Vol.12-Spring 2020 (Jan-Jun) No.1 Vol.12-Spring

Conflict and Peace Studies

VOLUME 12 Jan - June 2020 NUMBER 1

PAKISTAN SECURITY REPORT 2019

PAK INSTITUTE FOR PEACE STUDIES (PIPS) A PIPS Research Journal Conflict and Peace Studies

Copyright © PIPS 2020 All Rights Reserved No part of this journal may be reproduced in any form by photocopying or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage or retrieval systems, without prior permission in writing from the publisher of this journal.

Editorial Advisory Board

Khaled Ahmed Dr. Muhammad Khalid Masud Consulting Editor, Former Chairman of the Council of Islamic The Friday Times, Lahore, . Ideology in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Shafqat Dr. Catarina Kinnvall Director, Centre for Public Policy and Governance, Department of Political Science, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan. Lund University, Sweden.

Marco Mezzera Dr. Adam Dolnik Senior Adviser, Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Professor of Counterterrorism, George C. Centre / Norsk Ressurssenter for Fredsbygging, Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Norway. Germany. Prof. Dr. Syed Farooq Hasnat Tahir Abbas Pakistan Study Centre, University of the , Professor of Sociology, Fatih University, Lahore, Pakistan. Istanbul, Turkey.

Anatol Lieven Rasul Bakhsh Rais Professor, Department of War Studies, Professor, Political Science, King's College, London, United Kingdom. Lahore University of Management Sciences Lahore, Pakistan. Peter Bergen Dr. Tariq Rahman Senior Fellow, New American Foundation, Dean, School of Education, Beaconhouse Washington D.C., USA. National University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Pak Institute for Peace ISSN 2072-0408 Price: Rs 1000.00 (PIPS) Studies US$ 30.00 Post Box No. 2110, The views expressed are the authors' own , Pakistan and do not necessarily reflect any positions +92-51-8359475-6 held by the institute. www.pakpips.com, [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword 11 1 Overview of Security in 2019: Critical Challenges and Recommendations 15 Muhammad Amir Rana and Safdar Sial

2 Security Landscape of Pakistan in 2019 33 Safdar Sial

3 Militant landscape of Pakistan in 2019 65 Muhammad Amir Rana

4 State Responses 75 Safdar Sial

5 Profile: Militant Landscape of 85 Muhammad Amir Rana

6 The Wave of Suicide Bombing in Pakistan 101 (2007 to 2011) Umer Farooq 7 CPEC Security in 2019 115 Anam Fatima 8 2019: Faith-based Violence and Other 121 Incidence Najam U Din 9 The Baloch Insurgency in 2019 127 Muhammad Akbar Notezai

Annexures 143 Timelines 161

LIST OF ACRONYMS

AJK: Azad Jammu and IDP: Internally Displaced Persons ANP: Awami National Party IED: Improvised Explosive Device AQIS: Al-Qaeda in the Indian ISI: Inter-Services Intelligence Subcontinent ISIS: Islamic State in and Arm: Army IS-K: Islamic State Khorasan ASWJ: Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat ISO: Imamia Student Organization ATC: Anti-Terrorism Courts ISPR: Inter-Services Public Relations ATF: Anti-Terrorism Force JI: Jamaat-e-Islami BAP: Balochistan Awami Party JID: Joint Intelligence Directorate BC: Balochistan Constabulary JM: Jaish-e-Muhammad BH: Beheading JuA: Jamaatul Ahrar BLA: Balochistan Liberation Army JuD: Jamaatud Dawa BLF: Balochistan Liberation Front JUI-F: Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl BNP: Balochistan National Party Kid: Kidnapping BNP-M: Balochistan National Party- KP: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mengal Group LeJ: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi BRA: LeJ-A: Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami BSF: [Indian] Border Security Force LI: Lashkar-e-Islam BT: Bomb Blast LM: Landmine Blast CIA: Central Intelligence Agency LoC: CID: Criminal Investigation Lvs: Levies Force Department MDM: Muttahida Deeni Mahaz Civ: Civilians Mil: Militant CPEC: -Pakistan Economic MQM: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Corridor MWM: Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen CTDs: Counter Terrorism Departments NACTA: National Counter-Terrorism [of police] Authority CVE: Counter Violent Extremism NADRA: National Database and DGMOs: Director Generals of Military Registration Authority Operations NAP: National Action Plan DSP: Deputy Superintendent Police NATO: North Atlantic Treaty FATF: Financial Action Task Force Organization FC: Frontier Corps NEC: National Executive Committee FCR: Frontier Crimes Regulation NIC: National Implementation FIA: Federal Investigative Agency Committee [on FATA reforms] Fr: Firing NP: National Party HG: Hand Grenade NPP: National People’s Party HRCP: Human Rights Commission of NSA: National Security Advisor Pakistan PkMAP: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party HuA: Hizbul Ahrar P-ml: Paramilitary Forces PML-N: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sect: Sectarian Pol: Police SM: Sipah-e-Muhammad PPP: Pakistan People’s Party SP: Superintendent of Police PTI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf SSP: Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan PTM: Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement ST: Sunni Tehreek QWP: Qaumi Watan Party TA: Terrorist Attack RA: Rocket Attack TLP: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan RCB: Remote-controlled Bomb TNSM: Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- Rng: Rangers Muhammadi SA: TTP: Tehreek-e- Pakistan Sab: Sabotage UBA: SDLF/A: Sindhu Desh Liberation UN: United Nations Front/Army WB: Working Boundary SDRA: Sindhu Desh Revolution Army SECP: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan

6

METHODOLOGY AND VARIABLES

The PIPS conflict/security database and archives are the basic sources relied upon for this report. The archives and the database are the outcome of a meticulous monitoring process on every relevant incident in the country on a daily basis. A regular follow up is conducted in liaison with PIPS correspondents in the regions in order to keep track of daily developments on such incidents. PIPS compiles data from sources including newspapers, magazines, journals, field sources and screening of official record. More than 30 English and dailies, magazines, and journals, and various television news channels are monitored to update the database and archives. Regional daily newspapers and weeklies from Peshawar, , Gilgit and Karachi are also monitored for details of incidents reported in the local media. Correspondents in provincial capitals are the primary source for PIPS to verify the media reports. In case of a major incident, PIPS teams consult the local administration and journalists for further details. In cases where PIPS finds it difficult to verify facts of a particular incident, it gives preference to the official statements in that regard.

PIPS security reports utilize eight major variables with their respective set of sub- variables for analysis of the security situation in Pakistan. The security landscape is mapped through a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative methods are used, based on PIPS Conflict and Security Database, to measure the scale and level of violence. Meanwhile, the qualitative approach dilates upon changes and developments on the militants’ front, state responses to these developments and projections of future scenarios. The following eight major variables with their sub-sets of variable are used in the PIPS Security Reports:

1. Attacks: This major variable has a sub-set of five sub-variables i.e. (i) terrorist attacks including militant attacks, nationalist insurgent attacks and sectarian-related attacks; (ii) incidents of ethno-political violence; (iii) cross-border attacks; (iv) drone attacks; and (v) operational attacks by security forces against militants. Since Pakistan’s security landscape is very complicated with a diverse array of insecurity indicators in different parts of the country, the type of violence in one geographical unit is often different in its nature and dynamics from security landscape in other parts of the country. For this purpose, the mentioned sub-set of variables is carefully monitored and analyzed in the security report with a view to suggest specific counter-strategy for each type of attack in these areas. 2. Clash: Another variable used is of clashes which include four sub-variables, i.e., (i) inter-tribal; (ii) sectarian; (iii) clashes between security forces and militants; and (iv) militants’ infightings. The number of such clashes and their geographic location is taken as an indicator of parallel trends unfolding simultaneously with major trends and patterns of security in different areas of the country. 3. State Reponses: It has two sub-variables: (i) security measures, and (ii) political and administrative responses. The first takes into account the security forces’ operational attacks and clashes with militants, search and hunt operations and terrorists’ arrests, etc. The second variable entails the government’s political and administrative measures to maintain law and order and reduce insecurity and violence. 4. Casualties: Casualties include both the number of people killed and injured. Casualties among civilians, militants and security forces are treated as another indicator to measure the levels and trends of security in the country. 5. Attack Tactics: This head takes a comprehensive account of various tactics used by different actors including suicide attacks, missile attacks, hand grenade attacks, kidnappings, rocket attacks, beheadings, landmine blasts, firing, sabotage, target killings, and bomb and improvised explosive devices blasts. 6. Development on Militants’ Front: This variable analyzes statements, activities, internal divisions and other activities of militants to determine their strength and the dynamics of their strategies. 7. Opportunities and Challenges include political measures and military responses to different security issues along with highlighting constraints and challenges encountered by the state. 8. Claim of Responsibility: It provides insight into militants’ targets, tactics, areas of operation, and agendas.

8

GLOSSARY

Military Operation: Large-scale operations launched by military and paramilitary forces against Islamist militants and separatist insurgents in KP, FATA and Balochistan to preserve law and order and the writ of the state.

Operational Attack: Pre-emptive attacks launched by military and paramilitary troops to purge an area of militants.

Clashes between Security Forces and Militants: Armed clashes between security forces and militants, triggered by militants’ attack on security check posts/ convoys and confrontation during search operations.

Terrorist Attacks: Include militant, nationalist, insurgent and sectarian attacks. Indiscriminate use of violence by militant outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) etc., manifested through suicide attacks, beheadings and destruction of educational institutions, CD/video shops, etc.

Nationalist Insurgent Attacks: Attacks by separatists/nationalist insurgents mainly in Balochistan and interior parts of .

Sectarian Attacks: Indiscriminate use of violence rooted in differences among various Islamic schools of thought over interpretation of religious commands. Incidents involving indiscriminate use of violence perpetrated by banned sectarian outfits such as LeJ, Tehreek-e-Jafria, Imamia Student Organization (ISO), Sipah-e-Muhammad, etc., against rival schools of religious thought.

Ethno-political Violence: The threat or use of violence, often against the civilian population, to achieve political or social ends, to intimidate opponents, or to publicize grievances.

Inter-tribal Clash: Clashes or feuds reported between tribes, mainly in , Balochistan, rural areas of Punjab and parts of interior Sindh.

Search and Hunt Operation: Launched by law enforcement agencies on intelligence to capture militants or to purge a particular locality of suspected militants and their hideouts.

Sectarian Clashes: Violent clashes between armed factions of banned sectarian outfits or between followers of rival sects such as Sunni-Shia, Deobandi-Barelvi strife. Sectarian clashes also include tribal feuds between followers of Sunni and Shia schools of thought as in Kurram, where once the Sunni Turi tribesmen frequently clashed with members of the Shia Bangash tribe.

Overall Number of Attacks: The sum of militant and counter-militant attacks by the security forces, besides drone attacks, incidents of ethno-political violence, and attacks with sectarian motives or by nationalist insurgents.

Plot/Unsuccessful Attempts: These include attempts at terrorist attacks that were either foiled by security forces and bomb disposal squads, or explosives went off by accident before militants or suicide bombers reached their intended target.

10

FOREWORD

In 2019, Pakistan witnessed a further decline in the number of terrorist incidents and consequent casualties. The statistics of Pakistan Security Report 2019 show that terrorist attacks this year decreased by around 13 percent as compared to 2018, and the number of people killed in these attacks plummeted by 40pc. Indeed, there has been a gradual decrease in terrorist attacks and casualties since 2009 (with the exception of 2013, when a surge in sectarian violence mainly contributed to a rise in attacks and casualties). Continuous anti-militant operational and surveillance campaigns by security forces and police counterterrorism departments, as well as some counter-extremism actions taken under the National Action Plan, have apparently helped sustain that declining trend 2013 onwards. However, these plummeting numbers do not suggest, in any way, that the threat of terrorism has been completely eliminated. Certainly, most terrorist groups have been weakened but they are still present in physical and virtual spaces.

Despite an overall decrease in terrorist incidents in the country, such reported incidents from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained unchanged from previous year. Indeed, North Waziristan remerged as a major hotspot of such violence where over 42 percent of the total 125 reported attacks from KP concentrated. The problem of a lax state response to the security challenge of KP is partly linked to continuing slow transition of implementation of erstwhile FATA’s merger in KP, mainly due to multiple bureaucratic, political and legal hurdles, which need to be addressed immediately.

During the year under review, curbing terrorism financing remained the most critical policy challenge for Pakistan, which the country is still struggling to address. Apart from having security implications, it has also started negatively impacting the financial sector of the country with long-term economic consequences. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had put Pakistan on its grey list in June 2018 with the caution that if deficiencies in curbing terrorism financing were not removed in one year’s time, Pakistan would have to face consequences of getting on the FATF blacklist. A FATF meeting in Paris in October 2019 reviewed the measures Islamabad in that regard and noted that the country will have to do more to come out of the grey list. The FATF’s comments on Pakistan’s last compliance report, which was submitted on December 3rd2019, were not cheery either. Instead of following a tactical approach to merely respond to the FATF queries, Pakistan instead will have to develop some institutional responses to curb the terror financing.

Pakistan’s internal security landscape is complicated due to both internal and external threats. The post-Pulwama situation has complicated Pakistan’s strategic challenge on its eastern side, which was further fueled by the controversial revocation of the special status of -held Kashmir by Prime Minister ’s BJP government. The situation has diverted the attention of the state institutions towards its core conventional security threat. The Pakistan- border security situation is also very delicate, but border security issues with are becoming complicated too, as Baloch insurgents are reportedly using Iranian soil to hide.

The internal security dimension not only includes threats from hardcore radical and sectarian terrorist groups but also from groups that promote religious intolerance. The latter pose a different sort of critical challenge, because such groups can mobilise their support bases to cause more damage to the economy, social cohesion of society and global image of the country. An enraged mob in Ghotki town attacked properties worth millions of rupees and looted several shops belonging to the Hindu community after the owner of a school was accused of committing blasphemy in September last year.1The episode was another indication of how blasphemy accusations could trigger a severe and extensive wave of violence, mainly against minority communities, before some legal action was taken or evidence produced. Though, Prime Minster has promised that in ‘naya Pakistan’, terrorist and extremist groups will never be allowed to thrive, but his government should come up with some action. The first step in this direction should be to initiate an open debate in parliament on the status and future of banned groups. Parliament can constitute a high-powered national-level truth and reconciliation commission, to review the policies that produced militancy and to mainstream those willing to renounce violence and violent ideologies, but that should happen within the country’s Constitutional framework.

Another matter, which the Parliament should take up, is the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), which is, among other manifestations, a reflection of trust deficit between the security forces and a major segment of the population in tribal districts of KP. The PTM asserts it is a non-violent social movement seeking to protect the rights of the Pashtun people and address their grievances mainly in tribal districts. Experts are rightly calling for the government and parliament to take up the issue of PTM and address it instead of leaving it to security forces. It is a political issue and government’s indifference may further drag the security forces into it, who will certainly act to restore peace and security whenever and wherever needed. That will further unnecessarily pitch the latter against the PTM and a section of Pashtun people, thus making it difficult for them to counter militancy and terrorism in tribal districts, which requires an overwhelming public support.

PIPS has been maintaining in it policy recommendations over last several years that the security situation in Balochistan needs special attention. In 2019, government has taken

12 several initiatives but Balochistan appeared the most critical area in terms of security challenges. Both religious and nationalist non-state actors are making security landscape of the province complicated. To deal with the Baloch insurgency, the government has to immediately evolve a proper plan for the reintegration and mainstreaming of insurgents. A realization among the Baloch youth is increasing that through violence nothing can be achieved and the state has to reciprocate in a similar way. A fast-track mechanism on missing persons in the province can prove a major confidence-building measure.

As in previous year, the implementation on NAP was not effective in 2019 because of various reasons. The NAP should be made into a proper plan, with clear goals, a comprehensive monitoring mechanism, and periodic reviewing. The NAP should adjust with the changing nature of the threats and it should have been a dynamic and effective policy tool.

PIPS hopes that this 14th edition of its annual security report would help the policymakers, academics, media and civil society understand the gravity of the security situation in Pakistan with a view to moving towards sustainable solutions. This year too, the report includes more in-depth analysis on critical security issues. Apart from the comprehensive data on violent incidents, comparative analysis of various security variables, the changing targets and tactics of militants and nature of state responses, the report also contains comprehensive review of militant landscape of Balochistan and an in- depth analysis of suicide attacks in Pakistan between 2007 and 2011.

The credit for this report goes to the entire team at PIPS, particularly Safdar Sial, who monitored security developments and narrated them for the report and provided analytical insights on security issues of the country; Ms. Shaqufta Hayat, whose research support, especially in drawing annexures and timelines, greatly helped the analysis provided inside; and Shahzad Ahmed, who designed the various conflict maps.

Muhammad Amir Rana

January 4, 2020

13

CHAPTER 1

Overview of Security in 2019: Critical Challenges and Recommendations

Muhammad Amir Rana and Safdar Sial*

1.1 Overview of Security Situation in 2019 ...... 17 1.2 Critical Challenges and Recommendations ...... 25

• Muhammad Amir Rana is Director of Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). He has authored several books, most recently of “The Militant: Development of a Jihadi character in Pakistan”, which won the German Peace Prize in 2014.

• Safdar Hussain, nom de plume Safdar Sial, is Joint Director at PIPS and Associate Editor of Conflict and Peace Studies journal. He has also co-authored “Dynamics of Taliban Insurgency in FATA” and “Radicalization in Pakistan”.

1.1 Overview of Security Those 357 killed in terrorist attacks in Situation in 2019 Pakistan in 2019 included 164 civilians, 163 personnel of security and law As many as 229 terrorist attacks took enforcement agencies (59 army officials; place across Pakistan in 2019 – including 37 FC men; 53 policemen; and 14 Levies) four suicide attacks – which is a decrease and 30 militants, who were either of about 13 percent from the year before. killed/exploded suicide bombers or those Launched by different militant, killed in retaliatory fire by security and law nationalist/insurgent and violent sectarian enforcement personnel following some groups, these attacks claimed in all 357 attacks. Those injured in terrorist attacks lives – a decline of 40 percent from those included 519 civilians, 208 security killed in such attacks in 2018 – and injured personnel and two militants. another 729 people. Chart 1: Classification of Terrorist So-called religiously inspired militant Attacks in Pakistan in 2019 groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its splinter groups Hizbul No. of Attacks Killed Injured Ahrar and Jamaatul Ahrar, as well as other militant groups with similar objectives such as local Taliban groups, Lashkar-e-Islam 489 and ISIS-affiliates remained active in parts of the country but most of their activities remained concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. 239 In all, these groups perpetrated 158 162 158 terrorist attacks – compared to 171 in 80 78 57 previous year – which killed 239 people 38 14 and injured 489 others. Meanwhile nationalist insurgent groups, mainly By Nationalist By Militants Sectarian-related Insurgents Baloch, carried out 57 attacks – as compared to 80 such attacks in 2018 – As far as the targets hit by the terrorists which claimed 80 lives and wounded are concerned, a total of 118 attacks, or another 162 people. Meanwhile, 14 of the about 52 percent of the total terrorist reported terrorist attacks in 2019 were attacks reported in 2019, hit personnel, sectarian-related – two more from the vehicles/convoys and posts of security year before – which killed 38 people and forces and law-enforcement agencies inflicted injuries on 78 others. across Pakistan. These attacks targeting security and law enforcement personnel

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

also caused the highest number of

casualties (209 killed; 346 injured) for any Targets

Killed

No. of No. of Attacks one type of target hit in terrorist attacks in Injured 2019. Civilians were the apparent targets NGO / civil society 1 2 0 of 39 attacks (over 17 percent of the total members Foreign interests/ 1 0 0 attacks), which claimed 34 lives and Diplomats/Foreigners injured 123 others. Eleven attacks targeted Unknown 4 3 1 Shia community members, mainly Hazaras, Media/journalists 2 0 3 Health/polio workers, 6 8 1 claiming 32 lives; five attacks on Sunni security escorts community members also killed eight Pro-Govt. 11 13 47 people. Meanwhile, 11 attacks targeted tribesmen/peace committee members pro-government tribesmen and peace Bohra community 1 3 4 committee members, and another nine Judges/lawyers/courts 1 0 2 attacks hit political leaders and workers. Former militants 2 3 0 Railway tracks / trains 3 4 30 Other sporadic targets hit by the terrorist Member of banned groups 1 2 0 in 2019 are given at Table 1. Development, exploration 2 8 6 projects, companies, workers Table 1: Targets Hit in Terrorist NATO/US supply vehicles 1 0 1

Attacks in 2019 Total 229 357 729

In perpetrating the reported 229 attacks,

Targets terrorists mainly employed improvised

Killed

No. of No. of Attacks Injured explosive devices (IEDs) of various types Security forces/law 118 209 346 (123 attacks) and direct firing/shootout enforcement agencies (92 attacks). They also used other attacks Education/institutions/tea 2 2 4 chers tactics, though less frequently, including Non-Bloch 1 3 1 four (4) suicide blasts, five (5) hand settlers/workers grenade attacks, three (3) rocket attacks, Gas pipelines 3 0 0 Tribal elders 2 3 3 and two (2) gun and bomb attacks. Civilians 39 34 123 Shia religious 11 32 72 As in the year before, the highest number scholars/community of terrorist attacks for any one region of Worship 2 9 53 places/shrines/imam Pakistan was reported from Khyber bargahs Pakhtunkhwa, including merged districts of Govt. offices/public 1 0 10 erstwhile FATA. A total of 125 reported property (hospitals, banks etc.) attacks from the province claimed 145 Sunni religious 5 8 3 lives and inflicted injuries on another 249 leaders/community Political leaders/workers 9 11 19 people. The TTP, Hizbul Ahrar, local

18 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Taliban and other groups with similar Lashkar-e-Balochistan and Baloch objectives perpetrated 124 of these Republican Army (BRA), etc., perpetrated attacks, while one attack was sectarian- 51 attacks killing 71 people and wounding related. 162 others. Religiously inspired militant groups such as the TTP, Hizbul Ahrar, In 2019, North Waziristan reemerged as a ISIS-affiliates and some other similar major flashpoint of insecurity and militant unknown militants were reportedly violence where 53 terrorist attacks took involved in as many as 26 attacks that place, or over 42 percent of the total caused death to 69 people and injuries to reported attacks from KP, which killed 57 another 197 people. Meanwhile, seven (7) people and injured 93 others. Two other sectarian-related attacks claimed 31 lives, KP districts where more than 10 attacks mostly of Hazara Shias, and wounded 77 happened in the year included DI Khan (14 others. attacks) and Bajaur (11 attacks) districts. While seven (7) terrorist attacks happened Terrorist attacks happened in 20 districts in Bannu, the provincial capital Peshawar of Balochistan including 22 from provincial and Tank faced six (6) attacks each. capital Quetta alone, nine (9) from Kech, Meanwhile five (5) attacks took place in eight (8) from Qilla Abdullah, mainly each of Mohmand and South Waziristan Chaman, six (6) from Loralai and five (5) districts. In all, terrorist attacks were attacks each from Dera Bugti, Nasirabad, recorded in 17 districts of KP. and Panjgur. Two attacks in Gwadar caused 22 deaths, and three (3) reported Though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced the attacks from Ziarat claimed 11 lives. highest number of attacks than any other region of the country, but in terms of On the whole, 14 terrorist attacks terrorism-related casualties Balochistan happened in Sindh province – 10 in was the most affected region of the Karachi alone and 4 in interior Sindh – country in 2019. As many as 171 people which killed a total of 18 people and were killed – about 48 percent of the total injured two (2) others. Six of these attacks 357 people killed in terrorist attacks across were sectarian-related targeted killings of Pakistan – and 436 others were injured in Sunni and Shia leaders and community 84 reported attacks from the province. members, all of which were reported from Different Baloch insurgent groups, mainly Karachi. Meanwhile some unknown the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), militants, apparently religiously inspired, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), BRAS – carried out four (4) attacks killing eight (8) a newly established alliance of Baloch people and injuring two (2) others. Sindhi insurgent groups mainly including BLA, nationalist group Sindhu desh Liberation BLF and Baloch Republican Guard (BRG) – Army (SDLA), Sindhu desh Revolution

19 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Army (SDRA) and a Baloch insurgent 1.1.1 Comparison group BLA were involved in another four (4) attacks reported from Sindh, which Apart from the 229 terrorist attacks cited claimed four (4) lives. earlier, incidents of violence of some other types were also recorded across Pakistan in In all, five (5) terrorist attacks took place 2019. These included a combined total of in Punjab including two (2) in Lahore, one 128 cross-border attacks from India, in Rawalpindi and two (2) in south Afghanistan and Iran; 28 anti-militant Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur operational strikes carried out by security districts. As many as 21 people lost their forces and their 25 armed clashes/ lives and 41 others were injured in these encounters with militants; eight (8) attacks. Hizbul Ahrar, a splinter group of incidents of political/ethnic violence; 12 the TTP, perpetrated three (3) of these thwarted/failed terror plots; two (2) attacks in Lahore and Rawalpindi killing targeted attacks, whose motivation was not eight (8) policemen and seven (7) civilians. clear; and one clash between protestors Baloch insurgent groups BLA and BRA and security forces. (See Table 3) Thus, were reportedly involved in two attacks when counted together, 432 incidents of reported from south Punjab, which claimed violence of different types – as given at five (5) lives. Table 3 – were reported from across Pakistan in 2019, which killed a total of 588 One attack happened in the federal capital people and injured 1,030 others. Islamabad that claimed the lives of two (2) policemen and injured another. (See Table Table 3: Nature of Overall Incidents 2) of Violence

Table 2: Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan Nature of No. of Killed Injured in 2019 Incident Incidents Terrorist 229 357 729 No. of attacks Region Killed Injured Attacks Political/ethnic 8 6 7 Khyber 125 145 249 violence Pakhtunkhwa Clashes & Balochistan 84 171 436 encounters Punjab 5 21 41 between 25 44 9 security forces Karachi 10 14 2 & militants Sindh (excluding 4 4 0 Cross-border Karachi) 128 91 245 clashes/attacks Islamabad 1 2 1 Operational Total 229 357 729 attacks by 28 81 19 security forces

20 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Nature of No. of Killed Injured Chart 2: Comparison of Overall Incident Incidents Incidents of Violence & Casualties Plot/foiled 12 3 7 terror attempts (2015-19) Targeted attacks [not 2 2 0 clear if by No. of Incidents Killed Injured terrorists] Protests/clashes with security 1 4 14 3503 forces Total 433 588 1,030

2212 As for the number of terrorist attacks, the 2167 overall incidents of violence also 1956 plummeted from 497 in 2018 to 433 in 1887 1516 1611 2019. The overall number of people killed 1097 869 1030 in these violent incidents also decreased 749 by about 32 percent; from 869 in 2018 to 713 588 497 433 588 in 2019. Similarly, the number of people injured in all such incidents of 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 violence also decreased by 32 percent Chart 3: Comparison of Terrorist from 1,516 in 2018 to 1,030 in 2019. (See Attacks and Fatalities in Pakistan Chart 2) (2009-2019) There has been a gradual decrease in the number of terrorist attacks and No. of attacks consequent fatalities in Pakistan since Fatalities (No. of killed) 2009 with the only exception of 2013 when a surge in sectarian violence mainly contributed in increased number of attacks and casualties. (See Chart 3 and Table 4) The continuous anti-militant operational and surveillance campaigns by security forces and police’s counter terrorism departments (CTDs) as well as some counter-extremism actions taken under the National Action Plan (NAP) have apparently helped sustain that declining trend 2013 onward, which continued in 2019 as well.

21 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Table 4: Comparison of Terrorist previous year in Punjab (by 25 percent), Attacks and Fatalities in Pakistan Sindh (17 percent) and Islamabad, but (2009-19)2 that accounted for much less numbers of attacks reported from there compared to No. of Terrorist No. of Killed Year Attacks KP and Balochistan; i.e. 5 attacks, 14 (% Change) (%Change) attacks, and one attack were reported Baseline year Baseline year (3,021 2009 from Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad, (2,586 attacks) Fatalities) respectively. 2010 18% 4%

2011 7% 18% Table 5: Comparison of Terrorist Attacks & Casualties (2018 vs. 2019)3 2012 20% 14%

2013 9% 19% Number Killed Injured Province / of Attacks (% (% 2014 30% 30% Region (%Change) Change) Change)

2015 48% 38% KP No change 26% 34% 2016 28% 12% Balochistan 27% 52% 25% 2017 16% 10% Punjab 25% 5% 5% 2018 29% 27% Karachi 11% 22% 87% 2019 13% 40% Sindh (excluding 33% 300% 100% For the past few years, much of the Karachi) militant violence in Pakistan has visibly 1 attack (0 baseline concentrated in Balochistan and Khyber Islamabad 2 killed 0 injured Pakhtunkhwa while other regions have data in 2018) been facing less frequent attacks. In 2019, Total 13% 40% 29% while the number of terrorist attacks declined in Balochistan by 27 percent, the The number of suicide attacks posted a 79 number of such attacks recorded in KP percent decline from previous year. remained unchanged from the year before. Compared to 19 suicide attacks in 2018, as The number of terrorist attacks recorded many as four (4) such attacks happened in in these two regions was significant; 125 2019 – two in Balochistan and one each in attacks took place in KP and 84 in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These Balochistan, which combined were over 91 attacks claimed 55 lives – compared to percent of the total attacks reported from 317 in 2018 – and injured 122 others. The across Pakistan. Although the number of TTP was involved in two of these attacks – attacks showed a relative surge from

22 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 one reported from Loralai (Balochistan) reported sectarian attacks, as many as 10 and another from DI Khan (KP) – which targeted Shia religious community and targeted security forces causing the death scholars, another three (3) Sunni of a total of 21 people including 10 community members and leaders while civilians, seven (7) policemen and four (4) one attack targeted Bohra community in suicide bombers. The Islamic State (IS) Ziarat. terrorist group claimed one sectarian- related suicide attack that targeted Hazara With a slight decline of over 2 percent community in Quetta killing 21 people, from the year before, 128 cross-border including the bomber, and wounding 48 attacks were reported from Pakistan’s others. Meanwhile a suicide bomber borders with Afghanistan (4 attacks), India associated with Hizbul Ahrar targeted a (123) and Iran (one attack). Similarly, police van in Lahore that caused 13 down by about 18 percent from 2018, a fatalities – 5 policemen, 7 civilians and one total of 91 people were killed in these bomber – and injuries to 23 others. attacks; another 245 were also injured. Those 91 Pakistani citizens killed in cross- Posting an increase of about 17 percent border attacks included 61 civilians, 29 from previous year, 14 sectarian-related army officials, and one Rangers personnel. terrorist attacks happened in 2019. The The situation at Pakistan’s border with number of people killed in such incidents India – mainly along the Line of Control however decreased by over 25 percent, (LoC) in – remained from 51 in 2018 to 38 in 2019. Rival Sunni relatively more volatile, particularly after and Shia violent sectarian groups as well February 26th when Indian military planes as ISIS-affiliates were involved in violated the LoC, intruding from the perpetrating these attacks. A combined sector and reaching , total of 11 sectarian-related attacks, or where they dropped their payload in an over 78 percent of the total 14 such open space after a response from Pakistan attacks, happened in Karachi (6 attacks) Air Force, and escaped. Next day, Indian and Quetta (5 attacks) alone. A major Air Force aircraft reportedly entered sectarian-related suicide attack targeted Pakistani airspace following Pakistani Air Hazara community members in Quetta Force strikes across the LoC. According to causing significant casualties (21 deaths; ISPR statement, PAF shot down two Indian 48 injured). Two sectarian-related attacks aircraft inside Pakistani airspace and were reported from Ziarat in Balochistan arrested one Indian pilot who was later that claimed five (5) lives, and one such released as a gesture of peace. Out of 123 attack happened in DI Khan district of cross-border attacks perpetrated by Indian Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Out of the 14 BSF, 117 concentrated along the LoC in 11

23 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 districts of AJK and one district of KP year – across 15 districts/regions of the (Mansehra). As many as six (6) of these country. These armed clashes and attacks happened in Sialkot along the encounters claimed 44 lives (38 militants; Working Boundary with India. (33 6 security personnel); as many as nine (9) attacks), (22), Poonch (16), security personnel were also injured in Haveli (10) and Neelum (10 attacks) were these incidents. About half of these the AJK districts most affected by Indian clashes, i.e. 12, took place in various cross-border attacks. Meanwhile while a districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, another single cross-border attack from Iran did six (6) happened in Balochistan, while four not cause any casualty, four (4) reported (4) such incidents took place in Sindh and attacks from Afghanistan killed six (6) three (3) in Punjab. army soldiers and injured 19 others in North Waziristan, Upper Dir and Chitral; The number of incidents of political/ethnic one such attack also happened in Khyber violence took a significant downward turn, but did not cause any casualty. from 22 in 2018 to eight (8) in the year under review. The number of people killed Compared to 31 in the year before, in these incidents also decreased, from 11 security forces and law enforcement in 2018 to six (6) in 2019. Incidents of agencies conducted 28 anti-militant political and ethnic violence were reported operational strikes in 2019 in 21 districts from six (6) districts of the country and regions of Pakistan. These actions including three (3) from Karachi, and one killed a total of 81 people, as compared to incident each from Bajaur, Bannu, 77 in 2018 and injured 19 others; those 81 Mansehra, South Waziristan and Swat killed included 75 militants and six (6) districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. personnel of security and law enforcement agencies. Out of the total 28 operational The number of people killed in overall strikes reported in 2019, as many as 15 violent incidents in 2019 (588) represented were conducted in KP, 11 in Balochistan, a decrease of about 32 percent from those and one each in Punjab and Sindh. There killed in such incidents in the year before were only three (3) districts where more (869); the number of those injured in such than one anti-militant operation happened incidents all decreased by over 32 percent. including DI Khan (5) and North Waziristan The reported decrease in fatalities was (3) in KP, and Kech (2) in Balochistan. marked by the death of 235 civilians, compared to 456 in 2018, thus Security and law enforcement agencies representing a decrease of over 48 also entered into in a total of 25 armed percent. Fatalities among security forces clashes and encounters with militants – personnel in 2019 (209) were about six (6) one more than such incidents in previous percent less from the previous year’s

24 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 fatalities among them (222). The number hawala and smuggling of currency through of militants killed (144), in these violent sea, air or land routes on money incidents, also posted a decline of about laundering, were not removed in one 25 percent as compared to 2018. (See year’s time, Pakistan would have to face Table 6) consequences of getting on the FATF blacklist. Table 6: Casualties in Overall Violent Incidents in 2019 Most recently, a FATF meeting in Paris in October reviewed the measures taken by Category Killed Injured Islamabad to curb terror financing and FC 39 66 noted the country will have to do more to Militants 144 4 come out of the grey list. Pakistan will Civilian 235 764 remain on the list until February 2020 Police 60 92 when a fresh review will be made to Army 95 97 decide about it.4 Levies 14 7 Rangers 1 0 The government has established a Total 588 1,030 dedicated autonomous secretariat for developing comprehensive responses on 1.2 Critical Challenges and the issues relating to the terror financing, Recommendations which will work in coordination with all the provinces and departments including 1.2.1 The FATF Challenge Financial Monitoring Unit, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, Despite all the efforts by the government Securities and Exchange Commission of of Pakistan, curbing terrorism financing Pakistan, National Counter Terrorism still stands out as one of the most critical Authority (NACTA), the armed forces and security challenges facing Pakistan. Apart law enforcement agencies, and all from having security implications, it has provincial governments. Special cells have also started negatively impacting the also been set up in all the relevant financial sector of the country with long- government departments to comply with term economic consequences. The the requirements of FATF. The Federal Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Board of Revenue (FBR) has also taken a Pakistan on its grey list in June 2018 with major initiative and formed a special cell the caution that if deficiencies in that will ensure an effective and timely preventing suspected militants from implementation of measures against terror operating bank accounts or using illegal financing. The cell – called as FATF cell means to transfer money, including hundi, and placed under the Director General of

25 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Intelligence and Investigation, Islamabad related to the action taken by the country – will seek “information required for FATF- against banned groups and proscribed related work from the FBR, field persons.7 The FATF has sought the proofs formations, directorates and record of of the actions taken against seminaries meetings… [and] will serve as a focal point affiliated with banned organisations or for all activities related to customs proscribed persons who have been listed compliance for FATF issues.”5 in 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) apart from the details including Similarly, the National Accountability copies of lawsuits filed against banned Bureau (NAB) has reportedly set up a cell organisations and proscribed persons. to combat terror financing as well as money laundering. The cell has been The whole process of FATF compliance established at the NAB headquarters in reflects that Pakistan’s approach is tactical Islamabad. While the main purpose of the where it has been trying its utmost to NAB cell will be to provide and monitor merely respond to the FATF queries analyses to consolidate efforts on curbing instead of developing some institutional terror financing, it will also maintain responses to curb the terror financing. In coordination with the national Financial practice, Pakistan’s anti-militant campaign Action Task Force secretariat.6 is hindered by several factors including capacity gaps among counterterrorism Apart from few policy responses, law departments, which are also struggling to enforcement agencies have also arrested find some solid legal ground against the few important leaders of banned militant leadership of the militant groups. The organizations, including Hafiz Saeed Hafiz government has to build comprehensive Saeed, head of banned Jamaatud Daawa institutional response to satisfy the FATF (JuD) and over a dozen close aides of him. based on zero tolerance against all shades of militants. However, despite all the measures Pakistan has taken so far, it has failed to 1.2.2. The De-Radicalization impress the FATF and its associated body Imperative Asia Pacific Group (APG). The FATF’s comments on Pakistan’s last compliance Pakistan’s counter terrorism challenge has report, which was submitted on December many folds and de-radicalization of the 03, 2019, reflects that Pakistan would members of the banned religious have to take stricter measures to come out organizations is becoming critical too. of the grey list. The FATF has forwarded Pakistan’s renewed campaign against 150 comments and clarifications on militancy under which law enforcement Pakistan’s compliance report mostly agencies have taken visible and serious

26 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 actions against the militant groups Islamic State group and Al Qaeda or form including those belonging to Jamaatud their own small terrorist cells. The JeM Dawa, its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniyat cadre is more critical because hundreds of Foundation, and Jaish-e-Muhammad its militants have a background of having (JeM) 8 has made this issue critical as worked along with the Tehreek-i-Taliban thousands of their members have been Pakistan, Al Qaeda and sectarian terrorist abandoned and needed to be engaged on organisations. The National Counter urgent basis. Terrorism Authority has the mandate for suggesting and developing such Development and launch of a rehabilitation programmes but, so far, it comprehensive de-radicalization has proved an impotent body. programme shall help boost the international community’s confidence in 1.2.3 Countering Violent Extremism Pakistan’s efforts to counter extremism and terrorism. The world is receptive to Non-violent and violent shades of such initiatives, which are also endorsed extremism as well as religious intolerance by UNSC Resolutions 2178 (2014) and pose another critical challenge to security 2396 (2017). For one, the ‘Plan of Action and stability of Pakistan. Extremism to Prevent Violent Extremism’ presented manifests itself in many forms ranging by the UNSC to the UN General Assembly from vandalism against minorities and entailed more than 70 recommendations oppressed people to target killing of the including a call to introduce sane, rational voices. The phenomenon of disengagement and rehabilitation religious intolerance has its own dynamics programmes. but in recent years it has grown through its connectivity with larger extremist Such initiative is also needed in the discourses fanned in cyberspaces. The context of the increasing frustration government has to adopt a clear policy among the workers of the banned militant against all hatemongering and extremist organizations. This is a dangerous groups in the country, and take legal and development. A somewhat similar administrative measures to restrict the frustration was observed among the activities of the extremist groups. cadres of Pakistani militant groups after the first crackdown against them in 2001. Pak Institute for Peace Studies has This had caused serious rifts among them advocated diverse recommendations for and made many turn against the state and Pakistan’s Counter Violent Extremism join international terrorist groups. Some (CVE) framework and reconstruction of among these frustrated members of the national narratives through various JuD and JeM can now also join the militant publications. The Institute believes these

