PAR T-1

BALOCHISTAN

1. An unidentified dead body was found in the limits of Washbud Police Station in Panjgur (15.1.24).

2. Unknown miscreants hurled grenades at the Government High School in Kharan when the training session of the polling staff were going on there. Luckily nobody was hurt (16.1.24).

3 Brother of Asghir Rind, PPP candidate contesting provincial assembly elections was injured in a grenade attack on his house by unidentified persons in Turbat city (16.1.24).

4. Irfan Jadoon, independent candidate contesting provincial assembly elections remained unhurt during on attack in the limits of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate while going back to Swabi (16.1.24).

5. Five people, including three children, were injured in an IED blast that took place in garbage dump in Zarghoon Road, Quetta (17.1.24).

6. Unknown shooters killed two persons identified as Jaffar Khan Kaloui and Hazar Khan Khairi, residents of Naari, in Dhadar area of Kachhi district (19.1.24).  People of the are demanded of the government to increase security measures in the area to prevent further acts of violence.

7. Two persons including one Nazeer were injured in an IED blast carried out by terrorists in Mithri area of Sibi district (18.1.24).

8. Security forces killed seven terrorists (names not known) during exchange of fire in Sambaza sector of Zhob district (21.1.24).

9. Unidentified gunmen shot and injured three persons identified as Abdul Ghafoor, Muhommad Yousaf and Jawad Ahmed belonging to Yalanzai tribe in a Bazar of Kharan (22.1.24).

10. A group of burglars robbed Rs. 55 million on gun point from a private bank on Airport Road in Quetta and fled away (24.1.24).

ISLAMABAD

1. A dead body identified as Umar Shaham, a native of Mardan district, was found hanging on a pedestrian bridge in Faisal Avenue in Islamabad. Investigations are under way to determine whether it was an act of terrorism or a personal enmity (22.2.24).

Comments & Analysis: Islamabadites are extremely worried on such brutal acts in Islamabad which was once the safest city of Pakistan. They have demanded of the government to apprehend the culprits and ensure safety and security of the residents of capital city.

2.  Anti Narcotic Force HQ’s spokesperson claimed to have seized 190 kg drugs with arrest of seven accused persons in five different operations on land and air routes on Island and KPK (22.1 24).

KPK

1. Police repulsed night attack by the terrorists on the Pezu Police Station in the Lakki Marwat district (16.1.24).

2. Police seized 70 kg heroin, 10 kg chemicals and other during the tip-off raid on a drug producing factory in Kharki area of Jamurd tehsil in Khyber district (16.1.24).

3. Six persons including two security personnel were reportedly injured in an IED blast carried out by unknown terrorists in Michikhel area of Mirali in North Wazirstan district (16.1.24).

4. Nine kidnapped workers of a construction company were reportedly freed by their abductors. They had been been kidnapped by the armed persons from Hassankhel area of Bhitani tehsil in Lakki Marwat district 16.1.24).

5. A tribal elder Malik Riaz Muhomnad Wazir and his two relatives sustained injuries in a roadside IED blast in Azam Warsak area of Lower South Wazirstan district (16.1.24).

6. Unidentified assailints in a targetted attack, martyred police constable Mursaleen Khan and injured two others near Koorana bridge in Ragi area of Peshawar district (17.1.24).

7. Two simultaneous attacks by heavily armed terrorists on Gandhkhel checkpost and Habitat Ali Khan Police Station in Dera Pezu areas were repulsed by police on Lakki Marwat district (17.1.24).

8. Unidentified assailants killed a youth identified as Muhammad Aqib in Kalu Pins village in Haripur district. His family denied his enmity with anybody (18.1 24).

9.  Police claimed that one Safdar Khan, a prime accused of killing 11 persons of a family including women and children in Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat on 10th January, was killed in an attack by his accomplices. Investigation of the case had led to his arrest a couple of days ago. He was, however, killed by his six accomplices (names not known) during crossfire to get him released from the police custody. It is learned that personal enmity was the motive behind the said grusome incident (18.1.24).

10. Unknown gunmen killed Polio team officer Dr Abdul Rehman and injured police official Ilyas in a targeted attack on their vehicle in Tarkhoo area of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur district (18 January).

11. Unidentified shooters shot and injured a local religious leader Jamal Farooq in Peshawar (19.1.24).

12. Five bullet riddled dead bodies were found in Hamruz area and Mirali Bazar in North Wazirstan district. Later three of them were identified as driver Naseebullah, Cleaner Ataur Rehman (Lakki Marwat district) and Arif Khan (Karak district). Earlier bullet riddled dead bodies of six nonlocal barbers (Hair cutters), who belonged to Dera Ghazi Khan, were also found on 2nd January in Mirali. Investigations are under progress to determine the motives behind the murders. Apparently, murder of barbers is an act of terrorism, most probably carried out by TTP (20.1.24).

