Part-1

  BALOCHISTAN

 Security forces killed five terrorists during an IBO in exchange of fire in Mashkai area of Awaran district (1.1.24).

One child was killed and another sustained injuries in an IED blast in Mach Town (1.1.24).

Unidentified assistants gunned down Dr Fidda Muhomnad in Alizai area of Qila Abdullah (2.1.24).

A policeman Abdul Hamed was injured during a targeted attack by the unknown armed persons in Zargoonabad area of Quetta ((3 .1. 24).

Dead body of an unidentified person was recovered from near Alamdar Road in Quetta (7.1.24).

Unknown shooters shot at and injured Mir Aslam Buledi, a PML- N leader, contesting NA-258 elections in Turbat (9.1.24).

A 12-inch gas pipeline was blown up and partially damaged in Dhadar area in Bolan district (10.1.24).

A police Head Constable Jameel Ahmed, performing security duty with a polio vaccination team was martyred durin a targeted attack by unknown terrorists on Eastern Bypass in Quetta district (11.1.24).

Five soliders – Lance Naik Tariq Ali, Sepoys – Tippy Razzaq, Tariq Khan, Shafiullah, Shaukat were martyred and two others including Major Abbas and Lance Naik Mumtaz were injured in roadside planted IED blast, targeting a military vehicle, in Bulede area of Kech district (13.1.24).

Two children were killed, and three others were injured in airstrikes launched by Iran on Pakistan territory. It is said that these attacks were apparently aimed at a Sunni militant group Jaish al Adl.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry called it an “illegal” airstrike, and summoned Tehran’s senior diplomat in Islamabad to protest the “unprovoked violation of its airspace”. The ministry did not give more details of the strikes, but Pakistani social media accounts said missile and drone strikes had been aimed at the Balochistan province which lies along the 1,000km border between the two countries.

In Iran, it was reported that the strikes were aimed at bases of a Sunni militant group, Jaish al-Adl, but references to the attack in Iranian media quickly disappeared. Iran and Pakistan have long had a tense relationship, in large part because of the activities of Balochi separatists and other militant groups in the border area.

Comments & Analysis: Pakistan has strongly reacted to this grave violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity. It has called back its ambassador to Iran and asked the Iranian ambassador who was in Iran at this time, not to return to Islamabad. All other exchanges of delegations have been cancelled. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Pakistan has the right to respond. China has appealed to both the countries to exercise restraint.

At this critical juncture, with the Middle East situation in flux, Pakistan and Iran should utilize their communication channels. Open and effective communication can facilitate understanding, cooperation, and coordination on regional issues.

The sentiments of people of Pakistan are quite stirred and social media is abuzz with condemnation of Iranian aggression. Nevertheless, it is wiser for the government of Pakistan and Iran to adopt diplomatic engagement, regional cooperation, conflict mediation, humanitarian assistance, international engagement, and crisis management avenues to navigate the complex dynamics in the Middle East and address the potential implications of the evolving situation on the Red Sea crisis. Pakistan and Iran being the neighbours and Muslim countries, with strong historical and cultural ties, should not fall prey to the traps laid by hostile powers and groups.

ISLAMABAD

Unidentified armed motorcyclists gunned down Moulana Masood-ur-Rehman Usmani a leader of Sunni Ulma Council and injured his driver during a targeted attack in Ghouri Town, Islamabad (5.1.24).

KPK

Security forces killed five terrorists in Mullahzai area of Tank district (1.1.24).

Unknown assailants fired on the caravan of Moulana Fazalur Rehman Amir JUI-F however they remained unhurt near Yark interchange on Dera Ismail Khan – Islamabad motorway (1.1.24).

Unidentified shooters killed five persons included Inayatullah and Kafiatullh during an attack on them on Matta Road in Dera Ismail Khan. It is learnet that the slain persons were previously implicated in the publicly ridiculing Sharifan Bibi case -2018 (1.1.24).

Mohsin Dawar, former MNA and Chairman National Democratic Movement (NDM) escaped unhurt during a fire attack on his caravan by unknown armed persons in North Waziristan district (2.1.24).

Unidentified assailants killed six barbers (hair cutters) after kidnapping them from Mirali Market in North Waziristan district. The slain persons included Muhammad Shahid, Raeeb, Kashif, Irfan and Muhommad Tariq. No group claimed responsibility of the incident while defunct TTP denied any link with the same. It is learned that some other notorious groups such as Haidary and Ariana were also active in the area (2 1 24)

Unidentified terrorists martyred Police Constable Jan Alam during a targeted attack in Murali area of North Waziristan district (3.1.24)

Police averteded attack of terrorists by retilatory fire on Shotra Takhtikhel area in Lakki Marwat district (3.1.24).