27 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 documents would be a useful source a − The provinces need to prioritize the policy initiative on CVE. Few highlights of registration of madrassas and to set those recommendations are listed below: up a mechanism to bring them under their administrative control. − There is a need for establishing a Interestingly, while provinces consider National Dialogue Forum (NDF). It can madrassas a federal issue, federal serve as a platform for the scholars, ministries of religious affairs and academicians, political and religious interior are confused about who is leaders and policymakers to bring all actually responsible for administering the key challenges on the discussion madrassa sector. table and to understand each other’s − To neutralize violent extremist viewpoints. The NDF cannot only help tendencies, detaching the conventional to connect diverse ideological, social militant groups from terrorism and political segments of the society, landscape and curbing hate speech, but it can also create an environment the government has to initiate a to discuss critical issues. Such an reintegration scheme. important initiative must come from the chief executive of the country, 1.2.4 Regularizing Madrassas with the support of the parliament. − The NDF secretariat can have support The madrassa challenge is complex. from a counter-extremism research National Action Plan (NAP) assigned centre comprising experts from the priority to reforming madrassas but sadly relevant fields of social sciences and little progress has been made thus far in religious studies. This centre can also that regard. In April 2019, some establish a desk to monitor the government officials were reported in extremist narratives and hate speech. media as saying that madrassas will be − The provinces will need to establish brought under the federal Education curriculum review committees Ministry, however a policy action in that comprising educationists, and experts regard is still awaited. The DG ISPR also from diverse religious, academic and said in his press conference in late April political backgrounds. Such that “the government and support committees can be established institutions have decided to mainstream all separately within existing mechanisms, these madrassas. Their curriculum will with specific tasks to regularly monitor include contemporary subjects and they and evaluate the impact of the will run under the Ministry of Education.” textbooks. According to DG ISPR, this process will be kicked-off initially with Rs. 2 billion, and will then require Rs1 billion annually.9

28 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

On October 22nd (2019) another media followed. During last five years, the report indicated that the Ministry of government and security institutions Federal Education and Professional remained confused on taking responsibility Training has completed its homework to for NAP’s implementation. PIPS’ previous open a directorate to regulate the annual security reports had highlighted all madrassahs.10 It has to be seen how this those flaws and confusions on NAP directorate will work, but Army Chief implementation that have made it largely General Qamar Bajwa himself has taken ineffective. keen interest in the process and tried in person to convince religious scholars on PIPS recommends that the NAP should be made into a proper plan, with clear goals, the reforms.11 However, many ambiguities still surround the reforms, especially about a comprehensive monitoring mechanism, the financial audit of the religious and periodic reviewing. The NAP should institutions and curriculum reforms. adjust with the changing nature of the Apparently it seems the government is not threats and it should have been a dynamic reforming the religious curriculum of the and effective policy tool. The following madrassas but only thinking to introduce components needed to be included in the contemporary subjects to make the plan. madrassa students eligible to get the − Under the NAP there is a need to look formal educational degrees. 12 These into the matter of parallel security initiatives may not prove an alternative of structures. Each province has parallel a regulatory authority on madrassas to security forces to combat terrorism look into their financial affairs, pedagogy, and similar threats. hate speech, sectarian narratives and − Oversight of the criminal justice activities of radical groups in madrassas. system by parliament and provincial Such regulatory authorities can be assemblies should be increased; closer established on the level of districts or networking is needed among the provinces, which should have the subsystems of the criminal justice representation of the educational system. departments, religious scholars, civil − Practitioners should be trained in society and parents. conflict resolution and management so 1.2.5 Implementation on National that these techniques can be Action Plan employed before resorting to the use of force. The National Action Plan (NAP) was an − The anti-terrorism courts need to be outcome of the nation’s resolve against strengthened, through working on terrorism, but it too has not been fully

29 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

infrastructure uplifting and capacity lethal weapons has made their task building. easier. − An open trial of the terrorists was also − Militant groups use cyberspaces for necessary, and could prove more propagating their messages, recruiting effective in terms of deterrence and new adherents, and generating funds, public ownership, but the state thereby making the virtual world a institutions preferred discreet trials vulnerable place for the youth. This is through the military courts. the area, which need effective − The police need to be equipped with responses both by the state and new technologies and resources, but society. utilizing the available resources also − Prison Departments, Police and its needs to be assessed. Likewise, the Counter Terrorism Departments operational build-up of the police, its (CTDs) have to launch de- technical support, and capacity radicalization programs for the building are also areas needing terrorist detainees. The military-run attention. Their training programs de-radicalization centers in Swat and should focus on technology-led erstwhile FATA would be a good model policing, along with management, for such initiatives. intelligence gathering, mobility and − There is a need for developing a connectivity. At the same time, the National Databank (NDB) synchronized NAP should prioritize the de- with the police departments of the politicization of police, so as to shape country, National Database and it into a professional force. Registration Authority (NADRA), − Prison security and reforms should be NACTA, FIA and State Bank of part of the NAP. These are critical Pakistan. The Databank should have today, given that some terrorist following features: groups have infiltrated in the ranks of • A synchronized National Red Book, police and jails officials. containing updated information − Putting an end to the easily-available about the wanted, suspected and heavy weapons is a major challenge arrested terrorists and their for the security forces in their counter- groups. militancy drive. Criminals in Karachi, • The national databank could be sectarian terrorist groups and divided into two categories, one nationalist insurgents in Balochistan for public consumption, which appear to have recently adopted would include details about targeted killings as the foremost terrorists and their activities and instrument of terrorism; easy access to second dedicated for the police

30 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

and law enforcement agencies hurdles are affecting the process, some containing details of bank local tribal groups and political actors are accounts, financial transactions also trying to exploit the existing data, property and other assets of confusions around the implementation of the suspected and active terrorists KP-FATA merger. whose names had been placed under the Fourth Schedule. In February 2019, the KP Governor Shah • A common website can be Farman had reportedly formed a body with developed under the supervision the aim to advise the provincial of NACTA and all police and government on issue arising out of the relevant authorities could be erstwhile FATA’s merger with KP. Many bound to provide saw it as creating controversy as according updates/information on weekly or to legal experts the governor does not monthly bases. have the powers to interfere in the affairs − There is a need that all provinces have of tribal districts, which have already been their forensic labs linked with National merged with the KP province, at least Forensic Laboratory (NFL) in constitutionally. 13 This is the second Islamabad. committee formed to resolve the post- − Capacity building training programs for merger issues. In November 2018, too, the the Counter Terrorism Departments KP cabinet had formed a ministerial needed to be developed and they committee, which was later abolished in must know the best practices around December before holding a single official the world to avoid any mishandling of meeting. the sensitive issues. A media report in March said that the 9th 1.2.6 Erstwhile FATA’s Merger into KP National Finance Commission (NFC), which allocates the share of provinces in the The problem of a lax state response to the national divisible pool of revenues security challenge of KP is partly linked to collected, rejected a KP demand to make continuing transition period of [slow] an interim arrangement for providing implementation of erstwhile FATA’s merger additional funds from the federal 2009 in KP. For one, the establishment and Award, which are required by the province functioning of law enforcement and judicial to finance the merger of the erstwhile structures in tribal districts will continue to FATA with it.14 be slow and ineffective if the ongoing transition gets prolonged beyond the As the transition of FATA-KP merger anticipated timeframe. For the moment, continues, legal issues also continue while several bureaucratic and political appearing, among others. For one, the

31 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 continuous detention of hundreds in seven tribal districts merged into KP. A different notified internment centers in newspaper reported noted that “the former FATA and PATA as well as the development has come in the wake of the cases of those who remained in the promulgation of an ordinance to merge the custody of security forces for years are Levies with police department, which had troubling the administration and legal paved the way for the appointment of proceedings. According to a Dawn report DPOs in merged districts.” 17 Some days in May 2019, at the time of merger, the later, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government failed to include any “saving government announced to induct the clause” in the 25th Amendment Act, 2018, existing 28,000 personnel of Levies and for providing protection to existing laws in Khassadar forces operating in 7 tribal FATA and PATA. The KP government later districts and 6 sub-divisions into KP Police. had to enact two laws - the KP The government also issued a notification Continuation of Laws in the Erstwhile in that regards that said: “The merger Provincially Administered Tribal Areas Act, process of 16,053 Khassadar and 11,918 2018, and KP Continuation of Laws in Levies personnel would be completed in Erstwhile Fata Areas, 2019 – but still the six months.” 18 Similarly, while 28 judges experts are skeptical about the fate of had already been appointed for courts in those laws in vogue in the merged tribal merged districts of erstwhile FATA into KP, districts and ex-PATA, which “are currently the mainstream judicial system, i.e. courts, in conflict with provisions of Constitution of have started to function in these districts. Pakistan guaranteeing fundamental The local described it a big achievement to rights.” 15 Different judgments of the get rid of colonial FCR laws. superior courts have also been barring the government from introducing different In a significant development furthering the laws for different areas in the same execution of erstwhile FATA’s merger in province. The Supreme Court on January KP, the National Assembly on May 13th 16th (2019) had dismissed a civil petition (2019) had unanimously approved the filed by the KP government and had 26th Amendment to the Constitution declared the Fata Interim Governance permitting an increase in the number of Regulation, 2018, in conflict with several National Assembly and KP Assembly’s provisions of the Constitution.16 seats for the tribal districts, or former FATA agencies merged into KP. The Some steps however have also been taken approved bill would allow an increase from in the process of merger. For instance, in six to 12 in the National Assembly general March 2019, the KP Police Department seats and from 16 to 24 in the Khyber posted district police officers (DPOs) in the Pakhtunkhwa Assembly general seats.19

32

CHAPTER 2

Security Landscape of Pakistan in 2019

Safdar Sial*

2.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ...... 35 2.2 Balochistan ...... 40 2.3 Sindh ...... 48 2.4 Punjab ...... 50 2.5 Islamabad ...... 52 2.6 Suicide Attacks ...... 52 2.7 Sectarian Violence ...... 53 2.8 Violence against Political Leaders and Workers ...... 56 2.9 Border Attacks ...... 58

* Safdar Hussain, nom de plume Safdar Sial, is Joint Director at PIPS and Associate Editor of Conflict and Peace Studies journal. He has also co-authored “Dynamics of Taliban Insurgency in FATA” and “Radicalization in Pakistan”.

2.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa While 7 terrorist attacks happened in Bannu, the provincial capital Peshawar and The highest number of terrorist attacks for Tank faced 6 attacks each. Meanwhile five any one region of Pakistan was reported 5 attacks took place in each of Mohmand from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including and South Waziristan districts. In all, merged districts of erstwhile FATA. As in terrorist attacks were recorded in 17 the year before, a total of 125 terrorist districts of KP. attacks happened in the province, which claimed 145 lives, a decrease of 26 Table 1: Terrorist Attacks in KP in percent from the previous year, and 2019 inflicted injuries on another 249 people. District Attacks Killed Injured Among those killed in terrorist attacks in Bajaur 11 8 14 KP were 90 security personnel – 47 army Bannu 7 7 2 soldiers, 25 policemen, 12 FC men and 6 Buner 1 1 0 Levies – and 46 civilians, besides 9 Chitral 1 1 0 militants. Those injured in these attacks D.I Khan 14 28 51 included 136 civilians, and 113 officials of Hangu 2 0 0 security and law enforcement agencies. Karak 1 1 5 The TTP, Hizbul Ahrar, local Taliban and Khyber 4 3 4 other groups with similar objectives Lakki 4 5 4 perpetrated 124 of the total reported Marwat attacks, while one attack was sectarian- Lower Dir 2 3 3 related. Besides carrying out one suicide Mohmand 5 4 4 blast, militants employed different other North 53 57 93 attack tactics to hit their targets in KP Waziristan including 71 IEDs blasts, 48 incidents of Nowshera 1 2 4 firing, 2 hand grenades, 2 rocket strikes, Peshawar 6 3 24 and one gun and bomb attack. South 5 7 10 Waziristan In 2019, North Waziristan reemerged as a Tank 6 10 11 major flashpoint of insecurity and militant Upper Dir 2 5 20 violence where 53 terrorist attacks took Total 125 145 249 place, or over 42 percent of the total reported attacks from KP, which killed 57 Compared to past years, a fewer number people and injured 93 others. Two other of intensive or high-impact terrorist attacks KP districts where more than 10 attacks were reported from the province in 2019. happened in the year included DI Khan (14 Indeed, only 5 terrorist attacks were attacks) and Bajaur (11 attacks) districts. recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2019 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 in which 4 or more people were killed. which claimed in all 97 lives. Meanwhile 25 These included an attack on a police patrol attacks apparently targeted civilians, party in DI Khan in February (4 policemen another 9 hit pro-government tribesmen or were killed); the attack on officers and peace committee members, and 5 attacks soldiers of the Quick Response Force in each targeted political leaders and polio North Waziristan in June (4 soldiers killed); vaccination workers. Other sporadic the attack against Trauma Centre of the targets hit by terrorist in KP in 2019 are district headquarters hospital in DI Khan in given in the table below. July (4 policemen, 4 civilians killed); an attack on border patrol in North Waziristan Table 1a: Targets Hit by Militants in in July (6 soldiers killed); and militants’ KP in 2019

ambush against the vehicle of an oil

exploration company in Spinwam area of No. of Targets Attacks

North Waziristan in September (4 civilians, Killed Injured 2 FC men killed). Security forces/law 69 97 149 enforcement Apart from 125 terrorist attacks cited Education/institution 2 2 4 earlier, 15 operational strikes by the s/teachers security forces and 12 armed Tribal elders 1 0 3 Civilians 25 11 51 clashes/encounters between security Shia religious 2 2 1 forces and militants were also recorded in scholars/community Political 5 3 5 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, 5 leaders/workers incidents of ethnic/political violence, and 4 Unspecific target 1 0 0 cross-border attacks took place in parts of Health/polio workers, 5 7 0 security escorts KP from Afghanistan, mostly by Pakistani Pro-Govt 9 12 27 Taliban militants sheltered there. On the tribesmen/peace committee members whole, 170 reported incidents of violence Judges/lawyers/court 1 0 2 of various types killed 216 people in KP s and wounded 301 others. Former militants 1 1 0 Member of banned 1 2 0 groups Significant casualties among security Development, 2 8 6 personnel were caused by militants’ exploration projects, companies, workers frequent attacks against them in parts of NATO/US supply 1 0 1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As many as 69 vehicles terrorist attacks in the province, or 55 Total 125 145 249 percent of the total reported attacks, hit Some frequently hit targets in KP in 2019 personnel, convoys and posts of the are described below. security and law enforcement agencies,

36 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

2.1.1 Attacks on Security Forces/ Law police station. The police officer Enforcement Agencies leading the patrol, SHO Tahir Nawaz, was wounded in the attack while two As cited earlier, 69 terrorist attacks in passersby also sustained injuries.20 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hit security and law − April 27: Three personnel of the Levies enforcement agencies, including 38 in force were martyred and one more North Waziristan alone and 11 in DI Khan. sustained injuries in a blast targeting a These attacks killed 97 people including 83 Levies post in the Malik Shahi area in personnel of security and law enforcement Shewa tehsil in North Waziristan.21 agencies, 6 militants and 8 civilians, and − May 6: Militants ambushed a patrolling wounded 149 others including 108 security party of security forces in Manzarkhel personnel and 41 civilians. area of North Waziristan killing 3 army personnel and wounding 5 others.22 The attacks against security forces were − June 7: The officers and soldiers of the recorded in 14 districts of Khyber Quick Response Force were on routine Pakhtunkhwa province. The TTP, Hizbul patrol in Dattakhel tehsil when an IED Ahrar and local Taliban groups with similar went off. A lieutenant colonel, a major, objectives were mainly found involved in a captain and a lance havaldar were these attacks. martyred, while four other personnel After North Waziristan and DI Khan, where suffered injuries. The vehicle of the a combined total of 49 attacks hit security security forces was badly damaged.23 and law enforcement personnel, four such − June 12: Two FC men and a passerby attacks happened in each of South lost their lives and two FC soldiers Waziristan, 3 in Tank and 2 attacks each in were injured in a remote controlled Peshawar and Lakki Marwat. In another 8 bomb blast in tehsil Ladha of South other KP districts, at least one attack Waziristan.24 targeted security personnel. − July 21: Reportedly a woman suicide bomber in a black shuttlecock burqa Some of the attacks against security forces exploded her vest near the entrance of and law enforcers reported from KP in Trauma Centre of the district 2019 are narrated below: headquarters hospital in DI Khan when the bodies of two policemen killed − February 12: Four police officials, earlier in an attack were brought Sepoy Mehrban, Sepoy Asif, Sepoy there. Eight people including 4 Sarfaraz, and Sepoy Javed, were shot policemen and four civilians, including dead in DI Khan. Their patrol van was a minor girl, were killed and 30 others attacked when it stopped at a gas station in the jurisdiction of Parovah

37 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

wounded in the suicide bombing, Highest number of attacks against civilians claimed by the TTP Khorasani group.25 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa happened in North − July 27: Six personnel Waziristan (11 attacks). Three such were martyred when Pakistani Taliban attacks took place in Mohmand, and two terrorists from across the Pak-Afghan attacks each happened in Bannu, DI Khan, border opened fire on the soldiers and Peshawar. The TTP and local Taliban patrolling the border Gurbaz area of groups were reportedly involved in these North Waziristan tribal district. The attacks hitting civilians. As many as 23 of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) these attacks on civilians employed IEDs claimed responsibility for the attack.26 of different types, and another 2 attacks − August 2: Terrorists opened fire on a made use of hand grenades and firing. patrolling party in Razmak, in North Waziristan, in which three soldiers Most of the attacks against civilians were were martyred.27 of low intensity, as indicated by relatively − November 5: Militants opened fire on fewer consequent fatalities. Indeed, 8 out FC officials traveling in a rickshaw in of the 25 reported attacks against civilians Bachaabad area of Kulachi tehsil of DI in KP caused one or more deaths, and the Khan district. Two FC men and a rest of attacks resulted in injuries only. civilian were killed and two others 2.1.3 Attacks on Pro-Government were injured in the attack.28 Elders and Peace Committee − November 12: Three soldiers of the members Pakistan Army were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) As many as nine terrorist attacks in KP blast in North Waziristan tribal district. targeted pro-government tribesmen or The martyred soldiers were a part of peace committee members, which claimed the army's patrolling team and were 12 lives and injured 25 others. Two of identified as Sepoy Sajid, Sepoy these attacks happened in each of Bajaur, Riyasat and Sepoy Babar.29 Tank and North Waziristan districts, while one such attack took place in each of 2.1.2 Attacks on Civilians Khyber, Mohmand, and Upper Dir districts. Two less from such attacks in 2018, as The TTP, Lashkar-e-Islam and Hizbul Ahrar many as 25 terrorist attacks apparently groups perpetrated these attacks. targeted civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the year under review. Reported Worst of these attacks happened in Upper from 10 districts of the province, these Dir where four members of the former attacks claimed the lives of 11 civilians and Hayagaye Aman Lashkar were killed and inflicted injuries on another 51 people. 20 others injured when their vehicle was

38 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 hit by a roadside remote-controlled bomb 2.1.5 Attacks on Polio Vaccination in the Gomadand area. Victims had been and Development Workers receiving threats from militants for past several years. 30 Some other pro- As many as 15 people lost their lives and 6 government tribal elders who were killed others were injured in 7 terrorist attacks in these attacks included Malik Mir Alam, that targeted polio vaccinators and their head of Bara Peace Committee, in Khyber; security escorts as well as development tribal elder Abbas Khan in North workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2019. Waziristan; a former member of a local These attacks took place in Bajaur, Bannu, peace committee Umar Said in Mohmand; Buner, Lower Dir and North Waziristan and member of a former peace committee districts. The TTP and local Taliban groups Malik Gul Dad Khan, a tribal elder Malik were allegedly involved in these attacks, Nadir Khan in Bajaur, and head of a which are described below: former peace committee in Tank, − April 11: Two workers of an oil Turkestan Bhattani. exploration company were killed and 2.1.4 Attacks on Political Leaders and two others, including a driver, were Workers wounded in Speen Wam area of North Waziristan tribal district. The attack Compared to 11 in 2018, as many as 5 was carried out in Chota Datakhel area terrorists attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near Afghan border.33 targeted political leaders and workers, − April 23: Assistant sub-inspector police which killed 3 people and injured 5 others. Imran Khan was doing his duty to Hizbul Ahrar, Jamaatul Ahrar and TTP protect polio vaccination campaign in were involved in these attacks. In one of Bannu when militants on a motorcycle these attacks, Sartaj Khan, president of shot him dead and fled.34 the Awami National Party Peshawar city − April 24: Attackers shot dead police chapter, was in his vehicle behind the constable Zafar Ali Khan in the Ghalo Gulbahar police station, Peshawar, when Tangay area of Buner when he was attackers opened fire, killing him on the accompanying a polio team.35 spot. He was also a member of the − May 5: Abdullah Jan, associated with Peshawar District Council. The ANP leaders the World Health Organisation (WHO) termed it a targeted killing.31Separately in as union council polio officer, was Bajaur, militants shot dead Mian Gul Jan, going home on a motorbike when senior vice-president of Pakistan People unidentified assailants shot him dead Party (PPP), Bajaur chapter.32 in the Thani area, some 20 kilometres from Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur tribal district.36

39 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

− September 24: Militants ambushed 2.2 Balochistan and opened fire at the vehicle of an oil exploration company in Spinwam area Though Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced the of North Waziristan. As a result, four highest number of attacks than any other employees of Mari Petroleum region of the country, but in terms of Production Company, and two FC men terrorism-related casualties Balochistan lost their lives, while 4 soldiers was the most affected region in 2019. As suffered injuries.37 many as 171 people were killed – about 48 − December 9: Militants shot dead a lady percent of the total 357 people killed in polio worker traveling in a rickshaw in terrorist attacks across Pakistan – and 436 Bannu; the rickshaw driver was also others were injured in 84 reported attacks killed in the firing. The militants from the province. The reported 84 managed to escape.38 terrorist attacks from Balochistan, − December 18: Two policemen however, represented a 27 percent decline escorting a polio vaccination team from such attacks in the province in the were martyred when armed men year before, and the consequent fatalities opened fire on them at Markhanai also posted a 52 percent decrease from Bridge within the jurisdiction of Lal previous year. Qila police station in Temegara, Lower Those killed in terrorist attacks in Dir. Those killed were identified as Balochistan in 2019 were 95 civilians – Farmanullah of Toormang and compared to 237 civilians killed in such Mukkaram Khan of Sangolai.39 attacks in the province in 2018 – and 56 personnel of security and law A sectarian-related targeted attack also enforcement agencies – as compared to took place in KP in 2019. Reportedly, two 91 in the year before – besides 20 motorcycles arrived at an electrician shop militants. in Landa Adda and opened fire on Imdad Hussain Baloch, a resident of Hazara Different Baloch insurgent groups, mainly Kacha, leaving him dead on the spot. From the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), there, the assailants went to a clinic of Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), BRAS – Sajjad Hussain Baloch, a homeopathic a newly established alliance of Baloch doctor, and fired at him, leaving him insurgent groups mainly including BLA, injured. Reportedly, six family members of BLF and Baloch Republican Guard (BRG) – the slain, Imdad Hussain, had already Lashkar-e-Balochistan and Baloch 40 been targeted and killed. Republican Army (BRA), etc., perpetrated 51 attacks killing 71 people and wounding 162 others. Religiously inspired militant

40 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 groups such as the TTP, Hizbul Ahrar, District Attacks Killed Injured ISIS-affiliates and some other similar Quetta 22 56 209 unknown militants were reportedly Sibi 1 0 0 Washuk 2 4 4 involved in as many as 26 attacks that Ziarat 3 11 13 caused death to 69 people and injuries to Total 84 171 436 another 197 people. Meanwhile, seven (7) sectarian-related attacks claimed 31 lives, In addition to the terrorist attacks listed at mostly of Hazara Shias, and wounded 77 Table 3, multiple violent incidents of other others. types also took place in Balochistan in 2019. These included 11 operational Terrorist attacks happened in 20 districts of strikes against militants, 6 Balochistan including 22 attacks from clashes/encounters between security provincial capital Quetta alone, nine (9) forces and militants, and 4 major terror from Kech, eight (8) from Qilla Abdullah, bids, among others. On the whole, 106 mainly Chaman, six (6) from Loralai, and incidents of violence of different types five (5) attacks each from Dera Bugti, happened in the province, which claimed Nasirabad, and Panjgur. Two attacks in 225 lives and injured 456 others. Gwadar caused 22 deaths, and three (3) reported attacks from Ziarat claimed 11 Meanwhile, though the reported 84 lives. terrorist attacks in Balochistan hit diverse targets, as many as 42, or over 50 Table 2: Terrorist Attacks in percent, targeted security forces and law Balochistan in 2019 enforcement agencies. As many as 10 attacks apparently targeted civilians, and District Attacks Killed Injured another 7 attacks hit sectarian targets. Dera Bugti 5 1 8 (See Table 2a) Duki 1 1 0 Gwadar 2 22 6 Harnai 3 7 1 Table 2a: Targets Hit by Terrorists in Jafarabad 2 1 0 Balochistan in 2019 Kech 9 9 24

Kharan 1 0 3

Khuzdar 1 4 0 No. of Targets

Lasbela 1 0 3 Attacks Killed Loralai 6 28 33 Injured Mastung 3 2 3 Security forces/law 42 85 169 Nasirabad 5 8 61 enforcement Panjgur 5 6 23 Non-Bloch settlers/ 1 3 1 Pishin 3 1 12 workers Qilla Abdullah 8 9 33 Gas pipelines 2 0 0 Qilla Saifullah 1 1 0 Tribal elders 1 3 0

41

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Quetta (8 attacks). Meanwhile Baloch No. of Targets insurgents targeted each of Dera Bugti,

Attacks Killed

Injured Nasirabad, and Panjgur districts with 5 Civilians 10 18 57 attacks. Two reported attacks by BLA and Shia religious 5 26 71 BRAS claimed 22 lives in Gwadar, highest scholars/community casualties in such attacks reported from Worship places/ 2 9 53 shrines/ imam bargahs any one district of Balochistan. Govt. offices/public 1 0 10 property (hospitals, The attack tactics employed by the Baloch banks etc.) insurgents included 29 IEDs blasts, 19 Sunni religious 2 3 2 incidents of firing or targeted killing, 2 leaders/community grenade attacks, and one rocket attack. Political 4 8 14 leaders/workers Out of total 51 attacks perpetrated by NGO / civil society 1 2 0 members Baloch insurgents, as many as 28, or 55 Foreign interests/ 1 0 0 percent, targeted security and law- Diplomats/Foreigners enforcement personnel, their convoys and Unknown 2 3 1 check-posts. These attacks killed 37 Media/journalists 2 0 3 people – 17 FC men, 11 army soldiers, one Health/polio workers, 1 1 1 security escorts policemen, one Levies personnel, as well Pro-govt tribesmen/ 2 1 20 as 4 civilians and 3 militants – and injured peace committee 74 others. These attacks were reported members from 11 districts of Balochistan with 8 such Bohra community 1 3 4 Former militants 1 2 0 attacks from Kech, 5 from Quetta, 4 from Railway tracks / trains 3 4 30 Panjgur, and 3 from Mastung. Total 84 171 436 Some relatively more intense attacks by 2.2.1 Attacks by Baloch Insurgents the Baloch insurgents – mainly by BLF, Compared to 74 in the year before, BRAS, BLA, BRA, and Lashkar-e- different Baloch insurgent groups carried Balochistan – against security forces in the out 51 terrorist attacks in 16 districts of year 2019 are listed below: Balochistan in 2019. These attacks killed − February 17: Four FC men were killed 71 people – compared to 85 in 2017 – and in an ambush by BLF militants in injured 162 others. Goran area of Panjgur district. As in the previous year, Kech faced the Apparently Baloch militants launched highest number of Baloch insurgents’ the attack during shifting of FC men attacks (9), followed by provincial capital between two pickets established in the

42 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

mountainous area. The militants took Balochistan troops were carrying out a away weapons of deceased FC men combing and sensitisation operation also.41 between Hoshab and Turbat area.45 − April 18: At least 14 people, including − November 15: Terrorists parked an 11 personnel of Navy, Air Force and explosives-laden motorcycle at the Coast Guards, were killed by gunmen roadside in the Kuchlak Bypass area of wearing security uniforms after they Quetta and detonated it with a were picked up with the help of their remote control when an FC vehicle Computerized National Identity Cards was passing through the area. Three (CNICs) and offloaded from seven FC men were killed and four others buses in the Buzi Pass area near seriously injured in the blast.46 Ormara in Gwadar district. An alliance of three banned militant organisations, Baloch insurgent groups apparently also the Balochistan Liberation Front, targeted civilians in 6 attacks that caused Balochistan Republican Army and 14 deaths and inflicted injuries on another Baloch Republican Guard, claimed 31 people. Few of these attacks caused responsibility for the killings.42 significant casualties. For one, on March − April 22: At least 12 people, including 14th, two people were killed and 11 others two officials of the Counter Terrorism injured in a bomb blast in the busy Department (CTD), were injured in a Cheetkan Bazaar in Panjgur, reportedly bomb explosion in Nasirabad district. carried out by the BLA. Those killed were The explosive device was planted in a burnt to death, as they were sitting in a motorcycle parked at a bus stand on car, which caught fire after the blast. Most 47 Quetta-Karachi National Highway, of the injured were passers-by. Later, on which was detonated when a vehicle May 11th, militants wearing uniforms of of CTD reached there.43 security forces stormed the Pearl − May 9: An FC vehicle was targeted Continental Hotel in Gwadar. The Army with a landmine that killed two FC men announced on May 12th a successful and one civilian. Security forces completion of the clearance operation personnel were going to investigate an saying four hotel employees and a Navy incident of target killing of laborers in soldier embraced martyrdom while all a coalmine in Harnai.44 three attackers were eliminated. The − July 27: Four Frontier Corps personnel, banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) including an officer, were martyred Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for when terrorists opened fire on them the attack and named the militants near Turbat. According to the ISPR, involved in it. The building of the hotel the attack took place when the FC was badly damaged due to overnight

43 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 explosions and rocket fire; 4th floor has a recent terrorist attack on Frontier Corps been destroyed.48 (FC) training centre when armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on his Meanwhile a combined total of 5 attacks vehicle.53 by Baloch insurgents targeted political leaders and pro-government tribesmen or In all, 5 attacks by Baloch militants peace committee members. Six people targeted railways tracks/trains and gas were killed and 23 others in these attacks. pipelines. In one of these attacks reported On February 24th, militants targeted the from Nasirabad district on March 17th, clinic of Dr Ishaq, provincial member of a four passengers of Quetta-bound Jaffar peace committee, with a bomb that was Express, including a woman and her 10- planted in a motorcycle. The incident year-old daughter, were killed and over 30 happened near Mazdoor Chowk, DM others injured in a bomb blast at a railway Jamail. One person was killed and 18 track near Dera Murad Jamali. About 10 kg others were injured in the blast including heavy IED was exploded with a remote Dr Ishaq. 49 On the same day, allegedly control. The blast damaged 400-foot-long BLA militants shot dead Haji Akbar Jamali, portion of the track and derailed seven brother of a Balochistan Awami Party coaches of the passenger train.54 leader Mir Sanjar Khan Jamali, in Jaffarabad and managed to escape.50 In a Separately, two brothers were shot dead major attack reported from Khuzdar, a by unidentified attackers in the Killi Shabo central leader of Balochistan National Party area of Quetta. The killed were former Nawabzada Mir Amamullah Khan was Baloch militants, named Daro Khan and killed along with a grandson and 2 guards Abdul Aziz, who had abandoned militancy in a targeted attack near Bulbul villager.51 against the state last year by surrendering their weapons to security forces.55 Baloch militants also targeted non-Baloch settlers/workers in one attack in 2.2.2 Attacks by Religiously-inspired Nasirabad. Reportedly, three laborers were Militants gunned down and another suffered injury The TTP, its splinter group Hizbul Ahrar, in the Manjoshori area of Nasirabad district and some other militants with similar on May 14th. All the victims belonged to objectives perpetrated 26 attacks in the Tando Adam area of Sindh.52 Similarly, Balochistan, compared to 35 attacks by a social worker and former in-charge of them in the year before. These attacks local Edhi Centre, Baz Mohammad, was killed 69 people, compared to 261 killed in shot dead with a friend in Mahajir Adha in such attacks in 2018, and injured 197 Loralai. Mr Mohammad was mobilising the others. Most of these attacks by so-called people for taking part in a protest against

44 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 religiously inspired groups concentrated in historically did not remain hotspots of areas with larger Pashtun populations militancy and thus did not attract attention including Quetta (9 attacks), Qilla Abdulla’s of security forces. Chaman area (7), Loralai (4), Pishin (3), Qilla Saifullah (one attack), besides Some major attacks perpetrated by the sporadic attacks carried out by TTP and TTP and similar groups against security others in Ziarat and Duki districts (one forces in Loralai, neighboring Ziarat attack each). district, as well as the provincial capital Quetta are narrated below. Like Baloch militants, the religiously inspired militant groups also frequently − January 1: Four security personnel targeted security forces and law were martyred and four others injured enforcement agencies; 14 attacks hitting while trying to prevent militants from security personnel killed 48 and injured 95 entering a compound inside a training others. Four (4) such attacks hit civilians, centre of the Frontier Corps (FC) in the another two worship places, while sporadic cantonment area of Loralai district. attacks also targeted tribal elders, Four attackers, including a suicide government officials, media, political bomber, were also killed in the clash. 56 leaders and polio vaccination workers. The TTP claimed the attack. − January 29: A gun-and-suicide attack The TTP and related groups hit security on the office of DIG police in Loralai forces hard in Loralai and Quetta with a killed nine people and injured 21 total of 13 attacks killing 51 people and others. The incident happened when wounding 155 others. Similarly, a single about 800 candidates were taking a reported TTP attack from Ziarat against written test. Reportedly, three security personnel claimed the lives of 6 attackers entered the compound after Levies officials. Loralai is connected to throwing grenades on gatekeepers South Punjab on the east and to Khyber and opening fire. When the security Pakhtunkhwa on the north through some men retaliated, two attackers blew main national highway arteries. It has thus their suicide vests on the DIG office three-way connectivity, i.e. to south premises; the third was killed in police Punjab, KP, and central, Baloch-populated firing. DIG Nisar Tanoli was rescued.57 Balochistan. That implies that Baloch The TTP was involved in the attack. insurgents as well as Taliban and other − February 16: TTP militants opened fire religiously inspired groups could expand on security forces in Loralai killing 2 their outreach to Loralai fairly easily. That FC officials Allauddin and Anwar and also indicates that militants could focus on injuring one passerby Shamsullah.58 those parts of Balochistan, which

45 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

− March 20: The TTP militants armed policemen. Another injured died later with automatic weapons came on in a hospital in Karachi. The TTP motorcycles and assaulted a Levies claimed the attack.62 check post on Sanjavi-Loralai Road in Ziarat. Six Levies personnel manning At least 9 people were killed in two the check-post were martyred in this separate bomb blasts in mosques in sudden terrorist attack.59 Quetta, in May and August respectively. − May 13: Four policemen of Rapid First, on May 24th, four people including Response Group were martyred and the prayer leader and a minor were killed 11 people including five cops were and 28 others injured in a bomb blast in a injured in a motorcycle bomb blast in mosque in the Pashtoonabad area of the Town area of Quetta. Quetta. The prayer leader Ataur Rehman The blast targeted a police van that was the apparent target of the bomb had just arrived to provide security to attack as the timed explosive device the people offering taraveeh prayers weighing over 2kg was placed under the at a mosque. The TTP claimed the wooden chair he used for delivering Friday 63 attack.60 sermon. Later on August 16th, a bomb − June 26: Three suicide bombers, in an blast inside a mosque in Kuchlak just attempt to cross the Loralai Police before Friday prayers killed five people, Lines gate, opened fire on policemen including the prayer leader, and left 25 deployed there and in an ensuing others injured. Locals said the prayer exchange of fire one of the suicide leader Hafiz Hamdullah, who lost his life in bombers was killed, while his two the blast, was a younger brother of Afghan 64 accomplices managed to enter the Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah. Next premises. Security forces chased the day, i.e. on August 17th, a prayer leader two bombers during which another Muhammad Azam was killed in a targeted bomber detonated his vest while police attack in Kuchlak. He was sitting in a shop killed the third attacker. The incident when some men opened fire him and fled left a policeman martyred and five on motorbike. Azam was an Afghan citizen others, including a woman and two and led prayers at the Usman bin Afaan 65 police constables, wounded.61 mosque for many years. − July 30: Militants planted a bomb in a Attacks by the militants of the TTP and its motorcycle, parked it close to the ilk also targeted civilians, political leaders, patrolling vehicle of the city police polio workers, and tribal elders in station, Quetta and detonated it by Balochistan. In one of these attacks, a remote control. Five people died and veteran tribal leader Wali Mohammad 32 others were injured including 4 Ghebzai aka Pehalwan was travelling with

46 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 his two companions when an explosion hit targeted Hazara Shia community with the their vehicle in the Gulistan area of Qilla exception of one attack against each of Abdullah. All three were killed in the the Sunni and Bohra community members. blast.66 In Quetta, two people were killed Details on sectarian-related attacks on the spot and 19 others were injured reported from Balochistan are given including 4 children in a blast reportedly below: carried out by the TTP militants; one of the injured later died in hospital. Terrorists − March 26: Gunmen on motorbikes had planted an explosive device on a attacked Balochistan University bicycle and parked it in front of a medical Superintendent Syed Hussain Shah store and later detonated the bicycle with near Quetta’s Sariab bridge while he a remote control. 67 Separately, a senior was on his way to the university. Shah leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) subscribed to Shia sect of Islam and a Maulana Mohammad Hanif and two others police officer said it was an incident of 70 including a young boy were killed and at target killing. least 11 others were injured when a − March 31: Unknown militants entered motorbike bomb explosion ripped through the hujra of Masjid-i-Nabvi in Quetta's the main bazaar of Chaman, a border town Goharabad area and opened in Qilla Abdullah. 68 In another attack indiscriminate fire, killing prayer leader reported from Chaman, a woman polio Maulana Abdul Hayee Mengal and worker was killed and another injured in Abdul Aziz Sasoli. Two other people 71 an attack in the Killi Sultanzai area of suffered serious injuries. Daman Miralizai Union Council, near the − April 12: At least 20 people were killed Afghan border. Reportedly, the polio team and around 48 injured in a suicide was neither accompanied by any security blast in Hazarganji fruit and vegetable guard nor was provided official transport.69 market in an area largely populated by Hazaras. Eight Hazara community 2.2.3 Sectarian-related Attacks members, an FC official and two children were among the dead. Qari As many as 7 sectarian-related attacks Hussain Force, an affiliate of Tehreek- were also reported from Balochistan in e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), later claimed 2019, compared to 6 such attacks in the responsibility and said they carried out previous year. These attacks killed 31 the attack jointly with Lashkar-e- people, as compared to 8 in the year Jhangvi (LeJ). Qari Saifullah, a before, and injured 77 others. spokesman of LeJ, told CNN that they perpetrated the attack targeting All these attacks concentrated in Quetta Hazara community. Later, Islamic and Ziarat districts only and mostly

47 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

State (IS) group, also known as ISIS interior Sindh – which killed a total of 18 or Daesh, also claimed the attack and people and injured 2 others. Six of these released the bomber's photo.72 attacks were sectarian-related targeted − May 30: A suspected would-be suicide killings of Sunni and Shia leaders and bomber wearing a lady’s dress tried to community members, all of which were enter an imam bargah in Quetta. At reported from Karachi. Meanwhile some being stopped by the policemen, he unknown militants, apparently religiously hurled a grenade at the security inspired, carried out 4 attacks killing 8 personnel injuring a policeman. The people and injuring 2 others. Sindhi other policemen at the gate opened nationalist groups Sindhudesh Liberation fire on the suspect, injuring him, who Army (SDLA), Sindhudesh Revolution Army later died of his injuries.73 (SDRA) and a Baloch insurgent group BLA − June 7: A group of Shia Hazara were involved in another 4 attacks community was returning to Quetta reported from Sindh, which claimed four from Ziarat when explosives planted in (4) lives. their van went off near the Kawas area. Two persons were killed and 9 Out of the total 14 reported attacks from injured. 74 On the same day, a blast Sindh, 7 targeted Shia and Sunni religious took place in a vehicle in which some leaders and community members, another members of the Bohra community 3 attacks each hit security forces/law belonging to Karachi were going to enforcement personnel and civilians, and Ziarat to spend their holidays there. one attack hit one unspecified target. Three members of a family were killed As many as 11 out of the total 14 reported in the blast and 4 others were attacks from Sindh employed firing or injured.75 direct infantry fire, and 3 attacks used − August 6: A Hazara shopkeeper was IEDs of different types. killed and 13 others were wounded in a bomb explosion in a shoe market Table 3: Terrorist Attacks in Sindh in near busy Meezan Chowk, Quetta. The 2019 roof of the shop, where the blast No. of Types of Attacks Killed Injured occurred, was shattered and around a Attacks dozen shops were damaged.76 By nationalist 4 4 0 insurgents By Taliban and 2.3 Sindh 4 8 2 similar militants Compared to 12 in the year before, 14 Terrorist attacks 6 6 0 terrorist attacks happened in Sindh [sectarian-related] province – 10 in Karachi alone and 4 in Total 14 18 2

48 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Regional distribution of terrorist attacks in Two sectarian-related attacks in Karachi Sindh in the year 2019 is given at Table separately target killed two Sunni Muslims 3a. including Muhammad Umar, a former associate of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan Table 3a: Regional Distribution of (SSP) and Nadeem Yasin, an office-bearer Terrorist Attacks in Sindh of the SSP in Liaquatabad area.

