Part -1 Domestic

AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR (AJK)

1. Nineteen prisoners including six on death row, escaped from the Rawalakot jail. During the escape, one inmate was killed. After considerable efforts, the police succeeded in re-arresting six of the 19 fugitives. Efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitives are ongoing (30.6.24 – 7.7.24).

BALOCHISTAN

1. Unknown armed persons set on fire two fishing trawlers parked along the Pasni coast in Gwadar district. These trawlers had been seized by authorities in 2020 in connection with illegal fishing (1.7.24).
2. Unknown miscreants blew up the gas pipeline near Mach in Bolan district (1.7.24).
3. Two proclaimed offenders were killed, and several police personnel were injured in an encounter at an Afghan refugee camp in Sarkhab area of Pishin district (1.7.24).
4. In another incident, an unidentified armed person killed a woman along with two children and injured her brother Muhammad Ali in a bomb and shooting attack in Turbat area of Kech district (2.7.24).
5. Three under trial prisoners involved in murder and robbery cases managed to escape from the sub-jail in Duki, 200 km away from Quetta (2.7.24).
6. Security forces solider Naik Shafqat was martyred, and three others injured when their vehicle en route to Iskhaluh in Kalat district hit a roadside planted IED blast (3.7.24).
7. Unidentified shooters killed Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) senior officer Munir Ahmed Leghari after in a targeted attack on his motorcar on Mano Jan Road in Quetta (3.7.24).
8. An FC solider was critically injured in a bomb blast in Margat coal mine area of Bolan district (6.7.24).
9. Unknown armed motorcyclists shot at and injured Naib Tehsildar Sher Jan Dashti on Airport Road in Turbat (11.7.24).
10. Security forces arrested 120 Afghan nationals who illegally crossed into Pakistan in Chagi district adjacent to Afghanistan and Iran border. It was learned that they were Uzbek and intended to move to Iran in search of jobs. They were later reportedly handed over to the Afghanistan border authorities via Baramcha crossing point (12.7.24).
11. Frontier Corps (FC) driver was martyred and another wounded after their vehicle hit a roadside planted IED in Akhtar Abad near Northern Bypass in Quetta (13.7.24).

ISLAMABAD

1.Police claimed to have recovered an AK-47 rifle, two grenades and two detonators and safety fuses from the hideout of a terrorist who managed to escape in the cover of darkness at Sangjani area of Islamabad district (3.7.24).

2. Pashtoon Tuhaffaz Movement’s (PTM) poet Hazrat Naeem, also known as Gilaman, succumbed to his injuries. He was brought to hospital after receiving head injuries due to assault in Sangjani couple of days ago. Police investigations are ongoing (10.7.24).

 KHYBER PAKHTOON KHAWA (KPK)

