less...

Bodies of two tribal elders were found dumped under a bridge on Tank-Wana Road near Pattar village in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 22, according to Daily Times. Unidentified persons shot dead Hamidullah an elder of the Mehsud tribe, and Amir Nawaz, an elder of the Bhittani tribe and dumped their bodies below the bridge. Read less...

the SFs arrested nine suspected Taliban militants from different areas in Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur agencies and Dir District while an IED was detected and neutralised at Gogra Chowk in Bajaur Read less...

Twenty nine officials in the NWFP Education Department were sacked for their alleged links with militants. Among the sacked officials, 19 hailed from Buner District, five from Dera Ismail Khan while four others belonged to Malakand Agency. The officials included Arabic teachers, laboratory assistants and peons. The action was taken by the Interior Ministry officials. Moreover, 68 more suspected officials are being investigated for their alleged involvement in such kinds of activities. Read less...

Unidentified men had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the roadside in Talai village in Salarzai in Bajaur Agency. A woman was killed and 23 passengers injured when a vehicle hit the device. Also, SFs arrested three suspects from Kitiari and Kas Shagai areas and Adda in Hangu Read less...

At least four persons including a Security Force (SF) were killed in a suicide car bombing near a Police Station at Gomal, about 25 kilometres south of Tank District in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), on January 23, Police said, reports Daily Times. "The bomber struck outside the Police Station, killing one Policeman and three passers-by, including two children," District Police Chief Ejaz Abid said. He said 11 persons, including five Policemen, three passers-by and three prisoners in the Police lock-up, were also injured. Read less...

A close aide of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief of Swat Division was killed in clashes with Security Forces (SFs) at Imam Dheri in Swat of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 24, reports Daily Times. The slain militant was identified as Rahim Wahid. Read less...

Taliban militants blew up a girls’ school at Shabqadar area in Peshawar. Read less...

A Taliban ‘commander’ was killed by Security Forces (SFs) in Swat District and another arrested in Daggar town in Buner District in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 26, according to Daily Times. The ‘commander’, Alam Sher was killed in the Bahrain valley during operation Rah-e-Rast (Road to Salvation) while the other militant Harat Rehman was arrested by SFs in the Gokand area of Daggar. Read less...

NWFP government has sacked 55 employees for having links with the Taliban militants. Read less...

The SFs carried out a search operation in Muslim Khwor village of Dir District and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition. Read less...

Armed militants opened fire at a patrol Police vehicle in Mardan and killed the Station House Officer (SHO) and injured five constables in Mardan in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 27, reports Daily Times. The killed official has been identified as Umer Khayam. The vehicle was attacked during routine patrolling and the killers fled immediately after opening fire. Read less...

Three children were killed in a bomb explosion in Nanger Khani village of Dir District. “It was a timed device. Three children were killed on the spot. Apparently it is an act of terrorism. The terrorists want to create fear and terrify the residents,” District Police Chief Rauf Khan was quoted saying. Read less...

Suspected militants blew up a bridge on a link road connecting Peshawar’s Badbher village in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to Khyber Agency’s Bara town in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 28, reports Daily Times. The explosion took place at around 1:30am, blowing up the bridge over the Frontier Road. Read less...

Troops arrested 10 suspected Taliban militants from Swat, said a spokesman for the Swat media centre. Read less...

Unidentified militants blew up a Government-run girls’ primary school on the outskirts of Bannu in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in the night of January 31, according to Daily Times. “The school is almost completely destroyed,” said Muhammad Hussain Khan, a local Police official in the area. “They planted explosives around the walls and then blew up the building,” he added. Read less...