Three shepherd children aged 5 to 15 were killed in an IED blast near Khyre checkpost in Murali, North Waziristan district (3.1.24).

Security forces killed two terrorists including a high valued target Gul Yousaf @ Toor carrying head money reward of Rs 2.5 million, during exchange of fire in Dera Ismail Khan district (4. 1.24).

Qari Khairullah, JUI- F candidate for PK 19 remained unhurt in a bomb blast that took place on Bar Kolosov – Zagai Road in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur district (4.1.24).

Two children, identified as Ikram Khan and Farani Bibi, were injured in a an IED blast in the Hillary locality of Lower Mamond tehsil of Bajaur district (4 .1.24).

Police Bomb Disposal Unit +BDU) defused an IED found earlier in Bara Kamangara area of Nawagi tehsil in Bajaur district (5.1.24).

Police claimed to have recovered two abducted boys – Farooq and Fawadullah and arrested their kidnapper Saifullah in a tip- off raid from Merizau area of Kohat district.  The accused alongwith his accomplices abducted the boys on 29 December and demanded of Rs. 20 million as ransom money (5.1.24).

Unknown terrorists injured two police personnels – Alam and Ehsan during the guns attack on Domand checkpost in Mughal Kot area of Dera Ismail Khan district (5.1.24).

 Unidentified shooters killed four people including a driver, a woman and two security guards during a targeted attack on a car and passenger bus at Sadda area on Parachanar- Peshawar Road in Kurram district (5.1.24).

 Haji Gul Zareen a JUI- F local leader and Chairman Village Council escaped unhurt during the gun fire attack on him in the Paharkhel Pacxa village in Lakki Marwat district (7.1.24).

Eight police personnel were martyred, and 25 others injured during a bomb blast that hit a police truck at Ballot area in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur district. They were on way to provide security to the polio vaccination teams in the area. Reportedly defunct TTP claimed responsibility of the said attack (7.1.24).

Unknown shooters shot at and injured four transgender persons identified as Asim @ Bhinda, Sajjad @ Huma, Adnan and Shakeel on Dilzak Road, Peshawar (8.1.24).

Security forces, in an IBO killed two terrorists identified as Aftab @ Malang and Masood Shah. However, during the exchange of fire two soldiers Sepoy Muhommad Afzal and Sepoy Ibrar Hussain embraced martyrdom in Lakki Marwat district (9.1.24).

Four persons including police constables – Amjad, Junaid, Waqar and a civilian Noor were martyred during an attack by the unknown terrorists on a check post near Lacchi Toll Plaza on Indus Highway in Kohat district (9.1.24).

Two police personnel, on security duty with a polio vaccination team, and a terrorist were killed during an attack by the terrorists in Mortar area of Lakki Marwat district (9.1.24).

Unidentified shooters martyred two police personnel – Skindar Khan and Fayazuddin, while injured two others performing security duty with a polio vaccination team in the limits of Miryar police station in Bannu district (9.1.24).

Eleven members of a family including minor children were found dead in their house in Sheikh Niazi Kooma, Takhtikhel area in Lakki Marwat district. According to initial police investigations they were poisoned to death and tortured 2/3 days ago. The deceased were identified as Sarfraz Thekedar, his wife Sudna Bibi, daughter Muzelfa (10.1.24).

A local PTI leader and a businessman Shah Khalid was gunned down by two unidentified armed motorcyclists on Dwabi- Jehangira Road in Sawabi (11.1.24).

During an IED attack on a vehicle, two persons including Hazrat Gul were injured in Alizai Dag area in Utmankhel tehsil of Bajaur district (12.1.24).

CTD police reportedly claimed to have arrested two alleged would-be suicide bombers identifiedfied as Adil Khan and Tahir Khan from Peshawar and Khyber districts.  The accused persons were planning to attack JUI-F Amir Fazalur Rehman and ANP provincial president Amil Wali Khan (12.1.24).

Security forces killed two terrorists identified as Commander Tabassum @ Qadafman and his associate Sajjad during exchange of fire in Mirali area of North Wazirstan district (13.1.24).

Security forces reportedly killed two terrorists (name not known) during exchange of fire in an IBO in Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district (13.1.24).

Unidentified terrorists martyred CTD Police Constable Inamullab in Azad Mandi area of Bannu district (13.1.24).