1. A snooker club was torched by unknown persons in Sultankhel area of Landikotal in Khyber district. The club was reportedly owned by Khalil Jabran Afridi, the Landikotal press club president, who was murdered by unknown individuals last month (1.7.24).
2. Three brick kiln labourers named Farooq, Saleh and Naqibullah were killed by the unknown armed persons in two separate locations in Gorak Shah Hussain area of Lakki Marwat District (1.7.24)
3. FC personnel Nauman was martyred outside of his house by the unknown shooters in Kala hi area of Dera Ismail Khan District (1.7.24).
4. Security forces killed seven terrorises including two commanders identified as Najeeb, @ Abdul Rehman, and Ishfaq, also known as Muavia, in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the Tirah area of Khyber district and Lakki Marwat district (2.7.24).
5. CTD police claimed to have recovered an IED, six rockets, nine hand grenades, six RPGs and explosive material from a terrorist hideout in Orakzai district (3.7.24).
6. Former Senator Hidayatullah Khan and his two guards were killed in a remote controlled IED device targeting his vehicle in Damadola area of Bajaur district (3.7.24).
7. Security forces killed a high-profile terrorist identified as Irfanullah, @ Adnan, in an IBO in Bajaur district (3.7.24).
8. Two Police copes guarding polio vaccination teams were shot at and injured by unidentified persons in separate incidents on Shah Alam Road in Tank and Madi area in Kalachi tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan District respectively (4.7.24).
9. A police man and two children were killed in bomb on their motorcar near Jalal Bridge in Takht Bhai, Mardan district (5.7.24).
10. Unknown shooters martyred Police Constable Ihtesham in Shahpur area of Peshawar (6.7.24).
11. Two women were killed and three others including a child injured when a mortar shell fired from an unknown location hit a house in Darban area of Dera Ismail Khan District (7.7.24).
12. Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan (JUP) district president Moulana Abdullah Wazir escaped unhurt in a roadside planted IED blast on Kalosha-Azam Warsak Road in South Waziristan district. He had assumed office just last month following the death of his brother, Moulana Mirza Jan Muhammad Wazir in a targeted attack (7.7.24).
13. Unidentified shooters killed a person by the name of Yasir Wazir at Wana Kari Bazar in South Waziristan district (7.7.24).
14. Slaughtered bodies of two persons identified as Muhammad Amir and Mohsin Ayurveda were found near Siran River in Mohsin Ayurveda in Mansehra district (8.7.24).
15. Three security forces personnel – Asadullah, Muhammad Safyan and Zain Ali were martyred in exchange of fire with the terrorists in South Waziristan district (9.7.24).
16. Security forces killed two terrorists during exchange of fire in North Waziristan district (9.7.24).
17. Captain Muhammad Osama of the security forces was martyred during exchange of fire with the terrorists in North Waziristan district (9.7.24).
18. Four employees of a private security company were kidnapped by the armed persons from Darban Road, Dera Ismail Khan (9.7.24).
19. Three women were killed when a mortar shell fired from unknown location hit their house in Tippi area of Miranshah tehsil in North Waziristan district (10.7.24).
20.  Three terrorists including high profile terrorist commander Abdul Raheem who carried a head money reward of six million rupees, were killed by security forces and police in an encounter in the Hassan Khel area of Peshawar. However, during the exchange of fire, four officials—Sepoy Idris, Sepoy Badam Gul, Sub-Inspector Tammie Shah, and ASI Muhammad Akram— embraced martyrdom (10.7.24).
21. Unknown assailants killed tribal elder Zahir Shah and his guard in Tirah valley of Khyber district (10.7.24).
22. Bodies of recently missing two LEAs personnel – Habib Khan and Inamullah were found in the fields of Kirri Maruti village of Tank district (11.7.24).
23. CTD police claimed to have killed a terrorist identified as Kifyatullah, who was involved in recent attack on Darban Police station, during an exchange of fire in Hikmatabad area of Dera Ismail Khan (11.7.24).
24. Two security forces personnel, Akhmatova Ali and Suliman, were martyred during targeted attack by unknown terrorists in Janikhel area of Bantu district (12.7.24).
25. Unidentified armed motorcyclists martyred police constable Israr Ahmed in Baramacha tehsil of Khyber district (12.7.24).
26. In different incidents, the bullet-riddled bodies of two persons identified as Haider Mehsud and Mousa Khan Wazir were found in Sararogha and Birmal areas of South Waziristan district (12.7.24).
27. Four security personnel were tragically killed, and several others, including civilians, were injured in a terrorist attack launched in Bannu cantonment. The militants initially targeted a check post near a supply depot, with suicide bombers attempting to breach the cantonment’s perimeter. Although the immediate attack was contained, ongoing clearance operations resulted in continued gunfire throughout the area into the night. Following the attack, security measures were intensified throughout Bannu district, with increased patrols and roadblocks to enhance safety for the citizens. The blast was so powerful that it was heard several kilometers away and caused significant damage to nearby structures.