No. of Location Killed Injured Separately, Renowned Islamic Scholar Attacks Mufti Taqi Usmani and his family survived Hyderabad 1 0 0 a gun attack on two cars that left a police Karachi 10 14 2 Kashmore 1 1 0 guard and a driver dead and two others Larkana 1 3 0 wounded in Gulshan-i-Iqbal area of Nawabshah 1 0 0 Karachi. The Mufti survived the Total 14 18 2 assassination attempt as he was sitting on the back seat of the car along with his 2.3.1 Karachi family members. One of the injured Mufti Out of 10 reported attacks from Karachi, Amir Shahab died on April 3 in Jinnah which represented an increase of 11 Hospital.77 percent from the year before, as many as Meanwhile, two terrorist attacks in Karachi 6 were incidents of sectarian target targeted police officials causing deaths to killings carried out by factions of violent 3 policemen. First, on March 4th, a police Sunni and Shia sectarian groups, Lashkar- assistant sub-inspector Rizwan Karim was e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Muhammad, shot dead in a suspected targeted attack respectively. Unknown religiously inspired in Orangi Town area of Karachi. He had militants perpetrated 4 attacks that survived an attempt on his life in 2012.78 claimed 8 lives and wounded two others. Later in June, two policemen of the Sindh Four of the sectarian-related terrorist Reserve Police (SRP), Ahmed Ali, 40, and attacks targeted Shia religious community Allah Dino, 39, were gunned down in a and were apparently perpetrated by targeted attack in Orangi Town. After an banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. These attacks investigation of over 2 weeks, police said claimed the lives of Fida Hussain, 55, a that two LeJ militants, who had escaped Shia Muslim hailing from Gilgit; from prison in 2017, were involved in the Mohammad Ali Shah, an official of the killing. The suspects were identified as Karachi Development Authority and the Mumtaz alias Firoun and Ahmed Khan alias Shia Ulema Council’s vice-president; A Munna.79 young man Wajahat Abbas; and Dr Haider Askari, 58, a cardiac specialist.

49 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

In an apparent attack against civilians, two 2.3.3 Ethno-Political Violence in men were killed and another was critically Karachi wounded when two men on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire on people on a There has been a steep downturn in the roadside teashop in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. incidents of ethnic/political violence in Police termed it a terrorist attack aimed at Karachi since 2013 when the Rangers-led creating fear.80 security operation started there. Since 2016 this type of violence has almost 2.3.2 Interior Sindh become negligible when compared to the preceding years. In 2019, 3 incidents of Compared to 3 in previous year, as many political violence claimed 4 lives in the as 4 terrorist attacks took place in interior city. Those killed in these incidents parts of Sindh including Hyderabad, included a worker of Muttahida Qaumi Kashmore, Larkana and Nawabshah. While Movement – Pakistan’s (MQM-P); two the Baloch insurgent group BLA reportedly workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e- perpetrated the attack in Kashmore, Sindhi Insaf (PTI); and a leader of the Pak nationalist insurgent groups Sindhudesh Sarzameen Party (PSP), Abdul Habib. Revolutionary Army and Sindhudesh Liberation Army were found involved in Chart 1: Trends of Ethno-political other three attacks. In all, 4 people lost Violence in Karachi (2013-19) their lives in these attacks, including 3 in Larkana alone. Reportedly, 3 laborers Incidents Killed hailing from Bajaur in KP were killed when unknown militants opened fire on a 222 rickshaw they were traveling in. The 183 incident happened near Naudero Sugar 81 Mills at -Larkana Bypass. In 101 Kashmore, an FC official Waqas lost his life 67 26 in a landmine blast. As cited earlier, the 23 3 5 4 5 1 5 3 Baloch insurgent groups are usually 1 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 involved in attacks in Kashmore district of Sindh that borders on Sui and Dera Bugti areas of Balochistan. 82 The reported 2.4 Punjab attacks from Nawabshah and Hyderabad One more than previous year, 5 terrorist were low intensity IED blasts that did not attacks took place in Punjab including two cause any casualty; both these attacks 2 in Lahore, one in Rawalpindi, and 2 in apparently targeted civilians. south Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan and

50 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Rajanpur districts. As many as 21 people which damaged a section of the lost their lives, compared to 20 in the year pipeline thus disrupting the supply. 83 before, and 41 others were injured in The BRA was reportedly behind the these attacks. attack. − February 21: One police official was Hizbul Ahrar, a splinter group of the TTP, killed and another four officials, perpetrated 3 of these attacks in Lahore including two sub-inspectors, as well and Rawalpindi killing 8 policemen and 7 as 2 civilians were injured when a civilians. Baloch insurgent groups BLA and young militant having pistols in his BRA were reportedly involved in two both hands opened fire at a check post attacks reported from south Punjab, which in Sadiqabad area of Rawalpindi. claimed 5 lives. The attacker was on foot and managed to escape after the attack. Three of the total 5 reported attacks from Hizbul Ahrar was involved in the Punjab targeted security and law attack. Another injured policeman died enforcement personnel, including a suicide later in hospital on March 1st, raising blast in Lahore that hit an Elite Police the death toll to 2. On March 15, vehicle. One attack hit a gas pipeline and another injured policeman, sub- another one targeted civilians. inspector Akram, also died.84 Table 4: Terrorist Attacks in Punjab in − May 8: A suicide bomber blew himself 2019 up near an Elite Police van at a gate of Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, leaving District Attacks Killed Injured 11 people dead including the bomber Lahore 2 13 37 and 25 others wounded; five police Rahim Yar 1 0 0 officials were among those killed. Two Khan Rajanpur 1 5 0 of those injured later died in hospital Rawalpindi 1 3 4 raising the death toll to 13. Hizbul Total 5 21 41 Ahrar claimed the attack.85 − November 11: A joint team of police Details on these attacks are provided and security forces was moving below: towards an area in Rojhan, Rajanpur to launch an anti-militant operation − January 8: A Karachi-Islamabad re- when militants sitting in ambush gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) opened fire on it. As a result, ASI pipeline was targeted in a timed Saqlain Shah and constable Alamdar explosive device in Rahim Yar Khan. Shah of the Elite Force were killed The explosives were planted in the pipeline at Bhong Road in Sadiqabad,

51 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

along with 3 others. 86 The BLA was (KP) – which targeted security forces allegedly involved in the attack. causing the death of a total of 21 people − November 29: Fourteen people were including 10 civilians, seven (7) policemen injured when a bomb exploded in a and four (4) suicide bombers. The Islamic stationary rickshaw near Chauburji on State (IS) terrorist group claimed one Multan Road, Lahore. The attack sectarian-related suicide attack that came a day after the Anti-Terrorism targeted Hazara community in Quetta Court sentenced the main facilitator in killing 21 people, including the bomber, Data Darbar’s suicide bombing in May and wounding 48 others. Meanwhile a to death. Hizbul Ahrar claimed the suicide bomber associated with Hizbul attack, which had also perpetrated the Ahrar targeted a police van in Lahore that May blast.87 caused 13 fatalities – 5 policemen, 7 civilians and one bomber – and injuries to 2.5 Islamabad 23 others.

In a single reported terrorist attack from Those killed in suicide attacks in 2019 Islamabad in 2019, two policemen were included 36 civilians, 12 policemen, and killed and another injured in an attack on a one FC man, as well as 6 militants security picket. The incident took place including suicide bombers. Those injured near the old toll plaza on I.J. Principal included 107 civilians, and 15 policemen. Road, Islamabad where a team of police officials was deployed to scan suspicious Table 5: Suicide Attacks in Pakistan vehicles.88 in 2019

2.6 Suicide Attacks District Attacks Killed Injured Lahore 1 13 23 The number of suicide attacks posted a 79 Punjab Total 1 13 23 percent decline from previous year. Loralai 1 12 21 Quetta 1 21 48 Compared to 19 suicide attacks in 2018, as Balochistan 2 33 69 many as four (4) such attacks happened in Total 2019 – two in Balochistan and one each in D.I Khan 1 9 30 Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These KP Total 1 9 30 Pakistan 4 55 122 attacks claimed 55 lives – compared to Total 317 in 2018 – and injured 122 others. These suicide blasts are re-narrated below, The TTP was involved in two of these despite their description in respective attacks – the one reported from Loralai sections on regional security landscapes. (Balochistan) and another from DI Khan

52 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

− January 29: A gun-and-suicide attack raising the death toll to 13. Hizbul on the office of DIG police in Loralai Ahrar claimed the attack.91 killed nine people and injured 21 − July 21: Reportedly a woman suicide others. The incident happened when bomber in a black shuttlecock burqa about 800 candidates were taking a exploded her vest near the entrance of written test. Reportedly, three Trauma Centre of the district attackers entered the compound after headquarters hospital in DI Khan throwing grenades on gatekeepers when the bodies of two policemen and opening fire. When the security killed earlier in an attack were brought men retaliated, two attackers blew there. Eight people including 4 their suicide vests on the DIG office policemen and four civilians, including premises; the third was killed in police a minor girl, were killed and 30 others firing. DIG Nisar Tanoli was rescued.89 wounded in the suicide bombing, − April 12: At least 20 people were killed claimed by the TTP Khorasani group.92 and around 48 injured in a suicide blast in Hazarganji fruit and vegetable 2.7 Sectarian Violence market of Quetta. Eight Hazara Two more from previous year, 14 community members, an FC official incidents of sectarian violence took place and two children were among the in 2019 – all sectarian-related terrorist dead. Qari Hussain Force, an affiliate attacks by violent sectarian groups, of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), without any incident of armed sectarian later claimed responsibility and said clash between sectarian groups or they carried out the attack jointly with communities and individuals. The number LeJ. Qari Saifullah, a spokesman of LeJ, told CNN that they perpetrated of people killed in such incidents decreased by over 25 percent, from 51 in the attack targeting Hazara 2018 to 38 in 2019. community. Islamic State group, or Daesh, also claimed the attack and Rival Sunni and Shia violent sectarian released the bomber's photo.90 groups – mainly factions of Lashkar-e- − May 8: A suicide bomber blew himself Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Muhammad, up near an Elite Police van at a gate of respectively – as well as ISIS-affiliates Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, leaving were involved in perpetrating these 11 people dead including the bomber attacks. and 25 others wounded; five police officials were among those killed. Two Out of the 14 reported sectarian attacks, of those injured later died in hospital as many as 10 targeted Shia religious community and scholars, another 3 Sunni

53 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 community members and leaders while As cited earlier, most of the reported one attack targeted Bohra community in incidents of sectarian violence were Ziarat. concentrated in Quetta and Karachi (11 attacks, or over 78 Percent of total such A combined total of 11 sectarian-related attacks). (See Chart 3) attacks, or over 78 percent of the total 14 such attacks, happened in Karachi (6 Chart 3: Sectarian Flashpoints in attacks) and Quetta (5 attacks) alone. A 2019 major sectarian-related suicide attack targeted Hazara community members in Sectarian-related Attacks Killed Injured Quetta causing significant casualties (21 deaths; 48 injured). Two sectarian-related 64 attacks were reported form Ziarat in Balochistan that claimed 5 lives, and one such attack happened in DI Khan district 40 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

26 Chart 2: Trends of Sectarian Violence (2014-2019)

6 6 5

332 Karachi Quetta

285 Injured Most of the sectarian-related attacks in Killed 2019 were incidents of targeted killing or firing (9 attacks). Four such attacks employed IEDs including one suicide bombing. One attack was carried out with 255 hand grenade blast. 272 162 Balochistan suffered most from sectarian violence where 7 sectarian-related attacks 106 killed 31 people and injured 77 others. 78 144 104 Meanwhile, as cited earlier, 6 such attacks 74 45 claimed as many lives in Karachi, provincial 58 51 38 capital of Sindh. One sectarian attack 34 20 12 14 claimed one life in DI Khan, in Khyber 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Pakhtunkhwa province.

54 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Table 6: Incidents of Sectarian opened fire on him and fled; Umer later Violence in 2019 died at a hospital. The deceased had remained associated with the banned Province District Attacks Killed Injured Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan. 94 A faction of

Quetta 5 26 64 Shia Sipah-e-Muhammad could be

involved. Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Ziarat 2 5 13 a reported reincarnation of violent Sunni Balochistan 7 31 77 sectarian group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Balochistan Total later also protested against the killing. Karachi 6 6 0

Later in the month, on January 22nd,

Sindh Total 6 6 0 gunmen riding on a motorcycle killed Sindh Mohammad Ali Shah, an official of the

DI Khan 1 1 1 Karachi Development Authority, while he

was travelling in a car near Shahrah-e-

KP Total 1 1 1

Pakhtun khwa Khyber Khyber Quaideen. Shah was also the Shia Ulema Pakistan Total 14 38 78 Council’s vice-president.95

While the reported sectarian-related On February 2nd, a young shopkeeper attacks from Balochistan are described at Nadeem Yasin was killed in a suspected length under the section 2.2.3 of this sectarian attack on the New Preedy Street report, such attacks recorded in KP and near Saddar Parking Plaza, Karachi. The Karachi are narrated below. deceased was an office-bearer of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan in In January, 3 sectarian-related attacks Liaquatabad area. 96 In a related attack happened in Karachi. First, on January 3, reported from the city in March, a young Fida Hussain, 55, a Shia Muslim hailing man Wajahat Abbas, adhering to Shia sect from Gilgit was shot dead at his medical of Islam, was shot dead by 2 motorcyclists store located in Sector 48-D of Korangi-2. in an act of target killing in Orangi Town, Armed pillion riders attacked him and fled. Karachi. The victim had just come from A Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen Italy to attend his brother's wedding.97 In spokesperson said that it was a sectarian a similar target killing of a Shia Muslim on killing. 93 A Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (leJ) faction August 30th, Dr. Haider Askari, 58, was was reportedly involved in the targeted driving home after performing his duties at assassination. Over a week later, two a government hospital in Korangi when armed motorcyclists turned up at a shop in two armed motorcyclists shot him injured Korangi-1 and asked for a bottle of honey. near KDA Market in Block 3. He later died As the shop owner, Mohammad Umer, 35, in hospital. The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen moved back to fetch it, the suspects

55 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 said that Dr Askari, a cardiac specialist, similar groups, while another 3 attacks was killed on sectarian grounds.98 were perpetrated by Baloch nationalists, mainly the BLA. One such attack happened in DI Khan on July 31st. Reportedly, two motorcycles Similarly, incidents of political and election- arrived at an electrician shop in Landa related violence among activists and Adda and opened fire on Imdad Hussain supporters of different parties also Baloch, a resident of Hazara Kacha, dropped significantly, from 22 in 2018 to 8 leaving him dead on the spot. From there, in 2019. the assailants went to a clinic of Sajjad When counted together, 17 reported Hussain Baloch, a homeopathic doctor, incidents of violence in 2019 – including and fired at him, leaving him injured. terrorist attacks against political Reportedly, six family members of the leaders/workers as well as incidents of slain, Imdad Hussain, had already been political violence cited earlier – claimed the targeted and killed.99 lives of 17 people – compared to 229 in 2.8 Violence against Political the year before – and injured 26 others. Leaders and Workers Chart 4: Violence against Political Leaders, Workers in 2019 Compared with the election year of 2018, there was a significant decline in 2019 both 30 in the number of terrorist attacks against 26 political leaders and workers as well as 25 incidents of political violence largely directed against members, supporters and 20 19 17 17 leaders of political parties. 15 Compared to 24 such attacks in previous 11 9 year, as many as 9 terrorist attacks in 10 8 7 2019 targeted political leaders and 6 workers, including 5 in Khyber 5 Pakhtunkhwa and 4 in Balochistan. These attacks claimed the lives of 11 people – 0 Terrorist Attacks Incidents of Total compared to 218 in 2018 when militants Political & had hit hard political leaders and other Election-related Violence election-related targets – and injured 19 others. Six of these attacks were carried No. of Incidents Killed Injured out by the TTP, Hizbul Ahrar and other

56 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

2.8.1 Terrorist Attacks on Political Awami National Party (ANP) faced the Leaders highest number of terrorist attacks (4) compared to any other party; TTP and As cited earlier, 9 reported terrorist attacks Hizbul Ahrar groups carried out attacks in 2019 targeted political leaders and against the party in Bajaur and Peshawar. workers, claiming 11 lives and injuring 19 Two terrorist attacks targeted leaders of others. Five such attacks happened in KP Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which and 4 in Balochistan. (See Chart 5) currently rules in Balochistan. Leaders of Balochistan National Party (BNP), Jamiat Some prominent leaders killed in these Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and Pakistan attacks included Haji Akbar Jamali, brother People’s Party (PPP) also came under of a Balochistan Awami Party leader Mir terrorist attacks in 2019. (See Table7) Sanjar Khan Jamali, in Jaffarabad; Sartaj Khan, president of the Awami National Table 7: Distribution of Attacks in Party Peshawar city chapter in Peshawar; Terms of Targets and Areas a central leader of Balochistan National

Party Nawabzada Mir Amamullah Khan in

Khuzdar; a senior leader of the Jamiat

Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Mohammad

Target

Groups Attacks

Hanif in Chaman; and Mian Gul Jan, senior of Spread

Responsible Responsible Geographical Geographical vice-president of Pakistan People Party Attacks No. of (PPP), Bajaur chapter, in Bajaur. ANP 4 KP (Bajaur, TTP, Hizbul Peshawar); Ahrar, Chart 5: Terrorist Attacks on Political unknown Leaders/Workers in 2019 BAP 2 Balochistan BLA (Jaffarabad, Kharan); No. of Attacks Killed Injured BNP- 1 Balochistan Nationalist M (Khuzdar) insurgents 19 JUI-F 1 Balochistan Unknown (Chaman) militants 14 PPP 1 KP (Bajaur) Unknown 11 militants 9 8 Total 9 Attacks 5 5 4 3 2.8.2 Political Violence

As cited earlier, the number of incidents of KP Balochistan Total political/ethnic violence took a significant

57 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 downward turn, from 22 in 2018 to eight including police inspector Zaheer in Bannu, (8) in the year under review. The number and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz local of people killed in these incidents also leader Feroz Shah Advocate in Mingora. decreased, from 11 in 2018 to six (6) in 2019. Incidents of political and ethnic 2.9 Border Attacks violence were reported from six (6) districts With a slight decline of over 2 percent of the country including three (3) from Karachi, and one incident each from Bajaur, from the year before, a combined total of 128 cross-border attacks was reported Bannu, Mansehra, South Waziristan and from Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (4 attacks), India (123) and Iran (one Those killed in Karachi in such violence attack). Similarly, down by about 18 included: a worker of Muttahida Qaumi percent from 2018, a total of 91 people Movement – Pakistan’s (MQM-P); two were killed in these attacks; another 245 workers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e- were also injured. Those 91 Pakistani Insaf (PTI); and a leader of the Pak citizens killed in cross-border attacks Sarzameen Party (PSP), Abdul Habib. included 61 civilians, 29 army officials, and one Rangers personnel. Table 8: Incidents of Political/ Election-related Violence in Pakistan The situation at Pakistan’s border with

India – mainly along the Line of Control

(LoC) in Azad Kashmir – remained

relatively more volatile, particularly after Killed

No. of No. of February 26th when Indian military

Region

District Injured Incidents planes violated the LoC, intruding from Bajaur 1 0 1 the Muzaffarabad sector and reaching Bannu 1 1 1 Balakot, where they dropped their Khyber Mansehra 1 0 4 payload in an open space after a quick Pakhtunkhwa South 1 0 0 response from , and Waziristan escaped. Next day, Swat 1 1 0 aircraft reportedly entered Pakistani KP Total 5 2 6 airspace following Pakistani Air Force Sindh Karachi 3 4 1 strikes across the LoC. According to ISPR Sindh Total 3 4 1 statement, PAF shot down two Indian Total (Pakistan) 8 6 7 aircraft inside Pakistani airspace and arrested one Indian pilot who was later In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two people lost released as a gesture of peace. their lives in incidents of political violence

58 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

In 2019, as many as 123 cross-border In March, Pakistani militants based in attacks were reported form India – Afghanistan targeted a Pakistani security compared to 109 such attacks in 2018 – post in border town of Loe Shalman which claimed 85 lives and injured 226 (Khyber). Nobody was hurt on the others in different districts of AJK as well Pakistani side. The Pakistani border as along Sialkot Working Boundary. security forces targeted militant positions with heavy artillery after the incident and Meanwhile while the single cross-border reportedly damaged 3 hideouts of militants attack from Iran did not cause any in Afghanistan.100 casualty, 4 reported attacks from Afghanistan killed 6 army soldiers and In May, Pakistani Taliban militants injured 19 others in North Waziristan, sheltered in Afghanistan perpetrated a Upper Dir and Chitral; one such attack major cross-border attack inside North also happened in Khyber but did not Waziristan. Reportedly, three soldiers of cause any casualty. the Pakistan Army were martyred and seven others suffered injuries in the Table 9: Border Attacks/Clashes in Alwara Mandai area of North Waziristan 2019 tribal district when a group of between 60

Nature of No. of to 70 terrorists from across the Afghan Killed Injured Attack Attacks border attacked the troops undertaking Pak-Afghan the border fencing. A number of attackers 4 6 19 border were killed and wounded while several Pak-India border 123 85 226 others fled as the Pakistan Army repulsed Pak-Iran border 1 0 0 the assault.101 Total 128 91 245 Later in the year, in September, militants 2.9.1 Pak-Afghan opened fire from across the Pak-Afghan border on Pakistani troops busy in fencing Down 75 percent from previous year, 4 the border. As a result, 3 soldiers were cross-border attacks took place from martyred, identified as Lance Naik Said Afghanistan in multiple districts of Khyber Amin Afridi, Lance Naik Muhammad Shoaib Pakhtunkhwa. These attacks claimed 6 Swati, and Sepoy Kashif Ali, while one lives – all army soldiers – and injured 19 soldier got injured.102 others including 14 army soldiers and 5 civilians. Security forces and their check- In October, Afghan security forces fired posts, mainly in parts of KP bordering on mortars and heavy machine guns from Afghanistan, were targeted in all of these Nari district in the Kunar province attacks. targeting civilian population in Arundu

59 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 village of Chitral. Six soldiers and five Chart 6: Trends of Cross-border civilians were injured during the ensuing Attacks from India in 2019 exchange of fire at the Pakistan-

Afghanistan border between security Injured 103 forces of both sides. Killed

In a historic move in January 2019, the Cross-border attacks government announced round-the-clock opening of the Torkham border with Afghanistan. “The decision taken on the directive of Prime Minister Imran Khan had the backing of the army and all other stakeholders,” Adviser to the PM on Establishment and Fata Reforms Shahzad Arbab was quoted by media as saying.104 The action was seen as helpful in boosting people to people contact as well as trade ties between the two countries.

2.9.2 Pak-India Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Out of 123 cross-border attacks by Indian In January, as many as 11 out of the BSF, 117 concentrated along the LoC in reported 14 cross-border attacks from 11 districts of AJK and one district of KP India happened across the Line of Control (Mansehra). As many as 6 of these in Bagh, Bhimber, Hattian, Kotli, Neelum attacks happened in Sialkot along the and Poonch districts of Azad Jammu and Working Boundary with India. Kotli (33 Kashmir (AJK). Three cross-border attacks attacks), Bhimber (22), Poonch (16), from India took place in Sialkot district Haveli (10) and Neelum (10 attacks) were along the Working Boundary. These the AJK districts most affected by Indian attacks killed, in all, one soldier of Pakistan cross-border attacks and incursions. army and three civilians. In one of these attacks, indiscriminate shelling by Indian Among those 85 Pakistani citizens killed in troops targeted civilian population in cross-border violence from India were 61 and surrounding hamlets of civilians, 23 army soldiers and one Rangers . A mortar shell landed in personnel. the courtyard of a house in Bugna village, killing Sajida Bibi, a 35-year-old mother of six.105

60 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

In February, Indian Air Force made a districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir major cross-border incursion inside (AJK). Two cross-border attacks from India Pakistan. Indian military planes violated took place in Sialkot district along the the Line of Control (LoC), intruding from Working Boundary and one happened in the Muzaffarabad sector in Azad Kashmir Mansehra, KP. In all, these attacks killed 5 and reaching Jaba, a small forest village civilians and one Rangers personnel and near Balakot in district Mansehra of KP. injured 22 civilians. After a timely response from Pakistan Air Force, they dropped their payload, which As many as 11 cross-border attacks were fell in an open space, and escaped. No loss recorded from India in March 2019 that of life was reported in the incursion. 106 concentrated along the Line of Control in 5 Local sources said a person was slightly different regions of Azad Jammu and injured and his house was partially Kashmir (AJK). In all, 12 people were killed damaged, which is situated close to the and 38 others injured in these attacks. place where Indian planes dropped bombs. Five of these attacks took place in Kotli Some trees were also damaged in the district alone causing 6 deaths and injuries attack. Indians said they hit a militant to another six people. Two such attacks in camp of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Bhimber district of AJK killed 4 people and killed dozens of militants; the JeM group injured 28 others. A single attack in had claimed the Pulwama attack inside Hattian killed 2 and wounded 4 people. India. The Indian claim was however Pakistan Army troops also shot down an refuted by Pakistani government, local Indian spying quadcopter in Rakh Chikri people, as well as national and Sector (Poonch district) along Line of international media. Control, tweeted Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, Director-General of the Inter-Services A day later, Pakistani and Indian air forces Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s engaged in skirmishes along the LoC in media affairs wing.107 Bhimber district in which 2 IAF jet fighters were destroyed and an Indian pilot In April,9 reported attacks from Indian arrested, who was later freed by Pakistan side killed six people and injured 15 others as a peace gesture. The incident flared up across the LoC in AJK. Kotli, Haveli, the border with frequent clashes as Bhimber, Poonch and districts described below, after the table. of AJK were affected by Indian firing and shelling in these attacks. On April 2, three As many as 9 out of the reported 12 cross- army soldiers lost their lives and another border attacks from India in February was injured when Indian troops resorted happened across the Line of Control in to fire in Rakh Chikri sector in Rawalakot Poonch, Kotli, Bhimber, and Hattian along the Line of Control. The martyred

61 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 soldiers were identified as Subedar army soldiers and injured another one. Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Jhang The ISPR said the incidents were evident district in Punjab, Lance Havaldar of state-sponsored terrorism by India Azizullah, a resident of Naushahro Feroze violating bilateral ceasefire agreement and district in Sindh, and Sepoy Shahid Mansib, international rules.109 a resident of Abbottabad district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.108 In August, India revoked Article 370 of its Constitution, thus abolishing the The months of May and June witnessed a special status of the Jammu and Kashmir. relative decline in cross-border attacks The revocation meant Indians from from India. In May, 5 reported cross- outside the Indian held Jammu and border attacks from India concentrated Kashmir (IHK) could now permanently along LoC in Kotli, Bhimber, Poonch and settle, buy land, hold government jobs and Rawalakot districts of AJK. These attacks secure education scholarships in IHK. claimed 3 lives and injured as many While the verdict sowed the seeds of others. In June, two cross-border attacks internal resistance inside IHK, it also were reported from Indian side increased tension at the LoC amidst concentrated along LoC in of heated exchanges of statements between AJK. leaders of the two countries. On the whole, 13 cross-border attacks from India However, in June, the situation at the LoC were recorded in August 2019 that claimed in Azad Kashmir again became tense amid the lives of 14 people – 5 Pakistani army repeated ceasefire violations by the Indian soldiers and 9 civilians – and injured 10 Border Security Force (BSF). In all, 10 others. The cross-border attacks from cross-border attacks from India were India happened in 6 districts of AJK recorded during the month that claimed including 6 from Poonch and 3 from Kotli the lives of 11 people – 6 Pakistani army districts; one attack happened in each of soldiers and 5 civilians – and injured 40 Bagh, Bhimber, Jhelum Valley, Kotli and others. These attacks happened in more Neelum districts. On August 15th, three than 6 districts of AJK as well as in Sialkot Pakistani army soldiers lost their lives in along the Working Boundary. Bhimber and Indian shelling and firing along the Line of Kotli were however more affected, Control. Lance Naik Taimoor, Naik Tanveer compared to other regions. On July 3rd, & Sepoy Ramazan were among those who according to military sources quoted by were martyred during Indian firing across Dawn, five to six IED blasts occurred the LoC in Leepa Sector of Jhelum around 500-600 meters within the LoC Valley. 110 Next day,another soldier of the when Pakistani soldiers were on a routine Pakistan Army Sepoy Mohammad Sheraz patrol in the afternoon. The blasts killed 5

62 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 was martyred in Battal sector (of Poonch and indiscriminate shelling from across the district) in firing by Indian troops across restive LoC in different villages of Neza Pir the LoC.111 Later on August 31st, a soldier sector of . 115 Later, on of Pakistan army, Ejaz, was martyred in October 20th, another five people were Indian BSF firing and shelling in Haji Pir killed and as many other were injured in 3 sector.112 cross-border incidents of shelling in . Similarly, on October In September, 11 cross-border attacks 24th, Indian BSF targeted civilian from India happened in 5 districts of AJK populations in Nauseri, Leepa, Tatwal, including 5 from Kotli and 3 from Bagh Jura, Shahkot, Athmuqam and some other districts; one attack happened in each of areas in and around Neelum Valley. In all, Hattian, Haveli and Neelum districts. On 3 people were killed and 10 injured.116 September 6th, people had gathered along the LoC in Kotli to protest against Indian Marking a significant decline from the atrocities in Indian held Kashmir. At least previous month, seven cross-border three people were injured when Indian attacks happened along the LoC in security forces opened fire on the November. These attacks claimed one life protestors.113 Later, on September 11th, a and injured 8 others. In December,9 such Pakistan Army soldier was martyred after attacks killed five and wounded 8 others in Indian troops resorted to firing from across Bhimber, Haveli, , Kotli, the Line of Control in Hajipir sector of Azad Neelum, and Poonch districts of AJK. Jammu and Kashmir. The soldier was According to the military's media wing identified as Sepoy Ghulam Rasool, who ISPR, two Pakistan Army soldiers, Naib hailed from Bahawalnagar.114 Subedar Kandero and Sepoy Ehsan, were martyred in Indian ceasefire violations In October, the security situation at the along the restive Line of Control (LoC) in Line of Control (LoC) with India further Dewa Sector on December 26th.117 deteriorated. Indian Border Security Force (BSF) perpetrated 20 cross-border attacks Earlier, on December 22nd, Army Chief in Pakistani administered or Azad Kashmir, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Line which claimed 17 lives – 15 civilians and 2 of Control in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, soldiers – and injured 59 others. These where he said that the armed forces are attacks happened in 6 districts of AJK "fully prepared to thwart any including 5 in each of Haveli and Neelum misadventure" or aggression for the districts, 4 in Bhimber, 3 in Muzaffarabad, country's defence, the military's media 2 in Poonch and one in Kotli district. On wing announced. The visit came as Indian October 15th, at least three civilians were and Pakistani troops have killed and another eight injured in intense been exchanging fire across the restive

63 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 border, with casualties caused on both Table 10: Regional Distribution of sides.118 Cross-border Attacks

2.9.3 Pak-Iran Border District Attacks Killed Injured

In a single reported cross-border attack Chitral (KP) 1 0 11 from Iran in 2019, on January 18th, Khyber (KP) 1 0 0 Iranian border security guards fired

North Afghan

several mortar shells that landed and Waziristan 1 3 7 - exploded in the Talab area of Chagai (KP)

Pak Pak Upper Dir 1 3 1 district. The explosions caused panic (KP) among area residents. However, no Total 4 6 19 casualty was reported as the shells landed Bagh (LoC) 5 3 0 and exploded away from human Bhimber 22 16 51 settlements.119 (LoC) Hattian (LoC) 5 4 8 In July, Pakistan and Iran reached an understanding to expedite the processes Haveli (LoC) 10 8 34 Jhelum of opening of new border crossings and 3 3 3 Valley (LoC) effective border management. The Kotli (LoC) 33 12 43 decision was taken at the second session LoC 6 7 34

of a meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Higher (Unspecified)

India

Border Commission (HBC); HBC was set up - Mansehra (KP through 1 0 0

in 2017 for better border management and Pak LoC) had first met in July 2017. Pakistan’s Muzaffarabad 3 5 5 Foreign Office said in a statement: “During (LoC) Neelum 10 11 31 the session, the two sides held (LoC) constructive discussions for effective Poonch (LoC) 16 10 14 implementation of existing border Rawalakot 3 4 2 mechanisms within the relevant (LoC) frameworks including the agreement for Sialkot (WB) 6 2 1 administration of Pakistan-Iran border of Total 123 85 226 1960.” The both sides also discussed the

Chagai

- 1 0 0 need of exchanging maps and prospect of (Balochistan)

120 Iran fencing the border. Pak Total 1 0 0

Total from 3 borders 128 91 245

64

CHAPTER 3

Militant landscape of Pakistan in 2019

Muhammad Amir Rana*

* Muhammad Amir Rana is Director of Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). He has authored several books, most recently of “The Militant: Development of a Jihadi character in Pakistan”, which won the German Peace Prize in 2014.