PUNJAB

CTD Police claimed to have arrested seven terrorists affiliated with proscribed organisations including TTP during raids from different areas in Punjab. The arrested accused were identified as Khalid Mahmood, Ahmed Shah, Noor Muhammad, Khan Zaman, and Shah Mahmood (5.1.24).

Unidentified armed motorcyclist shot dead a prayer leader Ali Raza after exchanging harsh words in Manawan area of Lahore district. Investigations are under way to determin whether the motive behind the incident was an act of terrorism or a personnel enimity (6.1.24).

SINDH

Two Sindh Rangers personnel – Naik Sharif and Driver Usman remained unhurt in a gun fire attack by unknown miscreants on Hatin’ Hatoi Road in Dadu district (2.1 .24).

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a local Jammat Islami (JI) worker identified as Waseem Sadique near Muslimeen Mosque in Orangi Town, Karachi (3.1.24).

A bullet riddled body of a person identified as Riaz affiliated with a Lanyard gange was found in Golimar area of Karachi (3.1.24).

Unknown gunmen killed a shop keeper Habib -ur- Rehman and injured his brother Zia ur Rehman during a targeted attack in Federal- B area of Karachi (10.1.24).

A man identified as Havaldar Khan was shot dead by unknown assialants near Taqwa Mosque in Sultanabad, Karachi (10.1.24).

Comments & Analysis: The terrorism landscape in the country remained intense over the past two weeks, with KPK leading and Balochistan following closely. Targeted assaults on security forces, prominent civilians, and the abduction of individuals for ransom constituted the primary focus of these acts. The killing of six non-local barbers, abducted from Mirali bazar in North Waziristan district without any ransom demand, suggests specific motives behind the perpetrators, a noteworthy detail sourced from media reports. It is noteworthy that the incident coincided with a decline in the activities of the defunct TTP, raising questions about responsibility—whether it lies with a local criminal group or a militant organization.

Election-related activities and the targeting of political figures engaged in campaign efforts have become vulnerable points for terrorists, given their easy accessibility. The apprehension of two potential suicide bombers, intending to attack the leadership of JUI-F and ANP, by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Peshawar is a commendable achievement by the police and security forces. The escalating trend of target killings in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, is a cause for concern.

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                             Part – 2

AFGHANISTAN

Three persons were killed, and 14 others injured in a bomb attack targetting a passenger bus in Dasht-e-Barchi (majority Shia populated area) of Kabul. In a grenade attack on the house of an educational head Ghulam Jillani Hanfi, his four minor daughters were killed, and wife injured in Harsak district of Nangarhar province. An explosion was heard near Abu Muslim Khorasani Mosque in Kabul (1,2,4,7, and 10 January,2024).

Comments & Analysis: The law-and-order situation in Afghanistan remained uncertain. IS-K/Daesh continued posing threats to IEA government led by Taliban and Shia community. The recent bomb blast in Dasht-e- Barchi area is indicator that the terrorist outfit is still active.

IRAN

More thab103 persons were killed and over 141 injured in a powerful bomb blast in Karman city of Iran. The blasts took place in the gathering of large number of people commemorating 4^th anniversary of Al-Quds Force late commander General Qasim Sulimani in Karman city. Qasim Suleimani was killed in US drone attack in Iraq in 2020 (2.1.24). Later, ISIS/Daesh reportedly claimed responsibility of the said attacks carried out by its two bombers (5.1.24).

An explosion in the Cosmetic factory in Firdes, west of Tehran caused injuries to 53 persons. Investigations are under way the determin the cause behind the explosion (8.1.24).

Armed gunmen killed Sargent Major Amir Hossein-Abadi during an attack on a security post in Rask town of Sistan- Balochistan province. It was the second attack in the Rask town within a month and earlier on 15 December 11 police personnel were killed and number of others injured during an attack by the terrorists on police station in the town (9.1.24).

Comments & Analysis: The significant loss of human lives in the terrorist attack during the death anniversary observance of General Qasim Sulemani in Karman has garnered widespread condemnation globally. Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Ibrahim Raisi, and other Iranian leaders have expressed their awareness of the forces behind the terrorists and pledged not to spare them from punishment. The incident has drawn condemnation from around the world, including Pakistan and the United Nations (UN).

Concerning attacks on police and security officials, the Iranian government has attributed responsibility to militant groups, particularly ‘Jaish e Adal.’ The evolving geopolitical and economic landscape, marked by Israel’s attack on Gaza, Yemen Houthi’s rocket assaults, and joint air strikes by the US and UK on various targets in Yemen, could potentially exacerbate the Red Sea crisis.