Comments & Analysis: This incident is part of a broader surge in terrorist activities in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, mostly conducted by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after the Afghan Taliban came into power in August 2021. Despite Pakistan’s repeated complaints and pleas, Afghan Taliban have not desisted from harbouring the TTP terrorists in Afghanistan. UN monitoring report has revealed that TTP is the largest group operating from Afghanistan soil and it has developed close relations with Al Qaeda. The report states that Afghan Tliban are ‘unable or unwilling’ to bridle TTP. The other groups operating from Afghanistan are ETIM, IMU, Islamic State (IS-K) etc. Iran, China and other neighbouring countries like Tajikistan have expressed grave concern over this situation which is ominous for their internal security.  

The release of thousands of TTP terrorists from Afghan jails and their relocation in Swat and Wasiristan has resulted in a reinvigorated surge of terrorism in Pakistan, especially in tribal areas of KPK. Pakistan is constrained to tackle this hydra from the scratch. Renewed intelligence-based operations (IBOs) are underway. A large number of terrorists and their facilitators have been neutralised. The downside is that the military operations are inconvenient for the local populace too. There is a need to let the civilian forces lead the fight against terrorists in populated areas. Army can take care of the borders. Hearts and minds policy should be implemented with vigour and sincerity to appease the people of the area so that the terrorists do not take benefit of stirred sentiments of the locals.

In addition to raising a civilian counter insurgency (COIN) force, a volunteer force of citizens from across Pakistan should be raised to help and support the COIN force. Pakistani NGOs may be encouraged to open schools and hospitals in these areas.

This is not the time to talk with the TTP terrorists. Earlier talks not only failed but gave breathing space to the terrorists who managed to gather their scattered forces and launched reinvigorated attacks. They must be annihilated whereas the talks with the Afghan Taliban government should continue.

PUNJAB

1. CIA police claimed to have busted in international drug trafficking network “Speedy Gang” involved in supply of narcotics to youth and recovered big stock of the contraband material during raids in Lahore. It also arrested several persons including Qamar Muzaffar, Amir Chema aka Billa and Imdad Butt aka Speedy, who are nationals of Italy, Spain, and the UK (10.7.24).
2. Police arrested one Abdullah Shah, resident of Jhang in Okara district for pasting hate material against a particular sect on the Facebook (12.7.24).

SINDH

1. Unidentified armed motorcyclists shot dead Korangi Cantonment Board Councillor Amir Abbas affiliated with PPP and injured his brother near Chowrangi crossing Karachi (2.7.24).
2. Police Head Constable Qamar Zaman was killed in a targeted attack by the unknown shooters in Patel Para area of Karachi (2.7.24).
3. Unidentified armed motorcyclists-in a targeted attack martyred CTD Police DSP Ali Raza when he was going to his apartment in Karimabad area of Karachi. Outlawed TTP claimed responsibility of the incident (7.7.24).
4. Unknown shooters shot dead a police constable and took away his official rifle during an attack on a check post on bypass in Jacobabad. In another incident, two police officials Constables – Allah Dino and Nisar were martyred in an attack on the Dhadhur check post. Later police killed three dacoits including notorious bandit Imdad Bhayo in separate encounters in Shikarpur and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts and recovered three abducted Hindu traders (2,3 & 7.7.24).

• CTD police claimed to have arrested an alleged TTP commander Shoaib Khan of Darra Adem Khel, wanted in several murders, and kidnapping cases and carrying two million head money reward from Karachi (10.7.24).
• Unknown armed motorcyclists shot and critically injured the police HC Khalid Ali Khan in the Defence area of Karachi (12.7.24).
• CTD police claimed to have arrested two suspects – Abuzar and Yaqoob Mehsud in a raid from Jangal Goth, Karachi, in connection with collecting money for defunct TTP Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group. In a separate raid, it also arrested TTP’s Karachi chapter fund collector Hadiyatullah @ Moulana Abdul Karin and recovered Rs 6000/- from the SITE area and recovered a receipt book from his possession (12 & 13.7.24).

DEFENCE / SECURITY

265th Corps Commander Conference was held under the Chief of Army Staff General (COAS) Syed Asif Munir at GHQ, Rawalpindi. It reviewed of the internal and external security situation, regional peace and stability and expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir and Palestine. The forum also held discussion on various aspects of “Azam-e-Istehkam,’’ aimed to dismantle the nexus and illegal spectrum in the country for enduring stability. It noted with concern unwarranted criticism by some quarters and deliberate misrepresentation of the vision. The COAS concluded saying that Pakistan Army is fully prepared to thwart all internal and external challenges and play its role in the stability and prosperity of Pakistan (5.7.24).

