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War Against Terror
As Pakistan security forces are fighting terrorism in tribal areas, the country is facing backlash from terrorists as well. In a recent attack in Peshawar at least 15 people were killed while 25 others got injured. A powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees killing at least 15 people. Civil Secretariat bus was carrying government employees from Mardan to the provincial capital. Meanwhile over in Karachi, police has claimed to have killed a commander of the militant Islamic State (IS) group in an operation. According to the police, the suspect has confessed to his involvement in target killings, grenade attacks and bank robberies before he succumbed to his wounds. He was also carrying a Rs2.5 million bounty on his head.
Over in Khyber Agency, at least five terrorists were killed in a gunbattle with security forces after they attacked a military check-post. The incident comes two days after Army Chief Raheel Sharif confirmed death sentences of 13 hardcore militants, including one involved in the killing of foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat. Another three militants were killed in Chillas Town of Gilgit-Baltistan in exchange of fire with security forces during an intelligence-based raid.
Meanwhile addressing the Corps Commanders Conference at General Headquarters, General Raheel stressed that as the military moves towards conclusion of large-scale operations in FATA, there is a need to consolidate gains for long term.
Karachi Politics
Members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) continue to join newly formed party of former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal. This week MQM leader and former IT minister Raza Haroon also joined Kamal. Haroon slammed party leader Altaf Hussain, saying the MQM chief was reason enough for party members to leave party. Since his first press conference, Kamal has pulled former MQM members Anis Kaimkhani, Dr Sagheer, Iftikhar Alam and Waseem Aftab into his party. Meanwhile in a press conference, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar accused the Rangers of torturing and interrogating 40 under-trial prisoners belonging to the MQM imprisoned at Karachi Central Jail. He also alleged the workers were told that cases against them would be withdrawn and they would be released only if they changed their loyalty.
Meanwhile according to media reports, Sarfaraz Merchant has agreed to visit Pakistan to record his statements regarding allegations against leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. On March 1, the Karachi-based trader accused the party of involvement in money laundering, criminal activities and links with RAW. Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to address concerns raised by the businessman to probe the allegations against Altaf Hussain’s links with the Indian spy agency RAW.
Pak-India Relations
Pakistan and India are making efforts to improve relations with each other through cooperation and intelligence sharing. In a recent event, Indian security forces killed three of 10 alleged terrorists that were tipped off by Pakistan. Indian newspaper The Hindu quoted a top home ministry official as saying that National Security Adviser of Pakistan Naseer Khan Janjua’s inputs over alleged infiltration of terrorists were correct. He also said that the terrorists planned to strike at the famous Somnath temple on the coast of Gujarat, ahead of Maha Shivratri celebrations last week.
According to The Hindu Mr Janjua had tipped off his counterpart Ajit Doval, reportedly saying that Pakistan had information about 10 terrorists, belonging to either Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Meanwhile a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz took place in Nepal on Thursday. Sushma Swaraj announced after the meeting that an investigation team from Pakistan will visit India to carry out inquiries over the Pathankot attack on March 27.
The meeting between Ms Swaraj and Azizi was held on the sidelines of the Saarc ministerial meeting in Nepal, and marked the first face-to-face meeting at the ministerial level between the two countries since the Jan 2 terrorist strike on the air force base in Pathankot.
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