PM Kakar on Terrorism and Involvement of Afghanistan

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, in a press conference held at the PM House, Islamabad, demanded the interim government of Afghanistan to hand over the Pakistani nationals who were illegally residing in Afghanistan and were involved in terrorist activities against their own country (8 Nov). However, he regretted that since the Afghan interim government took over, there has been 60 percent to 500 percent increase in incidents of terrorism and suicide attacks, which has caused 2,267 innocent Pakistanis to lose their lives.

He added that in February 2023, over one hundred innocent Pakistanis were martyred and after that, the defence minister of Pakistan, with a delegation, including the ISI director general, visited Afghanistan and conveyed it to the interim regime to choose between Pakistan and TTP. He also asked the Afghan government to act against the hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its training centers in Afghanistan. “The Afghan regime should ensure that its soil is not used against Pakistan,” he added. Kakar said that Pakistan had to review its policy following no response from the Afghan interim government despite visits of delegations, talks between senior officials and requests to check the activities of TTP and other anti-Pakistani elements.

The prime minister regretted that the Afghan government despite its assurances failed to take action against the anti-Pakistan terrorists despite the fact that it was provided with a list of wanted terrorists and evidence of facilitation to miscreants. The Afghan regime, instead of taking any concrete steps against the TTP, asked the Pakistan government to focus on the country’s internal situation, he said.

He pointed out that 15 Afghan nationals were involved in suicide attacks while 64 Afghan drug traffickers were killed fighting against law enforcement agencies. He said that since February 2023, the Pakistani authorities have been informing Afghanistan of terror acts in Pakistan.

Kakar said that “We have also been asking the Afghan government to eliminate terrorism through continuous political, diplomatic, military, informal and formal ways,” he said.

Reported presence of 2,000 illegal Americans & 25,000 illegal Afghans in Islamabad- PM Kakar clarified, “All these people are documented, and our agencies and organisations are keeping their data and the countries where they would be sent, and we continue to share them regularly,”. He said the government had also asked the Western countries, the destination of 25,000 Afghans, to give a timeframe for their departure from here.

Black market sale of weapons left by the US forces are being sold in the illegal market not only in Pakistan but in the whole region and even in the Middle East and are being used. “It has no relevance whether they deny or accept the evidence,” he said. “We have raised concerns over it and I myself took up the issue at different forums during my visit to the US,” he said, adding that there was a realisation about it.

Repatriation of undocumented Afghan refugees: PM Kakar pointed that in view of all such circumstances, it was the legal and moral right of Pakistan to return all illegal foreigners to their homelands. “After seeing the Afghan government’s attitude of noncooperation, the Pakistan government decided to come into action. In this regard, the recent measures are neither unexpected nor surprising,” he said.

Kakar said that the Pakistani nation open-heartedly accepted Afghan refugees and hosted them, but in response unnecessary and uncalled-for allegations from the officials of Afghan government were highly regrettable. He pointed out that 1.4 million registered Afghans with Proof of Residence were residing in Pakistan with respect. Nearly 0.8 million Afghans were registered through the Afghan Citizen Cards previously, who were residing here illegally. “They have been allowed to reside here for the time being, and in the first phase they have the freedom to live here and do business in Pakistan without any pressure,” he said.

The interim PM said that all state institutions have made the best possible arrangements at Torkham, Chaman and other border areas to ensure the dignified return of illegal Afghan nationals. “We also expect the interim Afghan government to take appropriate steps on the pattern of Pakistan on their side of the border for facilitation of returnees,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said: “Regarding the recent claims of the interim prime minister of Pakistan, we must say that just as the Islamic Emirate wants peace and stability in Afghanistan, it also wants peace in Pakistan. “The Islamic Emirate does not allow anyone to use the territory of Afghanistan against Pakistan. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not responsible for maintaining peace in Pakistan, they should solve their internal problems by themselves and not blame Afghanistan for their failures.

Comments & Analysis: In wake of the incessant increase in terrorism in Pakistan, after the Afghan Taliban came in power in August 2021, mainly caused by TTP based in Afghanistan, Pakistan has been compelled to take necessary measures for the security of its people and forces. Ironically, the irresponsible response of the Afghan Taliban high-ups and the statements of the Afghan Taliban, have been instrumental in adding bitterness in the Pak-Afghan relations. Resultantly, Pakistan has started taking stringent measures like repatriation of illegal Afghan refugees and action against those Afghan refugees who engage in terrorism. Afghan Taliban have utterly failed to stop the terrorist groups from using the territory of Afghanistan against Pakistan. Rather they have been supporting TTP directly or indirectly. Pakistan, therefore, is not in a mood to tolerate this hypocritical and destructive policy of the interim Afghan government which is detrimental to the security of Pakistan.