The year 2019 proved another fatal year which claimed 80 lives and wounded for the militant groups in Pakistan as they another 162 people. Meanwhile, 14 of the suffered huge losses both in terms of reported terrorist attacks in 2019 were damage to their operational capacities as sectarian-related – two more from the well as elimination of their leaders, year before – which killed 38 people and including in Afghanistan. The head of the inflicted injuries on 78 others. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Asim Omer was killed in The geographical distribution of the Afghanistan, 121 and two of the most reported terrorist attacks in 2019 wanted ISIS or Daesh terrorists Maulvi suggested that militants’ operational Abdullah Barohi and Hafeez Barohi were spaces are shrinking and getting confined killed in a police encounter in Shikarpur, to certain regions. In 2019, northern, interior Sindh on February 28th. The latter Pashtun-populated districts of Balochistan were alleged masterminds of many suicide including Loralai, Ziarat and Qilla Abdullah attacks including Lal Shahbaz Qalandar emerged as new targets of the TTP and its shrine blast that had killed over 80 splinters groups, where these group people. 122 Abdullah Barohi was head of perpetrated 10 attacks including one ISIS in Sindh. These deaths caused a suicide blast, which caused in all 35 major dent to the operational capabilities deaths. of these groups as Daesh claimed only a In Balochistan and tribal districts of KP single terrorist attack, a suicide blast that province, mainly North Waziristan, targeted Hazara community in Quetta militants were still able to perpetrate some killing 21 people, including the bomber, high intensity and high profile attacks in and wounding 48 others.123 2019, though with less frequency The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its compared to past years. Indeed, North splinter groups Hizbul Ahrar and Jamaatul Waziristan reemerged as a major Ahrar, as well as other militant groups with flashpoint of insecurity and militant similar objectives such as local Taliban violence where 53 terrorist attacks took groups, Lashkar-e-Islam and ISIS-affiliates place, or over 42 percent of the total remained active in parts of the country but reported attacks from KP, which killed 57 most of their activities remained people and injured 93 others. concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and While the TTP still remained the Balochistan provinces. In all, these groups perpetrator of most acts of terrorism in the perpetrated 158 terrorist attacks – country, its splinter Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) compared to 171 in previous year – which suffered further losses. Since the killing of killed 239 people and injured 489 others. its head last year, the internal differences Meanwhile nationalist insurgent groups, have further weakened the group. In mainly Baloch, carried out 57 attacks – as 2019, JuA claimed a single attack, in KP. compared to 80 such attacks in 2018 – However, a breakaway faction of JuA, Pakistan Security Report | 2019 which identified itself as Hizbul 3.1 Major Actors of Instability Ahrar, registered its presence in Punjab in 2019 and Karachi apart from KP’s tribal districts by launching 14 attacks, which indicated 3.1.1. Religiously-inspired Militant that the Pakistani Taliban militants could Groups still pose a potent threat. • Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Nonetheless, in 2019, LeJ and its global arm have further lost their operational The TTP has remained the major actor of strength, and similarly, as cited earlier, instability in 2019.It was found involved in Daesh also failed to keep its operational 82 terrorist attacks, out of which 69 were momentum as of the previous years. reported from KP province and 13 from Balochistan. Combined together, these Among nationalist insurgent groups, attacks by the TTP claimed 150 lives and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) left 276 others injured. (See Tables 1 & 2) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) were the In 2018, the group had carried out 79 leading actors of instability in attacks that killed 185 people. The Balochistan province. BLA’s attack on statistical comparison shows that the Chinese consulate in Karachi was alarming operational capabilities of the group are as it was one of the major terrorist attacks still intact and the group has extended its by the Baloch insurgents, which they outreach in northern districts of conducted away from Balochistan Balochistan, as noted earlier, where the province. group had launched a total of 10 terrorist attacks in Loralai, Ziarat and Qilla Abdullah This chapter will examine some significant killing 35 people. The TTP also perpetrated developments, which shaped the militant 3 attacks in Quetta that claimed 13 lives. landscape in 2019. It will also focus on changing targets and tactics of the groups In 2019, the TTP has also suffered few and changing dynamics of the militancy in losses. On April 19th, security forces Pakistan. arrested one of its important commanders, Azeem Khan alias Qari Khaksar, in Mansehra, who was involved in the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in the port city Karachi. He was also the mastermind of a suicide bombing in Quetta and an attack against retired General .124

68 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

The TTP is apparently also struggling to group killed 23 people and injured 63 come back to its traditional hub in South others. In Rawalpindi, the group killed 3 and North Waziristan. Apart from policemen in target killings. In Lahore, it perpetrating terrorist attacks against the perpetrated a major suicide blast targeting security forces and tribal elders, it was a police van that caused 12 fatalities also trying to re-cultivate its support base including of 5 policemen. in these areas of KP. It has started issuing warnings to local tribesmen and • Local Taliban instructions to impose its social-ideological The small militant groups in KP and its order. The group has distributed letters tribal districts, described as the local several times in 2019 warning against Taliban, carried out 29 terrorist attacks in playing music and women going out 2019, which claimed 21 lives. In 2018, the alone.125 local Taliban groups had claimed 28 The US treasury department has also attacks. Continuing attacks by them included the name of the TTP head, Waliur suggests that small radical groups in KP Rehman Mehsud in the list of the province are still active and have attraction international terrorists.126 in their cause as most of such attacks are religiously motivated and targeted against • Jamaatul Ahrar and Hizbul Ahrar schools, polio workers, security forces and tribesmen. 2019 was the worst year for Jamaatul Ahrar, a TTP splinter, which had managed • Lashkar-e-Islam some high profile terrorist attacks during previous years. During the year under Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) – a Khyber district- review, however, the group managed only based militant group and an important ally one attack in KP in which it killed one of Islamic State Khorasan chapter in person. The internal fissures, surrender of Afghanistan is also losing its strength. its few important commanders to security Many of its important commanders have forces and reunion of its few commanders been killed, either by the security forces or with the TTP were the few reasons behind due to internal fighting, in Pakistan and the weakening organizational structure of Afghanistan. One of its leading the Jamaatul Ahrar. On the other hand, its commander Wajid Malakdinkhel was shot breakaway faction Hizbul Ahrar has dead after he exchanged hot words with showed its strength in 2019, while the rival group of Qari Sulaim over some 127 managing 14 terrorist attacks, in which 10 issues. The group was found involved in were perpetrated in KP, 3 in Punjab and two terrorist attacks in 2019, compared to one in Baluchistan. In these attacks the 10 in 2018.

69 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Table 1: Terrorist Attacks

Claimed/Perpetrated by Terrorist

Groups

KP

ISB

Total

Punjab

Karachi

Karachi)

Balochistan

Organization

Sindh(excluding

BRAS (an alliance of 1 - - - - - 1

KP ISB

Total BLA, BLF and BRG

Punjab

Karachi Karachi)

Balochistan ISIS affiliates/ 1 - - - - - 1 Organization

Sindh(excluding supporters

Tehreek-e-Taliban 13 69 - - - - 82 Total 84 125 5 4 10 1 229 Pakistan (TTP) Jamaatul Ahrar - 1 - - - - 1 • Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Lashkar-e-Islam - 2 - - - - 2 The killing of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Local Taliban - 29 - - - - 29 October 2019 was a big blow for the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi 3 - - - 5 - 8 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and (LeJ) Balochistan 25 - 1 1 - - 27 its chapters across the world including its Liberation Army Khorasan chapter for Afghanistan and (BLA) Pakistan. Though the group has Balochistan 11 - - - - - 11 announced a separate chapter for Liberation Front Pakistan,128 but so far it has failed to show (BLF) its presence in the country. In 2018, ISIS Balochistan 5 - 1 - - - 6 Republican Army had showed its strong presence in (BRA) Balochistan and it was found involved in Lashkar-e- 6 - - - - - 6 four major terrorist attacks in the province. Balochistan However, in 2019 it has failed to carry the Sindhu Desh - - - 1 - - 1 momentum and accepted the responsibility Liberation Front (SDLF) of one terrorist attack in Quetta that Sindhu Desh - - - 1 - - 1 claimed about 20 lives. One major factor Revolutionary Army behind the withering attraction of ISIS Sipah-e-Muhammad - - - - 2 - 2 within militant circles is death of Abu Bakr Pakistan Al-Baghdadi and its territorial losses in Rival Sectarian 2 1 - - - - 3 Syria. The other factor is killing of its top group leaders in Pakistan including Abdullah Nationalist 2 - - 1 - - 3 insurgents Barohi and Hafeez Barohi. In Balochistan, Hizbul Ahrar 1 10 3 - - - 14 multiple operations were launched against Unknown militants 14 13 - - 3 1 31 the ISIS operatives in which several

70 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 members of the group were killed by the agencies busted media cell of the AQIS in law enforcement agencies. Gujranwala, and arrested five senior and important members of the group.131 These For instance, on May 16th, nine suspected reports indicate that the group is still militants were killed and four security surviving and could have similar cells in personnel injured in a gun battle during other parts of the country. security operation in Qabo-Koh-i-Mehran area of Mastung district. The Islamic State • Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group was using the hideout along with other terrorist outfits, which the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a fatal Sunni security sources targeted in operation. A sectarian terrorist group, was found heavy cache of arms and ammunition, responsible for 8 terrorist attacks in 2019 including a huge quantity of explosive, comparing 7 attacks in 2018. Five of these rockets, grenades, rocket launchers and attacks were reported from Karachi, and 3 suicide jackets, was recovered from the from Balochistan province. There were hideout of the militants.129 several reports indicating that LeJ is once again focusing on Karachi and this was • Al-Qaeda in the Indian revealed during the interrogation of the Subcontinent LeJ’s arrested terrorists by law enforcement agencies.132 Though Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) was not found • Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan involved in any terrorist attack during 2019 in Pakistan, but law enforcement A Shia militant group got activated in departments still considered it a potent Karachi after a long interval in 2019. The threat. An appraisal by the Counter- group was found involved in two terrorist Terrorism Department (CTD) noted that incidents in the city. the banned AQIS was regrouping in Table 2: Casualties in Terrorist Karachi, apparently to carry out some Attacks major attacks. 130 The report that AQIS’s Indian-born chief Asim Umar was killed in Group Killed Injured Afghanistan in September would have Responsible been a major setback to the group as he TTP Balochistan: Balochistan: 48 110 was the founder of the group and had KP: 102 KP: 166 maintained links with the banned TTP as Total: 150 Total: 276 well as other terrorist groups and was said Jamaatul Ahrar KP: 1 KP: 3 to be a major propagandist for Al Qaeda. Total: 1 Total: 3 Lashkar-e- KP: 2 KP: 0 In December 2019, law enforcement Islam Total: 2 Total: 0

71 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Group Group Killed Injured Killed Injured Responsible Responsible Local Taliban KP: 21 KP: 44 Unknown Balochistan: Balochistan: Total: 21 Total: 44 militants 25 81 LeJ Balochistan: 4 Balochistan: KP: 10 KP: 23 Karachi: 6 23 Islamabad: 2 Islamabad: 1 Total: 10 Total: 23 Karachi: 6 Karachi: 2 BLA Balochistan: Balochistan: Total: 43 Total: 107 34 120 BRAS (an Balochistan: Balochistan: Sindh (excl. Sindh (excl. alliance of 14 0 Karachi): 1 Karachi): 0 BLA, BLF and Punjab:5 Punjab: 0 BRG Total: 40 Total: 120 ISIS Balochistan: Balochistan: BLF Balochistan: Balochistan: affiliates/suppo 21 48 14 22 rters Total: 14 Total: 22 Total 357 729 BRA Balochistan: 1 Balochistan: 8 3.1.2 Nationalist Insurgent Groups Lashkar-e- Balochistan: 2 Balochistan: Balochistan 12 Around seven Baloch insurgent groups are Sindhu Desh Sindh (excl. Sindh (excl. active in Balochistan but the Balochistan Liberation Karachi): 0 Karachi): 0 Front (SDLF) Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Sindhu Desh Sindh: 0 Sindh:0 Liberation Front (BLF) are the major Revolutionary groups which represent the new Army generation of the insurgents mainly Sipah-e- Karachi: 2 Karachi: 0 coming from the urban background. (For Muhammad Pakistan details see Chapter 5). On the whole, BLA Rival sectarian KP: 1 KP: 1 and BLF perpetrated 38 terrorist attacks in group Balochistan: 3 Balochistan: 2019, including 36 in Balochistan, and one Total: 4 2 attack each in south Punjab and Sindh. Total: 3 Nationalist Balochistan: 6 Balochistan: Their operational capabilities vary but their insurgents Sindh (excl. 0 areas of operations are shrinking into Karachi): 3 Sindh (excl. pockets. Still some insurgent groups have Total: 9 Karachi): 0 been successful in targeting the China Total: 0 Hizbul Ahrar Balochistan: 0 Balochistan: Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related KP: 7 10 projects and sites to show their anger Punjab: 16 KP: 12 against the economic cooperation venture Total: 23 Punjab: 41 of the both countries. Many of the Baloch Total: 63 groups have been using Afghanistan as their hideout but for last two years, at least, but recently these groups have also

72 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 been using Iranian territory to hide and 2018. In these attacks 14 people were launch operations against Pakistan. 133 To killed and 22 got injured. BLF attacks enhance the impact of their terrorist mainly remained confined in the southern activities, BLA, BLF and few small coastal Makran belt and Khuzdar. insurgent groups have formed an alliance called BRAS and under this banner they • Baloch Republican Army launched a joint operation in Gwadar in Baloch Republican Army (BRA) was found April 2019 in which they killed 11 involved in 6 terrorist attacks in 2019 personnel of Navy, Air Force and Coast comparing 12 terrorist attacks in 2018.Five Guards besides 3 others. of these attacks were confined mainly in • Balochistan Liberation Army Dera Bugti and Kholu districts of Balochistan and one attack was reported Altogether, Balochistan Liberation Army from south Punjab. These attacks killed (BLA) managed 27 terrorist attacks in one person and injured 8 others. 2019 – including 25 in Balochistan, and one each in southern Punjab and interior • Lashkar-e-Balochistan Sindh – killing 40 people and injuring 120 Lashkar-e-Balochistan carried out 6 low- people. (See Table 1 and 2) These attacks intensity terrorist attacks in 2019. The are bit higher comparing with 25 attacks group was mainly active in Makran coastal launched by the group in 2018. belt and neighboring districts. Traditionally Baloch insurgents rely on low • Sindhu Desh Liberation Army or intensity subversion acts and attacks, but Front (SDLA) gradually they are adopting more sophisticated terror techniques. After a The Sindhi nationalist groups including the coordinated assault on Chinese Consulate SDLA, also known as SDLF, and Sindhu in Karachi in 2018, BLA launched its Desh Revolutionary Army (SDRA) were deadliest ever coordinated fidayee assault believed to be involved in 2 small-scale on Pear Continental Hotel in Gwadar on terrorist attacks in 2019 in interior Sindh, May 11, 2019. 134 After increasing attacks which did not cause any casualty. by the BLA, the US state Department has also designated BLA as terrorist group.135 3.1.3 ‘Unidentified’ Militants

• Balochistan Liberation Front The religiously motivated militants, whose group identities and The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) organizational affiliations were not defined carried out 11 terrorist attacks in 2019, all or reported by media and law enforcement in Balochistan, compared to 22 attacks in

73 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 and security officials, were involved in 31 Internal Security Committee, which was terrorist attacks across the country. This dominated by a review of progress on number is higher comparing with 2018 NAP. National Counter Terrorism Authority when such militants conducted 27 attacks. (NACTA) had revised its list of banned organizations more than three-time last 3.1.4 Banned Organizations year and added 10 organizations in its list linked with Jamaatud Daawa (JuD) and After the decision by the National Security Jiash-e-Muhammad (JeM).137 Committee meeting on February 21st 2019, law enforcement agencies had taken According to media reports, Pakistan’s Nat- more visible and serious action against the ional Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) banned militant organizations, which had also banned two more militant groups, been involved in Indian held Kashmir and Hizbul Ahrar and Balochistan Raaji Ajoi-R- continuing their welfare and political Sangar (BRAS), under Section 11-B of the activities overtly and covertly in Pakistan. Anti-Terrorism Act. The ban has put the After the decision, all provinces started members and activities of these groups taking action against banned group mainly under surveillance.138 Jaish-e-Muhammad and Jamaatud Dawa by taking control of their entities as well as 3.1.5 The Most Wanted Terrorists through arrests of some of their leaders. Top 13 leaders of the banned JuD, Though a comprehensive and countrywide including its chief Hafiz Saeed and naib list of most wanted terrorists is still a emir Abdul Rehman Makki, were booked in dream but provincial Counter Terrorism 23 cases relating to terror financing and Department (CTD) kept issuing their red money laundering registered at CTD police books with little additions in it. CTD Punjab stations in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, has prepared a list of 22 most wanted Sahiwal, and Sargodha on July terrorists involved in suicide bombings and 1 and 2.136 terrorist activities in Punjab. Most of the terrorists belong to the TTP. Matiur Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed his Rehman aka Samad Siyal has topped the government’s zero tolerance policy while list of the most wanted terrorists for last chairing the first session of the National several years.139

74

CHAPTER 4

State Responses

Safdar Sial*

* Safdar Hussain, nom de plume Safdar Sial, is Joint Director at PIPS and Associate Editor of Conflict and Peace Studies journal. He has also co-authored “Dynamics of Taliban Insurgency in FATA” and “Radicalization in Pakistan”.

4.1 Operational Front operational strikes in 2019 in 21 districts and regions of Pakistan. As cited earlier, Security forces and law enforcement these actions killed a total of 81 people, as agencies killed as many as 113 militants in compared to 77 in 2018 and injured 19 2019 in military/security operations as well others. Those 81 killed included 75 as their armed clashes and encounters militants and six (6) personnel of security with the militants – compared to 105 and law enforcement agencies. militants killed in such actions in 2018. These operations and clashes/encounters Out of the total 28 operational strikes were not confined to a particular area or reported in 2019, as many as 15 were region but were reported from across all conducted in KP, 11 in Balochistan, and regions of Pakistan, as given at Tables 1 & one each in Punjab and Sindh. There were 2, respectively. only three (3) districts where more than one anti-militant operation happened Apart from those actions, security and law including DI Khan (5) and North Waziristan enforcement personnel, mainly the (3) in KP, and Kech (2) in Balochistan. Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTDs) of police, apprehended a total of 231 Table 1: Operational Attacks by suspected terrorists and members of Security Forces, against Militants and militant groups in 99 search and combing Insurgents

operations conducted all over the country.

These search operations did not include

several other similar actions in which

Killed

Attacks Injured District suspects were arrested and mostly Region Chagai 1 0 0 released after preliminary investigation. Dera Bugti 1 3 0 Gwadar 1 6 1 Furthermore, security forces foiled at least Kech 2 5 0 12 major terror bids or plots, either Loralai 1 4 4 Mastung 1 9 4 independently or in collaboration with Multiple 1 2 0

Bomb Disposal Squads, mainly by Districts Balochistan recovering and defusing IEDs planted by Nasirabad 1 1 0 Panjgur 1 4 0 militants. These also included a few Quetta 1 7 6 incidents where militants could not reach Total 11 41 15 their targets and their suicide vests or Bajaur 1 1 0 IEDs they planted exploded by accident. DI Khan 5 12 1

4.1.1 Military / Security Operations Hangu 1 4 0

Kohat 1 0 1 Compared to 31 in the year before, North 3 5 0

security forces and law enforcement Waziristan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber agencies conducted 28 anti-militant Nowshera 1 2 0

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

killed were identified as Orakzai TTP

commander Islam and his 3 aides

Killed

Attacks Injured District Region Laiq, Mohibullah and Shahid. They

Peshawar 1 7 0 were reportedly also involved in a South suicide blast in Hangu on November 1 3 0 Waziristan 23rd 2018.143 Tank 1 4 0 − : Army and paramilitary Total 15 38 2 forces conducted a joint operation in

Faisalabad 1 2 0 Payang area of Tank adjacent to the

South Waziristan tribal district where

Total 1 2 0 Punjab militants were reportedly hiding in a Kashmore

1 0 2 cave, which was used as a hideout. Four militants were killed in the Sindh Total 1 0 2 operation including a militant 144 81 (75 19 (2 commander Qari Zahir Shah. Total Pakistan 28 militants) militant − March 20: In an intelligence-based 140 s)141 operation in Chagai near Pak-Afghan border, Pakistan’s security forces Some major security or counterterrorism recovered four abducted Iranian operations, or in which some important soldiers after an exchange of fire with militants were killed, are listed below: Afghanistan-based terrorists. The − January 15: The Counter-Terrorism operation was launched after receiving Department (CTD) claimed to have information that terrorists of a killed two militants, Adeel Hafeez and proscribed organisation had entered Usman Haroon, associated with the Pakistan from Afghanistan along with militant Islamic State group, or ISIS, the abducted Iranian soldiers.145 who were allegedly involved in the − March 26: Personnel of the kidnapping of former prime minister counterterrorism department, Frontier Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son. Militants Corps and other security agencies were hiding in a rented house near Pul conducted an operation in Loralai on Dengro on Sargodha Road in the basis of intelligence reports. Four Faisalabad. A local residing in the suicide bombers, one of them a neighborhood tipped off the police woman, blew themselves up during about them.142 the raid. Four security persons were − January 16: Four alleged TTP militants injured. The TTP has been active were killed in an operation by security recently in Loralai, Ziarat and adjacent forces conducted in Hangu. Those areas.146

78 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

− April 2: Central commander of a intelligence-based operation in the banned Baloch group, identified as Eastern Bypass area of Quetta. A Asad Yusuf, was killed along with 3 Balochistan Constabulary sepoy was aides in an operation conducted by also martyred and six security security forces in Panjgur.147 personnel were injured.150 − May 8: Two high profile Pakistani − December 6: Security forces Taliban terrorists were killed during an conducted an operation following a operation carried out by security tip-off and killed a wanted, high profile personnel in the Boya area of North militant Amir Grenadi and his aide Waziristan tribal district near the Ghulam Jilani in Zafarabad area of DI Afghan border. Infantry units of the Khan. The killed militants belonged to army and paramilitary forces had local Khiara Group of the Tehrik-i- launched a joint combing and search Taliban Pakistan.151 operation against militants in several areas of Datakhel tehsil. Reportedly 4.1.2 Security Forces’ Clashes and Afghan army was also coordinating in Encounters with Militants the search operation along the Security and law enforcement agencies border.148 also entered into in a total of 25 armed − May 16: Nine suspected militants were clashes and encounters with militants – killed and four security personnel one more than such incidents in previous injured in a gun battle during security year – across 15 districts/regions of the operation in Qabo-Koh-i-Mehran area country. These armed clashes and of Mastung district. The Islamic State encounters claimed 44 lives (38 militants; militant group was using the hideout 6 security personnel);as many as nine (9) along with other terrorist outfits, which security personnel were also injured in the security sources targeted in these incidents. About half of these operation. A heavy cache of arms and clashes, i.e. 12, took place in various ammunition, including a huge quantity districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, another of explosive, rockets, grenades, rocket six (6) happened in Balochistan, while four launchers and suicide jackets, was (4) such incidents took place in Sindh and recovered from the hideout of the three (3) in Punjab. militants.149 − September 4: Six suspected members Some of the reported clashes and of the militant Islamic State (IS) encounters between security, law group, including a local commander enforcement agencies and militants are and his sister, were killed in a gun described below in chronological order. battle with security forces during an

79 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Table 2: Clashes and Encounters suspects were identified as Kashif Langra between Security Forces and and Abdul Rehman.154 Militants

On February 28th, two of the most wanted

Daesh, or ISIS, terrorists were killed in a

police encounter in Shikarpur, interior of

Killed Sindh. One report said the operation took

Attacks Injured District Regions place in Dhadar, in Balochistan. The killed,

Loralai 2 5 5 Molvi Abdullah Brohi and Hafeez Brohi, Quetta 3 6 0 Sibi 1 1 0 were allegedly masterminds of many suicide attacks including Lal Shahbaz

Balochistan Total 6 12 5 Qalandar shrine blast that had killed over Bannu 2 3 3 80 people. 155 Abdullah Barohi was

D.I Khan 3 3 0 Lakki 2 4 0 reportedly head of ISIS in Sindh. Marwat Mardan 1 1 0 In May, two suspected terrorists were North 2 5 1 killed in an encounter with police in Waziristan Darweshabad area of Quetta. The Swat 1 1 0

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber terrorists were trying to enter a prohibited Tank 1 1 0 Total 12 18 4 area near the airport with an explosive-

Gujranwala 1 2 0 laden vehicle. Two other terrorists

Gujrat 1 3 0 managed to escape.156

Multan 1 2 0 Punjab Total 3 7 0 In DI Khan, police killed a TTP local

Karachi 3 5 0 commander Ziaullah and arrested his aide

Javed in an encounter in cantonment area Shikarpur 1 2 0 Sindh in June.157 The killed Ziaullah was wanted Total 4 7 0 44 (38 to police in at least 13 cases of terrorism. Pakistan Total 25 militants) 9153 152 Police and an intelligence agency killed 3 alleged high profile ISIS terrorists in an On January 19th, the CTD reportedly killed encounter in Khuda Bux Brohi Goth near two suspected terrorists in Ladhaywala Northern Bypass, Quetta on June 24th. Warraich, Gujranwala in an encounter Those killed were previously linked to Al- that continued for about 25 minutes. The Qaeda. One of them, Talat Mehmood alias suspects also blew up a car during Yusuf was AQIS chief in Karachi before exchange of fire with policemen. The killed joining ISIS. The other two included Sheikh Shahid, who was involved in the

80 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 killing of US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 Table 3: Suspected Terrorists and once a key leader of LeJ, and Usman Arrested in 2019

Noor Alam, who was previously an

important leader of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).158

Militant Organization

Search Search

Arrested Terrorists Terrorists

4.1.3 Terrorists Arrested Operations Afghan suspected militants 5 6 Security and law enforcement agencies Afghan Taliban 1 1 arrested 231 suspected terrorists and Al-Qaeda 1 2 members of militant groups in as many as Al-Qaeda in the Indian 2 8 99 search and combing operations Subcontinent National Front 1 14 conducted all over the country. These search operations do not include several Banned militant outfit (excluding 1 3 sectarian and tribal) other similar actions in which suspects Banned militant outfits 13 29 were arrested and mostly released after (inclusive of all) BLA 3 11 preliminary investigation. BLF 1 3 As in the year before, highest arrests were BRA 5 8 made of the TTP and local Taliban Hizbul Ahrar 2 7 ISIS 12 25 militants (60). In all, 32 members of Jaish-e-Mohammed 3 9 different unspecified banned groups were Jamaatud Dawa 2 7 also detained. Others among those Jandullah 2 2 arrested included 29 suspected militants Lashkar-e-Jhangvi 6 11 linked to different Baloch nationalist Lashkar-e-Taiba 1 1 groups. As many as 25 among those Local Taliban / TTP 28 60 detained were reportedly affiliated with MQM-L 2 3 ISIS, another 12 with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Nationalist insurgents 4 7 while at least 17 were suspected members Shia sectarian group 1 5 of Jamaatud Dawa and Jaish-e- Sipah-e-Muhammad 1 6 Muhammad. Meanwhile 10 operatives of Sunni Tehrik 1 1 Al-Qaeda were also arrested. (See Table 3) Unknown militants 1 2 Total 99 231 Table 3 lists organizational association and In March, two high profile militants number of different brands of suspected Mohammad Talah and Tayyab Shah were militants arrested across Pakistan by law arrested along with 3 accomplices in joint enforcers in 2019. operation conducted by the CTD and security officials in Mansehra (KP).159 The

81 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 detained terrorists had reportedly killed 8 operations. First on May 1st, a Jandullah staff members of INGO World Vision, militant Khan Badshah alias Umer Farooq, including four women, in Dogai area in who was in CTD’s Red Book, was arrested 2010, besides having perpetrated other in a joint raid carried out by the attacks. Reportedly they were planning to paramilitary force and the Counter- attack some major China-Pakistan Terrorism Department near Paracha Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the Chowk in Karachi. 164 Later, on May 6: province.160 District police officer Zaibullah police claimed to have arrested 5 persons, Khan was reported by media to have said including a journalist, for their alleged that “the [detained] terrorists belonging to involvement in sectarian killings in the city. the banned militant outfit TTP were also DIG-East Amir Farooqi identified those wanted for attacking the Pakistan Army’s held as Syed Matloob Hussain, a reporter convoy in Shinkiari, targeting an imam of Daily Jang, Syed Imran Haider Zaidi, bargah in Palas area, assaulting police in Waqar Raza, Mohammad Abbas and Syed different parts of the district, and Mohtasham at a press conference and committing targeted killings.”161 claimed they were behind many of the recent target killings in Karachi.165 In another incidence of high profile arrests in March, Shikarpur police arrested 4 In May, police claimed to have arrested 6 suspected ISIS operatives Hakeem persons from Lahore and Gujranwala who Banglani, Abdul Shakoor, Ishaq Jaffary and provided funds to Jaish-e-Muhammad. Farooq Soomro. They were described to Those arrested from Gujranwala, Iftikhar, be close aides of Hafeez Barohi and Emir Ajmal and Bilal, were later sent to jail by Abdullah, key ISIS leaders in Sindh and anti-terrorist court on 4 years’ jail terms Balochistan.162 after they were convicted. In another major operation in Lahore in May, the CTD On April 19, security forces arrested of Punjab and Intelligence Bureau arrested Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan commander the facilitator of Data Darbar suicide Azeem Khan alias Qari Khaksar, who was bomber. The arrested Mohsin Khan involved in the kidnapping and killing of belonged to Shabqadar area in Charsadda Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in and had reportedly received suicide bom- the port city and that he was also the ber Sadiqullah Momand, an Afghan mastermind of a suicide bombing in Quetta national who entered Pakistan through and an attack against retired General Torkham on May 6, and escorted him to Pervez Musharraf.163 Lahore for the May 8 strike.166

In May, two high profile arrests were On July 3rd, the police in Karachi claimed made in Karachi in two separate search to have arrested a central character

82 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 involved in the attack on Chinese 4.1.4 Failed/Foiled Terror Bids consulate, who had allegedly provided PKR 0.9 million to Rashid Barohi before the Furthermore, security forces foiled at least attack. 167 Again in Karachi, in September, 12 major terror bids or plots, either police claimed to have arrested four independently or in collaboration with suspected Lashkar-i-Jhangvi hitmen, who Bomb Disposal Squads, mainly by were involved in targeted killing of recovering and defusing IEDs planted by policemen, members of the Shia and militants. These also included a few Bohra communities and a deadly attack on incidents where militants could not reach a DSN of Samaa TV, said Central SSP Arif their targets and their suicide vests or Aslam Rao.168 IEDs they planted exploded by accident. (See Table 4) In November, the CTD officials arrested an alleged Al-Qaeda commander along with Table 4: Failed/Foiled Terror Bids in his aide in DI Khan and recovered 2019

explosives and weapons from them. Those

detained were identified as Ismail and Wali Responsible District

Mohammad and were reportedly planning group

Killed

Injured led led plots to attack the office of an intelligence Foiled/fai agency in the city. 169 Also in November, D.I Khan 2 0 0 Local Taliban the CTD with an intelligence agency in Unknown/unknown Layyah arrested three militants of militants Kalat 1 1 0 Unknown/unknown proscribed organisation Al Qaeda in the militants Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in Chobara Lakki 1 1 0 TTP town and seized explosives and cash from Marwat them.170 Loralai 1 0 0 Unknown/unknown militants On December 26th, the Punjab Counter Nasirabad 1 0 0 BLA Nowshera 1 0 7 Local Taliban Terrorism Department and an intelligence Rajanpur 1 0 0 BLA agency in a joint operation busted media Sibi 1 0 0 BLA cell of the AQIS in Gujranwala and South 1 1 0 TTP arrested 5 senior Al-Qaeda operatives. The Waziristan cell was also involved in financing terrorist Thatta 1 0 0 Sindhudesh Revolutionary operations of the AQIS. The raiding team Army of ISI and CTD recovered a large quantity Upper Dir 1 0 0 Local Taliban of media equipment, funds for terror Total 12 3 7 financing, suicide jackets, explosives and deadly arms.171

83

CHAPTER 5

Profile: Militant Landscape of Balochistan

Muhammad Amir Rana*

5.1 Nationalist Insurgency ...... 87 5.2 Religious & Sectarian Extremists...... 96

* Muhammad Amir Rana is Director of Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). He has authored several books, most recently of “The Militant: Development of a Jihadi character in Pakistan”, which won the German Peace Prize in 2014.

Balochistan has been experiencing terrorist and literacy rate increased in central and violence from multiple shades of militant southern or coastal Balochistan, mainly in groups including Baloch nationalist Makran region, a new cadre of young insurgent groups, so-called religiously nationalists also emerged. Some of these inspired local and international militant middle class youth gradually took over the groups such as Pakistani Taliban and ISIS- control of the insurgency in their region affiliates, and violent Sunni and Shia including Awaran, Kech and Gwadar, etc. sectarian groups. Some religious- Before the rise of these so-called urban- nationalist groups have also been active based, middle-class groups, mainly the along the province’s border with Iran Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), tribal mainly Iranian Jundullah and its splinter elders-led insurgent groups like Jaishul Adl. While the Baloch insurgent Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and groups aim to achieve nationalist goals, Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) were including also secessionist, the religiously the beneficiaries of the human resources inspired militant and sectarian groups have coming from different streams mainly largely religious-political goals, which at through Baloch Students Organization times also overlap. (BSO) and nationalist political movements. Therefore, the leaders of BLA and BRA, There has been a gradual decline in Hyrbiyar Marri and Barhamdagh Bugti, incidence of terrorist violence in respectively, had concerns about the Balochistan, in particular since 2013. emergence of a new leadership in the folds Weakening of different brands of militant of BLF, Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB) as well groups due to a continuing as hardline factions of (BSO). While the counterterrorism campaign across the BLA and BRA were traditionally stronger in country including in Balochistan, too, is the central and eastern districts of Balochistan, main factor. A huge security infrastructure the rise of BLF and LeB made the is also deployed in the province, including insurgency more active in southern also to protect CPEC-related projects districts attracting human resources from mainly Gwadar Port, which has different regions. significantly dented militants’ operational capabilities. Still many assert that Despite causing confrontation among the undercurrents of Baloch insurgency are insurgent groups, this divide also changed though largely dormant currently but the the characteristics of the whole insurgent factors of conflict are still there which movements. The leadership of the tribal could retrigger the insurgent violence. insurgent groups (BLA, BRA) lived in exile mainly in Europe from where they 5.1 Nationalist Insurgency operated through their commanders. Many of these local commanders were not Baloch nationalist insurgency was once trustworthy as they kept shifting their largely confined in tribal areas and led by loyalties from one group to another and tribal chieftains. As the middle class grew Pakistan Security Report | 2019 many had surrendered before the 5.1.1 Internal Fissures among government and security forces. The Insurgent Groups leaders of the urban insurgents however led from the front keeping full control on Various Baloch insurgent groups lack their organizations. They also considered mutual harmony for now. The BLA, BRA, tribal system oppressive as well as BLF, Lashkar-e-Balochistan etc., and expedient to reconcile with the power others have separatist and secessionist elites of the country without caring for the agendas. They don’t subscribe to the interests of the Baloch people. moderate nationalist view of attaining political autonomy and control over In this process, the profile of the insurgent Balochistan’s natural resources while leadership has also changed; many middle remaining within the framework of the class insurgents got education out of federation. Although Lashkar-e-Balochistan Balochistan, which helped them to absorb also has an anti-state agenda but it was new ideas and develop new paradigms on formed to counter the growing ambitions nationalism.172 They come from the cities of the BLA and the BLF, and to maintain like Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Quetta, the influence of Mengal Sardars in the Khuzdar, Turbat, Kharan, Lasbela or even province. Karachi. The tribal-led organizations were also forced to bring innovations in their Two views prevail regarding the nature structures. The non-Marri BLA was and level of the current insurgency in reorganized and restructured on the lines Balochistan. According to one viewpoint, it of BLF by Aslam Achu, who was killed in is violent anarchism rather than a classical Kandhar in a suicide attack in December insurgency. Analysts subscribing to this 2018.173 view opine that the present insurgent movement not only lacks a charismatic While the geographical balance of the leadership unlike past insurgencies in insurgency has largely shifted to the Balochistan but it is also divided amid southwest of the province, the insurgents frequent infightings and lacks coordination. have also changed the operational The Baloch insurgency in 1958 was led by strategies and tactics. The perpetration of Nawab , who was highly suicide attacks by the nationalist revered by his followers. Similarly, the insurgents in 2018 is a case in point, which second insurgency from 1963-69 was led indicates a major shift in their operations. by Sher Muhammad Marri. The Parari The tribal insurgent groups were following guerrilla movement of the 1970s was led classical guerrilla tactics of hit and run and by Nawab , who also damaging the state infrastructure. enjoyed the support of notable Baloch leaders such as Sardar Attaullah Mengal,

88 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Sher Muhammad Marri and Nawab Akbar low-level guerrilla warfare or low-intensity Bugti. The perceived leaders in the present internal armed conflict. The intensity of conflict are hardly a comparison, as Nawab violence fluctuates from low to medium ’s grandson Brahamdagh Bugti and occasionally high levels. Waging of is hiding in Switzerland while Baloch such low-level guerrilla warfare does not nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri’s son require heavy weaponry or huge sums of Harbiyar Marri is based in London.174 money. Some analysts believe that Baloch insurgent groups not only receive funds The other school of thought categorizes from Baloch Diaspora but some regional the insurgency as a manifestation of the countries, particularly India, are also legitimate cause of disenchanted Baloch funnelling money to Baloch separatists. segments, which has all the makings of becoming a mass movement of the young The geographical features of the province educated middle class. They hold that including deserts, mountain ranges, huge public support for the movement is not size of territory and sparse population, and waning. They also argue that low level of rugged and difficult terrains as well as long insurgency is due to heightened international borders with Iran and securitization of the province. Proponents Afghanistan are all in the favor of the of this view believe that as nothing insurgents in the province. According to significant is being done for the frustrated classical guerrilla warfare expert, David and unemployed young Baloch, who feel Gallula, such factors determine the scale relatively deprived, left out and neglected, and spread of an insurgency. 175 they remain vulnerable to joining the Balochistan also has long coastline at the insurgents irrespective of tribal divisions mouth of the Gulf and different ranges of and internal differences. mountains and deserts. Balochistan’s coastline extends over 750 km from near They also allude to a ‘growing realisation’ Karachi at River Hub to the Gwadar Bay on among the Baloch insurgent groups to get Pak-Iran border. united for their cause, and the formation of BRAS – an alliance of BRA, BLA and Baloch The Baloch insurgents come from diverse Republican Guards – which claimed a lethal topographical background and the attack on security personnel in Ormara near insurgent groups know well where they Gwadar is one case in point. can use their human resource best. Those who belong to coastal region could be 5.1.2 The Advantages to Insurgents assigned the task of attacking non-Baloch settlers working on various infrastructure Strategic and counter-insurgency experts projects in these areas. The labor from classify the current Baloch insurgency as a south Punjab and Sindh has been the

89 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 prime target of these groups during the firing or targeted killing, 2 grenade construction times of coastal highway attacks, and one rocket attack. Similarly, between Karachi and Gwadar and highway PIPS’ Pakistan Security Report 2018 had between Gwadar and Sorab. Now their noted that Baloch groups carried out 74 prime target are the trucks and vehicles, terrorist attacks in 20 districts of which carry the material related to the Balochistan during the year 2018, by constructions of Eastern Bay highway, port employing different attack tactics including and other infrastructure related projects in 38 IEDs blasts (including one suicide attack Gwadar.176 However the insurgents hailing in Chaghi), 27 incidents of firing or targeted from small towns of Turbat, Panjgur, killing, 8 grenade attacks, and one rocket Washak districts are trained in attacking attack. In 2018, Baloch insurgent also the security check posts and convoys. launched a coordinate gun and suicide These insurgents have edge over the attack against Chinese consulate in security forces that they know their areas Karachi. 178 better and can easily hide. Another cadre Similarly, while in 2018 as many as 51 belonging from Kalat, Dalbadin, in Chaghi percent of the total attacks by Baloch district, and Mashikhel, etc., took part in insurgents targeted security forces and law major hit and run operations and attacks enforcement personnel, in 2019 about 55 on state infrastructure. BLA has developed percent of their attacks were targeted expertise in such operations; its militants against security forces. not only engage in hit and run operations but also in small battles and clashes with In 2018, the PIPS report had noted, Baloch army units. They also have learned the insurgents tried to launch some major tactics to hide their identities as they were attacks, using the strategy of coordinated often found engaged in operations far suicide assaults, but largely failed. First, from their native towns. After taking part traditionally having been relied on low in an operation, they would go back to intensity subversion acts and attacks, they their native towns and pretend living don't have yet that capability which the normal lives.177 religiously inspired groups have in launching major, lethal attacks. Secondly, 5.1.3 Targets and Tactics of the the response by the law enforcement Insurgents agencies was quick and effective to neutralise the attackers, mainly in the case In 2019, different Baloch insurgent groups of China consulate attack.179 carried out 51 terrorist attacks in 16 districts of Balochistan. The attack tactics As cited earlier, traditionally Baloch employed by the Baloch insurgents insurgents have followed classical included 29 IEDs blasts, 19 incidents of insurgency models as Dashti mentioned in

