Part-I (PAKISTAN)

Balochistan

1. Unidentified armed persons abducted five labourers identified as Nazir Ahmed, Muhammad Tariq, Safdar, Farooq and Hasnain reportedly belonging to Punjab from Dandar area of Hashab tehsil in Kech district (25.1.24).

2. Two persons were reportedly killed, and a few others were injured in an IED blast in Landlu area near Sui in Dera Bugti district (24.1 24).

3. CTD Balochistan police claimed to have arrested an alleged commander of TTP Abdul Hadi @ Amer Ullah from Quetta. He was reportedly an Afghan national of Zabul province and wanted in several cases of attacks on police and LEAs (26.1.24).

4. Four people were killed and six other injured in a bomb blast at the rally of Pakistan Tahreek Insaf (PTI) in Sibi (28.1.24).

5. Levies force soldier Lal Muhammad was martyred, and another injured during a targeted attack on their patrol vehicle in Kahan area of Kohlu district (28.1.24).

6. Three groups of terrorists, equipped with heavy and light arms including suicide bombers attacked Mach town and Kolpur as well as police station, Jail and Railway station in the dead of night. They fired at least fifteen rockets in addition to gunfire towards the targets. Security forces retaliated swiftly and in a befitting response repulsed the attack and killed 12 terrorists including three suicide bombers and three were injured. However, during exchange of fire, twelve persons including four police personnel, embraced martyrdom while thirteen others were injured. Defunct Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility of these attacks (30.1.24).

Comments: –

Mach and Kolpur towns are located around 70 k.m from the provincial capital Quetta. There is no secret that defunct BLA enjoys support of the Indian intelligence agency RAW to create instability in Pakistan. The main objectives behind the said attacks were to choke the road and railway routes to Quetta from Sindh and Punjab, inflict maximum damage to the security forces, police, divert the election process in the country and obtain global fame on media. However, the same was successfully thwarted by the LEAs. The significant terrorists who were killed by the LEAs were later identified as Shehzad Baloch, Attaullah, Salahuddin, Abdul Wadood and Zeshan.

A comprehensive article on this topic, written by the editor of The Strategic Brief, Dr Naveed Elahi, was published in TSB on 1^st February 2024. An elaborate analysis of this issue was done by the former Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) Tariq Lodhi and Dr. Naveed Elahi dated 2nd February on YouTube channel DISCLOSURE with Naveed Elahi.

7. Five people were injured in a grenade attack on the election office of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) candidate Haji Ali Madad Jhatak in Quetta (30.1.24).

8. Unidentified gunmen killed Awami National Party (ANP) worker Zahid Ahmad and injured another during an attack on the ANP office in Maizai area of Killah Abdullah district (30 .1.24).

9. Three persons were injured in a blast that took place near Bhatti hotel in Dera Allah Tar area of Jaffar Abad district (1.2.24).

10. One staff member sustained injuries in a grenade attack carried out by unknown terrorists at the District Jail in Mastung (1.2.24).

11. Two bullet riddled dead bodies identified as Akram and Malik were recovered in Washoom area of Panjgur district (1.2.24).

12. Ten hand grenade and bombs attacks carried out by unidentified terrorist rocked across the Balochistan including provincial capital Quetta. During these attacks several police stations and Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices in Kachhi, Dhadar, Panjgur District Jail Khuzdar and political parties including PML- N, JUI- F and BAP were targeted. However, no loss of human lives was reported except killing of one Abdul Khaliq Shah in a bomb blast on Sabzal Road (CPEC) Road, Quetta and injuring a jail warden and number of others including Assistant Sub Inspector of police, Ghulam Raza. One person was injured in a bomb blast at Ghulam Nabi Chowk in Turbat (1.2.24).