13. Two police constables- Sherzad and Mir Wali were injured during a terrorist attack on a security post in Bara tehsil of Khyber district (20.1.24).

14. A child named Ahmad Umar was killed and two women injured when an abandoned mortar shell exploded in Amangarh area of Nowshera (20.1.24).

15. No loss was reported after a blast took place in a shop of Firdous Bazar, Peshawar (20.1.24).

16. The body of a boy, identified as Muhommad Adnan, was found hanging from a tree in Pirbakhel area of Bannu district (21.1.24).

17. Five persons sustained injuries as result of land mine blasts in Spins Shaba, Dalsha and Baghdadi areas in Kurram district (23.1.24).

18. Unidentified shooters killed two labourers identified as Qamar Zaman and Ashiq and injured two others working in a field near Garhi Hat Checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan district (24.1.24).

PUNJAB

1. Police recovered a boy identified as Mohsin Ali from Bajra village in Sialkot district who was kidnapped two weeks ago from Vehari district by the abductors demanding amount Rs two million for his release. The captors, however, managed to escape (22.1.24).

2. Police personnel equipped with thermal sights (night vision devices) repulsed the attack of a group of eight terrorists on Hazrat Umar check post (Jhangi) in the limits of Waho police station in Dera Ghazi Khan district. Terrorists intended to enter Punjab from the inter-provincial border junction during the night (23.1.24).

SINDH

1. A joint team of Police and Rangers recovered nine truckers who had been abducted by armed dacoits from Malik Lark Mor in Katcha area of Kashmor district (16.1.24).

2. In a joint raid, police and Rangers arrested two suspected extortionists, including Essa Khan from Karachi. The were involved in demanding money from businessmen by making threat calls to them (17.1.24).

3. Rangers, in a tip- off raid, recovered a heavy cache of weapons consisting of one Ak-47 rifle, one other bore rifle, seven 8 mm pistols, three 30 bore pistols, 15 magazines and 243 rounds of various calibers from Jehanabad area of Karachi.The weapons allegedly belonged to Bilal Arshad, chief of Bilal Pappu, group a character of Layari warganges (18.1.24).

4. Six persons including Abdul Rehman, Amir Ali, Faiz Muhammad, and Naseeb of Swand tribe were killed and three others injured during an attack by the rival Sundrani tribesmen in a village of Mirpur Methalo taulka in Ghotki district. It is learned that twenty persens have so far been killed due to Swand-Sundrani tribe feud  in the Kacha (Riverian forests) area which falls in Interior Sindh and South Punjab (20 January).

5. Sindh Rangers claimed to have arrested an alleged terrorist identified as Abdul Ghaffar from Karachi. He is a close associate of defunct TTP Commander Muhammad Ali @ Mufti Khalid and was involved in bringing five suicide bombers to carry out bomb blast at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi. They were however, intercepted by the police as a result the suicide bombers blown up by themselve which also took lives of the two police personnels. After the incident he fled to KPK has returned to Karachi again with the aim to organise a new net of terrorists (20 January).

6. CTD police claimed to have arrested an alleged militant Syed Muhammad Mehdi affiliated with the organisation called Zanibiyon Brigade, affiliated with a neighbouring country from Solider Bazar, Karachi. It is learnet that during initial interrogation he disclosed the names of his two other accomplices – Syed Raza Jaffery and Abid Raza were involved in number of cases of target killings including an attempt to attack on renowned religious scholar Mufti.Taqi Usmani in 2019. Further learnet that he was also involved in sale and purchase of arms and ammunition and stored them in his house (20.1.24).

7. Police, in a joint operation with a security agency, killed a drug dealer identified as Zeeshan @ Rehan affilated with Layari gangewar groups. While a pace constable Naveed Shah was injured in exchange of fire (20.1.24).

8. Two shop keepers identified as Abdul Bari and Muhammad Ayub were shot dead and three others injured apparently on sectarian grounds by unknown armed motorcyclists on Abu Hassan Isphani Road in Gulshan e Iqbal Karachi. They were reportedly affiliated with defunct Ahel e Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ). Meanwhile ASWJ spokesperson reportedly announced that it’s three workers and supporters were killed during targeted attacks accross Karachi during the last two months (23.2.24).