90 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 his book about 1974 insurgency. The insurgent groups used modern telecommunication technology very “By July 1974, Baloch guerrilla effectively in the planning and execution of units succeeded in cutting off most their attacks on state security forces. But of the main roads linking the increased monitoring of surrounding provinces and rail communication systems by security communication were paralyzed. agencies has resulted in inflicting heavy The militants under the discipline losses to militants because their of BPLF avoided direct whereabouts were identified electronically confrontation with the Pakistani and heavily bombed. At present, most army and whenever possible, their militant groups have reorganized their primary tactic remained fighters into small mobile groups in order ambushing army convoys and to make it difficult for the security harassing its supply lines…. agencies to locate them.182 according to Harrison (1981), during four years of insurgency, Aslam Achu, a BLA commander killed in there were one 178 major Afghanistan, had tried to bring shift in the engagements and one hundred 67 traditional tactics of the insurgency and lesser incidents between Pakistani introduced suicide bombing. He was the forces and the Baloch fighters”180 mastermind of the two suicide attacks targeting the Chinese engineers in When the new phase of insurgency started Dalbandin and Chinese consulate in in 2002, the insurgents adopted similar Karachi. Apparently the Islamist militants, strategies of 1970s. In the beginning, who mastered in such attacks, inspired him. insurgents established bases in inaccessible mountainous regions. However, the groups like BRA and BLA- However, the use of the air force made it Mari still emphasize classical tactics, which very difficult for the militant groups to is basically based on a long-term maintain camps and hideouts in the barren engagement with the target. They manage mountains of Balochistan. Now the small-scale attacks with brief and long majority of the fighters are based in intervals, and chances of large scale villages and townships and they have countering operation from security forces invented ways to hide themselves within remain low. This is a warfare Baloch local population. The security forces blame insurgents have trained themselves in these tactics of the militants for the since decades. Interestingly the urban enforced disappearances in the origin insurgents see such tactics flawed province.181 and considers strategy to negotiate and bargain with the power elites.183

91

Table 1: Baloch Insurgent Groups: Leadership, Agendas and Locations

Group Leadership Agendas / Motives Locations

An alliance of armed ethnic Baloch Raaji Aajoi Baloch Khan Deep Makran region, coastal areas Baloch separatist group Sangar (BRAS) (spokesperson) from Pasni, Ormara to Lesbela includes BLA, BLF and BRG Balochistan Allah Nazr Baloch; Abdul Anti-state, Awaran and Panjgur districts; Liberation Front Nabi Bangalzai, former secessionists/separatists Tung, Mand and Buleda in Turbat (BLF) chief commander UBA district; Basima in Washuk district; has also joined BLF Jiwani and Pasni in coastal areas. Baloch Liberation Harbiyar Marri, and Anti-state, Ispalgai in Mustung district; Mach, Army (BLA) commander Bashir Zeb secessionists/separatists Harnai, Nasserabad, head their factions Jaffarabad,Loralai, Quetta, Awaran

Baloch Republican Brahamdagh Bugti Anti-state, Kohlu, Barkhan, Army (BRA) secessionists/separatists Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Shubatpur Loralai,and few small pockets in Dera Bugti Baloch Republican Bakhtiar Domki Anti-state, secessionist Naseerabad Guard (BRG) United Baloch Mehran Marri Anti-state, Bolan, Lasbela, and Basima in Army (UBA) secessionists/separatists Washuk district Lashkar-e- Javed Mengal Aimed at countering the Lasbela, Makran Balochistan growing ambitions of BLA and BLF, and to maintain the status of Mengal Sardars in the area. Balochistan Mir Shakak Baloch Recovery of missing Little presence in Washuk and Liberation United (spokesperson) persons, drawing world Panjgur districts Front (BLUF) attention to military operations and human rights violations of security forces in Balochistan

5.1.4 Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar are also part of the alliance. 185 The (BRAS) mandate of BRAS is narrow as the groups are only bound to contribute their human The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) is resources and logistical support in the joint an alliance of three separatist insurgent attacks but the member groups are free to groups formed in 2018. It was the pursue their political and operational aims. initiative of BLA commander Aslam Achu to form an exclusive operational force to BRAS has managed to launch four attacks target the CPEC and Chinese interest in since its establishment including two major Pakistan. Later the alliance has been ones. On April 18, 2019, at least 14 extended to target the security forces of people, including 11 personnel of Navy, Air Pakistan as well.184 The BLA, BLF and BRG Force and Coast Guards, were killed by are the major component of the alliance BRAS gunmen wearing security uniforms but few analysts suspect that Lashkar-e- after they were picked up with the help of Balochistan and United Baloch Army (UBA) their computerized national identity cards Suicide Attacks in Pakistan (2009-2019)

Incidents of sectarian violence in Pakistan (2009-2019) KP (including erstwhile FATA)

1

4 3 2

13 8 5 14 6 12 11

15 16 18 10 7 9 21 19 17

23 22 20

24 25

26

27 28

29

30 31

32

1-Chitral 17-Nowshera 2-Swat 18-Charsada 3-Upper Dir 19-Peshawar 4-Kohistan 20-Adam Khel 5-Battagram 21-Khyber 6-Mansehra 22-Orakzai

More than 50 attacks in the year. 7-Abbottabad 23-Kurram 8-Shangla 24-Hangu More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year. 9-Haripur 25-Kohat More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year. 10-Swabi 26-Karak 11-Buner 27-North Waziristan More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year. 12-Malakand 28-Bannu No attack in the year. 13-Lower Dir 29-Lakki Marwat 14-Bajaur 30-South Waziristan 15-Mohmand Agency 31-Tank 16-Mardan 32-Dera Ismail Khan Balochistan

1

3

4 2 12 11 10 6 13 9 31 5 14 8 7 21 15 22 18 16

17 19

24 20 23 1-Sherani 25 2-Musakhel 3-Zhob 4-Qilla Saifullah 28 5-Barkhan 6-Loralai 27 29 7-Kohlu 26 8-Sibi 30 9-Harnai 10-Ziarat 11-Pashin 12-Qilla Abdullah 13-Quetta 1-Sherani 18-Kalat 14-Mastung 2-Musakhel 19-Jhal Magsi 15-Bolan 3-Zhob 20-Jaffarabad 16-Dera Bugti 4-Qilla Saifullah 21-Nushki 17-Nasirabad 5-Barkhan 22-Chaghi 18-Kalat 6-Loralai 23-Washuk 19-Jhal Magsi 7-Kohlu 24-Kharan More than 50 attacks in the year. 20-Jaffarabad 21-Nushki 8-Sibi 25-Khuzdar More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year. 22-Chaghi 9-Harnai 26-Lasbela More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year. 23-Washuk 10-Ziarat 27-Awaran More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year. 24-Kharan 11-Pishin 28-Panjgur No attack in the year. 25-Khuzdar 12-Qilla Abdullah 29-Kech 26-Lasbela 13-Quetta 30-Gwadar 27-Awaran 14-Mastung 31-Dukki 28-Panjgur 15-Bolan 29-Kech 16-Dera Bugti 30-Gwadar 17-Nasirabad Peace Talks

NACTA

Political Strategy

A Sketch of Proposed Internal Security Policy

Insurgency in Balochistan

Militancy in Tribal Areas

Sectarians Violence

Critical Threats

Unrest in Karachi

Reintegration of

Civil Society

the Militants

Counter-extremism

Initiatives

CCNS

Judicial Responses

Restructuring Police

Terrorism Financing

Breaking Nexus between

Monitoring Mechanism

Criminals and Terrorists

Prosecution & Witness

Urban Terrorism

Protection Program

Cyber Security

for Banned Groups

Provinces

Hit & Clear Approach

A Joint Intelligence Committee

Breaking Nexus between Local

Militry OperationMilitry in Tribal areas

IEDs Control strategy

Control Illegal Weapons

and International Terrorists

Operational Strategy

Curbing Cross Border

Tribal Insurgency

Terrorism

Armed Force

Geographical Spread of Insecurity in Pakistan

Hunza-Nagar Ghizer

Chitral Gilgit

Diamer Skardu Kohistan Upper Dir Ghanche Lower Dir Swat Astore am Bajaur Battgr Neelum Shangla hra Buner Mohmand Malakand Manse

Charsada Mardan Abbotabad Muzaffarabad Haripur Hattian Peshawar Swabi Bagh Haveli Jammu & Kashmir Nowshera Kurram Poonch Khyber Sudhnati Islamabad (Disputed Territory) Adam Khel Orakzai Kohat Attock Kotli Hangu Rawalpindi Mirpur Karak Bhimber Bannu Chakwal Jehlam Mianwali North Waziristan Lakki Gujrat North Waziristan Marwat Sialkot Mandi Gujranwala Bahaudin South Waziristan Tank Narowal South Waziristan Sargodha Khushab Sherani Hafizabad Sherani Nankana SahibShekhupura Bhakkar D.I. Khan TobaSingh Tek Zhob Lahore Jhang Faisalabad Kasur Qilla Saifullah Layyah Pishin Toba TekSingh Okara

Qilla Abdullah Musakhel Musakhel Khanewal Sahiwal Ziarat Loralai Pakpatan Harnai Dukki D.G Khan Quetta Vihari Sibi Barkhan Multan Mastung Barkhan Lodhran Kohlu Muzaffargarh Bahawalnagar Noshki Qalat Bolan

Rajanpur Chagi Dera Bugti hlMagsi Jhal

Nasirabad RahimKhan Yar Kharan Kashmor Jaffarabad Jacobabad

Ghotki Washuk Shikarpur Ghotki Kambar Khuzdar Shahdadkot Larkana More than 50 attacks in the year. Sukkur

Dadu More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year. Feroz Panjgur Naushehro

More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year. Shaheed Kech Awaran Lasbela Benazirabad Sanghar More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year. Sanghar

Matiari Jamshoro

Mirpur Khas Gwadar Tando Umarkot No attack in the year. Allahyar Umarkot

Hyderabad

Tando Mohammad Karachi Khan

Mithi Badin Thatta For high resolution map scan QR code

Designed By: Shahzad Ahmed Peace Talks

NACTA

Political Strategy

A Sketch of Proposed Internal Security Policy

Insurgency in Balochistan

Militancy in Tribal Areas

Sectarians Violence

Critical Threats

Unrest in Karachi

Reintegration of

Civil Society

the Militants

Counter-extremism

Initiatives

CCNS

Judicial Responses

Restructuring Police

Terrorism Financing

Breaking Nexus between

Monitoring Mechanism

Criminals and Terrorists

Prosecution & Witness

Urban Terrorism

Protection Program

Cyber Security

for Banned Groups

Provinces

Hit & Clear Approach

A Joint Intelligence Committee

Breaking Nexus between Local

Militry OperationMilitry in Tribal areas

IEDs Control strategy

Control Illegal Weapons

and International Terrorists

Operational Strategy

Curbing Cross Border

Tribal Insurgency

Terrorism

Armed Force

Hunza-Nagar Ghizer

Chitral Gilgit

Diamer Skardu Kohistan Upper Dir Ghanche Lower Dir Swat Astore

Bajaur Battgram Neelum Shangla

Buner Mohmand Malakand Mansehra

Charsada Mardan Abbota Muzaffarabad

Hattian Haripur bad Peshawar Swabi Bagh Haveli Jammu & Kashmir Nowshera Kurram Poonch Khyber Sudhnati Islamabad (Disputed Territory) Adam Khel Orakzai Kohat Attock Kotli Hangu Rawalpindi Mirpur Karak Bhimber Bannu Chakwal Jehlam Mianwali North Waziristan Lakki Gujrat Marwat Sialkot Mandi Gujranwala Bahaudin South Waziristan Tank Narowal Sargodha Khushab Sherani Hafizabad Nankana SahibShekhupura Bhakkar D.I. Khan TobaSingh Tek

Lahore Jhang Faisalabad Kasur Layyah Toba TekSingh Okara

Musakhel Sahiwal Khanewal tan Pakpa

D.G Khan Vihari

Barkhan Multan

Lodhran Muzaffargarh Bahawalnagar

Rajanpur Bahawalpur

RahimKhan Yar

Ghotki

More than 50 attacks in the year.

More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year.

More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year.

Sanghar More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year.

Umarkot No attack in the year.

Mithi

For high resolution map scan QR code

Designed By: Shahzad Ahmed Sindh

23

22 18 20

19 21

17 15

16 14

13

12 11

10 1-Sherani

1 9 2-Musakhel 8 3-Zhob 4-Qilla Saifullah 6 7 4 5-Barkhan 6-Loralai 2 35 7-Kohlu 8-Sibi 3 9-Harnai 10-Ziarat 11-Pashin 12-Qilla Abdullah 13-Quetta 1-Karachi 18-Qambar Shahdadkot 14-Mastung 2-Thatta 19-Larkana 15-Bolan 3-Tharparker 20-Shikarpur 16-Dera Bugti 4-Umerkot 21-Ghotki 17-Nasirabad 5-Badin 22-Kashmore 18-Kalat 6-Tando Muhammad Khan 23-Jacobabad 19-Jhal Magsi 7-Mirpurkhas More than 50 attacks in the year. 20-Jaffarabad 21-Nushki 8-Tando Allahyar More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year. 22-Chaghi 9-Hyderabad More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year. 23-Washuk 10-Sanghar More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year. 24-Kharan 11-Matiari No attack in the year. 25-Khuzdar 12-Jamshoro 26-Lasbela 13-Shaheed Benazirabad 27-Awaran 14-Khairpur 28-Panjgur 15-Sukkur 29-Kech 16-Naushahro Firoze 30-Gwadar 17-Dadu Punjab

1

10 2

9 3 4 19

8 5 6 18 16 7 15

20 17 13 11 12 22 21 30 14 26 23 25 29 24 32

28 31 33

34 27

35

36

1-Islamabad 20-Bhakkar 37 2-Rawalpindi 21-Jhang 3-Jhelum 22-Faisalabad 4-Gujrat 23-Okara 5-Sialkot 24-Pakpattan 6-Narowal 25-Sahiwal 7-Gujranwala 26-Toba Tek Singh 8-Mandi Bahauddin 27-Bahawalnagar 9-Chakwal 28-Vehari

More than 50 attacks in the year. 10-Attock 29-Khanewal 11-Sheikhupura 30-Layyah More than 20 and less than 50 attacks in the year. 12-Lahore 31-Muzaffargarh More than 10 and less than 20 attacks in the year. 13-Nankana Sahib 32-Dera Ghazi Khan

More than one and less than 10 attacks in the year. 14-Kasur 33-Multan 15-Hafizabad 34-Lodhran No attack in the year. 16-Sargodha 35-Rajanpur 17-Chiniot 36-Bahawalpur 18-Khushab 37-Rahim Yar Khan 19-Mianwali Intensity of terrorist violence in Pakistan (2009-2019) Intensity of terrorist violence in Pakistan Pakistan Security Report | 2019

(CNICs) and offloaded from seven buses in After Achu’s death, Karim Marri, Hamal and the Buzi Pass area near Ormara in Gwadar Commander Nisar are leading the group.189 district. 186 The Ormara attack had huge However the main leading figure is impact on the security of the province and Commander Bashir Zeb, who was a class CPEC. Since then, the government has fellow of . Some say their raised the security measures in Makran close ties have helped them to strengthen region and a special command based in the BRAS. According to local sources, the Turbat has been set up; a new corps has educated Marri insurgents are leaving BLA- been raised to increase border patrolling. Hyrbiyar faction and joining Zeb group, Apart from aerial surveillance of the Pak- which they believe is more active. Iran border through helicopters, the Iranian border would also be fenced. 187 Interestingly Aslam Achu also adopted Pakistan believes Baloch insurgents who operational strategy from the Islamist carried out Ormara attack used Iranian soil militants and formed dedicated operational for shelter. squads for specific operations. Fidayeen Majeed Brigade was among such special 5.1.5 Balochistan Liberation Army operational squad, which was formed to (BLA) target the Chinese and CPEC related projects. The BLA has currently two offshoots. One is led by Harbiyar Marri and operates in BLA’s origin dates back to 1973, a period eastern part of Balochistan. It comprises of resistance against military operations in mainly Marri tribesmen loyal to Harbiyar Balochistan and the discovery of the secret Marri. The other offshoot comprises on the NAP-led London Plan. 190 The Marri tribe insurgents hailing from various tribal, rural played an important role in the insurgency and urban backgrounds. It mainly operates in the 1970s. When the government forces in central and coastal regions of the overcame the insurgency, the Marris went province and also has networks in interior into exile in Afghanistan. BLA was declared Sindh and Karachi. Aslam Achu was a terrorist organization by the Musharraf leading this faction until he was killed in government on April 9, 2006. The PPP-led Kandahar. He had formed the group after coalition government twice banned the developing differences with Harbiyar Marri group, on September 8, 2009 and in April in 2013. 188 Achu thought Harbiyar had 2010.191 come under the influence of Western forces and could adopt a reconciliatory Harbiyar is active in Europe running way. campaigns against Pakistan. From 2016, Mir Hairbyar supporters have been carrying out their activities under the

93 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 banner of Baloch Freedom Movement.192 the BLF in Iran because of their common social and economic profiles; Pakistani BLF 5.1.6 Balochistan Liberation Front is under such an influence of Iranian BLF (BLF) that it also follows a similar organizational structure and operational strategies.195 The The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is Iranian BLF had intensified its militant based in the central and southwestern activities in Iran during early 70’s and the districts of Balochistan. It has gone into group was somehow using the Pakistani hiding, either in the areas close to the soil while taking advantage of the porous Iranian border or moved across the border borders between the two countries. That into Iran or Afghanistan.193 had forced Iran and Pakistan to develop Led by Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, BLF is cooperation and launch joint action against believed to be the most organized of the the group.196 Baloch resistance groups, engaging After the killing of 14 Pakistani security security forces and its affiliated militias in a personnel on April 18, 2019 on coastal wide area beginning in central Balochistan highway, Pakistan had formally launched up to the coastal region. Its militants have the protest with Iran for BLF getting been engaged in many pitched battles with shelter there. Many local religious and security forces in recent years and Dr. political leaders in Turbat, Panjgur, Allah Nazar himself was targeted by the Khuzdar and Kalat also think that Iranian Pakistan air force on many occasions.194 authorities deliberately overlook the Allah Nazar took refuge in Iran after he movement of the Pakistani Baloch got hurt in an operation by security forces. insurgents, mainly BLF and BLA. What It is speculated that security institutions they get in return is the information about were not happy with former Balochistan the hideouts of Jaishul Adl – an Iranian chief minister Zehri when he had released group based in Iranian Balochustan-Sistan Allah Nazar’s family members including his that operates across the border – and wife, sister and children. other Iranian religious-separatist groups, as well as information about narcotics As with other Baloch insurgent groups, the dealers operating along border. 197 BLF also strives for an independent However, there is another important Balochistan. The group’s inspiration comes perspective that many residents of the from the Iranian Baluchi resistance group bordering town have dual nationality and of the same name, which was formed in they can cross border legally anytime and 1960s by the Iranian Baluchi youth of many insurgents are exploiting this dual middle classes. The BLF in Pakistani part nationality factor.198 of Balochistan has many similarities with

94 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

5.1.7 Baloch Republican Army (BRA) he runs anti-Pakistan campaigns.

Led by Brahamdagh Bugti, the outlawed 5.1.9 United Baloch Army (UBA) Baloch Republican Army is the militant wing of Balochistan Republican Party Late Nawab Khair Bakhsh, after being (BRP), a rechristened arm of Akbar Bugti’s estranged from his elder son Harbiyar Jamhoori Watan Party. The BRA cadre was Marri, nominated his youngest son previously a personal tribal militia for Zamaran alias Mehran Marri who formed Nawab Akbar Bugti amid his rivalries with another insurgent group United Baloch Marri tribes. After Akbar Bugti’s Army (UBA). Mehran lives in London in assassination in 2006, the militia was self- exile. Under the leadership of a renamed as Baloch Republican Army former BLA chief commander Abdul Nabi (BRA). Bangulzai, UBA has been active in Bolan, Lasbela and Basima in Washuk district. Since then the group has also recruited the Some local sources claimed that Abdul militants from other parts of Balochistan Nabi Bangulzai has left UBA and joined especially in Kech and Gwadar districts, BLF, thus further strengthening the latter. where its fighters operate in close coordination with BLF fighters.199 The BRA 5.1.10 Lashkar-e-Balochistan usually deploys conventional tactics of the Lashkar-e- Balochistan, led by Javed resistance movements and it has managed Mengal, the eldest son of elderly Baloch many attacks on gas supplies from Sui to leader Sardar Attaullah Mengal, was other parts of the country. formed in 2008. It operates mainly in the Jhalawan and Makran regions. It is 5.1.8 Baloch Republican Guards believed that it recruits fighting volunteers (BRG) from the Mengal tribe and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) sympathizers. But the Led by former MPA Bakhtiar Domki, the BNP claims to have no role in the armed group is operational in Naseerabad district. struggle and its declared objective is to It has over 200 militants in its fold and achieve the right of self-determination for mainly operates in collaboration with the the Baloch in a peaceful struggle according BRA. It is also part of BRAS, along with to the United Nations Charter. BLF and BLA. Bakhtiar Domki had formed the group when his wife and daughter Mir Javed Mengal lives in exile in London were shot dead in Karachi in January and the UAE. He denies any link with 2012.200 The deceased were also the sister Lashkar-e-Balochistan but the several and niece of BRA leader Baramdagh Bugti. members of nationalist parties and Domki lives in exile in London from where journalists in Balochistan confirm that

95 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Javed Mengal is mastermind behind the Balochistan, sectarian groups like Lashkar- group. He and his son Mir Noordin Mengal e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), have been active in Europe in anti-Pakistan Imamia Students Organization (ISO) and campaigns. Sipah-e-Muhammad etc., are active in the province in one way or another. These 5.2 Religious & Sectarian organizations are pursuing their parallel Extremists agendas while the Baloch movement continues to occupy centre stage in the Afghan Taliban, Al-Qaeda and local broader conflict in Balochistan. militant outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Table 2: Religious/Sectarian Groups

Groups Leadership Motives/ Agenda Location Daesh - Anti-West, anti-Shia Quetta, Bolan, global terrorist group Mastung, Jhal Magsi TTP Mufti Noor Wali Anti-West, anti- Quetta, Chaman, Mehsud (based in Pakistan, anti-Shia Zhob, Loralai, Afghanistan) Mastung Jamaatul Ahrar Omar Khalid Mansur Anti-West, anti- Quetta, Pishin, and Hizul Ahrar and Mukarram Khan Pakistan, anti-Shia Chaman (based in Afghanistan) Sipah-e-Sahaba Ramzan Mengal Sunni Deobandi, anti- Quetta, Chaghi and Shia, anti-West Panjgur Lashkar-e- Ameer Moaviya Sunni Deobandi, anti- Quetta, Mastung, Jhangvi and LeJ- Shia, anti-West, anti- Khuzdar, Panjgur, A Christian Bolan Imamia Students Nasir Shirazi, Anti-Sunni Quetta Organization (president) Jaishul Adl Salahuddin Farooqi Religious-nationalist Iranian Sistan- group, anti-Shia, anti- Baluchistan, and Iran Chaghi and Panjgur in Pakistani Balochistan Ansar Al-Furqan - Religious- nationalist Iranian Sistan- group, anti-Iran Baluchistan, and Kharan in Pakistani Balochistan

96

5.2.1 Jaishul Adl districts, where many mosques apparently belong to the group. Iran also has Iranian-based Jaishul Adl was formed soon extensive spying network in the Chagai after the arrest and execution of the Sunni district and also fires mortars following extremist organization ’s leader Jaishul Adl militants in this area. Abdul Malik Regi. In the beginning, Jundallah was split into two factions i.e. 5.2.2 Ansar Al-Furqan Al-Nasr and Jaishul Adl. In 2016, both factions got united and issued a joint Harkat-e-Ansar-e-Iran was another splinter declaration of unification. 201 However group of Jundallah, which had launched before the merger, Iran had killed the many attacks in Iranian Balochistan during head of Al-Nasr, Maulvi Abdul Rauf, in an 2012-13. Later the group was merged with operation inside Pakistan. Hizbul Furqan to form Ansar Al-Furqan in late 2013. This is comparatively a small The 40 years old leader of Jaishul Adl, religious group and reportedly has Salahuddin Farooqi, belongs to Iranian- hideouts in district Kharan. According to Baluchi region “Raisk”, and is considered a Hoshang (2015), Jaish ul-Adl adopted a hardliner Sunni. One reason for his leaving more moderate approach and to some Jundallah was secular and liberal attitude extent has moved further towards Baloch of many of the core members of the ethnic nationalism.202 group. However, Mr. Farooqi denies any links with Al-Qaeda or Daesh. During 5.2.3 Daesh, or Islamic State (IS) 2015 and 2016, Jaishul Adl carried out Group many serious hit and run attacks on Daesh or the Khorasan chapter of the security forces in Iranian Baluchistan, Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, establishing itself the most lethal militant has shown its strong presence in group of Sistan-Baluchistan. Balochistan while managing 10 major The armed confrontation between terrorist attacks in the province since its Pakistani Baloch separatist groups and establishment. A total of 270 people lost Jaishul Adl has become a routine as both their lives in these attacks reported from have their operational bases in similar Quetta, Jhal Magsi and Mastung districts of vicinities. Locals in Balochistan believe that Balochistan. Jaishul Adl’s center is in “Mashkeel”. This Table 3: Terrorist Attacks by IS- is a rough and difficult terrain with little affiliates in Balochistan (1 Jan. 2014 population but is a favorite route of to 26 Dec. 2019)203

insurgents of all shades as well as

smugglers. Most of the petroleum

smuggling from Iran also happens through Target

Killed District this route. Jaishul Adl also has a strong Attacks support base in Chagai and Panjgur Jhal 1 22 Worship places/

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

5.2.4 Pakistani Taliban Target

Killed Although the military operations have

District Attacks forced the Pakistani Taliban to relocate to Magsi shrines/imambargahs Mastung 3 180 Foreign interests/, other side of Pakistan-Afghan border in diplomats/foreigners, recent years, yet the Taliban presence is and political relatively more pronounced in suburbs of leaders/workers Quetta and Pashtun belt of Balochistan. Quetta 6 68 Christian community/Church, Main Taliban groups, which have been Govt. officials, political active in parts of Balochistan are listed leaders/workers, and below. Shia religious scholars/community • Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Total 10 270 Since the establishment of the TTP in The data on terrorist attacks claimed by 2007, its Balochistan chapter (Tehreek-e- Daesh in Pakistan suggests the group has Taliban Balochistan) had been active in the relatively greater presence and activities in province, which is significantly weakened Balochistan and northern Sindh, where a now to almost non-existence. But the TTP new emerging sectarian fault-line lies. The presence and continuing terrorist activities Hazara community in Quetta valley, the in recent years are conspicuous by the Shia population in northern Sindh and Shia sporadic attacks it has been perpetrating influence on Sunnis there, a pluralist and claiming. culture of shrines, poorly governed provincial borders and most importantly, Between 1 January 2015 and 27 December the Shia pilgrimage routes to Iran and Iraq 2019, the TTP perpetrated 65 terrorist attract a multitude of sectarian actors in attacks in Balochistan – including 3 suicide this region. blasts – which claimed 192 lives and injured 376 others. More than half of these One important commander of Daesh attacks, or 33, concentrated in Quetta, Hafeez Brohi from Sindh has been killed another 15 were reported from Qilla this year, which will have impact on the Abdullah, mainly Chaman, and 4 attacks group’s operations in bordering region of each from Loralai and Zhob. 204 Recently, Balochistan and Sindh. However, police from January 2019, the group has been and law enforcement officials in Quetta quite active in Loralai district of confirm that Daesh is still a potent threat Balochistan where it has claimed 4 major in Bolan region as it has been collaborating attacks on security forces killing 26, mostly with small factions of LeJ there in terrorist security personnel. In March 2019, the operations.

98 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

TTP also launched a major attack in Ziarat, 5.2.5 Sectarian Outfits adjacent to Loralai, killing 6 Levies persons. Violent sectarian groups have been operating in Balochistan since long, • Jamaatul Ahrar and Hizbul Ahrar although their activities have become relatively less frequent and less intense in In all, 110 people were killed and 181 recent years. Still, sectarian-related target others injured in 8 attacks perpetrated by killings of members of the Shia Hazara these two groups in Pishin, Qilla Abdullah community is a regular feature of and Quetta districts of Balochistan since Balochistan’s security landscape. August 2016. Five of these attacks were suicide blasts. Among the Sunni sectarian groups present in the province are Sipah-e-Sahaba Both groups are splinters of the TTP, with Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Hizbul Ahrar being the recent one. (LeJ); so-called global arm of the LeJ Jamaatul Ahrar came into limelight in known as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami (LeJ- Balochistan after August 2016 suicide A) was also active in the province few blast at Civil Hospital, Quetta. More than years back. Factions of Shia groups Sipah- 70 people were killed, nearly half of them e-Muhammad, and Imamia Students lawyers, in the attack targeting mourners Organization (ISO) are also active in parts gathered at the hospital. Jamaatul Ahrar of the province mainly Quetta. and the Islamic State (IS) group both claimed responsibility for the attack, • Lashkar-e-Jhangvi separately.205 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) is a Sunni outfit From April 2018, Hizbul Ahrar has been with an anti-Shia agenda and operates in active in Balochistan and has launched 3 and around Quetta. Two splinter groups of attacks so far, including 2 in Quetta and the LeJ known as Usman Kurd group – one in Pishin. Two of these attacks were Kurd was killed in an operation in 2015 – suicide bombings including a major and Qari Hai group are active in assault on an FC camp in Quetta in April Balochistan. The LeJ group still has 2018. 206 The most recent attack by the presence in Quetta, Mastung and Khuzdar group in Balochistan was reported in but is struggling to capitalize on its January 2019 from Pishin that targeted operational strengths. the office of Naib Tehsildar Abdul Malik Tareen.207 In retrospective, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has been the main violent sectarian actor in the province, along with LeJ-A. These two groups have perpetrated 35 terrorist

99 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 attacks in the province between 1 January 2015 and 27 December 2019, which claimed 195 lives and wounded 331 others. Three of these attacks happened in 2019 claiming 3 lives.

• Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) and ISO

The Shia outfit Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) was found involved in targeted killings of religious leaders of the rival Sunni sect in recent years. Few years back, three factions of SMP, led by Baqar Zaidi, Mohsin Mehdi and the Balti group, were active in Karachi and Quetta. However, these groups have had no direct link with the Punjab-based SMP, which has been dysfunctional since an effective police operation against the group in the late 1990s resurfaced in Karachi and Quetta in 2011.208

100

CHAPTER 6

The Wave of Suicide Bombing in Pakistan (2007 to 2011)

Umer Farooq *

6.1 Introduction and Background ...... 103 6.2 Assessment of Current Threat from Suicide Bombing ...... 104 6.3 Reporting on Suicide Bombing: Impact on Public Perceptions and Opinion ...... 105 6.4 Categorization of Targets Hit in Suicide Blasts (2007-2011) ...107

* Umer Farooq is a journalist who has extensively covered political, military, and security related issues. He has worked for leading media outlets, and has also produced documentaries on critical issues.

6.1 Introduction and the findings of hundreds of investigations Background that were conducted into these terror attacks. Some of the analysis of the The wave of suicide bombings that started phenomenon of suicide bombings is based in Pakistan in the wake of July 2007 on the sketchy information derived from military operation against militants the pre-attack video messages of the sheltered in Islamabad’s Lal Masjid was suicide bombers available in Pakistani clearly aimed at destabilizing the country. tribal areas.211 This wave picked up pace in terms of The lack of data and empirical evidence numbers of attacks in the period between notwithstanding, some Pakistani experts 2007-2011. Several media and official have observed that militant groups use sources had then pointed out that multiple suicide bombings to achieve strategic groups were engaged in suicide blasts. objectives. Even the Pakistani Taliban was not a monolithic entity and it comprised of According to one account, “law several different groups, which were then enforcement investigations indicate that being targeted in military operations suicide bombings is the work of multiple mainly in erstwhile FATA. militant and terrorist outfits like the local Taliban, Al Qaeda, and groups affiliated Some say that this wave was intended to with Al Qaeda such as Jamiat al- Furqan weaken the resolve of Pakistani state and and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The evidence they military leaders so that they retreat from have collected shows that Al Qaeda and its the advance stage of military operations affiliated groups in Pakistan have used against tribal militants in Pakistani tribal suicide terrorism to obtain specific areas.209Some western analysts have also strategic goals against the government.”212 described suicide bombings as a strategic tool of the militants group employed to This paper is an attempt to analyze the extract concessions from democratic wave of suicide bombing (2007 to 2011) in 210 governments. However in Pakistan’s case terms of intended targets of the terrorists, there is no empirical evidence to vindicate impact of these attacks on public that. perceptions and opinion, as well as an assessment of current level of threat. The Indeed, there does not exist any empirical analysis is mainly based on newspaper study to respond to such questions of reports and analysis of suicide bombings in strategic motives of dozens of suicide urban and tribal areas, mainly from English bombings that took place in Pakistan Dailies Daily Times, Dawn, The News and during the period from 2007 to 2011 and The Nation. to what extent these achieved their objectives. There is a dearth of datasets The analysis dispels the impression that also, primarily because the government the Taliban groups and other militants and its institutions only rarely made public Pakistan Security Report | 2019 used terror as a weapon only against the areas as well as urban centers. However, state machinery—thus partially repudiating the suicide bombings are not taking place the theory that Taliban were using suicide frequently. bombings only as a strategic tool to weaken the resolve of state machinery and 6.2 Assessment of Current military leadership to continue the military Threat from Suicide Bombing operations in erstwhile tribal areas. This theory doesn’t fully explain why pensioners A significantly decreased incidence of outside a commercial bank in Rawalpindi suicide bombings in major urban centers were targeted or why Shia religious of the country is generally perceived as an procession became the target of indicator that Pakistan’s security situation bombings—when apparently none of these has now completely returned to normalcy. people were partners of the state The current situation is in fact a complete machinery, which was carrying out military contrast with the security situation that operation against militants in the tribal prevailed in the country during last three areas. years of past decade, i.e. 2007 to 2010, Suicide bombings as a strategic tool of when suicide bombings were almost a militants can fully explain the targeting of daily occurrence. The wave of suicide military and police, political and religious bombings that hit Pakistan in the leaders, diplomatic missions of western aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks countries and leaders of rival groups—as touched alarming heights in 2007, all these categories of suicide bombings averaging more than one suicide attack a fall into the definition of entities, which week. It was a widely held perception at extended political support to the military that time that the state machinery had lost operations against Pakistani Taliban. control of the situation. While PPP leader Benazir Bhutto's December 27 The explanatory power of this theory assassination was the most high-profile diminishes in case of explaining the suicide suicide attack of the 2007, there were 56 bombings against Shia worshippers or incidents of suicide bombings in Pakistan worshippers in a Sunni mosque. Some of during 2007, killing 422 members of the people would argue that the objective of army and the police besides 220 civilians. these attacks was to sow terror into the heart of the society, which was at war with Two suicide bombings in April and May the militancy. this year, in two urban centers of the country, Quetta and Lahore respectively, The military is still continuing operations started to give sleepless nights to security against various militant groups in the tribal managers of Pakistan early this year.

104 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

These raised the apprehension that this that they have broken the back of might be the start of another wave of militancy in Pakistan’s erstwhile tribal suicide bombings that might grip Pakistani areas and that the militants are on the run society. But luckily suicide attacks have and incapable to launch major attacks. remained only sporadic in 2019 with 4 That also means that as militants no more such attacks reported throughout the year. control any territory in any part of Indeed, suicide bombings have gradually Pakistan, they cannot run any schools for disappeared as a potent threat to internal the training of suicide bombers as they security of the country since 2014.213 used to do when they were controlling South and North Waziristan. Major urban centers of the country and tribal areas bordering Afghanistan And because now military is controlling witnessed the dreadful wave of suicide every inch of the erstwhile FATA, there is bombings between July 2007 and initial little possibility that the militants would be months of 2011. In this period, the allowed to recruit the under aged suicide terrorists hit military installations, bombers from poor and under nourished personnel and convoys, police stations and families in tribal areas. This seems police personnel, political leaders, plausible but hardly enough reason for diplomatic community, sectarian targets complacency. and tribal elders. Some of the suicide bombings were targeted against the rival 6.3 Reporting on Suicide militant leaders and groups. Most common Bombing: Impact on Public form of suicide bombings was the Perceptions and Opinion targeting of military and police check posts in the tribal areas and settled areas. Initially the phenomenon of suicide bombings came as a shock to Pakistani But this period has apparently vanished society and generated a sense of disbelief from our memory as if it had never and state of denial among the happened. We don’t talk about it; we don’t intelligentsia, media and state machinery. produce any research or academic paper Public discourse that came out as a about it; nor do we try to foresee if such a response was that of incomprehension. wave can repeat it. The initial columns in the Pakistani newspapers, written after initial episodes Pakistani security agencies, however, are of suicide bombings, discussed the not as unmindful to their surroundings and phenomenon from the perspective of they did show some apprehension at the Middle Eastern societies. It seemed time of two suicide bombings in April and Pakistani intelligentsia was not ready to May this year. Security officials also claim

105 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 accept that this scourge had hit Pakistani reporting of suicide bombing in the tribal society.214 areas, perhaps, was the awareness among the tribal journalists about the direct There appeared many signs that the tensions and their latest updates between society was not at all prepared to deal with the military and the tribal militants that the threat, which were also visible on the provided the backdrop of these bombings. pages of newspapers and in the way these news outlets reported the incidents of For example, a news story about suicide suicide bombings especially that took place bombing in Mingora, Swat on January 8, in the urban centers of the country 2008 in daily Dawn contained the especially Lahore and Peshawar. background of the tensions between military and Mullah Fazlullah-led militants Lahore and Peshawar became the main in Swat valley, which, according to the targets of the terrorists and suicide report was most plausible backdrop of bombers presumably as the terror suicide bombing. “On Sunday, Maulana incidents in these big urban centers Fazlullah, through his FM radio, asked his created quite a spectacle and became the followers to launch attacks against security focus of local and international media forces…[T]he security forces have been outlets. Ironically, throughout this period, consolidating their positions in upper Matta Pakistani newspapers continued to treat tehsil and bracing for a final assault on the suicide bombings in these cities as hideouts of militants in Ghut Peuchar, ordinary crime stories. Most of the time Shore, Chuprial and other areas” reads a the crime reporters of the newspapers paragraph of the report in Daily Dawn of were assigned to cover the suicide January 8,2008. bombings, with the obvious result that the stories next day were completely devoid of Surprisingly, Pakistani newspapers did not the political context in which these suicide learn about how to report the incidents of bombings were taking place. Interestingly, suicide bombings even at the latter stages, most of the time, this was not the case which also contributed in confusing public with the reporting of incidents of suicide opinions. bombings in tribal areas and other troubled areas like Swat, where, the media People just seemed to have endured a persons reporting these incidents were dreadful experience and tended to forget usually well versed in the political and about it in the long run. The society itself militant landscape of the region. did not create a database of knowledge at the social level to meet this threat at any A second more plausible reason for the future point of time. As cited earlier, media inclusion of political context in the and newspapers and their reporting

106 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 systems were the main factor behind this intelligence agencies, police and other social amnesia, because they adhered to security agencies. Political and religious the old model of reporting a crime event leaders were frequently targeted during without taking into account shockingly times of election campaigns and enhanced terrorizing pain these events of suicide political activities. Diplomats and blasts inflicted on the society. These diplomatic missions of western countries shocking incidents demanded a new model remained favorite targets of suicide of reporting, which should have contained attacks, too. Leaders of rival groups and not only the political and security context leaders of peace committee were also of the bombings, but also the entire new targeted. General public and Shia experience of terror which society community also became victim of Taliban’s underwent. savagery.

