Weekly Country Report

Pakistan
20-26 December 2010

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)

South Waziristan Agency(SWA)

It was reported on 23 December 2010 that a notorious terrorist and leading member of the
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, was killed in a gunfight with
security forces in Sararogha tehsil in the SWA.1 Bhittani carried a head money of 10 million
rupees (120,000 dollars). He was also the head of the Bhittani component of the TTP. His death
will have serious repercussions for the TTP-Bhittani faction.

Bajaur Agency
More than 43 people were killed and nearly 100 others were injured on 25 December 2010, when
a burqa-clad woman blew herself in a large gathering of local tribesmen near a distribution point
of World Food Programme (WFP).2 The dead also included four security personnel. The WFP
distribution point was setup for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Salarzai tribe,
who had gathering to receive food and rations. The Salarzai tribe has so far supported military
action against the militants and formed an anti-Taliban militia to eliminate them from their area.
It was reportedly the first ever suicide attack carried out by a woman. A spokesman for TTP
claimed responsibility for the bombing. Separately, 40 militants surrendered to the security
forces in Khar tehsil.
 
Mohmand Agency
On 24 December 2010, about 150 militants conducted simultaneous attacks on five security
check posts in Baidnami village in Mohmand Agency, in which 11 security personnel were
killed. 3 40 terrorists were also killed in retaliation. Mohmand district has seen much of the
violence linked to Taliban militants in northwestern Pakistan. On December 6, twin suicide
bombings killed 43 people in Ghalanai. The attacks came 18 days after two suicide attacks killed
40 people in Ghalanai, including two tribal journalists. The TTP-Mohmand chapter has claimed
responsibility for the recent as well as previous attacks.

Khyber Agency
On 20 December 2010, Taliban militants attacked NATO oil tankers with rockets, thereby
setting two tankers on fire in Jamrud area of Khyber Agency.4In a separate incident on 24

                                                            
1
‘Taliban Commander Killed in Pakistan: officials’, Dawn, 24 December 2010
2
‘Female Bomber Kills 43 in Bajaur’, Nation, 26 December 2010
3
‘Eleven Soldiers, 24 Militants Killed in Mohmand Clashes’, Dawn, 25 December 2010
4
‘Nato Oil Tankers Set Ablaze in Khyber Agency’, The News, 20 December 2010
December, terrorists attacked Bara press club and killed one FC personnel in Bara subdivision of
Khyber.5 Two terrorists were also killed when FC soldier fired back. This is the second reaction
from the Taliban after the drone strikes in Tirah valley in which more than 50 Taliban were
killed. Scores of Nato supply vehicles were destroyed in gun and arson attacks while the crossing
was shut, as Taliban militants stepped up efforts to disrupt the route in response to US drone
strikes in Pakistan’s tribal belt.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (KP)

Peshawar
On 24 December 2010 terrorists attacked a private boy’s school in Peshawar with a remote-
controlled bomb, thereby wounding four children.6 Terrorists planted remote control bomb in the
school building which exploded while students were playing in the ground. Peshawar has been
for last two years a frequent target of terrorist bombings and suicide attacks done by Taliban.

Hangu
On 25 December security forces thwarted a terrorist plot when they seized an explosive- laden
car in Doaba area of Hangu district.7 The forces also arrested three militant. Hungu district is a
hub of sectarian violence and killings. Hundreds of people, especially those belonging to the
minority Shiite community, have been killed in a wave of sectarian violence.

Balochistan province
At least eight people including a police official were killed in various incidents of target killing
and attacks on NATO oil tankers in different districts of Balochistan province. The law
enforcement agencies also arrested Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief, Shahzain Bugti, along
with 27 of his personal guards. In a separate incident on 24 December 2010, a remote-controlled
bomb planted in a bicycle exploded which killed an official of the Rapid Response Group (RRG)
and injured four other. 8 In a similar incident a driver of a container carrying supplies for NATO
forces was killed in Mastung district while two truck drivers were kidnapped by a group of
armed men. Miscreants also attacked two oil tankers and burned them.

Sindh Province

Karachi
On 23 December 2010 at least five people, including two personnel of an intelligence agency,
and an activist of the Awami National Party (ANP) were shot dead in various incidents of target
killing in Karachi, capital of Sindh province.9

                                                            
5
‘Two Terrorists, FC Soldier killed in Bara Clash’, Daily Times, 25 December 2010
6
‘School Bombed in Peshawar, Four Children Injured’, Daily Times, 25 December 2010
7
‘Terrorist Plot Foiled in Hangu’, Daily Times, 26 December 2010
8
‘Sub-Inspector Killed in Quetta Bomb Blast’, Daily Times, 25 December 2010
9
‘Spy Agency Personnel Among 5 Dead in Karachi Target Killings’, Daily Times, 24 December 2010