 PART-2

AFGHANISTAN

1. Two suicide bombers, after shooting, detonated themselves after entering the office of the Governor Nimroz. As a result, seven Taliban sustained injuries while the governor remained unhurt. Explosive material was seized by Police in Mazar-e- Sharif city of Balkh province. Two children were killed, and eight others wounded when an abandoned mortar shell went-off in Baghlan province. Three people were killed, and six others wounded in the blast of mining explosive in Chappa village in Asadabad district of Kunar province. Two years child was rescued by Police in Wala district of Helmand province. Security forces seized large quantity of drugs in Balkh, Helmand provinces while 1400 kg Narcotic set ablaze in Nangarhar province. A chartered plane enroute to Mascow carrying six persons on board crashed in mountainous area of Badakhshan province. It resulted in killing of two persons while four others survived (15, 16,17,18,19, 20 and 21 January).

2. Torkham Border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for good ten days over the issue of visa requirement for the Afghan drivers. It was reopened on 23 January, resuming the movement of trucks carrying various goods including transit cargo. In wake of the recent exit of nearly half million Afghan refugees, who were living in Pakistan without valid documents, the Pakistani authorities also imposed restriction on Afghan truck and vehicle drivers to obtain proper travel documents for their travelling between the two sides. Earlier they could ply between the two countries without any visa restriction. Earlier, Zabihullah Mujhaid, spokesperson of Taliban government of Afghanistan said on 21 January that closure of the border crossing was not in the interest of the two countries and negotiations between the two sides were in progress to resolve the issue of passports and visa of the drivers.

CHINA

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weirdong arrived in Islamabad (20-22 January) to participate in the 4th meeting of CPEC and Internation Collaboration. During his visit he called on President Arif Alvi, Caretake Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani. During these meetings the two sides renewed committment about the success of CPEC project and talked on matters of mutual interest, strengthening bilateral defence and economic cooperation. Pakistan and China are all weather tested friends and strategic partners.

IRAN

1. According to Irna news agency, an Iranian soldier killed five others at a military base in Kerman province on January 21. Limited details are available, but the soldier was reportedly arrested later. Kerman province has recently experienced insecurity and terrorism, with two ISIS/ISIL suicide bombers killing approximately 100 people in a public gathering a couple of weeks ago. Additionally, on January 22, a loud explosion occurred in the Garmsar industrial town in Semnan province, attributed to the “breaking of an air barrier” by a fighter jet plane. This marks the fourth such blast in the province within a week, as reported by the semi-official Mehr News agency.

2. a. On January 18, Pakistan executed a surgical air strike, codenamed “Marg Bar Samachar,” deploying fighter jets and drones to target three hideouts and seven locations belonging to the defunct Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province. The operation resulted in the deaths of activists, including Asim, also known as Chairman. Careful precision was employed to minimize collateral damage. Subsequently, the Islamic Republic Government of Iran confirmed that the individuals killed were not Iranian nationals, and authorities were unaware of their presence. The strike was a response to Iran’s violation of Pakistani airspace and drone attacks on the Koh-e-Sabaz area in Panjgur district, targeting the Jaish-e-Adal militant organization. This earlier incident led to the tragic death of two children and injuries to three others. The unexpected attack by Iran on its Muslim neighbor shocked the nation. In swift retaliation, Pakistan called for the withdrawal of ambassadors from both sides, followed by the aforementioned air strike.

b. The global community, particularly China, Russia, Turkey, Qatar, and other friendly countries, incuding the United Nations, has urged both Pakistan and Iran to exercise restraint and find a resolution before the situation escalates further. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on January 19, expressed China’s support for Pakistan and Iran to address their issues through mutual dialogue and consultation. In response to a query, she mentioned that China could potentially play a mediating role if necessary. The United States also called upon all parties to exercise restraint to prevent tensions in the region.

Subsequently, the Pakistani cabinet approved the recommendations of the National Security Committee, opting to restore full diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between Islamabad and Tehran. The decision reflects an intent to settle the matter through negotiations. The Iranian leadership responded positively to this development. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Islamabad on January 28 for one day tour and is scheduled to meet senior Pakistan government officials to discuss security, economic and trade issues. Dr. Naveed Elahi, Editor of The Strategic Brief, provided a comprehensive analysis of the entire situation in an article dated January 22, 2024, on TheStrategicBrief.com.

3. Unidentified assailants fatally shot nine Pakistani workers in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, near the border with Pakistan (27 Jan). This incident occurred as both neighboring countries had been working to ease tensions following previous deadly cross-border incidents.

Mehr news agency in Iran reported, “According to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighborhood of Saravan city” in Sistan-Baluchestan province. Additionally, three Pakistanis sustained injuries in the indiscriminate gunfire. Muddasir Tipu, Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, expressed shock over the tragic killings and assured full support to the families of the victims. He tweeted, “We have called upon Iran for full cooperation in this matter.” It is presumed that BLA terrorists carried out this attack to avenge the death of their militants killed in an attack by Pakistan’s armed forces in the same area a week ago.