Apart from dealing the suicide bombing as If carefully studied, the targeting pattern simple crime stories, media also largely of suicide attacks clearly indicated the relied on official accounts of events, which political and strategic objectives of in a way worked as a constraint, too, in Pakistani Taliban—the main perpetuators investigative and objective reporting and of suicide attacks. The targeting patterns analysis. Officialdom greatly influences the clearly reflected the desire of Pakistani news reports, especially where the Taliban a) to inflict maximum damage on reporter is completely dependent on the state machinery in order to weaken its concerned officials for access to resolve and to diminish its capacity to information and access to the places of continue the struggle against militancy in events. Pakistan; and b) to instill terror and create anarchy in the society. It has been an irony that when the terror groups were able to improvise to inflict the 6.4.1 Security and Law Enforcement most dreadful pain on Pakistani society, Agencies the state and society failed to innovate and improvise their responses. The fact that September 28, 2019 terror attack in Chaman was not a suicide attack 6.4 Categorization of Targets but appeared to be blast of a timed device Hit in Suicide Blasts (2007- speaks volumes about the changing nature of terrorist threat in the country. The fact 2011) that only 4 suicide blasts happened in The militants were clearly aiming at Pakistan in 2019 means that the planners specific targets in their suicide bombings of terrorism in the country are fast losing campaigns including mainly military, ground.

107 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

It was just like any other sunny afternoon targeting of LT General of Pakistan Army of receding winters in Lahore when the in the same month by a suicide bomber in double suicide attacks on Naval War Rawalpindi. College in the busy part of the city took place. The gruesome incident occurred at First three months of 2008 were around 1:10 pm, March 4, 2008 when a particularly deadly for the military and suicide bomber, riding a motorcycle, police force in the big urban centers of the rammed into the college gate. He blew country like Rawalpindi, Islamabad and himself up at the gate while making way Lahore. The year started with a suicide for his accomplice to the parking lot, which attack on January 10, 2008, on police was packed with official vehicles. The contingent deployed in GPO Chowk Lahore second suicide bomber, who was standing to watch over the Lawyers protest at some distance from the gate, rushed to demonstration in Front of the Lahore High the parking lot and triggered his explosive Court. The police personnel were the device. It could have been more intended targets of the attack as more devastating than the actual damage it than 20 policemen lost their lives when the caused in the parking lot of the college, suicide bomber blew himself up. killing eight people on the spot.215 Army being the institution on the forefront There are incidents of targeted suicide of counter-terrorism and counter-militancy bombings, which, could not have been operations of the state was also the prime carried out without real-time intelligence target of the terrorists during this period. available to the handlers and planners of Army personnel have an everyday the terror attacks. This involved suicide presence in the big garrison cities like bombings, where the vehicles, installations Rawalpindi and this presence became the or senior officials or personnel of the target of the suicide bombers. Army military were specifically targeted in the Medical Corps (AMC) passenger coach was suicide attacks. One prime example of this targeted in Rawalpindi’s busy bazar type of suicide attacks was the February 4, adjacent to the GHQ, A Lt General of 2008 suicide attack on a passenger coach Pakistan Army was martyred on Mall Road of Army Medical Corps in RA Bazar Rawalpindi while he was travelling in his Rawalpindi. The attacker rammed his staff car—this clearly meant that the motorcycle into an Army Medical Corps terrorists wanted to instill the same kind of (AMC) coaster in RA Bazaar, killing at least fear and terror in the hearts of those 11 persons, including six uniformed and officers who as part of their everyday lives civil personnel of AMC, and critically roamed the streets and roads of a city, injuring over 45 others. Another was the Rawalpindi, which was considered one of the safest in the country.

108 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Not surprising the terrorists by attacking 6.4.2 Political and Religious Leaders the military personnel, were targeting the most potent and perceptibly the most The political parties, which were most power elements of Pakistani state vocal against terrorist groups and structure, which were most visibly and terrorism, or were part of the local politics most vocally conducting the counter- in the tribal areas surrounding the tensions terrorism and counter-militancy operations between security forces and tribal in the tribal areas against the militants. militants, were the prime targets of suicide attacks between 2007 and 2011. These Suicide attacks on security check posts included firstly the Pakistan People’s Party were also a daily occurrence. In other (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) – words, it was quite clear to those manning the parties which were most vocal against the check posts that they may or may not extremism at the national level – and return to their habitats in the evening after Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam and ANP, which completing their duties. It could be an were part of the local politics in tribal approaching vehicle or a pedestrian that areas where military was engaged in a could turn out to be a suicide attacker and military operation against tribal militants. take their lives. But still they continued to Circumstances and common sense left bravely man their check posts in the most little doubt that tribal militants were the dangerous parts of the country. force behind these suicide attacks and in most of the cases the so-called spokesmen But the real impact of the suicide of Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility bombings was felt when Pakistani state for the attacks. machinery failed to effectively respond to this threat. The police acted as first Party cadre and leaders of Awami National responders in the suicide bombings Party remained the prime target of the incidents but they were not at all suicide bombers during this period. ANP trained and prepared to deal with this has a grass-root level presence in threat. Government hospitals and their erstwhile tribal areas and quite daringly its staffs gradually developed the capacity party cadres started to assert themselves to deal with the emergencies in the in the local politics. For instance, in wake of suicide attacks. Initially there February 2008, ANP cadre was part of the were no ambulances and no trained campaign by local tribal Lashkar to oust staff to shift the injured of the blasts— the foreign militants from North which were mostly burned victims—to Waziristan. This was happening while ANP the hospitals. as a political party was engaged in election campaign for parliamentary elections. The tribal Lashkar (locally raised tribal force)

109 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 was raised by the Dawar tribes to evict seminaries, under the control of JUI foreign militants from their area, which leaders. So the attacks on the leaders of according to them, provoked military JUI was seen as a major change in the operations by the Pakistani security forces strategy of militants, who saw no causing multiple hardships to the local possibility of any kind of understanding people. with any party which was functioning under the constitutional framework of It was in this situation that a joint election Pakistani state. Six people were killed and rally of ANP workers and the tribal Lashkar several others, mostly students, sustained was attacked by a suicide bomber in Mirali injuries in a suicide attack on a Madrassa on February 11, 2008, killing 10 party in Kili Karbala in the Pishin district. workers on the spot. This was an incident According to reports JUI-F provincial Amir of suicide bombers targeting of workers of Maulana Muhammad Khan Shirani, a political party, which was actively Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker campaigning against the militancy in the Syed Matiullah Agha and provincial tribal areas. ministers belonging to the party were attending a ceremony at the Madrassa One such gathering was targeted by a when a 15-year-old boy blew himself up in suicide bomber on March 2, 2008 where front of the stage. However, all the JUI-F some 42 people, mostly tribal elders, were leadership escaped unhurt. In March 2011, killed at a grand peace Jirga in Darra the JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Adamkhel town, about 40 kilometers south was specifically targeted in a suicide attack of Peshawar. Not surprisingly the agenda in Swabi where he arrived to address a of the meeting was to oust the militants of public rally, he, however escaped unhurt. their area and set up peace committee to Fazl was targeted in a second suicide ensure making the area trouble free.216 attack on his life, this time in Charsadda, The religious parties like Jamat-e-Ulema within a short span of a month’s time.217 Islam (JUI-F) started to come under By 2009 the tribal militants had extended suicide attacks in the period immediately their range to areas far away from the in the wake of 2008 parliamentary tribal areas. They were now targeting elections. These parties were perceived to religious scholars from the rival sect in be close to the militant groups, major urban centers like Lahore. In June ideologically, and were seen as a political 2009, the tribal militants struck in the force in a position to influence the heart of Lahore when they targeted Dr behavior of so-called Pakistani Taliban— Sarfraz Hussain Naeemi in a suicide attack; primarily because most of the Taliban Dr Naeemi was killed along with five leadership was educated in the religious

110 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 others, when a 17-year-old youth blew funerals were targeted in cities like Dera himself up at his office in Jamia Naeemia, Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and on the Allama Iqbal Road in Garhi Shahu Peshawar, killing scores of people. The area of Lahore, soon after the Friday state machinery, however, remained prayers. Dr Naeemi was considered an helpless in giving protection to the opponent of Taliban’s ideology.218 community.

The parliamentary elections and political Most of these suicide attacks took place in parties were the specific targets of suicide cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however attacks in 2008. Attacks on many political Punjab was not completely immune from activities, parties and leaders, most these attacks. A suicide bomber blew notably the October 18, 2007 assault on himself up at the entrance of an Imam the motorcade of Benazir Bhutto, former bargah on April 5, 2009, in Sargodha prime minister and the then head of the killing 24 people, including three children. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in Karachi, On December 24, 2009, a suicide bomber which resulted in 139 deaths, and her blew himself outside an Imam bargah in assassination on December 27, 2007 were Shakrial village within the Islamabad the glaring examples of Taliban’s terrorist Capital Territory (ICT). On December 28, violence to disrupt the political process. 2009 an Ashura procession was attacked by a suicide bomber in Karachi killing 42 6.4.3 Shia Community people on the spot, which ultimately led to riots in the city. During this period the Shia Shia community was targeted by the tribal community continued to feel vulnerable militants throughout this period, despite throughout the country as suicide bomber the fact that this community was not continued to strike the religious events directly part of the conflict going on in the and religious buildings across the country tribal areas. Shia quasi-political in cities like Quetta, Sargodha, Lahore, organizations did start a campaign against Hangu and other places. extremism after the community came under wave of suicide attacks across the 6.4.4. General Public or Civilians country—but this political campaign was apparently not the cause, which prompted Suicide bombings on civilians showed the the militants to start targeting the savagery of Pakistani Taliban was on full community. In fact, the Shia community display. Most of this type of suicide came under suicide attacks by the bombings took place in 2009. militants right from the start of wave of suicide attacks across Pakistan. Imam One such attack took place in Jumrud, bargahs and Shia religious processions and Khyber, on March 27, 2009. About 48

111 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 people were killed and 170 injured when a bombings as a tool to eliminate leaders of mosque packed with worshippers collapsed their rival groups or pro-government peace after a bomb blast during Friday prayers. committees’ members. This proved to be Khyber Agency administrator Tariq Hayat equally deadly as most of these attacks Khan blamed the defunct Tehrik-i-Taliban took place in crowded places like mosques Pakistan for the carnage. Another such or other public gatherings. This resulted in suicide attack where general public was large number of deaths. A suicide bomber the target took place on October 9, 2009 blew himself up prior to prayers in Masjid in Peshawar’s busy bazaar where 49 Wali Muhammad in Akhurwal area of the people, including a woman and seven volatile Darra Adamkhel semi-tribal region, children, were killed. Reportedly, a suicide killing over 70 people and wounding more attacker detonated his explosives-laden than 100. Eyewitnesses said over 200 car at the crowded Soekarno Chowk in tribesmen were preparing for the Friday Khyber Bazaar. Separately, in Islamabad, prayers when a bomber in his late teens two suicide blasts on October 20, 2009 blew himself up. rocked the new campus of the International Islamic University Islamabad Some of these suicide attacks could (IIUI) in H-10 sector of Islamabad, killing specifically be described as assassination at least six students and staffers, including attempts on rival group’s leaders. Such two female students, and injuring more was the case in a suicide bombing at the than 29 others. base of the militant group, Ansarul Islam, in the Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency on Another such gruesome incident took place January 9, 2010, which left 10 people, in Rawalpindi on November 2, 2009 when including its members, dead and seven a suicide bomber hit a bank killing 36 others injured. Dr Naeem, spokesman for people and wounding over 65 others. Four the Ansarul Islam, told media that the rival soldiers were also among the dead. The militant group, Lashkar-e-Islam, led by bomber blew himself up outside the Mangal Bagh, was involved in the suicide National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on the attack. Khadim Hussain Road, where people had lined up to draw their salaries and 6.4.6 Western Interests/Diplomats pensions. The US and other western countries were 6.4.5 Rival Militant Groups and Peace openly and vocally supporting Pakistani Committees military in the war against terrorism and this meant that they were at the receiving In the middle months of 2009, different end of terror campaign in this period. The groups of Taliban started using suicide targeting of Western embassies and

112 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 western diplomatic staff was the manifestations of this reality that Taliban were out to weaken the resolve of western governments to continue to support Pakistani efforts in the war against terror.

The attack on the Danish Embassy and staff in Islamabad was a classic example of this type of attacks, which was targeted in a suspected suicide bombing on June 2, 2008 killing 6 people on the spot. Similarly, a UN office was targeted on October 5, 2009 in Islamabad, killing six people including two diplomats. It was reported in the newspapers that as a UN led mission was in Pakistan to investigate the killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the suicide attack on UN office could be in reaction to the arrival of UN investigation team.

On April 5, 2010, three coordinated suicide attacks apparently targeting US Consulate took place in Peshawar city, killing eight people. Taliban claimed responsibility for what was described in the media as suicide attacks to avenge the drone attacks on tribal areas. It was reported that the suicide bombers intended to enter the Consulate building to inflict maximum damage, but did not succeed.

113

CHAPTER 7

CPEC Security in 2019

Anam Fatima *

Development of Special Security Forces on CPEC ...... 117 Security of CPEC Projects and Workers ...... 118 CPEC Security Discussed in JCC Meetings ...... 119 Other Developments...... 119 Indian Opposition ...... 119 Way Forward ...... 119

* Anam Fatima formerly worked as a Research Associate at Pak Institute for Peace Studies, (PIPS), Islamabad.

The law enforcement agencies and were killed along with two injured. The security forces of Pakistan performed well Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed to ensure the security of projects and the responsibility for this attack. Reports workers of China Pakistan Economic said that BLA targeted the Chinese and Corridor (CPEC). foreign investors in the hotel while government denied presence of Chinese or Sindh police revealed that in half a year, it any foreigner in the hotel. had foiled 11 threat alerts pertaining to the attack on foreign workers of CPEC.219 In response to that incident, Chinese Mansehra police arrested 5 terrorists who government urged Pakistan to strengthen were planning to sabotage CPEC projects the security of CPEC. Government of in the region. 220 On the other hand, five Pakistan reaffirmed the security of CPEC suspects of Balochistan Liberation Army and Chinese workers, and ensured to take (BLA) from Karachi and Balochistan were more effective measures in this regard. In arrested for their alleged involvement in this regard, Pakistan army has hinted the an attack on the Chinese consulate in improved security situation of Balochistan Karachi last year. 221 Police claimed that under CPEC and revealed their plan to attack was planned in Afghanistan with the form another ‘division-size special force’224 support of India’s Research and Analysis to scale-up the safety of Chinese workers. Wing (RAW),however, the allegation was It was also reported in Russian media that denied by India. the Pakistani military is likely to set up a division headquarters of the 44th Light Furthermore, a Joint Investigation Team Infantry in Gwadar for CPEC security.225 (JIT) was formed to thoroughly interrogate the arrested suspects. The team informed In addition to that, Pakistan Air Vice- that it took three months and Rs1 million Marshal Officer Commanding Southern for terrorists to plan and execute the Command urged Balochistan government attack. 222 Their head named Amanullah to make the security arrangements more funded the attack via bank transfer and effective for the smooth execution of CPEC cash money. Meanwhile, Sindh’s Counter- projects in Gwadar.226 Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed that one BLA’s member, adherent of the Development of Special Chinese consulate attack in Karachi, was Security Forces on CPEC arrested in Sharjah with the help of information provided by Sindh CTD. Government appeared keen towards advancement and capacity building of the However, one major assault against CPEC special security forces constituted for CPEC workers was noted this year. In May, four projects and foreigner experts. terrorists attempted to attack PC hotel in Gwadar, Balochistan but security forces To enhance the efficiency of CPEC security foiled this attempt.223 Two security guards forces, 470 personnel of Special Protection Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Unit (SPU) were trained in Police College various projects. District police has Sihala. 227 In Gilgit-, police reviewed the foreigner’s security working provided advanced vehicles to SPU officials on CPEC projects including Dassu to improve their performance. 228 Punjab Hydropower project and Suki Kanari police has also shown seriousness and Hydropower project in Kaghan valley.232 commitment to ensure the security of foreigner experts. The Inspector General On the other hand, Punjab police has also (IG) Police instructed senior officials to beefed-up the security of Chinese workers 233 visit the project sites and submit a working on various CPEC projects. It is performance report of SPU staff deployed important to mention that the Punjab in Lahore. He also ordered them to report home department’s directorate has to the home department if visa and NOCs conducted the security audit of CPEC of any Chinese or other foreigner workers hydropower project and reported different are outdated. SPU has signed a MoU with security lapses. The inspection team noted foreign office for information sharing that instead of a senior police officer, a linked to the security of Chinese and Subedar was monitoring the performance foreign workers. 229 In Balochistan, the of SPU. Moreover, 17 out of 90 CCTV provincial government has decided to form cameras installed at site were a new branch of Levies force230 to ensure dysfunctional and their repair guarantee the secure execution of CPEC projects. with the concerned company was outdated. The team also noted that 100 Meanwhile, government has earmarked face detection cameras installed at entry around Rs287 million 231 in the next fiscal and exit were disconnected to CCTV year’s budget to establish a Special control room. An “anti-air defense Security Division (SSD) constituting of mechanism does not exist to counter the Rangers. air strike” at the project site, the team noted. In addition to that, employees Security of CPEC Projects and screening and verification process is Workers lengthy and half of the project employees have been working without any security Punjab and KP police ensured fool-proof clearance. security to projects being executed under CPEC. The home department’s directorate has asked regional police to address the Mansehra police has reviewed the security security lapses by coordinating with district of foreigners, mainly CPEC workers, and intelligence committee and submit a fortified the security measures on sites report. The regional police officer directed where Chinese have been working on the Rawalpindi Saddar Division police to

118 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 evaluate project’s security and submit a China has stressed to boost the use of detailed report to be further forwarded to technology for uninterrupted execution of the directorate. CPEC projects. Though Pakistan has adopted various mechanisms for smooth CPEC Security Discussed in JCC implementation of projects under CPEC, Meetings the Joint Technical Expert Working has offered technological support237 on security During the 9th Joint Cooperation management of CPEC. Committee (JCC) meeting, both sides agreed on enhanced cooperation in all Indian Opposition spheres to ensure the security of CPEC. China appreciated Pakistan’s step to India has been trying to malign the image increase the size of SSD North and South of CPEC by circulating the distorted news for the better security of CPEC. Pakistan linked to CPEC security. In the month of ensured to protect projects from external February, unidentified armed men killed threats by fencing Pak-Afghan and Pak- four of Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in Iran borders in the next three years.234 Panjgur, Balochistan. Indian media circulated the fabricated news,238 originally A broad plan was drafted to strengthen reported by Balochistan Post, quoting “FC the security of CPEC in the 6th meeting of personnel killed in attack against CPEC”. China-Pakistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on CPEC security235. Both sides agreed to Way Forward enhance the security of CPEC projects, Chinese engineers, technical staff, skilled Amid improved security of CPEC projects professionals and Chinese suppliers and workers, it is pertinent to understand involved in the implementation of projects. the nexus between domestic natural resources, sustainable development and Other Developments violent conflict. CPEC has been facing security challenges both at internal and Amid increasing security concerns of CPEC, external level. Apart from capacity building both sides have agreed to develop the of CPEC linked special security forces and Gwadar master plan. As per plan, law enforcement agencies, government geological and satellite survey of the city needs to address the concerns and will be conducted. It is hoped that viewing grievances of locals, mainly in Gwadar, and observing the city developments from who believe that CPEC is exploitation of space and on the earth may improve CPEC their natural resources merely favorable to security.236 China. Planning commission should constitute a dialogue team or Peace

119 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Committee particularly to look into local developments under the CPEC and further discuss it with the aggrieved persons because they are more likely to be exploited against the state by external forces.

120

CHAPTER 8

2019: Faith-based Violence and Other Incidence

Najam U Din *

* Najam U Din is a journalist and human rights activist based in Lahore.

Let us start with the silver lining. In terms that they staged a four-day sit-in amid of faith-based violence, the number of heavy showers and biting cold and incidents and casualties both declined in demanded that the prime minister visit 2019 compared to the previous year. In them to assure them of protection and fact, the incidence of violence against impartial implementation of the National religious minorities and sects in the Action Plan (NAP). country has been falling for the last five years. For the sake of context, it should be added that the torment of the Hazaras of Quetta However, as welcome a news as this may has been both enduring and devastating. be, it only tells part of the story. Here is National Commission for Human Rights the rest: Media coverage in the last reported in 2018 that 509 members of fortnight of 2019 highlights that the Hazara community had been killed and authorities tightened security around 627 injured in attacks from January 2012 churches and mass prayer sites across the to December 2017. The Hazaras, who are country ahead of Christmas. The security easily recognizable because of their measures that were deemed necessary distinctive central Asian features, have included not just walk-through gates, but been forced to find sanctuary only in two also deployment of snipers on the rooftops Hazara-dominated neighborhoods in and having bomb disposal units at hand. Quetta to escape unrelenting targeted The Punjab police chief said the idea was attacks. The April 2019 attack targeted to ensure that Christians could celebrate Hazara fruit sellers and green grocers who their religious festival without any fear. regularly travelled to and from the market in a convoy under police and paramilitary Who wouldn’t appreciate this degree of forces escort. vigilance and caution? Nothing should be more important than ensuring the peace of Besides religious and sectarian minorities, mind and safety and security of all citizens, places of religious significance have also especially on occasions of religious been regularly targeted in militant festivity. After all, there have been extremist across the country over the last reminders in 2019 itself, such as mob 15 years. In May 2019, at least eight violence in Ghotki in September, that the people were killed in a suicide bombing specter of faith-based bloodletting might outside the shrine of the one of the still be just around the corner. Another country’s most revered Sufi shrines in the noticeable one was the targeting of Shia city of Lahore. Hazara citizens in a fruit and vegetable market Quetta in a suicide bombing in Pakistan has heavily invested in fighting April. A sectarian militant group as well as terrorism and improving security in recent Daesh claimed responsibility for that years and considerable gains are attack. It was a measure of the undoubtedly visible. Unfortunately, desperation of the long-suffering Hazaras however, extremist groups are still able to Pakistan Security Report | 2019 launch deadly attacks. Militant extremists escorts to the particularly vulnerable might claimed the bombing. fall short any way if the challenge posed by intolerance, open promotion of faith- The Hazara grievance regarding the based hatred and hostility to other implementation of NAP is of course a people’s religions or sect are not reference to national consensus on action confronted and the perpetrators are not against militancy and terrorism after the prosecuted. Army Public School attack in Peshawar in December 2014. Several parts of the plan An important milestone in the struggle for articulated responses to longstanding freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan concerns that had been at the root of has been the June 2014 judgement perils to citizens from minority religions rendered by then Chief Justice of Pakistan and sects in Pakistan. regarding protection of religious minorities. In its judgement, the Supreme Court Among others, the 20-point National directed the government to confront hate Action Plan resolved to bar militant speech and “to develop the curricula at outfits/armed gangs from operating in the school and college level, promoting country; deal firmly with sectarian religious and social tolerance”. However, terrorists; take effective steps against implementation is still awaited. religious persecution; ban glorification of terrorists and terrorist organizations Nearly 25 years prior to the SC advice, the through print, electronic and social media; UN special rapporteur on the question of stop financing for terrorist and terrorist religious intolerance had visited Pakistan in organizations and prevent re-emergence of 1995 and in his report expressed concern proscribed organizations. The plan vowed at manifestations of religious intolerance in to take “strict action against the literature, Pakistan. He had advised Pakistan to make newspapers and magazines promoting special efforts in order to encourage and hatred, extremism, sectarianism and develop the culture of tolerance and of intolerance”. human rights.

Progress on many of these goals is far Slogans and wall-chalking in the country from impressive. In December 2019, none branding one Muslim sect or another as other than the chief justice of Pakistan infidel even today is evidence that the lamented successive governments’ failure advice of the UN special rapporteur or the to implement NAP to wipe out terror. country’s top court has not been heeded.

It may be argued that heightened security To conclude, let us get back to the point around religious festivities and security about enhanced security around Christmas

124 Pakistan Security Report | 2019 during the year under review. The conundrum is two-fold: firstly, even the authorities themselves are not yet confident that the routine security measures would be sufficient to ward off the threat confronting the citizens affiliated with minority religions or sects. The other, related, aspect is that although increased security on important religious days is meant to reassure citizens from religious minorities, it simultaneously has the unintended consequence of conveying to these same citizens’ feelings of continued vulnerability and persistence of the perils they have been facing. And in order to address these threats and these feelings of vulnerability, much hard work remains.

125

CHAPTER 9

The Baloch Insurgency in 2019

Muhammad Akbar Notezai *

* Muhammad Akbar Notezai is a journalist associated with daily Dawn.

In the past, Baloch insurgents used to out of the province, thus outnumbering frequently carry out attacks in Balochistan, the local Baloch. To cash in on the ever since the beginning of the fifth Baloch situation, the Baloch insurgents have also insurgency in the early 2000. Due to this shifted their attention to reason, the Baloch insurgency would and its surrounding areas for carrying out increasingly come under discussion due to attacks. frequent low level attacks carried out by Baloch insurgents in the entire Balochistan To discourage China from investing in province. As a result of these attacks, the Balochistan, the insurgents have whole region was disturbed. There were consolidated their footprints in Makran and reports of attacks on security forces, state in its surrounding areas. For instance, installations, and the Punjabi settlers, etc. unlike the past, if they carry out an attack Sadly, some parts of Balochistan had even on Chinese engineers and workers or in turned into no-go areas, including for the the places heavily invested by Chinese locals. Over the recent years, the situation companies, then it is definitely highlighted has calmed down due to several in the media, especially in international developments in Balochistan. media. This was one of the reasons Baloch insurgents targeted the PC (Pearl Under the National Action Plan (NAP), the Continental) hotel, situated in the heart of state crackdown against militants Gwadar—crown jewel of CPEC, in the increased in Balochistan also. That is why month of May 2019. insurgents, gradually and slowly, were pushed back to the mountains, into their Although the current phaseof Baloch hideouts. Unlike the past, the insurgents insurgency is the longest in the history of cannot now frequently rear their heads. Balochistan, some critics say Baloch After the announcement of the China- separatists have failed to achieve their Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), objectives. As a result, the Baloch Gwadar port project’s significance in underground organizations have become particular and Makran division in general radicalized. In this context, they cite the increased manifold. Since then, Gwadar example of the Majeed Brigade, the attracted immense attention among circles suicide squad within the Balochistan of Baloch nationalists and policymakers in Liberation Army (BLA). The said Brigade Islamabad and Beijing. The government targeted the Chinese consulate in Karachi, made extra security arrangements to too. Due to some suicide attacks prevent the threats of militancy. perpetrated by Baloch insurgents, some argue that a section of them has become Meanwhile, Baloch nationalists have more violent radical. But Baloch become apprehensive about the future of nationalists do not agree with the the Gwadar port town. They believe the assumption. To them, this is the same old development of the Gwadar port project spark which is in the play, in somewhat will also bring a bulk of population from different tactical way. Pakistan Security Report | 2019

In 2019, other than the sporadic attacks bus passengers, most of them belonged to reported from across the province, the Pakistan’s Navy force, were killed. Baloch insurgency apparently had gone into hibernation. Over the years, it has lost The CPEC, flagship of China’s Belt & Road ground, and it seems highly unlikely it can Initiative, connects the Gwadar port regain the lost ground in the near future. project with China’s Kashghar in Xinjiang There is uncertainty ahead, because the province. Due to increasing Chinese state has suffocated the movement to a presence and interests in Balochistan, the greater extent. This is why it (insurgency) BLA’s Majeed Bridage’s attack on the now rears its head twice or thrice in a Chinese consulate in Karachi, engineers in year, in form of relatively intensive waves Dalbandin, Balochistan, and elsewhere in of violence. Under suffocation, if once they Balochistan led the USA to blacklist and come out of their hideouts, they carry out add the BLA to the list of its Specially a big attack, with relatively larger impact, Designated Terrorist Group (SDTG), in July which was unlikely in the past. Despite of 2019. The USA was reportedly these sporadic attacks, peace is restored in concerned about BLA’s suicide attacks on several parts of Balochistan. But the Chinese engineers and installments, etc. question is: is it temporary or permanent? It is interesting to note that USA is But unfortunately, it has never been showing an extraordinary interest in the permanent in this region, which is region following China’s engagement in disturbed for over last several decades. the region. For instance, in the past, the The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor USA was least interested in the Gwadar (CPEC) gave impetus to Baloch port, despite being it offered to them. The underground organizations which had USA did not show interest. After Pakistani evolved differences with one another in authorities offered and handed it over to the past. The state had taken benefit of China, the USA has again become those differences amongst Baloch outfits, interested due to China factor in the and had somewhat contained the Baloch region. As for BLA’s suicide attacks, the insurgency. Meanwhile, it does pop up independent analysts assert, the USA sometimes, like it did last year, a few became concerned and feared that China times. Under these circumstances, in the might think of her being behind the name of the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar attacks on Chinese installments in Pakistan (BRAS), Baloch militants reportedly by the said group, tacitly. This is why it belonging to different Baloch outfits, designated the group, so that China may carried out an attack in Ormara coastal not even doubt about that. town of Balochistan’s Gwadar district; 14

130 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

It appears as if the state and the Baloch nationalist insurgents will continue to be at war with each other, at least for some visible years. The cooler heads have never prevailed in this unfortunate province, which has always been on the receiving end. The reason is: neither the state nor the Baloch are in the favor of negotiations with each other, because the two forces do not trust each other. There is always a distrust. As a result, Balochistan has been witnessing bloodshed, chaos, and war.

131

Notes

1 Waseem Shamsi, “Unrest in Ghotki as teacher accused of blasphemy,” Dawn, September 16, 2019. 2and represent increase and decrease, respectively, from previous year. 3and represent increase and decrease, respectively, from 2018 to 2019. 4 Mubarak Zeb Khan, “Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list till February,” Dawn, October 16, 2019. 5 Mubarak Zeb Khan, “FATF cell set up at FBR to deal with terror financing,” Dawn, July 26, 2019. 6 Malik Asad, “NAB forms cell to combat money laundering, terror financing,” Dawn, October 18, 2019. 7 Kalbe Ali, “FATF response to Pakistan progress report received,” Dawn, December 22, 2019. 8 “Govt. takes over seminary linked to JeM,” Dawn, February 23, 2019. 9 Ashfaq Ahmed, “Naya Pakistan: Government to take control of 30,000 madrassas across country,” Gulf News, April 29, 2019, https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/naya-pakistan-government-to-take-control-of- 30000-madrassas-across-country-1.1556545286343 10 Kashif Abbasi, “Directorate being set up to regulate seminaries,” Dawn, October 22, 2019. 11Ansar Abassi, “Madrassa reforms, Army Chief’s long hours meeting with the religious scholars,” daily Jang (Urdu), July 18, 2019. 12 Kashif Abbasi, “Seminaries to teach contemporary subjects,” Dawn, July 19, 2019. 13 Manzoor Ali, Dawn, February 8, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1462458/controversy-as-governor- forms-body-to-advise-govt-on-merger-issues 14 Nasir Jamal, “NFC rejects KP’s plea for additional funds for Fata merger,” Dawn, March 30, 2019. 15 Waseem Ahmad Shah, “View from the courtroom: Legal issues related to detentions in ex-Fata continue to surface,” Dawn, May 20, 2019. 16 Ibid. 17 “DPOs posted to seven tribal districts,” Dawn, March 30, 2019. 18 Zulfiar Ali, “28,000 Levies, Khasadar personnel join KP police,” Dawn, April 9, 2019. 19 Muhammad Anis, “26th Constitutional Amendment: More seats for ex-Fata,” The News, May 14, 2019. 20The Express Tribune, February 13, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1908807/1-four-policemen-martyred- di-khan-attack 21The News, April 28, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/464044-three-levies-men-martyred-in-north- waziristan-blast 22Daily Jang (Urdu), May 7, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/05-07-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=530.png 23Dawn, June 8, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1486779/three-officers-soldier-martyred-in-north- waziristan-ied-attack 24Daily Dunya (Urdu), June 12, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-06- 13&edition=ISL&id=4645492_90618745 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

25Dawn, July 22, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1495514/four-cops-among-eight-killed-in-di-khan-gun- bomb-attacks;Jang (Urdu), July 22, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/07-22-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=56.png 26The News, July 28, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/504636-10-soldiers-lay-down-lives-for-regional- peace 27Dawn, August 3, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1497824/four-soldiers-martyred-in-north-waziristan- attacks 28Daily Dunya (Urdu), November 6, 2019, https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-11- 06&edition=ISL&id=4884151_71608720 29Dawn, November 12, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1516290/3-soldiers-martyred-in-ied-blast-in-north- waziristan-ispr 30Dawn, August 19, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1500364/four-members-of-former-aman-lashkar-killed- in-bomb-blast 31Dawn, June 30, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1491154/anp-leader-gunned-down-in-peshawar 32Dawn, October 18, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1511480/ppp-leader-shot-dead-in-bajaur 33Dawn, April 12, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475521/two-oil-company-workers-shot-dead-in-n- waziristan 34Daily Dunya (Urdu), April 24, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-04- 24&edition=ISL&id=4560973_47264723 35Dawn, April 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1478227/policeman-guarding-polio-team-killed-in-buner 36Dawn, May 6, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1480576/another-polio-officer-shot-dead 37Dawn, September 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1507222/four-civilians-two-soldiers-martyred-in- waziristan-ambush 38Daily Jang (Urdu), December 10, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/12-10-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=94.png 39Dawn, December 19, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1523089/two-cops-escorting-polio-team-martyred- in-kp-attack 40The News, August 1, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/506645-one-killed-another-injured-in-di-khan- target-attack 41Balochistan Express, February 18, 2019, https://www.bexpress.com.pk/2019/02/four-fc-soldiers-martyred-in- panjgur/ 42Dawn, April 19, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1477069/11-security-personnel-among-14-martyred- near-gwadar 43Dawn, April 23, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1477843/12-injured-in-nasirabad-bomb-explosion 44Dawn, May 26, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1484675/militant-killed-in-kech-shootout 45The News, July 28, 2019, http://pakpips.com/app/database-old/form.php 46Dawn, November 16, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1517013/three-fc-personnel-martyred-four-injured- in-quetta-bomb-blast 47Dawn, March 15, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1469680/two-killed-in-panjgur-blast 48Dawn, May 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1482001/night-of-terror-at-gwadar-hotel-ends-after-12- hour-operation;Dawn, May 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481988/gwadar-hotel-building-badly-

133 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

damaged-in-terrorist-attack; Daily Dunya, May 13, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-05- 13&edition=ISL&id=4594349_18276024 49Daily Jang (Urdu), February 25, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/02-25- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=549.png;Dawn, February 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1465850/man-killed-in-dera-murad-jamali-blast 50Daily Dunya (Urdu), February 25, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-02- 25&edition=ISL&id=4462930_52581222 51Daily Express (Urdu), August 18, 2019, https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1106670676&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20190 818 52Dawn, May 15, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1482338/three-labourers-shot-dead-in-nasirabad 53Dawn, January 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1457165/social-worker-among-two-killed-in-loralai 54Dawn, March 18, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1470321/four-killed-as-railway-track-blown-up 55Dawn, November 18, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1517343 56Dawn, January 2, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1455024/four-soldiers-martyred-as-attack-on-fc- compound-foiled;The Balochistan Post, January 1, 2019, http://thebalochistanpost.net/2019/01/four- personnel-killed-in-loralai-attack-ttp-claims-responsibility/ 57Daily Azadi, Quetta, January 30, 2019, https://dailyazadiquetta.com/epaper/m/106684/5c50d830a10a2;Dawn, January 30, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1460704/nine-killed-21-injured-in-loralai-police-office-attack 58Daily Dunya (Urdu), February 17, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-02- 17&edition=ISL&id=4449361_71249343 59Dawn, March 21, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1470904/six-levies-men-martyred-in-ziarat-attack- claimed-by-ttp 60Dawn, May 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1482172/second-attack-in-three-days-rocks- balochistan;The News, May 14, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/470964-four-cops-martyred-11- people-injured-in-quetta-blast 61Dawn, June 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1490669 62Daily Jang (Urdu), July 31, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/07-31-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=46.png 63Daily Dunya (Urdu), May 25, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-05- 25&edition=ISL&id=4614601_14277585;Dawn, May 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1484400/balochistan-bleeds-again-as-blast-in-quetta-leaves-two-dead 64Dawn, August 17, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1499947/quetta-mosque-blast-kills-four-injures-25;The News, August 16, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/512898-two-killed-quetta-blast 65Dawn, August 18, 2019, https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=18_08_2019_001_001 66Dawn, May 9, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481177/tribal-elder-among-three-killed-in-qilla-abdullah 67Dawn, July 24, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1495865/bicycle-explosion-kills-three-in-quetta; Dawn, July 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1496062/fir-registered-in-bicycle-blast-case 68Dawn, September 29, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1507917 69Dawn, April 26, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1478436/woman-polio-worker-gunned-down-in-chaman

134 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

70Express Tribune, March 26, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1937555/1-balochistan-university- superintendent-killed-quetta;Dawn, March 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1472140/varsity-official- shot-dead 71Dawn, April 1, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1473165/prayer-leader-among-two-shot-dead-in-quetta 72The News, April 13, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/457078-hazaras-protest-by-blocking-n-bypass- 22-martyred-in-quetta-chaman-bomb-hits;Dawn, April 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475779/suicide-bomber-heaps-trauma-on-hazaras; CNN World, April 12, 2019, https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/04/12/asia/quetta-market-blast- intl/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F;Dawn, April 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475987/hazara-protesters-refuse-to-end-quetta-sit-in-amid-centres- assurances 73Dawn, May 31, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1485588/suicide-attack-foiled-in-quetta 74Dawn, June 8, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1486799/woman-among-five-killed-in-two-ziarat- explosions 75Dawn, June 8, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1486799/woman-among-five-killed-in-two-ziarat- explosions 76Dawn, August 7, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1498541/hazara-man-killed-in-quetta-market-ied-blast 77Dawn, March 23, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1471300/two-killed-as-mufti-taqi-survives-attempt-on- life; Daily Dunya (Urdu), April 4, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-04- 04&edition=ISL&id=4526306_93789645 78Dawn, March 5, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1467629/police-officer-killed-in-targeted-attack-in- orangi-town 79Dawn, June 18, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1488768/two-policemen-shot-dead-in-orangi-targeted- attack;Dawn, July 5, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1491939/investigators-say-lj-militants-who- escaped-from-prison-behind-policemens-killing 80Dawn, July 10, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1493076/two-men-shot-dead-another-wounded-in- terrorist-attack-in-karachi 81Daily Dunya (Urdu), Islamabad, February 14, 2019. 82Daily Dunya (Urdu), June 19, 2019, https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-06- 19&edition=ISL&id=4656647_26812969 83Dawn, January 9, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1456436 84Daily Dunya (Urdu), February 22, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-02- 22&edition=ISL&id=4457452_21908629; Daily Jang (Urdu), March 2, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/03-02- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=02_09.png; Daily Dunya (Urdu), March 16, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-03-16&edition=ISL&id=4493850_60791917 85The News, May 9, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/468981-10-including-four-cops-martyred-in-data- darbar-suicide-blast;Dawn, May 9, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481176/bomb-attack-jolts-lahore- kills-10-near-data-darbar;Dawn, May 11, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481587/suspects-detained-in- data-darbar-blast-probe; Daily Dunya, May 13, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-05- 13&edition=ISL&id=4594371_30327260

135 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

86Daily Dunya (Urdu), November 12, 2019, https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-11- 12&edition=ISL&id=4891042_58546402 87Dawn, November 30, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1519559/14-injured-as-blast-rips-through-rickshaw 88Daily Dunya (Urdu), Islamabad, August 22, 2019, https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-08- 22&edition=ISL&id=4761426_65589562 89Daily Azadi, Quetta, January 30, 2019, https://dailyazadiquetta.com/epaper/m/106684/5c50d830a10a2;Dawn, January 30, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1460704/nine-killed-21-injured-in-loralai-police-office-attack 90The News, April 13, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/457078-hazaras-protest-by-blocking-n-bypass- 22-martyred-in-quetta-chaman-bomb-hits;Dawn, April 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475779/suicide-bomber-heaps-trauma-on-hazaras; CNN World, April 12, 2019, https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/04/12/asia/quetta-market-blast- intl/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F;Dawn, April 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475987/hazara-protesters-refuse-to-end-quetta-sit-in-amid-centres- assurances 91The News, May 9, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/468981-10-including-four-cops-martyred-in-data- darbar-suicide-blast;Dawn, May 9, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481176/bomb-attack-jolts-lahore- kills-10-near-data-darbar;Dawn, May 11, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481587/suspects-detained-in- data-darbar-blast-probe; Daily Dunya, May 13, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-05- 13&edition=ISL&id=4594371_30327260 92Dawn, July 22, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1495514/four-cops-among-eight-killed-in-di-khan-gun- bomb-attacks;Jang (Urdu), July 22, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/07-22-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=56.png 93Dawn, January 4, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1455314/shopkeeper-falls-victim-to-targeted-killing-in- korangi 94Dawn, January 12, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1456929/shopkeeper-shot-dead-in-sectarian-attack 95The News, February 10, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/429989-is-sectarian-violence-returning-to- karachi 96Dawn, February 3, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1461540/shopkeeper-shot-dead-in-karachi 97The News, March 24, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/447791-mwm-questions-performance-of-leas- as-man-killed-in-orangi 98Dawn, August 31, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1502674/doctor-shot-dead-in-gulshan-in-suspected- sectarian-attack 99The News, August 1, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/506645-one-killed-another-injured-in-di-khan- target-attack 100Dawn, March 5, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1467683/militant-positions-pounded-after-border-attack 101Dawn, May 2, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1479735/three-soldiers-martyred-in-attack-from-across- afghan-border 102Dawn, September 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1505182/4-pakistan-army-soldiers-martyred-in- firing-by-militants-near-afghan-border-ispr 103Dawn, October 30, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1513611 104 Syed Irfan Raza, “Pakistan to keep Torkhan border open round the clock,” Dawn, January 29, 2019.