Pakistan- USA joint Infantry Rifle Company Exchange Exercise-2024 held two-week National Counter Terrorism Canter (NCTC), Pabbi commenced on 29 June 2024 in Counter Terrorism domain to exchange and share tactical skills at combating menace of terrorism between armies of both countries. GOC 17 Division attended the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest while Major General Charles G, Kemper Commanding General 34 Infantry Division of the US army also attended the same (10.7.24).

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, on official visit to Russia, held meetings with Colonel General Alexander Fomin, Deputy Defence Minister, Aleksander Venediktov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and Colonel General S.Y. Istrakov, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During the meetings, they stressed the need to enhance cooperation across multiple domains including connectivity, trade, energy, security and bilateral military and technical cooperation, regional security situation and menace of terrorism (10.7.24)

Part – 2   Regional

AFGHANISTAN

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), and Suhail Shaheen, head of its political office, stated that the Doha conference held on June 30 and July 1 was productive, facilitating interaction with the international community to discuss IEA policies and foster better understanding. The closed-door conference did not disclose much beyond statements from the participants.

Key demands from the international community, particularly emphasized by Western countries and the USA, included the formation of an inclusive government, lifting bans on women’s education and employment, restoring human and women’s rights, and ending terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil. The Taliban-led IEA government argued against the need for an inclusive government, asserting that they represent all ethnic groups and hold sole control over the country. They categorized women’s rights as an internal issue and denied the existence of any terrorist groups posing threats to other countries from Afghan territory.

Additionally, the IEA demanded the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s assets in the USA, the lifting of travel restrictions on its officials, and proper representation in the UN and other international bodies. Against the backdrop of geopolitical and economic considerations, China, Russia, and Iran have shown relatively softened stances towards the IEA.

It was reported that Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, attended the Doha conference and met with Zabihullah Mujahid at a dinner hosted by the Pakistani Ambassador in Qatar. During this meeting, matters of mutual interest between Pakistan and Afghanistan were discussed.

Suhail Shaheen, head of the IEA office in Qatar called for lifting of the UN Security Council sanctions on the officials of the IEA/ Taliban leaders arguing that these restrictions only hinder interactions with Afghanistan by the international community. According to the UN Monitoring Team, the list of sanctioned individuals includes 61 senior Taliban figures, among them 35 members of the IEA cabinet and leaders. Some of the notable figures on the list are Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister; Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister; Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister; Maulana Abdul Kabir, Political Deputy of the Prime Minister; Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister; Sirajuddin Haqqani, Interior Minister; and Abdul Haq Wasiq, Director of the General Directorate of Intelligence (13.7.24).

SCO CONFERENCE AT ASTANA

 Shanghai. Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held its summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Chinese President Xi Jinping for assuming the chair of SCO for 2024-25. In addition to attending the event he met several leaders on the sidelines of the conference including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Turkish President Reception Tayyip Erdogan, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijan President Ilham Ali, Tajikistan president Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyzstan president Sadyr Japarov and discussed matters of boosting friendly relations with Pakistan. The conference adopted a resolution aimed at achieving more cohesive regional connectivity to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the emerging multipolar world. It also condemned terrorism and stressed the need for more coordinated efforts to prevent harbouring cross border terrorism and other forms of this menace. The conference also emphasised the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan that represents all ethnic groups (3 & 4.7.24).

INDIA / LOC & LAC

Indian security forces continued their state sponsored oppression in the Illegal Indian Held Jammu and Kashmir (IIHJK) and martyred a number of Kashmiri youths by branding them terrorists in fake encounters besides taken several in custody. Five Indian army soldiers including a JCO were killed and as many injured in alleged ambush by the militants on their patrolling vehicles in Badnota village of Khatuha district. Lt. General Rajiv Gai GOC 15-Corps of the Indian army in a high-level meeting reviewed the security situation in the South Kashmir and expressed satisfaction over the success of killings of alleged militants during two operations – OP Modargam and OP Chingam in Kulgam district under the so-called anti militancy drive (6 and 9.7.24).