BALOCHISTAN

A young student of seminary was killed, and nine others injured in a hand grenade blast, which they were playing with in Zirchan area of Wash town in Khuzdar district (17 October).

Unknown armed motocyclists shot dead a woman and injured another in Hazarganji area in Quetta district (18 October).

Unknown assilants barged into the house of one Dil Murad and killed him alongwith his wife in Awaran district (19 October).

Unknown armed men stormed the house of one Mir Ibrahmin and killed him alongwith his wife in Bolan district (22 October).

Comments & Analysis: It is a strange phenomenon, contrary to Baloch culture, that women are also killed in three incidents in Quetta, Awaran and Bolan districts.

Unidentified terrorists killed two Levies force personnel in Tali area in the outskirt of Sibi town (22 October)

Unidentified shooters killed two persons identified as Nazir Ali and Muhommad Aslam near Awaran Public Memorial School in Panjgur district (23 October).

An unknown armed motorcyclist shot dead Abdul Basit near Chmrok Chowk in Khuzdar district (27 October).

Unidentified shooters killed one Bashir Ahmed Sasoli near Bus Ada in Khuzdar (27 October).

Two remaining foot ballers, out of twenty-four players, who were kidnapped last month by a group of armed persons were reportedly got freed by the authorties from Pirkoh area of Sui district (29 October).

KPK

Unknown assalients shot dead Dr Izzatullah of Mardan Medical Complex while driving his motor car on GT Road in Nowshera district. Investigations are being made to ascertain whether it was an act of terrorism or a family feud (17 October).

Security force killed a terrorist and arrested another injured one while Sepoy Sajad embraced martyredom during exchange of fire in Manza area of South Waziristan district (17 October).

Unidentified shooters martyred Police Constable Naeem and a civilian on Ghau Khadi Road in Mathra area of Peshawar district (18 October).

Unknown assailants killed one Mohibullah r/o Titterkhel area in Lakki Marwat district (18 October).

Security forces killed six terrorists including their commander Hazrat Zamana @ Khawery Mullah in an IBO in Goryoum area of North Waziristan district. However, during the exchange of fire, three soldiers – L/N Ttabsum ul haq, Sepoy Naeem Akhtar and Sepoy Abdul Hamed also embraced martyredom (19 October).

Security forces Sepoy Farman Ali was martyred during exchange of fire with terrorists in Asman area of South Waziristan district (19 October).

Unknown shooters killed a tribal elder Malik Daud in a medical clinic in Main Market of Mirali town in North Waziristan district (20 October).

The dead body of an unidentified person was found in Zirke village of North Waziristan district (20 October).

9. Security forces killed four terrorists and arrested an injured one during exchange fire on an IBO in Lakki Marwat district (20 October).

An alleged mobile snatcher/ killer, Shah Sarwar, reportedly Afghan national, was killed during exchange of fire between police and his accomplices in Peshawar (20 October).

SHO Asghar Khan Wazir sustained injuries during the course of repulsing an attack on Gomal Police Station by a group of unidentified terrorists in Tank district (21 October).

Police rescued two out of four members of Polio Monitoring Team including Ms Sohila Noor and driver Waheed who were kidnapped from Kirri Umar Khan village in Tank district (21 October)

Unknown shooters shot dead one Zubair Bhitnni in the limits of Saddar Police Station in Dears Ismail Khan (22 October).

Police arrested two alleged killers identified as Roz Amin and Zia Ullah in Lakki Marwat district (24 October).

Police arrested three alleged Afghan nationals – Raza Khan @ Zalimy, and Ameen Khan @ Mahir and Akbar Khan in separate actions and locations for their involvement in mobile phone snatching in Peshawar. The snatched phones were reportedly recovered from their possession (25 October).

16. Police killed two terrorists identified as Shoaib (carrying head money reward of one million rupees) and Nouman Shafique during an encounter in Porono area in Dera Ismail Khan district (25 October).

 Two vehicles carrying number of men going from Thal area of Hangu district to Parachanar were reportedly attacked by unidentified shooters near Charkol area in Lower Khurram district. As a result, four people were killed and six others injured. According to unconfirmed sources the sectrian enimity could be behind the attack which could escalate to other areas (26 October).

Prayer’s leader Zain-ul Abideen was injured in an attack by unknown shooters when he was coming out of a mosque in Inyat Kally Bazar in Bajaur district (27 October).

Security forces in an IBO killed one terrorist and arrested two injured during exchange of fire in Tirah valley in Khyber district (28 October).