136 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

105Dawn, January 10, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1456633/woman-killed-in-indian-shelling 106Dawn, February 26, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1466038/indian-aircraft-violate-loc-scramble-back- after-pafs-timely-response-ispr 107Dawn, March 17, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1470152/indian-spy-drone-shot-down-near-loc 108Dawn, April 3, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1473565/three-soldiers-martyred-in-indian-firing-from- across-loc 109Dawn, July 4, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1491995/five-soldiers-martyred-in-explosion-near-loc 110 Ibid. 111Dawn, August 17, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1499964/another-soldier-martyred-in-indian-firing 112Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (Urdu), September 1, 2019, https://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E-Paper/islamabad/2019-09- 01/page-1/detail-8 113Roznama 92 News (Urdu), September 7, 2019, https://www.roznama92news.com/efrontend/web/index.php/?station_id=3&page_id=0&is_common=N&xdat e=2019-9-7&n=n8 114Dawn, September 12, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1504811 115Dawn, October 16, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1511086/three-civilians-killed-in-indian-shelling- across-loc 116 Daily Jang (Urdu), October 25, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/10-25-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=523.png 117Dawn, December 26, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1524501/2-pakistan-army-soldiers-martyred-in- indian-ceasefire-violations-along-loc-ispr 118Dawn, December 23, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1523940/fully-prepared-to-thwart-any- misadventure-says-army-chief-during-loc-visit 119Dawn, January 19, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1458407/mortar-shells-fired-by-iranian-forces- explode-in-taftan 120 “Pakistan, Iran to augment work on opening of new border crossings,” Dawn, July 19, 2019. 121 “Asim Umar: Al-Qaeda's South Asia chief 'killed in Afghanistan',” BBC, October 8, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49970353 122Daily Times, March 2, 2019, https://dailytimes.com.pk/360349/no-one-claims-most-wanted-terrorists-killed- in-mega-encounter/ 123Dawn, April 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1475987/hazara-protesters-refuse-to-end-quetta-sit-in- amid-centres-assurances 124Dawn, April 20, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1477246/two-terrorists-held-in-mansehra 125 Pazir Gul, “TTP warns against playing music,” Dawn, August 1, 2019. 126 Nadeem Manzoor, “Banned TTP head Noor Wali Mhesud included in the list of international terrorists,” Daily 92 News (Urdu), September 12, 2019. 127“Lashkar-e-Islam commander killed in Afghanistan,” The News, August 4, 2019. 128 Ayaz Gul, “Islamic State Announces 'Pakistan Province',” VOA, May 15, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/islamic-state-announces-pakistan-province 129Dawn, May 17, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1482821/nine-militants-killed-in-mastung-operation

137 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

130 Imtiaz Ali, “CTD says splinter group of outlawed AQIS reorganizing in Karachi,” Dawn, October 15, 2019. 131 Asif Chaudhry, “Militant outfit’s media cell in Gujranwala busted,” Dawn, December 27, 2019. 132 Imtiaz Ali, “Two LJ militants active in Sindh, Balochistan held in Gadap,” Dawn, February 21, 2019; “Terrorism plot foiled as four LJ hit men held in Karachi,” Dawn, September 8, 2019; “Investigators say LJ militants who escaped prison behind policemen’s killing,” Dawn, July 4, 2019. 133 Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi told journalists in April 2019: https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan- blames-iran-based-separatists-for-deadly-baluchistan-attack/a-48416436 134 “All 3 terrorists killed as security operation completed at PC Gwadar: ISPR,” Geo TV, May 12, 2019, https://www.geo.tv/latest/237047-all-3-terrorists-killed-as-security-operation-completed-at-pc-gwadar-ispr 135 “US labels BLA as terrorist group,” Dawn, July 3, 2019. 136 Asif Chaudhry, “Trump welcomes Hafiz Saeed’s arrest ‘after ten-year search’,” Dawn, July 18, 2019. 137 Noor Aftab, “Ten outfits banned,” The News, May 12, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/470289-ten- outfits-banned 138 Mohammad Asghar, “Nacta slaps ban on two more organizations,” Dawn, August 23, 2019. 139 Imran Asghar, “CTD releases list of 22 most-wanted terrorists,” The Express Tribune, January 19, 2019. 140 Others among those killed included 2 FC men, 3 policemen and one army soldier. 141 Other injured include 9 FC, 8 policemen. 142Dawn, January 16, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1457822/ctd-kills-militants-involved-in-kidnapping-of- ex-pms-son 143Daily Dunya (Urdu), January 17, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-01- 17&edition=ISL&id=4394094_21723341 144Dawn, February 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1466254/four-militants-killed-in-tank-encounter 145Dawn, March 21, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1470879/four-iranian-soldiers-freed-ispr 146Dawn, March 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1472141/woman-three-others-blow-themselves-up 147Daily Dunya (Urdu), April 3, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-04- 03&edition=ISL&id=4524867_84174260 148Dawn, May 9, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1481181/two-terrorists-killed-in-north-waziristan- operation 149Dawn, May 17, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1482821/nine-militants-killed-in-mastung-operation 150Dawn, September 5, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1503612/six-suspected-is-militants-killed-in-quetta 151Daily Jang (Urdu), December 7, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/12-07-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=512.png 152 Other killed include 4 soldiers and 2 policemen. 153 Injured include 2 FC, 3 policemen, and 4 army men. 154Daily Dunya (Urdu), January 20, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-01- 20&edition=ISL&id=4399497_41945715 155Daily Times, March 2, 2019, https://dailytimes.com.pk/360349/no-one-claims-most-wanted-terrorists-killed- in-mega-encounter/

138 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

156Daily Dunya (Urdu), May 28, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-05- 28&edition=ISL&id=4620343_83038074 157 Daily Express (Urdu), June 24, 2019, https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1106518884&Issue=NP_ISB&Date=20190 624 158Dawn, June 25, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1490303/three-is-militants-gunned-down-in-encounter- on-citys-outskirts 159Dawn, March 13, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1469282/five-terrorists-arrested-in-mansehra 160Dawn, March 14, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1469495/terrorists-held-in-mansehra-were-planning- to-target-cpec-police-say 161 Ibid. 162Daily Dunya (Urdu), March 21, 2019, http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-03- 21&edition=ISL&id=4503054_28388855 163Dawn, April 20, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1477246/two-terrorists-held-in-mansehra 164Dawn, May 2, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1479652/jundullah-militant-involved-in-bank-heists- targeted-killings-held 165Dawn, May 7, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1480736/journalist-among-five-held-for-sectarian-killings- in-karachi 166Dawn, May 21, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1483551/facilitator-of-data-darbar-suicide-blast-captured 167Daily Jang (Urdu), July 4, 2019, https://e.jang.com.pk/07-04-2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=411.png 168Dawn, September 8, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1504114/terrorism-plot-foiled-as-four-lj-hitmen- held-in-karachi 169 Daily Dunya, November 21, 2019, https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2019-11- 21&edition=ISL&id=4905014_95740517 170Dawn, November 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1519026 171Dawn, December 27, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1524548/militant-outfits-media-cell-in-gujranwala- busted 172 Zofia Mroczek , “A new society in Pakistani Balochistan,” Analysis no 266, July 2014, ISPI. 173 “Consulate attack mastermind killed in Afghanistan: Marri,” The Nation, December 26, 2018 https://nation.com.pk/26-Dec-2018/consulate-attack-mastermind-killed-in-afghanistan-marri 174 Amir Mateen, “Is it more anarchy, than an insurgency,” The News, July 26, 2010. 175 David Galula, Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practices (Connecticut: Pentagon Press, 2008). 176 Interviews with local journalists and political activists in Turbat and Gwadar between March 14-18, 2019 177 Ibid 178 Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan Security Report 2018 (Islamabad: Narratives, 2019). 179 Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan Security Report 2018. 180 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan (North America: Trafford Publishers, 2017), pp. 224-225. 181Informal interaction with security officials in Quetta and Islamabad.

139 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

182 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan, pp. 224-225. 183Interviews with political activists in Quetta, Turbat, Gwadar and Nushki. 184Interviews with local leaders and journalists in Quetta, Gwadar and Turbat. 185 Interview with a Quetta based journalist Akber Notazai, March 17, 2019. 186Dawn, April 19, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1477069/11-security-personnel-among-14-martyred- near-gwadar. 187 “Pakistan to fence 950km border with Iran: Qureshi,” The News, April 21, 2019. 188 Interview with Akber Notazai. 189Interviews with local leaders and journalists in Quetta, Gwadar and Turbat. 190 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan, p.157. 191 Dawn, Islamabad, September 9, 2010. 192 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan, p. 222. 193 Interview with Quetta based senior journalist Shazada Zulafqar March 16, 2019 194 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan, p 224. 195 Interview with an informed nationalist leader in Turbat, who once was close aide of Allah Nazar Baloch during the college life. 196 Alex Vatanka, Iran and Pakistan: Security, Diplomacy and American influence (I.B. Tauris, 2016), pp. 89-90. 197Interviews with local leaders and journalists in Makran region in March 2019. 198Interviews with local political leadership. 199 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan, p. 225. 200 “Mir Bakhtiar Domki's wife, daughter shot dead in Karachi,” Express Tribune, January 31, 2012. 201 Interviews with informed source persons based in Dalbandin and Mashkeel 202 Naseer Dashti, The Baloch conflict with Iran and Pakistan, p. 91. 203 Statistics are drawn from PIPS database on conflict and security: www.pakpips.com/app/database 204 Statistics are drawn from PIPS database on conflict and security: www.pakpips.com/app/database 205Dawn, August 9,2016, http://www.dawn.com/news/1276340/quetta-in-a-daze-after-massacre; Daily Jang (Urdu), August 10, 2016, http://e.jang.com.pk/08-10-2016/pindi/pic.asp?picname=53.gif;Balochistan Express, August 14, 2016, http://bexpress.com.pk/epaper/epaper/m/9271/Another%20blast%20injured%20dies. 206Dawn, April 25, 2018, https://www.dawn.com/news/1403734/six-policemen-martyred-16-hurt-in-quetta- suicide-blasts. 207Dawn, January 7, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1455941/12-injured-in-pishin-panjgur-blasts; Garda World, January 7, 2019, https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/190961/pakistan-pair-of-ied-attacks- leave-12-wounded-in-balochistan-january-6. 208 For details, see Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ Annual Security Reports for 2012 and 2013. 209 Khuram Iqbal, “Drivers of Suicide ,” RSIS Commentaries / South Asia Terrorism Studies, February 27, 2008.

140 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

210Robert A. Pape, “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism,” American Political Science Review Vol. 97, No. 3 August 2003, The University of Chicago. 211 Khuram Iqbal, “Drivers of Suicide Terrorism in Pakistan.” 212 Ibid. 213 “Pakistan: Remarkable reduction in violence between 2013-2018,” CRSS, https://crss.pk/story/pakistan- remarkable-reduction-in-violence-between-2013-2018/ 214Fakir S. Ayazuddin, “Other view: The suicide bombers,” The News, May 21, 2005. 215 “Mayhem on the Mall,”The News, March 5, 2008.

216 “42 killed in Darra suicide attack,” The News, March 3, 2008. 217 “Six killed in Pishin suicide attack,” The News, March 3, 2009. 218 “Moderate voice silenced,” The News, June 13, 2009. 219 Raheel Salman, The Express Tribune, July 17, 2019 https://tribune.com.pk/story/2007928/1-police-foil-105- terrorist-attacks/ 220The News, March 14, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/443722-terrorists-planning-to-attack-cpec- projects-police 221 Sajid Rauf, The Express Tribune, January 11, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1886030/1-raw-sponsored- attack-chinese-consulate-karachi-aig/ 222 Faraz Khan, The News, January 27, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/423897-terrorists-spent-rs1m- on-chinese-consulate-attack 223 BBC, May 12, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48238759 224The News, May 19, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/473155-pakistan-to-deploy-another-division- for-cpec-security 225 Sputnik, October 14, 2019, https://sputniknews.com/asia/201910141077044625-islamabad-set-to-raise-new- division-hq-in-gwadar-to-protect-china-pakistan-economic-corridor/ 226 Mohammad Zafar, The Express Tribune, September 26, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2065357/1- agricultural-development-hinges-new-dams-cm-balochistan/ 227The Express Tribune, June 1, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1985111/1-470-cops-complete-training- cpec-special-protection-unit/ 228Dawn, August 3, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/1497766/gb-gets-vehicles-for-foreigners-security 229The News, December 5, 2019 https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/578825-ig-for-safety-of-foreigners- working-on-cpec-projects 230 Parvez Jabri, Business Recorder, February 1, 2019, https://www.brecorder.com/2019/02/01/470492/balochistan-government-plans-to-re-structure-levies-force/ 231 Iftikhar Chaudhary, The Express Tribune, June 12, 2019. 232The News, July 7, 2019, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/495066-security-to-power-project-workers- assured 233The Express Tribune, June 28, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2001755/1-security-cpec-projects-among- top-priorities-igp/

141 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

234China Pakistan Economic Corridor, November 6, 2019, http://cpecinfo.com/gwadar-master-plan-and-smart- city-gets-approval-in-9th-jcc-meeting-also-joint-project-financing-group-to-be-established-for-ml-i-project/ 235 Imran Mukhtar, The Nation, January 22, 2019, https://nation.com.pk/22-Jan-2019/pak-china-jwg-meets-to- ensure-better-cpec-security 236 Zulfiqar Baig, The Express Tribune, February 15, 2019, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1910635/1-satellite- survey-gwadar-carried/ 237 Imran Mukhtar, The Nation, August 21, 2019, https://nation.com.pk/21-Aug-2019/chinese-team-takes-up- cpec-security-with-minister 238Times of India, February 18, 2019, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/four-pakistan-soldiers- killed-in-baloch-attack-report/articleshow/68041697.cms

142 ANNEXURES

Annex 1: Suicide Attacks in Pakistan in 2019 ...... 145 Annex 2: Cross-Border Attacks and Clashes in 2019 ...... 145 Annex 3: Attacks on Educational Institution in 2019 ...... 149 Annex 4: Attacks on Political Leaders and Workers ...... 149 Annex 5: Attacks on Members of Peace Committees or Pro-Govt. Tribesmen...... 149 Annex 6: Attacks on Civilians ...... 150 Annex 7: Attacks on Personnel, check posts and convoys of security forces/law enforcement agencies ...... 151 Annex 8: Breakdown of Terrorist Attacks ...... 154 Annex 9: Incidents of Ethnic and Political Violence in 2019 ...... 156 Annex 10: Major Targets of Terrorism in 2019 ...... 156 Annex 11: Terrorist Attacks’ Tactics in 2019 ...... 157 Annex 12: Operational Attacks by Security Forces 2019 ...... 157 Annex 13: Sectarian-related Terrorist Attacks in 2019 ...... 157 Annex 14: Attacks on Polio workers in 2019 ...... 158 Annex 15: Proscribed organizations ...... 158

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Annex 1: Suicide Attacks in Pakistan in 2019

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Claim of Date Location Target Killed Injured responsibility 21 July, 2019 D.I Khan Security forces / law Mil 1 Pol 1 TTP enforcement Pol 4 Civ 29 Civ 4 Total One Attack 9 30

Balochistan

Claim of Date Location Target Killed Injured responsibility 29 Jan, 2019 Loralai Security forces/law Pol 3 Pol 10 TTP enforcement Civ 6 Civ 11 Mil 3 12 Apr, 2019 Quetta Shia religious Mil 1 Civ 48 ISIS affiliates/ scholars/community FC 1 supporters Civ 19 Total 2 Attacks 33 69

Punjab

Claim of Date Location Target Killed Injured responsibility 08 May, 2019 Lahore Security forces/law Civ 7 Civ Hizbul Ahrar enforcement Mil 1 19 Pol 5 Pol 4 Total One Attack 13 23

Annex 2: Cross-Border Attacks and Clashes in 2019

Pak-Afghan Border

Date Location Target Killed Injured Perpetrator 04 Mar, 2019 Khyber Agency Security forces/law - - TTP enforcement 01 May, 2019 North Waziristan Security forces/law Arm 3 Arm 7 TTP enforcement 14 Sep, 2019 Upper Dir Security forces/law Arm 3 Arm 1 Hizbul Ahrar enforcement 29 Oct, 2019 Chitral Civilians - Arm 6 Afghan National Civ 5 Army Total 4 Attacks 6 Killed 19 Injured

145 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Pak-India Border Attacks

Sr. Date Location Target Killed Injured Perpetrator No 1. 01 Jan, 2019 Bagh Unknown - - Indian BSF 2. 02 Jan, 2019 Poonch Unknown - - Indian BSF 3. 07 Jan, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (1) Civ (1) Indian BSF 4. 07 Jan, 2019 Sialkot Civilians - - Indian BSF 5. 08 Jan, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 6. 09 Jan, 2019 Neelum Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 7. 09 Jan, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 8. 12 Jan, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 9. 14 Jan, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 10. 15 Jan, 2019 Sialkot Civilians - - Indian BSF 11. 17 Jan, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 12. 19 Jan, 2019 Sialkot Civilians - - Indian BSF 13. 23 Jan, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 14. 23 Jan, 2019 Hattian Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 15. 18 Feb, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 16. 20 Feb, 2019 Sialkot Civilians Civ (1) Indian BSF 17. 22 Feb, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 18. 24 Feb, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 19. 25 Feb, 2019 Sialkot Security forces/ Rng (1) Civ (1) Indian BSF law enforcement 20. 26 Feb, 2019 Mansehra Civilians - Indian BSF 21. 26 Feb, 2019 Loc Civilians Civ (4) Civ (11) Indian BSF 22. 27 Feb, 2019 Bhimber Unknown - - Indian BSF 23. 27 Feb, 2019 Hattian Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 24. 28 Feb, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 25. 28 Feb, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 26. 28 Feb, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 27. 01 Mar, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (4) Civ (27) Indian BSF 28. 01 Mar, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (1) Civ (3) Indian BSF 29. 02 Mar, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (3) Civ (2) Indian BSF 30. 02 Mar, 2019 Kotli Security forces/ Arm (2) - Indian BSF law enforcement 31. 04 Mar, 2019 Loc Civilians - - Indian BSF 32. 05 Mar, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 33. 10 Mar, 2019 Hattian Civilians Civ (2) Civ (4) Indian BSF 34. 16 Mar, 2019 Poonch Unknown - - Indian BSF 35. 21 Mar, 2019 Loc Civilians - - Indian BSF 36. 24 Mar, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 37. 26 Mar, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 38. 01 Apr, 2019 Haveli Security forces/ Civ (1) Civ (5) Indian BSF law enforcement 39. 02 Apr, 2019 Rawalakot Security forces/ Arm (3) Arm (1) Indian BSF law enforcement 40. 02 Apr, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (1) Civ (2) Indian BSF 41. 05 Apr, 2019 Haveli Civilians - Civ (4) Indian BSF 42. 05 Apr, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF

146 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Sr. Date Location Target Killed Injured Perpetrator No 43. 11 Apr, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 44. 13 Apr, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 45. 15 Apr, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 46. 30 Apr, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 47. 05 May, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (1) Civ (1) Indian BSF 48. 05 May, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 49. 15 May, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 50. 23 May, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 51. 29 May, 2019 Rawalakot Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 52. 13 June, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 53. 18 June, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 54. 03 Jul, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (5) Indian BSF 55. 03 Jul, 2019 Sialkot Civilians - - Indian BSF 56. 03 Jul, 2019 Bhimber Security forces/ Arm (5) Arm (1) Indian BSF law enforcement 57. 12 Jul, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 58. 20 Jul, 2019 Loc Security forces/ Arm (1) Civ (4) Indian BSF law enforcement 59. 22 Jul, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (1) Civ (2) Indian BSF 60. 23 Jul, 2019 Rawalakot Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 61. 23 Jul, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 62. 28 Jul, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (1) Civ (7) Indian BSF 63. 30 Jul, 2019 Loc Civilians Civ (2) Civ (19) Indian BSF 64. 04 Aug, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 65. 13 Aug, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 66. 15 Aug, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (2) Civ (1) Indian BSF 67. 15 Aug, 2019 Jhelum Valley Security forces/ Arm (3) - Indian BSF law enforcement 68. 16 Aug, 2019 Poonch Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 69. 16 Aug, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (1) Civ (1) Indian BSF 70. 18 Aug, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (2) - Indian BSF 71. 19 Aug, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 72. 26 Aug, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 73. 27 Aug, 2019 Neelum Civilians Civ (2) Civ (3) Indian BSF 74. 28 Aug, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 75. 29 Aug, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 76. 31 Aug, 2019 Bagh Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 77. 05 Sep, 2019 Hattian Civilians - - Indian BSF 78. 06 Sep, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 79. 09 Sep, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 80. 11 Sep, 2019 Bagh Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 81. 14 Sep, 2019 Bagh Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 82. 14 Sep, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (1) Civ (6) Indian BSF 83. 21 Sep, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 84. 22 Sep, 2019 Bagh Civilians - - Indian BSF

147 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Sr. Date Location Target Killed Injured Perpetrator No 85. 24 Sep, 2019 Neelum Civilians - - Indian BSF 86. 25 Sep, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 87. 29 Sep, 2019 Kotli Civilians Civ (2) Civ (3) Indian BSF 88. 02 Oct, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (1) Civ (3) Indian BSF 89. 03 Oct, 2019 Neelum Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 90. 06 Oct, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 91. 07 Oct, 2019 Poonch Civilians Civ (1) Civ (3) Indian BSF 92. 09 Oct, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (2) Indian BSF 93. 09 Oct, 2019 Haveli Security forces/ Arm (1) - Indian BSF law enforcement 94. 10 Oct, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (2) Indian BSF 95. 10 Oct, 2019 Neelum Civilians Civ (1) Civ (8) Indian BSF 96. 10 Oct, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 97. 11 Oct, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 98. 12 Oct, 2019 Neelum Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 99. 15 Oct, 2019 Haveli Civilians Civ (3) Civ (8) Indian BSF 100. 19 Oct, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 101. 20 Oct, 2019 Muzaffarabad Civilians Civ (3) Civ (2) Indian BSF 102. 20 Oct, 2019 Muzaffarabad Civilians Civ (2) Indian BSF 103. 20 Oct, 2019 Muzaffarabad Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 104. 20 Oct, 2019 Neelum Security forces/ Arm (1) Civ (4) Indian BSF law enforcement Civ (1) 105. 24 Oct, 2019 Neelum Civilians Civ (3) Civ (10) Indian BSF 106. 28 Oct, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (3) Indian BSF 107. 29 Oct, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 108. 04 Nov, 2019 Jhelum Valley Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 109. 08 Nov, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 110. 13 Nov, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 111. 14 Nov, 2019 Jhelum Valley Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 112. 15 Nov, 2019 Bhimber Civilians Civ (1) - Indian BSF 113. 24 Nov, 2019 Bhimber Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 114. 30 Nov, 2019 Kotli Civilians - Civ (2) Indian BSF 115. 01 Dec, 2019 Haveli Security forces/ - Arm (2) Indian BSF law enforcement Civ (1) 116. 10 Dec, 2019 Kotli Civilians - - Indian BSF 117. 16 Dec, 2019 Hattian Civilians Civ (1) Civ (1) Indian BSF 118. 16 Dec, 2019 Poonch Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 119. 19 Dec, 2019 Neelum Civilians Civ (2) Civ (2) Indian BSF 120. 21 Dec, 2019 Neelum Civilians - - Indian BSF 121. 22 Dec, 2019 Loc Security forces/ - - Indian BSF law enforcement 122. 26 Dec, 2019 Dewa Sector/ Security forces/ Arm (2) Civ (2) Indian BSF Poonch law enforcement 123. 29 December sector Civilians - Civ (1) Indian BSF 2019 226 Total 123 Attacks 85 Killed Injured

148 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Pak-Iran Border Attacks

Date Location Target Killed Injured Perpetrator 18 January, Chagai Unknown - - Iranian border 2019 security forces Total One Attack 0 0

Annex 3: Attacks on Educational Institution in 2019

District Attacks Killed Injured Responsibility Bannu 1 - - Local Taliban Lakki Marwat 1 Liv 1 Civ 4 Local Taliban Civ 1 Total 2 Attacks 2 Killed 4 Injured

Annex 4: Attacks on Political Leaders and Workers

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 22 Jan, 2019 Bajaur/Nawagai - - TTP 24 Feb, 2019 Jafarabad/Jaffarabad 1 - BLA 17 Jun, 2019 Bajaur 1 - Jamatul Ahrar 29 Jun, 2019 Peshawar 1 3 Unknown/unknown militants 17 Aug, 2019 Khuzdar 4 - Nationalist insurgents 17 Aug, 2019 Kharan - 3 BLA 28 Sep, 2019 Qilla 3 11 Unknown/unknown Abdullah/Chaman militants 17 Oct, 2019 Bajaur 1 - Unknown/unknown militants 08 Nov, 2019 Bajaur/Nawagai - 2 Hizbul Ahrar Total 9 Attacks 11 Killed 19 Injured

Annex 5: Attacks on Members of Peace Committees or Pro-Govt. Tribesmen

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 19 Jan, 2019 Bara/Khyber Agency Civ 1 - Lashkar-e-Islam 24 Jan, 2019 Dera Bugti/Pir Koh - Civ 2 BRA 30 Jan, 2019 North Waziristan/ - Civ 2 TTP Miranshah 13 Feb, 2019 North Waziristan/Mirali Civ 1 - TTP 24 Feb, 2019 Nasirabad/D.M.Jamali Civ 1 Civ 18 BLA 30 Apr, 2019 Mohmand Agency Civ 1 - Hizbul Ahrar 14 June, 2019 Tank Mil 1 Civ 3 TTP 18 Aug, 2019 Upper Dir Civ 4 Civ 20 TTP 01 Sep, 2019 Bajaur/Khar Civ 1 - Hizbul Ahrar 28 Sep, 2019 Bajaur/Khar Civ 1 - Hizbul Ahrar 21 Dec, 2019 Tank Civ 2 Civ 2 Local Taliban Total 11 Attacks 13 Killed 47 Injured

149 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Annex 6: Attacks on Civilians

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 05 Jan, 2019 Peshawar - Civ (6) TTP 08 Jan, 2019 Mohmand - - Local Taliban 24 Jan, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (2) TTP 29 Jan, 2019 Nawabshah - - SDLF/SDLA 01 Feb, 2019 Qilla Abdullah - Civ (3) TTP 03 Feb, 2019 Bannu - Civ (1) Local Taliban 09 Feb, 2019 Dera Bugti - Civ (1) BRA 12 Feb, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (1) Local Taliban 13 Feb, 2019 Larkana Civ (3) - Nationalist insurgents 25 Feb, 2019 Washuk Civ (1) Civ (3) BLF 04 Mar, 2019 Qilla Abdullah - Civ (5) TTP 14 Mar, 2019 Panjgur Civ (2) Civ (19) BLA 24 Mar, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (2) TTP 28 Mar, 2019 North Waziristan Civ (1) Civ (1) TTP 31 Mar, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (2) TTP 09 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (2) TTP 14 Apr, 2019 Karak Civ (1) Civ (5) Local Taliban 20 Apr, 2019 South Waziristan - Civ (1) TTP 26 Apr, 2019 D.I Khan - Civ (5) Local Taliban 09 May, 2019 Harnai Civ (2) - BLA 11 May, 2019 Gwadar Civ (4) Civ (4) BLA Mil (3) Arm (2) Arm (1) 07 June, 2019 Bajaur Civ (1) Civ (2) Unknown/unknown militants 21 June, 2019 Bannu Civ (1) Civ (1) Local Taliban 21 June, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (1) Local Taliban 07 Jul, 2019 Hangu - - Local Taliban 09 Jul, 2019 Karachi Civ (2) Civ (1) Unknown/unknown militants 12 Jul, 2019 Dera Bugti Civ (1) Civ (2) BRA 17 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan - - Unknown/unknown militants 23 Jul, 2019 Quetta Civ (3) Civ (18) TTP 23 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (1) TTP 31 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan - Civ (4) Local Taliban 24 Aug, 2019 Mohmand - Civ (3) Local Taliban 12 Sep, 2019 Duki Civ (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 30 Oct, 2019 D.I Khan Civ (3) - Local Taliban 30 Oct, 2019 Mohmand Civ (1) - Local Taliban 08 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan Civ (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 25 Nov, 2019 Tank Civ (2) - Local Taliban 29 Nov, 2019 Lahore Civ (14) Hizbul Ahrar 16 Dec, 2019 Peshawar - Pol (1) Unknown/unknown Civ (10) militants Total 39 Attacks 34 Killed 123 Injured

150 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Annex 7: Attacks on Personnel, check posts and convoys of security forces/law enforcement agencies

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 01 Jan, 2019 Loralai Mil (4) FC (4) TTP FC (4)

06 Jan, 2019 Panjgur - Civ (1) BLF FC (1) 06 Jan, 2019 Quetta - Mil (2) BLA 09 Jan, 2019 Kech/Turbat - FC (4) BLF 10 Jan, 2019 D.I Khan/Kulachi - Pol (2) Local Taliban 12 Jan, 2019 Loralai - FC (2) BLA 19 Jan, 2019 Chitral Lvs (1) - Local Taliban 24 Jan, 2019 Kech/Turbat - Civ (2) BLF FC (4) 25 Jan, 2019 North Waziristan/ - Arm (1) TTP Mirali Civ (2) 29 Jan, 2019 Loralai Pol (3) Pol (10) TTP Civ (6) Civ (11) Mil (3) 29 Jan, 2019 D.I Khan Pol (1) - TTP 08 Feb, 2019 North - Arm (3) TTP Waziristan/Mirali 11 Feb, 2019 Lakki Marwat FC (1) - Local Taliban 12 Feb, 2019 D.I Khan Pol (4) Pol (1) TTP Civ (2) 16 Feb, 2019 Loralai FC (2) Civ (1) TTP 17 Feb, 2019 Panjgur FC (4) - BLF 19 Feb, 2019 Dera Bugti - Lvs (3) BRA 21 Feb, 2019 Rawalpindi Pol (3) Pol (2) Hizbul Ahrar Civ (2) 23 Feb, 2019 North Waziristan/ - Arm (3) TTP Mirali 26 Feb, 2019 Tank Arm (1) - TTP 04 Mar, 2019 Karachi Pol (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 11 Mar, 2019 Quetta - Pol (4) BLA 15 Mar, 2019 D.I Khan Pol (1) - Local Taliban 17 Mar, 2019 Hangu - - Hizbul Ahrar 18 Mar, 2019 D.I Khan - Pol (2) Local Taliban Civ (1) 20 Mar, 2019 Ziarat Lvs (6) - TTP 25 Mar, 2019 Lakki Marwat FC (1) - Local Taliban 25 Mar, 2019 Upper Dir Lvs (1) - Local Taliban 11 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (2) Arm (2) TTP 12 Apr, 2019 Qilla Abdullah Civ (2) FC (2) TTP Civ (8) 12 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan - FC (2) TTP 18 Apr, 2019 Gwadar Arm (11) - BRAS (an alliance Civ (3) of BLA, BLF and

151 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility BRG 20 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (2) TTP 21 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (1) TTP 22 Apr, 2019 Nasirabad - Pol (2) BLA Civ (10) 23 Apr, 2019 Kech Mil (2) - BLF 25 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (3) TTP 27 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan Lvs (3) Lvs (1) TTP 29 Apr, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) - TTP 06 May, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (3) TTP 06 May, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (3) Arm (5) TTP 08 May, 2019 Lahore Civ (7) Civ (19) Hizbul Ahrar Mil (1) Pol (4) Pol (5) 09 May, 2019 Harnai FC (2) Civ (1) BLA Civ (1) 11 May, 2019 Pishin - FC (2) Unknown/unknown militants 12 May, 2019 Mastung Pol (1) - Lashkar-e- Balochistan 13 May, 2019 Quetta Pol (4) Pol (5) TTP Civ (6) 14 May, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (3) TTP 24 May, 2019 Qilla Abdullah - FC (3) BLA 25 May, 2019 Kech Mil (1) - Lashkar-e- Balochistan 27 May, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) - TTP 01 June, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) - TTP 02 June, 2019 Quetta Pol (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 06 June, 2019 Harnai FC (2) - BLA 07 June, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (4) Arm (4) TTP 08 June, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (2) Arm (3) TTP 11 June, 2019 North Waziristan - FC (2) TTP 12 June, 2019 South Waziristan Civ (1) FC (2) TTP FC (2) 14 June, 2019 South Waziristan Arm (1) - TTP 17 June, 2019 Karachi Pol (2) - LeJ 18 June, 2019 Kashmore FC (1) - BLA 19 June, 2019 Panjgur - FC (2) BLF 21 June, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (3) TTP 24 June, 2019 Lasbela - FC (3) Lashkar-e- Balochistan 25 June, 2019 Nowshera Pol (2) Pol (4) Local Taliban 26 June, 2019 Loralai Pol (1) Pol (2) TTP Mil (3) Civ (3) 30 June, 2019 Kech - FC (1) BLF 03 Jul, 2019 Kech - Civ (7) Lashkar-e- FC (2) Balochistan 10 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (3) TTP

152 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 10 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (2) TTP 13 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (2) - TTP 20 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (4) TTP 20 Jul, 2019 South Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (4) TTP 21 Jul, 2019 D.I Khan Mil (1) Pol (1) TTP Pol (4) Civ (29) Civ (4) 21 Jul, 2019 D.I Khan Pol (2) - TTP 27 Jul, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (6) - TTP 27 Jul, 2019 Kech FC (4) - BLF 30 Jul, 2019 Quetta Civ (6) Pol (4) TTP Civ (27) 02 Aug, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (3) - TTP 02 Aug, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (1) TTP 05 Aug, 2019 Bajaur Arm (2) Arm (4) Hizbul Ahrar 06 Aug, 2019 Pishin Pol (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 09 Aug, 2019 Peshawar Pol (1) Pol (1) Local Taliban 13 Aug, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (3) TTP 14 Aug, 2019 Mastung - Pol (3) BLA 17 Aug, 2019 South Waziristan Arm (2) Arm (3) TTP 21 Aug, 2019 Islamabad Pol (2) Pol (1) Unknown/unknown militants 24 Aug, 2019 D.I Khan Civ (2) Civ (2) TTP 02 Sep, 2019 North Waziristan - FC (2) TTP 04 Sep, 2019 Lower Dir Pol (1) Pol (3) Local Taliban 14 Sep, 2019 North Waziristan Mil (2) - TTP Arm (1) 19 Sep, 2019 Mastung Lvs (1) - BLF 20 Sep, 2019 Mohmand Arm (2) Arm (1) Hizbul Ahrar 25 Sep, 2019 Quetta - Pol (4) BLA 01 Oct, 2019 Qilla Saifullah Lvs (1) - Unknown/unknown militants 14 Oct, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) Arm (1) TTP 15 Oct, 2019 Quetta Pol (1) Pol (5) Unknown/unknown Civ (5) militants 21 Oct, 2019 Quetta - Pol (2) BLA Civ (3) 26 Oct, 2019 D.I Khan - Pol (3) Local Taliban 04 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (2) Arm (1) TTP 04 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (1) TTP 05 Nov, 2019 D.I Khan FC (2) Civ (2) TTP Civ (1) 09 Nov, 2019 D.I Khan Pol (2) - TTP 11 Nov, 2019 Rajanpur Pol (2) - BLA Civ (3) 12 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (3) Arm (1) TTP 14 Nov, 2019 Peshawar Pol (1) Pol (2) Unknown/unknown Civ (2) militants 15 Nov, 2019 Quetta FC (3) FC (4) BLA