13.  Seven persons were injured in hand grenade attacks at various locations in  Balochistan. Two bombs were defused near the Offices of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) candidate Mir Ijaz Sanjrani  (younger brother of the Senate Chairman) and Returning Officer in Kharan. An attack was launched on the caravan of an independent candidate of elections Mir Fayazuddin Hakeem Rind in Mand area of Kech district; two grenade were thrown with intervals of four hours near election offices of candidates on Eastern Bypass in Quetta inflicting injuries to four persons; three PPP workers were injured in an attack on their election office at Mughalsari in Qalat town; an attack was carried out on the house  of PPP election candidate Mir Rauf Rind in Keche district; an attack took place on the house of provincial President of National Party (NP) Rehmat Saleh in Panjgur district, grenades were also thrown on different locations in on Jewani town in Gwadar and Turbat  districts respectively  (2.2.24).

14. Grenade attacks took place near Election Commission office in Noushki and political figures contesting elections in Panjgur, Turbat, Kharan tookplace, however, no loss of human life was reported (4.2.24).

ISLAMABAD

1. A bullet riddled body of an unidentified person was found near Korang Bridge on Expressway in Islamabad (1.2.24).

2. Deputy Director NADRA Najeebullah posted at Islamabad was reportedly missing ever since he left his home for office on 31 January. Later his family received his cellphone calls from Peshawar that he was in the captivity of someone. Ramana Police Station, Islamabad registered a case FIR on the complaint of his brother. His family said that they have no enmity with anyone. Kidnapping of an officer from the capital city is a serious matter and needs to be investigated thoroughly not only to ascertain the reason of kidnapping but to ensure his release from the captors (2.1.24).

KPK

1. Two alleged terrorists (names not known) were killed in exchange of fire with a joint team of CTD and police in Mandan police station area of Bannu district (25.1.24).

2.  Unknown armed motorcyclists gunned down one Imran Chitrali son of prominent businessman Haji Fazal at National Colony in Kakshal area Peshawar. Investigations are underway to determine whether it was an act of terrorism or a personal enmity (25.1.24).

 3. Unidentified assailants shot dead Social Welfare Officer Humyoun in a targeted attack near Ishrat Cinema, Peshawar (25.1 24).

4. Police constable Kamran Taj working as computer operator was martyred by unknown shooters during a targeted attack in Peshawar (25.1.24).

5.. Three levies force personnel identified as Javed Khan, Khalid Khan and Jameel Khan were injured in a hand grenade attack on a security post in Dargai area of Malakand district (25.1.24).

6. In a tip- off raid, police claimed to have recovered a big cache of weapons consisted of 71- pistols, 24,400- bullets and six kg hashish from a car in Kohat district. Also arrested the carrier identified as Ehsanullah Afghan national who was to carry the cache to North Waziristan via Bannu (25.1.24).

7. Police and CTD, in a joint IBO, killed two terrorists (names not known) during exchange of fire in Gera Shah jehan locality in Bannu district (25.2.24).

8. Unidentified miscreants torched the three storied house of retired security officer (subedar) in Ghulam Khan locality of Tirah valley in Khyber district. No group claimed responsibility of the same (26.1.24).

9. Police killed three terrorists (name not known) during exchange of fire in Titter Khel town of Lakki Marwat district (27.1.24).

10. Police seized 90 kg hashish from the possession of a drug dealer Zamurd Khan near Mashano Maqbra area in Sholmbar area of tehsil Bara if Khyber district (27.1.24).

11. Two beheaded dead bodies were found in different places in Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan district. Only one of them could be identified as Lahore Khan who was reportedly abducted before his murder by unidentified kidnappers (30.1.24)

12. Two bullet riddled bodies, identified as of Amanullah and Kaleemullah, were found in fields of Khawajalhel area of Lakki Marwat district (30.2.24).

13. Unidentified assailants shot dead Rehan Zeb, a local PTI leader but was contesting NA- 8 elections independently. Three others were injured in a targeted attack in Bajaur (30.1.24).

14. Unknown armed motorcyclists gunned down one Shah Alam Khan near Mirali bazar in North Waziristan district (31.1.24).

15. Security forces in an IBO killed a high value terrorist Ashraf Sheikh along with his accomplices Bahaullah during exchange of fire. In Dera Ismail Khan district (1.2.24()).