The new Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi after assuming his office on 30th June, started touring formations in various parts of the country to take briefings from the commanders for reviewing security situation and operational preparedness of the troops particularly related to the Northern Command and Eastern Command alongside borders with Pakistan, China, Myanmar on LOC and LAC. He visited various military stations including 16- Corps at Nagrota (IIOJK) and at 3, 4 and 33 Corps HQrs in Dimapur, Nagaland, Manipur, Tezpur, Sukna, West Bengal to over view various project in Sikkim. In next phase, he may undertake visits to the Western Command and Southwest Command alongside international borders with Pakistan in Punjab and Rajasthan. Meanwhile, a major reshuffling of the senior commands has started taking place in the Indian army. Such appointments included LT. Gen NS Raja Subramani as the new Vice Chief ( Co-Chief), Lt. Gen Devendra Sharma as Head of the Training Command at Shimla, Lt. Gen Anindya Sengupta as GOC-in-C Central Command at Luknow, Lt. Gen Manjinder Singh as GOC-in-C of South West Command at Jaipur, Lt Gen Dheeraj Seth as GOC-in-C South Command at Pune, Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa as Chief of Staff at HQ Western Command in Chandi mandir, Lt. Gen Rajesh Pushkar as GOC 2- Corps (Kharga Corps) in Ambala. Lt. Gen Ajay Chandpuria as GOC 11-Corps (Vajra Corps) in Jalandhar (2, 3, 10, 11 and 12.7.24).

Indian government appointed Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri (1989 batch Indian Foreign Service officer) as India’s new Foreign Secretary. The government has also reportedly granted one year extension in services till June 2025 to Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Tapan Kumar Deka (1.7.24).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assumed power for the third time, was originally scheduled to represent his country at the SCO conference in Astana. However, at the eleventh hour, he changed his plans and sent External Affairs Minister J. Shankar in his place. Later, Prime Minister Modi visited Russia on July 8 and 9, 2024, where he held meetings with its leadership, particularly President Vladimir Putin. They discussed boosting trade and defense relations, as well as the global security environment, including counter-terrorism measures and the regional perspective on Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed several MoUs, and agreements aimed at boosting bilateral relations and increasing the current annual trade level of $65 billion USD to $100 billion USD by 2030. Reportedly, there was a preference given for payment in Russian and Indian currencies following sanctions imposed post Russia-Ukraine war by the USA and other Western countries. Ukraine’s President Zelensky expressed great disappointment over Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, speaking at the two-day “US-India Defence News Conclave: Stories of US-India Defence and Security Partnership” held in New Delhi, emphasized the need for strengthening the partnership between the two countries. He highlighted that both nations envision their future intertwined. According to several geopolitical analysts, India, emerging as a challenger to China in the border region and Asia-Pacific, is strategically partnering with both the US-led Western countries and Russia simultaneously, navigating a delicate balance to maximize benefits in both in civilian and military domain (13.7.24).

IRAN

Five security forces personnel were killed in two simultaneous terrorist attacks by the alleged Jaysh al-Adel militant group on military and police posts in Rask and Chahbahar cities of Sistan-Balochistan province. The Iranian authorities later stated that eight terrorists involved in the attacks were killed by the security forces (3 & 4.7.24).

In the second phase of presidential elections in Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, a surgeon doctor and known as reformist was elected as ninth president of the Islami Republic of Iran. He secured 16,384,403 votes out of a total 30,530,157 votes. The other candidate, Saeed Jalili, known as a hardliner, received 13,538,179 votes. The presidency became vacant after the death of Ibrahim Raisi and his companions in a helicopter crash. The newly elected president was greeted by leaders from around the world, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan. While Western media portrays him optimistically as a moderate, his policies and actions in the coming days will determine the reality (6 & 7.7.24).