Two soldiers – Banaras Khan and Abdul Karim were martyred in an IED blast in Sarwakie area of South Waziristan district (28 October).

 Two police officers were martyred, and three others sustained injuries when terrorists, equipped with sophisticated weapons, stormed the facility of a gas and oil company in the erstwhile semi-tribal Darazinda area in Dera Ismail Khan, (7 Nov). Two police constables, identified as Rehmat Ilahi and Khan Arif, sustained serious bullet injuries and embraced martyrdom on the spot. Three police officers, including Assistant Sub-Inspector Alam Sher, constables Fazalur Rahman Shah and Attaur Rahman, sustained injuries. The terrorists targeted the said company for the second time during the last one month.

On the same day, terrorists armed with heavy weapons also attacked the Aba-Shaheed Police Check-post, D I Khan. However, the police officers manning the check-post returned the fire. No casualty was reported in the attack. The attackers later fled.

Comments & Analysis: The terrorists have attacked police stations and other places in D I Khan repeatedly during the last one year. It is imperative to conduct a comprehensive combing operation in the area to track down the terrorists, their facilitators and sleeper cells. Sustained intelligence and security efforts are needed to flush out the terrorists form this area. Repeated terrorist attacks on vital targets indicate failure of intelligence and security. It undermines the morale of the forces and the people of the area.

PUNJAB

CTD police arrested nine outlaws and terrorists during raids from different areas of the province including Amin and Waqar from a border village of Lahore (18 October).

CTD police in separate raids and IBOs in different areas of Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and Sargodha arrested ten terrorists including Syed Muhammad Agha Nouman, Muhammad Osama, Shafique, Ataur Rehman, Muhammad Sufyan Sarwar, Shahnawaz, Saddar, Abdul Haq and Qasim Afghani and recovered arms, ammunition, and explosives from their posession. They were reportedly affiliated with banned outfits particularly TTP, ISIS/ Daesh and LJ (28 October).

Moulana Asim Jamil, son of renowned scholar Moulana Tariq Jameel, was shot dead by assailiants in Talamba, Mian Channu, Khanewal district. The family has indicated that he committed suicide. Police started investigations (29 October).

A group of terrorists attacked the PAF base Mianwali and damaged three worn out planes. All nine assailants were killed in the attack (3 Nov).

SINDH

A woman identified as Razia Muhommad Ali and a child Nazir were killed as a result of explosive material blast, hurled by unknown person into a shop in Bihar Colony area in Landhi, Karachi (17 October).

Police rescued its five personnel including SHO Mahboob Brohi and his son from the captivity of Batani Jatoi dacoit gang. They were kidnapped couple of days ago from Kot Shahu Police Station in Shikarpur district (17 October).

CTD police claimed to have arrested a high-profile suspect Hafiz Qasim Rasheed @ Bilal, Naib Amir of defunct Lashkar-e- Jhangvi (LJ) from Patel Para, Karachi. It is learned that he was released some time ago from jail and his arrest was reportedly made in connection with orchestrating the murder of renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri, Rangers /police personnel and other sectarian targets (23 October).

AFGHANISTAN

Social Media Video- Afghan Taliban imposing ban on TTP activities.

 A social media video was circulating on internet revealing that an official of Islami Emirat Afghanistan (IEA) led by Afghan Taliban was giving instructions to the members of defunct Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members in Khost province to abide by their orders. He said that they were no longer allowed to carry weapons, wear uniform, and use black tinted glasses on their vehicle and being refugees should keep identity cards issued by IEA with them. Further said that violaters of the instruction may face consequences as IEA is supreme authority of the land with regard to security and all matters. However, neither IEA authorities nor TTP have confirmed it (23 October).

Law & order, Security and Terrorism

Security forces killed two militants in Dawaltshah district of Laghman province (17 October). A big sound of explosion was reportedly heard near the Governor House and Police Headquarter in Telqan city of Thakar province, however no official statement was issued in this regard (16 October). Unidentified shooters killed a man and child in Farah province (18 October). Agha Muhammad Radhwal, Deputy Director of the Nangarhar Chambers of Commerce and Investment was stabbed to death by unknown assailants (18 October). A devotee was killed and guard of a shirne wounded after an armed clash in Sara Rud province of Nangarhar province (24 October). A bomb blast took place in a sports club in Dasht-i- Barchi area of Kabul, resulting in death of four persons and several others were injured. No group claimed responsibility for the said attack. The area is dominated by Shia Muslims and targeted by IS-K/Daesh several times in past (26 October). Unknown shooters killed a person named Islamuddin in Bitkot district of Nangarhar province (27 October).