16. A man was killed, and his wife and son seriously injured after hitting a Mortar shell to his house in Umar Kilay area in suburb of Tank (1.2.24).

17. Unidentified shooters killed Village Council Chairman Imran Khan @ Emu in Malikpura village of Abbottabad district (2.2.24).

18. Ten police personnels were martyred and six others injured during an attack by 30 unidentified terrorists from three sides on Choudhwan police station in Darban region in Dera Ismail Khan district at 3 a.m. on Monday. It is learned that terrorist used snipher shoots to target guards and throwing hand grenade along with opening fire inside the premises by seizing the area under control. The exchange of fire continued over two hours. 10 police personnels were martyred and six others including SHO injured during the attack. The martyred personnels included ASI Khouar, Ehtram, Rafiullah, Hameed-ul-haq, Muhammad Aslam, Ghulam Farid, Muhammad Javed, Muhommad Imran and Masood. Meanwhile security forces reached the site, took control the situation and started Clarence operations (5.2.24).

Comments & Analysis: –  It is one of the deadliest attack by the terrorists in KPK after attacks in Mach/Kolpur areas in Baluchistan just three days earlier before the general elections in the country. Taking place of such incident on the beginning of Kashmir Day may also be significant due to the possible hand of the Indian intelligence RAW. Daraban area remained highly sensitive for such attacks in the Dera Ismail Khan districts which witnessed martyrdom of 23 soldiers in a suicide and guns attack on the complex of security forces in Daraban area on 12 December 2023. The other districts including North & South Waziristan, Bajaur, Khyber, Tank and Lakki Marwat have also been witnessing the similar situation with variation. There is need to revisit the current security arrangements and revamping the intelligence system.

Punjab

1. CTD police claimed to have arrested 11 alleged militants affiliated with banned outfits including TTP, Daesh and Lashkar e Jhangvi (LJ). in separate raids from Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Lahore, Jhelum, and Rawalpindi. The arrested persons were identified as Gul Shaheen Kazim, Muhommad Nawab, Sibghatullah, Muhommad Osama, Farooq, Ejaz Khan, Zaheer Mustafa Khan, Shahzad and Rasool Khan. Later CTD reportedly announced more five arrests of alleged terrorists named Shraft, Yasmeen, Talha, Abdul Rehman and Asad in different raids and recovery of two IED bombs, detonators etc. from their possession (28.1.24 and 3.2.24)

2. Four unidentified armed persons kidnapped a youth Habib Kamran on gunpoint when he was going along with his mother on a motorbike on Infantry Road, Mustafabad, Lahore (31.1.24).

3. Eleven persons of Jani Khosa tribe were freed by Ladi gang after resolving the issue that they were not involved in the murder of its member who sustained injuries in a dacoity. They were kidnapped the previous day along with their six motorcycles by Ladi gang in the limits of Kot Mubarak police station in Dera Ghazi Khan district. Police (2.2.24).

Comments:-  It is learned that Ladi and Chakrani gangsteres involved in various crimes including dacoities and kidnapping for ransom in the locality. It is learned that similar gangs operating in Riverian areas from Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Ghotki and Kashomor districts in Punjab and Sindh have political support of the local elites and have been operating for the last several years and could not be smashed despite conducting number of operations by the police of the two provinces. Hence, need to clear the areas from such criminals by seeking support of the security forces.

Sindh

1. Sindh Rangers and police in a joint operation claimed to have arrested a criminal Junaid Baloch a member of the notorious Layari gang group led by Jamil Changa in Preddy ground area of Karachi. Accused was wanted in several kidnappings, extortion and snatching of motorcyclists and cellphones including killing of a Coast Guard person in September last year (25.1 24).

2. An Anti-Terrorism Court, Karachi acquitted four persons of Lashkar Jhangvi (LJ) identified as Zafar @ Sainsbury’s, Qari Javed @ Qari, Waziristan @ Rehan and Hassan Ali as the prosecution failed to prove the allegations of recovery of huge quantity of arms and ammunition from their possession during a raid in Mehran Town, Karachi  (26.1.24).

3.  CTD police claimed to have arrested Zahid and recovered eleven unlicensed pistols and cartridges from his possession during a raid on Hab River Road, Karachi. It is learned that he related to arms smuggles in KPK and supply weapons through internet (27.1.24).

4. CTD police reportedly arrested a terrorist identified as Bilal Shar affiliated with Jey Sindh Mutthidda Mohaz (JSMM) and recovered a hand grenade along with Six Kg explosive, detonator, battery, and wire from his possession near Jamshouro Railway Crossing Hyderabad (27.1.24).

5. Shikarpur police claimed to have arrested an injured bandit gang chief Khario Tighani from a hospital in Rahimyar Khan where he was undergoing medical treatment. He was operating in Riverian area of Shikarpur district, wanted in 40 criminal cases including murder of a police official and has bounty of seven million reward on his head money (30.1.24).

6. Enraged mob reacting over the incident, lynched two robbers after killing a citizen Saad Gul and injuring two others in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi (2.2.24).

7. An unknown miscreant threw a bag containing explosive substance into the garbage dump causing minor blast near the Provincial Election Commission office in Sadar area of Karachi. Defunct Sindh Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility of the incident. (3.2.24)

TTP announcement of not targeting election process in Pakistan

Defunct TTP announced on 25 January that its attacks were limited to Pakistani security forces and not to target any elections rallies, political figures, and polling staff. They had nothing to do with 8^th February elections of parliamentary and provincial assemblies in Pakistan. However, the other militants did not announce such pledge. Afghanistan News Agency Khaama.com while airing the news also quoted Pakistani media discussion about meetings of Moulana Fazlur Rehman Amir Jamiat-Ulma-e-Islam (JUI) meetings with the senior leadership of Afghan Taliban including their Amir Akhundzada Haibatullah during his speech about the 8th of February Parliamentary elections process in Pakistan. Earlier the Foreign office on 22 December 2023 had stated that it did not comment about the invitations and visit of individuals to foreign countries at private level. Later In another weekly media briefing, the Foreign Office, replying to a question, distanced itself for comments about the visit of JUI chief to Kabul by saying that Pakistan is not interested to talk with  proscribed militant group involved on attacks on the civilians and security forces in Pakistan. Hence, the announcement of the TTP not to harm election process in the country might be an outcome of the higher-level meetings between the officials of the two countries about reducing tension at bilateral level or a tactical move by the TTP with regards to follow wait and see polices of the next government in Pakistan.

Pakistan urges Afghanistan to extradite TTP leadership.

Pakistan Foreign Office urged the Islamic Emirate Government (IEA) in Afghanistan to act against terrorists involved in committing terrorism and attacks in P and handover their leadership to Pakistan. The statement seems to have been issued in the backdrop of United Nation Security Council (UNSC) third report containing activities of the terrorist groups operating on the territory of Afghanistan 2.2.24).

Postscript:

Balochistan witnessed multiple terrorist attacks. In the first attack, at least 16 people were killed and 25 injured after an explosion took place outside the political office of Asfand Yar Khan Kakar in Khanozai area. Kakar is contesting elections from NA-265 and PB-47 and PB-48. The injured people were shifted to the Tehsil Hospital, Khanozai, Medical Superintendent Dr Habib told Geo News. He said most of the injured were in critical condition.

The second blast took place outside the office of JUI-F candidate Maulana Abdul Wassay in Killa Saifullah district in which 12 people were killed and 25 others injured. In the attack, JUI-F leader, and candidate for PB-3 Wasey remained unhurt as he was not in the office. Following the explosion, many vehicles caught fire.

“The terrorist state of India has targeted Balochistan through terrorism. We will avenge the martyrs; we will end India’s terrorist agenda. Our war will continue until the end of the last terrorist,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of the blast and sought a report from the Balochistan chief secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP). A spokesperson for the ECP said directives had been issued to act against those involved in such incidents.