153 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 19 Nov, 2019 Kech FC (2) FC (4) BLF 20 Nov, 2019 Bannu Pol (1) - TTP 24 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (3) Hizbul Ahrar 30 Nov, 2019 North Waziristan - Arm (1) Hizbul Ahrar Civ (1) 01 Dec, 2019 North Waziristan Mil (2) FC (2) TTP FC (1) 03 Dec, 2019 Qilla Abdullah - - TTP 08 Dec, 2019 Panjgur - - Lashkar-e- Balochistan 13 Dec, 2019 Tank Mil (1) Pol (6) TTP Pol (1) 13 Dec, 2019 Tank FC (2) - TTP 19 Dec, 2019 Khyber FC (1) FC (3) TTP 25 Dec, 2019 North Waziristan - - TTP 25 Dec, 2019 North Waziristan Arm (1) - TTP Total 118 Attacks 209 Killed 346 Injured

Annex 8: Breakdown of Terrorist Attacks

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Month Frequency Killed Injured January 11 3 15 February 9 7 13 March 9 6 12 April 15 14 26 May 5 6 11 June 15 18 31 July 14 22 50 August 10 16 37 September 7 14 10 October 7 8 4 November 12 15 16 December 11 16 24 Total 125 145 249

Balochistan

Month Frequency Killed Injured January 11 25 54 February 9 9 29 March 9 15 60 April 7 40 71 May 12 30 53 June 8 12 24 July 5 14 60 August 9 12 45

154 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Month Frequency Killed Injured September 5 5 17 October 3 2 15 November 3 7 8 December 3 0 0 Total 84 Attacks 171 Killed 436 Injured

Punjab

Month Frequency Killed Injured January 1 0 0 February 1 3 4 May 1 13 23 November 2 5 14 Total 5 21 41

Sindh (excluding Karachi)

Month Frequency Killed Injured January 1 - - February 1 3 - April 1 - - June 1 1 - Total 4 4 -

Karachi

Month Frequency Killed Injured January 3 3 - February 1 1 - March 3 5 1 June 1 2 - July 1 2 1 August 1 1 Total 10 14 2

Islamabad

Month Frequency Killed Injured August 1 2 1 Total 1 2 1

155 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Annex 9: Incidents of Ethnic and Political Violence in 2019

Region Location Attacks Killed Injured

Bannu 1 1 1 South Waziristan/WANA 1 - - Bajaur/Mamond 1 - 1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mansehra 1 - 4 Swat/Mingora 1 1 - KP Total 5 Attacks 2 Killed 6 Injured Karachi 3 4 1 Sindh/Karachi Sindh Total 3 4 1 Total Pakistan 8 6 7

Annex 10: Major Targets of Terrorism in 2019

No. of Terrorist Targets Killed Injured Attacks Security forces/law enforcement 118 209 346 Education/institutions/teachers 2 2 4 Non-Bloch settlers/workers 1 3 1 Gas pipelines 3 - - Tribal elders 2 3 3 Civilians 39 34 123 Shia religious scholars/community 11 32 72 Worship places/shrines/imambargahs 2 9 53 Govt. offices/public property (hospitals, banks etc.) 1 0 10 Sunni religious leaders/community 5 8 3 Political leaders/workers 9 11 19 NGO / civil society members 1 2 0 Foreign interests/ Diplomats/Foreigners 1 - - Unknown 4 3 1 Media/journalists 2 0 3 Health/polio workers, security escorts 6 8 1 Pro-govt tribesmen/peace committee members 11 13 47 Bohra community 1 3 4 Judges/lawyers/courts 1 0 2 Former militants 2 3 0 Railway tracks / trains 3 4 30 Member of banned groups 1 2 0 Development, exploration projects, companies, workers 2 8 6 NATO/US supply vehicles 1 0 1 Total 229 357 729

156 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Annex 11: Terrorist Attacks’ Tactics in 2019

Tactics Attacks SA 4 HG 5 IED 123 RA 3 Gun and bomb attack 2 FR 92 Total 229

Annex 12: Operational Attacks by Security Forces 2019

Region Location Attacks Killed Injured Bajaur 1 1 0 D. I. Khan 5 12 1 KP Kohat 1 0 1 North Waziristan 3 5 0 Nowshera 1 2 0 Peshawar 1 7 0 South Waziristan 1 3 0 Tank 1 4 0 Hangu 1 4 0 KP Total 15 38 2 Chagai 1 0 0 Dera Bugti 1 3 0 Gawadar 1 6 1 Balochistan Kech 2 5 0 Loralai 1 4 4 Mastung 1 9 4 Nasirabad 1 1 0 Panjgur 1 4 0 Quetta 1 7 6 Multiple districts 1 2 0 Balochistan Total 11 41 15 Punjab Faisalabad 1 2 0 Punjab Total 1 2 0 Sindh Kashmore 1 0 2 Sindh Total 1 0 2 Total 28 Attacks 81 Killed 19 Injured

Annex 13: Sectarian-related Terrorist Attacks in 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 03 Jan, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - LeJ 11 Jan, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan 22 Jan, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - LeJ 02 Feb, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan 23 Mar, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - LeJ

157 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 26 Mar, 2019 Quetta Civ 1 - Rival sectarian group 31 Mar, 2019 Quetta Civ 2 Civ 2 Rival sectarian group 12 Apr, 2019 Quetta Mil 1 Civ 48 ISIS affiliates/supporters FC 1 Civ 19 30 May, 2019 Quetta Mil 1 Pol 1 LeJ 07 June, 2019 Ziarat Civ 2 Civ 9 LeJ 07 June, 2019 Ziarat Civ 3 Civ 4 Unknown/unknown militants 31 Jul, 2019 D.I. Khan Civ 1 Civ 1 Rival sectarian group 06 Aug, 2019 Quetta Civ 1 Civ 13 LeJ 30 Aug, 2019 Karachi Civ 1 - LeJ Total 14 Attacks 38 Killed 78 Injured

Annex 14: Attacks on Polio workers in 2019

Date Location Killed Injured Responsibility 23 Apr, 2019 Bannu Pol 1 - Local Taliban 24 Apr, 2019 Buner Pol 1 - Local Taliban 25 Apr, 2019 Qilla Abdullah/Chaman Civ 1 Civ 1 TTP

05 May, 2019 Bajaur/Khar Civ 1 - Unknown/unknown militants 09 Dec, 2019 Bannu Civ 2 - TTP 18 Dec, 2019 Lower Dir/Timergara Pol 2 - Local Taliban Total 6 Attacks 8 Killed 01 Injured

Annex 15: Proscribed organizations1 Below are the organizations proscribed by the government of Pakistan; the list is retrieved from NACTA’s website (http://nacta.gov.pk/proscribed-organizations/):

S. No Name of Organization Date of Notification 1 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ)(Afghanistan) 14 Aug 2001, 3 Feb 2003 under UNSCR 1267 2 Sipah-i-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) 14 Aug 2001 3 Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) 14 Jan 2002, 17 Oct 2001 under UNSCR 1267 4 Laskar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) 14 Jan 2002, 2 May 2005 under UNSCR 1267 5 Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) 14 Jan 2002 6 Tehrik-e-Jaffria Pakistan (TJP) 28 Jan 2002 7 Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammad (TNSM) 14 Jan 2002 8 Tehreek-e-lslami 14 Jan 2002 9 Al-Qa’ida (Afghanistan) 17 Mar 2003, 6 Oct 2001 under UNSCR 1267 10 Millat-e-lslamia Pakistan (Ex SSP) 15 Nov 2003 11 Khuddam-ul-lslam (Ex JeM) 15 Nov 2003

1 This list is updated as of 26th July, 2019 and prepared by NACTA based on the Notifications issued by Ministry of Interior.

158 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

S. No Name of Organization Date of Notification 12 Islami Tehreek Pakistan (Ex TJP) 15 Nov 2003 13 Jamat-ul-Ansar 20 Nov 2003 14 Jamat-ul-Furqan 20 Nov 2003 15 Hizb-ul-Tahreer 20 Nov 2003 16 Khair-un-Naas International Trust (Splinter 27 Oct 2004 Gp. of Jamat-ul-Da’awa (JuD) 17 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) 07 Apr 2006 18 Islamic Students Movement of Pakistan 21 Aug 2006 19 Lashkar-e-lslami 30 June 2008 20 Ansar-ul-lslam 30 June 2008, 24 Feb 2003 under UNSCR (Iraq) 1267 21 Haji Namdaar Group 30 June 2008 22 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) (Afghanistan) 25 Aug 2008, 29 July 2011 under UNSCR 1267 23 Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) 08 Sep 2010 24 Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) 08 Sep 2010 25 Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LeB) 08 Sep 2010 26 Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) 08 Sep 2010 27 Balochistan Musalla Defah Tanzeem (BMDT) 08 Sep 2010 28 Shia Tulaba Action Committee, Gilgit 10 Oct 2011 29 Markaz Sabeel Organization, Gilgit 10 Oct 2011 30 Tanzeem Naujawana-e-Ahle Sunnat (TNA), 10 Oct 2011 Gilgit 31 Peoples Aman Committee (Layari) 10 Oct 2011 32 Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ) Ex-SSP 15 Feb, 2012 33 Al Harmain Foundation 6 March 2012, 26 Jan 2004 under UNSCR 1267 34 Rabita Trust 6 March 2012, 17 Oct 2001 under UNSCR 1267 35 Anjuman-e- Imamia Gilgit Baltistan 24 April 2012 36 Muslim Students Organization (MSO) Gilgit 24 April 2012 37 Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat, Gilgit 5 June 2012 38 Balochistan Bunyad Parast Army 04 Aug, 2012 39 Tehreek Nafaz-e-Aman 04 Aug, 2012 40 Tahafuz Hadudullah 04 Aug, 2012 41 Balochisan Waja Liberation Army 04 Aug, 2012 42 Azad 04 Aug, 2012 43 Balochistan United Army 04 Aug, 2012 44 Islam Mujahidin 04 Aug, 2012 45 Jaish-e-Islam 04 Aug, 2012 46 Balochistan National Liberation Army 04 Aug, 2012 47 Khana-E-Hikmat Gilgit Baltistan, Gilgit 13 March,2013 48 Tehrik-e- Taliban Swat (TTS) 15 March,2013 49 Tehrik-e- Taliban Mohmand (TTM) 15 March,2013 50 Tariq Geedar Group (TGG) 15 March,2013 51 Abdullah Azam Brigade 15 March,2013 23 Sep 2014 vide UNSCR 1267 (Lebanon, Syria, Arabian Peninsula) 52 East Turkemenistan Islamic Movement ETIM 15 March,2013 (Turkey, Afghanistan) 11 Sep 2002 vide UNSCR 1267 53 Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) 15 March,2013 (Uzbekistan) 6 October 2001 vide UNSCR 1267

159 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

S. No Name of Organization Date of Notification 54 Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) 15 March,2013 (Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Germany) 1 June 2005 under UNSCR 1267 55 313 Brigade 15 March,2013 56 Tehrik-e- Taliban Bajaur (TTB) 15 March,2013 57 Amar bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkir (Haji 15 March,2013 Namdaar Group) 58 Baloch Student Organization Azad (BSO-A) 15 March,2013 59 United Baloch Army(UBA) 15 March,2013 60 Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) 15 March,2013 61 Daish/ISIL/IS/ISIS(Afghanistan) 15 July 2015 by MoI, alsovide UNSCR 1267 62 Jamat Ul Ahrar (JuA) 11 Nov. 2016 06 July 2017 vide UNSCR 1267 63 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi (LeJA) 11 Nov. 2016 64 Ansar-ul-Hussain 30 Dec. 2016 65 Tehreek-e-Azadi-Jammu & Kashmir (TAJK) 08 June 2017 66 Jundullah 31 Jan 2018 67 Al Rahmah Welfare Trust Organization 13 Dec 2018 68 Balawaristan National Front (Abdul Hameed 26 Feb, 2019 Khan Group) 69 Jamaat-ul-Da'awa (JuD) 05 March, 2019 Affiliated Organizations: i. Al-Anfaal Trust, Lahore ii. Idara-e-Khidmat-e-Khalaq, Lahore iii. Al Dawat-ul-Irshad, Pakistan, Lahore 10 May, 2019 iv. Al-Hamad Trust, Lahore/Faisalabad v. Mosques & Welfare Trust, Lahore vi. Al Madina Foundation, Lahore vii. Maaz Bin Jabal Educational Trust, Lahore 70 Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) 05 March, 2019 Affiliated organizations: i. Al-Fazal Foundation/Trust, Lahore ii. Al-Easar Foundation, Lahore 10 May, 2019 71 Pak Turk International CAG Education 18 April, 2019 Foundation 72 Hizb-ul-Ahrar (HuA) 26 July, 2019 73 Balochistan RaajiAjoi-R-Sangar (BRAS) 26 July, 2019

Organizations under watch list

S. No Name of organization Date of notification 1 Ghulaman-e-Sahaba (GS) 30 May, 2017 2 Maymar Trust 29 March, 2017 3 Sachal Sarmast Welfare Trust, Karachi 13 June, 2019 4 Al-Jaza Patient Welfare Society, Karachi 13 June, 2019 Organizations enlisted under UNSCRs

S. No Name of organization Date of notification 1 Al-Akhtar Trust 01 Dec 2005 2 Al-Rashid Trust 01 Dec 2005

160 TIMELINES

Security response: Government/law-enforcement agencies ...... 163 Courts ...... 167 Amendments ...... 167 External Front ...... 167 National Action Plan (NAP) ...... 168 NACTA ...... 168 Banned Outfits ...... 169 Madrassahs ...... 175 Merged Districts ...... 177 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ...... 178

Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Security response: Government/law-enforcement agencies

Date Progress/News update Source

January 5, Interior Ministry has issued a list of 474 most wanted Roznama92, January 5, 2019 2019 terrorists and instructed provincial administrations to https://www.roznama92news.co set up teams for their arrest. m/efrontend/web/index.php/?stat ion_id=2&page_id=7&is_common =&xdate=2019-1-5&n=n34 January 16, The CTD claimed to kill two militants of Islamic State Dawn, January 16, 2019 2019 (IS) group who were allegedly involved in various https://www.dawn.com/news/145 terrorist activities including kidnappings of the son-in- 7822 law of Gen Tariq Majeed, US national Warren Weinstein, and Brig Tahir as well as ex-premier Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Haider and killing of two intelligence officials in Multan. January 20, CTD Punjab said that Zeeshan allegedly had links with Roznama 92, January 19, 2019 2019 banned DAISH group. He was a local leader of the organization too. January 20, In Sahiwal, the CTD claim killing four family members Dawn, January 20, 2019 2019 for carrying explosive materials and their alleged links https://www.dawn.com/news/145 with Daesh while the bereaved family denied allegation 8676 and narrated a different story. January 23, Punjab administration has dismissed five police officers Dawn, January 23, 2019 2019 along with CTD chief for being responsible for Sahiwal https://www.dawn.com/news/145 shooting incident that killed 3 members of family. 9238 January 26, Punjab government, under the Punjab Arms Rules, rule Dawn January 26, 2019 2019 # 31, has cancelled all arms licenses, irrespective of https://www.dawn.com/news/145 their categories, issued to 16 members of banned 9788 outfits that are placed on the 4th schedule of anti- terrorism act. January 29, Army claimed to demolish all safe heavens of terrorists The News, January 29, 2019 2019 during the operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan. https://www.thenews.com.pk/pri nt/424887-all-terrorists- sanctuaries-destroyed February Since 2007, more than 70, 000 people were killed Daily Dunya, February 14, 2019 14, 2019 during terrorist attacks, more statistics are shared in a https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.ph report published by the organization Welfare Eye p?date=2019-02- during the last month. 14&edition=ISL&id=4444213_81 213007 March 3, Six members of the Counter Terrorism Department Nawa-i-Waqt, March 3, 2019 2019 (CTD) were held responsible in JIT report on Sahiwal https://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E incident. -Paper/islamabad/2019-03- 03/page-1/detail-8 March 3, CTD has urged Punjab government to ban 53 Roznama92, March 3, 2019 2019 organizations for their alleged involvement in terror https://www.roznama92news.co facilitation. m/efrontend/web/index.php/?stat ion_id=3&page_id=7&is_common =&xdate=2019-3-3&n=n14

163 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source

April 3, CTD Punjab has issued Red Book 22nd edition year Daily Jang, April 3, 2019 2019 2019. This book included details pertaining to https://e.jang.com.pk/04-03- extremism and people involved in anti-state activities. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=103. png April 7, A special tourism police force has been established to Daily Jang, April 7, 2019 2019 ensure the security of local and foreign tourists in Gilgit https://e.jang.com.pk/04-07- Baltistan (GB). 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=12_ 03.png April 26, Balochistan’s provincial government declared that it is Dawn, April 26, 2019 2019 paying monthly Rs91 million to Frontier Corps (FC) to https://www.dawn.com/news/147 ensure the security of province. 8446 April 27, Due to security threats and attacks on polio workers, Dawn, April 27, 2019 2019 federal government called off anti-polio campaign in all https://www.dawn.com/news/147 provinces. 8637 May 1, Since 2009, total 911 police officers were killed in Dawn, May 1, 2019 2019 Balochistan fighting against terrorism. https://www.dawn.com/news/147 9433 May 2, Government declared Pak-Turk school foundation a Dawn, May 2, 2019 2019 banned organization. https://www.dawn.com/news/147 9742 May 07, Karachi police arrested 5 people, including one reporter Dawn, May 7, 2019 2019 of Daily Jang, for getting militancy training in abroad https://www.dawn.com/news/148 and for their alleged involvement in target and 0736 sectarian killing. May 12, Ministry of Interior has proscribed 11 organisations The Nation, May 12, 2019 2019 associated with the banned Jamaatud Dawah (JuD), https://nation.com.pk/12-May- Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jaish-e- 2019/11-outfits-banned-over-jud- Muhammad (JeM). These organizations have been jem-links proscribed in pursuance of National Action Plan (NAP). May 13, Army conducted operation against the militants of the Dawn, May 13, 2019 2019 Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) that attacked the Pear https://www.dawn.com/news/148 Continental hotel at Gwadar. After the 12 hours 2001 operation, 4 hotel employees and 1 Pakistan Navy soldier were martyred and 6 injured. All 3 terrorists were killed. May 13, Hazara community has expressed their grave concerns Dawn, May 13, 2019 2019 over sectarian violence in Quetta and criticized https://www.dawn.com/news/148 government’s inability to address this issue. 2022 May 15, Security forces have been sent alert about terrorists Daily Jang, May 15, 2019 2019 made suicide waist coat which is not detectable via https://e.jang.com.pk/05-15- walk through gate. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=57.p ng May 19, Bearing in mind the security situation, Balochistan Dawn, May 19, 2019 2019 cabinet has merged Levies force with the police https://www.dawn.com/news/148 department, second time after 2005. The opposition 3197 parties disregarded this merger, noting it would be unfavorable for the federation.

164 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source

May 21, Government has decided to launch crackdown against Daily Jang, May 21, 2019 2019 publication and dissemination of literature based on https://e.jang.com.pk/05-21- religious hatred. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=51.p ng July 4, 2019 CTD launched crackdown against financial aid to Daily Jang, July 4, 2019 terrorists and money laundering and filed 23 cases https://e.jang.com.pk/07-04- against Muhammad Saeed and several leaders of 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=56.p proscribed organizations. ng July 6, 2019 The federal and Punjab government agreed to identify Dawn, July 6, 2019 and confiscate the properties of UN declared banned https://www.dawn.com/news/149 outfits and decided to take action against unregistered 2409 and non-functional non-profit organizations. July 6, 2019 A special assistance cell has been set up at the General The News, July 6, 2019 Headquarters (GHQ) to assist the process of resolving https://www.thenews.com.pk/pri cases of missing persons. nt/494275-special-cell-set-up-at- ghq-on-missing-persons July 08, CTD arrested four men in Peshawar for their alleged Daily Jang, July 8, 2019 2019 involvement in terror financing under the garb of an https://e.jang.com.pk/07-08- NGO. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=452. png August 31, Police in Taxila has registered a case against two Dawn, August 31, 2019 2019 people for spreading religious extremism and hate https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailN speech on social media. ews.php?StoryText=31_08_2019 _005_006 September Pakistan tracked down criminal involvement of two The News, September 17, 2019 17, 2019 Indian spies in Mastung area of Balochistan. The spies https://www.thenews.com.pk/pri entered Pakistan from Iran and later went to nt/527575-pakistan-tracks-down- Afghanistan. two-indian-spies-in-mastung September Pakistan has discredited Afghan government’s recent The News, September 21, 2019 21, 2019 claim of rejecting Durand line as an international https://www.thenews.com.pk/pri border between two countries. nt/529889-fo-rejects-kabul- statement-of-not-recognising- durand-line October 12, A 27-page verdict being presented by the apex court Dawn, October 12, 2019 2019 spells out guidelines to deal with the offence under https://www.dawn.com/news/151 Anti-Terrorism Act. 0394 October 25, Anti-terrorism court acquitted all six personnel of the Dawn, October 25, 2019 2019 police’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) allegedly https://www.dawn.com/news/151 charged with killing four persons, including a woman 2791/all-six-police-personnel- and her daughter, in an alleged encounter. acquitted-in-sahiwal-killings-case October 31, The Supreme Court passed the judgement that the Dawn, October 31, 2019 2019 definition of “terrorism” under Section 6 of the Anti- https://www.dawn.com/news/151 Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 was too wide since it 3945 included actions having no nexus with the generally recognized concept of terrorism. November This editorial is about the recent verdicts passed by the Dawn, November 03, 2019 03, 2019 court in a 59-page judgement authored by Chief (Editorial) Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the seven-member bench https://www.dawn.com/news/151 provide the much-needed clarity on the definition of 4594 terrorism.

165 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source

November This column is about the recent verdicts passed by the Dawn, November 04, 2019 04, 2019 court regarding defining term “Terrorism”. Author (Column) argued that International standards clarify that laws https://www.dawn.com/news/151 related to terrorism must be clearly and precisely 4768 formulated. November This article is about the misuse of the law regarding Dawn, November 07, 2019 07, 2019 antiterrorism law, Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Effective (Column) and timely process and prosecution will be made and https://www.dawn.com/news/151 all inhuman punishments needs to be reviewed 5425/misuse-of-antiterrorism-law November Supreme Court has given recommendation to The News, November 17, 2019 17, 2019 government in Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to change the (Column) definition, preamble and removal of Section 3 from Act. https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns /detail/569766-redefining- terrorism November WOT, launched by the US government in the wake of The News, November 18, 2019 18, 2019 Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, has cost at least 801,000 lives https://www.thenews.com.pk/pri and $6.4 trillion according several reports published by nt/570560-war-on-terror-kills- the Costs of War Project at Brown University's Watson over-801-000-people-costs-6-4t Institute for International and Public Affairs. November During Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Dawn, November 19, 2019 19, 2019 Bajwa’s recent visit to Iran, met with senior Iranian https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailI military leaders and discussed security related matters mage.php?StoryImage=19_11_2 including regional security environment, efforts for 019_001_005 regional peace and stability and Pak-Iran Border Security Mechanism. November After interior ministry opposition to the proposed Dawn, November 22, 2019 22, 2019 NACTA amendment bill, Chairman Senate Standing https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailI Committee on Interior Rehman Malik formed a one- mage.php?StoryImage=22_11_2 man subcommittee to look into the NACTA amendment 019_004_006 bill and present suggestions. December The government laid the controversial China-Pakistan Dawn, December 05, 2019 05, 2019 Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Ordinance, 2019, https://www.dawn.com/news/152 before the National Assembly. 0527 December To prevent money laundering and terror financing Daily Dunya, December 10, 2019 10, 2019 federal and provincial units will be directly responsible https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.ph not only to the government but also will be directly p?date=2019-12- responsible to the parliament. For this purpose, 10&edition=ISL&id=4937628_47 manuscript of NACTA amendment bill is being prepared 009813 and is ready to present at the National assembly. December The United States has retained Pakistan among the Dawn, December 21, 2019 21, 2019 countries that tolerate religious discrimination. https://www.dawn.com/news/152 3484/us-retains-pakistan-on- religious-watch-list December KP department of police has started reviewing the Dawn, December 25, 2019 25, 2019 Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. https://www.dawn.com/news/152 4271/kp-police-reviewing-terror- watch-list

166 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Courts

Date Progress/News update Source January 8, Government seeks opposition cooperation for Daily Dunya, January 8, 2019 2019 extension in the tenure of military courts via https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php constitutional amendment. Or it is likely to achieve via ?date=2019-01- presidential ordinance. 08&edition=ISL&id=4377522_652 49091 January 13, The antiterrorism court at Karachi remanded five BLA Dawn, January 13, 2019 2019 suspects for keeping explosives. They were allegedly https://www.dawn.com/news/145 involved in attack on Chinese consulate general in 7228 Karachi. March 19, Karachi antiterrorism court sentenced Nasruddin for 10 Dawn, March 19, 2019 2019 years in prison for allegedly providing shelter to the https://www.dawn.com/news/147 terrorists in a rented apartment in Urdu Bazaar area at 0452 Karachi in 2017. The court also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on him too. April 27, Supreme court judges criticized the mobile companies Daily Express, April 27, 2019 2019 for blocking mobile services on small events in the https://www.express.com.pk/epap name of security. er/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=11 06353860&Issue=NP_LHE&Date= 20190427

Amendments

Date Progress/News update Source April 3, Chief Justice of Pakistan expressed serious concerns Dawn, April 3, 2019 2019 over the vagueness of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and https://www.dawn.com/news/147 observed that due to the ambiguous definition of 3572 terrorism, offences of serious nature were referred to Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) merely for the satisfaction of people of society. May 14, The 26th Constitution Amendment Bill 2019 was Dawn, May 14, 2019 2019 unanimously passed in the National assembly. It aimed https://www.dawn.com/news/148 to provide the people of erstwhile FATA a better 2173 representation in the national assembly and provincial assembly of KP.

External Front

Date Progress/News update Source January 04, Government excluded Afghanistan from the list of Daily Dunya, January 04, 2019 2019 countries that are allowed to get visa on arrival and https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php restricted the free movement of Afghan citizens due ?date=2019-01- to security concerns. 04&edition=ISL&id=4370437_179 67574 March 16, Pakistan and Iran stressed to strengthen bilateral Dawn, March16, 2019 2019 cooperation in all fields including counter terrorism. https://www.dawn.com/news/146 9941

167 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

March 28, India has provided documents alleging Jaish-e- Dawn, March 28, 2019 2019 Mohammad (JeM) operating from Pakistan and its https://www.dawn.com/news/147 involvement in Pulwama attack. Pakistan has rejected 2343 Indian allegation and conveyed to provide further evidence/information if any. March 29, United States disseminated a resolution at the Dawn, March 29, 2019 2019 Security Council’s Islamic State and Al-Qaeda https://www.dawn.com/news/147 Sanctions Committee, along with the support of P-5 2553 member states including British and to declare JeM leader a UN-designated global terrorist that was earlier vetoed by China. May 02, 2019 The Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Dawn, May 02, 2019 declared Masood Azhar, the leader of the Jaish-e- https://www.dawn.com/news/147 Mohammad (JeM), to its list of global terrorists after 9738 China lifted its objections to the move. May 12, 2019 The Islamic State (Daesh) claimed for the first time The News, May 12, 2019 that it has established a “province” in India, after a https://www.thenews.com.pk/print clash between militants and security forces in the /470296-daesh-claims-setting-up- contested Kashmir region which killed a militant with province-in-india alleged ties to the group. July 19, 2019 Pakistan and Iran underlined the effective border Dawn, July 19, 2019 management strategy and expressed their https://www.dawn.com/news/149 commitment to work on the formation of new border 4870 crossing points.

National Action Plan (NAP) NACTA

Date Progress/News update Source March 29, During the National Internal Security Committee’s Dawn, March 29, 2019 2019 first session, government decided to form expert https://www.dawn.com/news/14725 working groups to ensure NAP implementation. 16 Prime Minister Imran Khan endorsed the policy of zero tolerance towards militant groups that will be followed at any cost. April 09, To comply with FATF terms of counter terror Daily Jang, April 9, 2019 2019 financing, the National Counter Terrorism Authority https://e.jang.com.pk/04-09- (NACTA) confiscated the bank accounts of 4863 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=54.png people in country. May 27, To expedite the effective implementation of Dawn, May 27, 2019 2019 National Action Plan (NAP), Sindh government has https://www.dawn.com/news/14847 formed committees at district and division levels. 59 July 23, 2019 According to a Presidential Ordinance, interior Daily Jang, July 23, 2019 minister will lead NACTA rather than the Prime https://e.jang.com.pk/07-23- Minister. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=521.png

Banned Outfits

Date Progress/News update Source

168 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source January 17, The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police Dawn, January 17, 2019 2019 claimed to have arrested three suspected militants https://www.dawn.com/news/145 involved in targeted killings and other crimes. The 7955 CTD conducted an action in Quaid-i-Azam Colony of Gulshan-i-Iqbal and apprehended Naeem Khan, alias Bajauri, and seized weapons from him. January 19, The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has The Express Tribune, January 19, 2019 issued a list of 22 most wanted terrorists, mostly from 2019 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, involved in suicide https://tribune.com.pk/story/1891 attacks and other terrorist activities. 564/1-ctd-releases-list-22-wanted- terrorists/ January 31, Police detained six local leaders of the Tehreek-i- Dawn, January 31, 2019 2019 Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on the directives of the capital https://www.dawn.com/news/146 administration, while police in the 0825 arrested more than 90 workers of several religious parties, including local TLP leaders. February 1, The provincial government of Balochistan has Dawn, February 1, 2019 2019 provided financial compensation to large number of https://www.dawn.com/news/146 anti-state militants who surrendered before the 1113 government. February 10, A resident of New York City has been arrested on Dawn, February 10, 2019 2019 federal charges of trying to join a Pakistan based https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailIm militant group LeT. age.php?StoryImage=10_02_2019 _014_007 February 10, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Dawn, February 10, 2019 2019 updated list of proscribed organisations on its website https://www.dawn.com/news/146 and added a Yemen-based Al-Rahmah Welfare Trust 2923 Organisation (ARWTO) in its proscribed outfits list. With this latest addition, number of proscribed outfits rises to 67. JuD, FIF continue to be on watch-list. February 21, Gadap police arrested two suspects of a banned outfit Dawn, February 21, 2019 2019 Laskhar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) for their alleged involvement in https://www.dawn.com/news/146 incidents like bomb blast, killing of Hazara and 5029 Christian community members and abduction for ransom. February 23, Punjab administration has taken control of a mosque Dawn, February 23, 2019 2019 and a seminary in Bahawalpur that India alleged to https://www.dawn.com/news/146 have links with JeM. The decision has been made in 5529/govt-takes-over-seminary- the national security meeting held on Feb 21 to linked-to-jem expedite the National Action Plan (NAP). February 23, This editorial is about Pakistan government’s recent Dawn, February 23, 2019 2019 ban on Jamaatud Dawa and its charity wing (Falah-i- (Editorial) Insaniat). https://www.dawn.com/news/146 5548 February 24, The Bahawalpur administration has appointed officials Dawn, February 24, 2019 2019 to take administrative control of a mosque and https://www.dawn.com/news/146 seminary said to be linked with JeM. 5693 March 04, Under supervision of Pakistan’s National Security Dawn, March 04, 2019 2019 Committee, the government decided to lead the high- https://www.dawn.com/news/146 level crackdown against all militant groups within the 7524 entire country. United Nations Security Council

169 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source (UNSC) also stated that Pakistan have to review its stance on listing of Masood Azhar as a terrorist. March 05, The mission of Asia Pacific Group (APG), a regional The News, March 05, 2019 2019 body of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is https://www.thenews.com.pk/print scheduled to visit Pakistan by end of the ongoing /439845-govt-decides-to-ban- month for undertaking mutual evaluation on the basis movement-of-proscribed-outfits of which the FATF will gauge Islamabad’s progress in coming May/June on implementation measures against terror financing and money laundering. March 06, 44 activists of proscribed organizations including Daily Jang, March 06, 2019 2019 Masood Azhar’ son arrested during a law enforcement https://e.jang.com.pk/03-06- agencies crackdown at several areas of Punjab. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=546.p Government also gave notification to ban movement ng of the banned organizations. March 06, Forty-four under-observation activists of proscribed Dawn, March 06, 2019 2019 organisations, including two close relatives of the https://www.dawn.com/news/146 Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief, have been taken into 7888 ‘protective custody’, as the government launched a massive crackdown against militant outfits. March 07, Forty-four under-observation activists of proscribed Dawn, March 07, 2019 2019 organisations, including two close relatives of the https://www.dawn.com/news/146 Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief, have been taken into 7888 ‘protective custody’, as the government launched a massive crackdown against militant outfits. March 07, After implementing National Action Plan, government Daily Jang, March 07 2019 2019 has started regulating and taking control of all the https://e.jang.com.pk/03-07- mosques and Maradis of proscribed organizations. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=57.p ng March 08, Punjab government has appointed administrators at Dawn, March 08, 2019 2019 the Chowburji head office of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) https://www.dawn.com/news/146 Jamia Al Qadsia and main center in Muridke after 8255 taking over charge of the premises. March 09, During law-enforcement agencies’ ongoing crackdown Dawn, March 09, 2019 2019 against proscribed organizations including Jaish-e- https://www.dawn.com/news/146 Muhammad, Jammatud Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniat 8512/44-facilities-linked-with- organizations. They have seized 44 facilities of these banned-outfits-seized organizations including their 32 seminaries and mosques, five dispensaries, four ambulances, one school and one welfare lab in 13 districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. March 12, The book “Searching for an Enemy”, written by Dutch Dawn, March 12, 2019 2019 journalist and author Bette Dam, puts that Taliban https://www.dawn.com/news/146 founder Mullah Mohammad Umar spent his final years 9108 near a US base in Afghanistan and rejected suggestions from his aides to move to Pakistan. A summary of her findings based on her research and field interview with Taliban leaders for Mullah Umar’s biography, which was published in English by a US- based think tank, Zomia. March 13, The United States is urging Pakistan to see the Dawn, March 13, 2019 2019 “urgency” of taking action against “terrorists” as the https://www.dawn.com/news/146

170 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source UN Security Council takes up a resolution declaring 9308 Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist. March 14, China prevented a move on turning India’s military Dawn, March 14, 2019 2019 embarrassment into a diplomatic advantage after https://www.dawn.com/news/146 declaring Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masud 9536 Azhar UN-designated global terrorist. March 14, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry stated a three- The News, March 14, 2019 2019 pronged strategy to deal with the proscribed https://www.thenews.com.pk/print organizations: banned outfits will be disarmed; they /443875-govt-gives-strategy-for- will be compensated if they want to leave; and will banned-outfits also participate in mainstream political system. March 23, Despite federal administration’s ban on Abdul Aziz to Dawn, March 23, 2019 2019 deliver sermon, he criticized government and called https://www.dawn.com/news/147 democracy un-Islamic. 1291 April 02, During the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly Dawn, April 2, 2019 2019 session, speakers noted reappearance of Taliban in https://www.dawn.com/news/147 tribal district, hike in crime rates, criticized the 3365 donation collecting act of banned outfits, and lamented FATA merger with KP without any prior preparation. April 9, 2019 Muttahida Ulema Board Punjab urged a ban on Daily Jang, April 9, 2019 publication of five books including manifesto of https://e.jang.com.pk/04-09- banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and monthly journal 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=525.p of Pir Afzal Qadri. ng April 13, CTD Karachi arrested alleged Mohammad Ishaq alias Dawn, April 13, 2019 2019 Gul for his alleged involvement in bank robberies, https://www.dawn.com/news/147 kidnapping for ransom and killings of policemen. He 5712 had links with banned militant organization Jundulah. May 02, Sindh Rangers joint operation with the Sindh CTD at Dawn, May 02, 2019 2019 Karachi arrested a notorious terrorist aliases Umer https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailIm Farooq, Khan, Maviah, Bacha, associated with the age.php?StoryImage=02_05_2019 banned outfit Jundulah. The arrested terrorist’s name _115_003 is also mentioned in the Red Book of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). May 07, An alleged terrorist arrested during an operation in Dawn, May 07, 2019 2019 the Hayatabad locality at Peshawar. He has confessed https://www.dawn.com/news/148 before the court that he and his accomplices were 0696 involved in the attack on a Peshawar High Court judge and were planning to target two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial ministers. May 10, Death toll increase to eleven in Data Darbar blast Dawn, May 10, 2019 2019 incident after another injured died at hospital. In https://www.dawn.com/news/148 addition to that, law enforcement agencies are 1359 assigned the task to go after three offshoots of the TTP linked groups and their facilitators. May 12, To accelerate the National Action Plan’s (NAP) Nawa-i-waqt, May 12, 2019-08-19 2019 execution, ministry of interior has outlawed 11 https://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E- organizations affiliated with proscribed outfits i.e. Paper/islamabad/2019-05- Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), 12/page-1/detail-49 and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.

171 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source May 14, The leader of Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) has Dawn, May 14, 2019 2019 rejected the involvement of Baloch missing person in https://www.dawn.com/news/148 a terrorist attack on Gwadar hotel. 2176/gwadar-attack-terrorist-not- a-missing-person-mengal May 15, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Dawn, May 15, 2019 2019 Hussain Rizvi and sponsor Pir Afzal Qadri were https://www.dawn.com/news/148 granted post arrest bail in a case of carrying protests 2362 against acquittal of Christian woman Aasia Bibi. May 18, In Peshawar High Court, a single member bench has Dawn, May 18, 2019 2019 accepted appeal of two people who were accused of https://www.dawn.com/news/148 having links with proscribed organizations and were 3016 sentenced to 10 years life imprisonment. May 20, Sindh University has cancelled the admission of Daily Jang, May 20, 2019 2019 Noreen Leghari who went missing on February 2017 https://e.jang.com.pk/05-20- and alleged to have link with Daesh. The admission 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=547.p will be suspended after verification of link with Daesh ng from the law enforcement agencies. May 21, Intelligence agencies have arrested 14 members of Daily Jang, May 21, 2019 2019 the Balawaristan National Front (BNF) and Hameed https://e.jang.com.pk/05-21- Group. According to reports, BNF had worked for 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=432.p Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis ng Wing (RAW). BNF wanted to engage youth of various universities in terrorist activities. June 01, The Gujranwala anti-terrorism court has convicted Daily Dunya, June 1, 2019 2019 three members of JeM with 5 years of imprisonment. https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said ?date=2019-06- investigations are continued to intensify crackdown 01&edition=ISL&id=4627012_818 on terror financing. 17899 June 02, Police killed leader of a banned outfit who was the Daily Jang, June 2, 2019 2019 mastermind of Quetta suicide attacks. https://e.jang.com.pk/06-02- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=443.p ng June 19, Punjab education department has taken into custody Daily Dunya, Jun 19, 2019 2019 11 seminaries and one school administered by https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php banned outfits. ?date=2019-06- 19&edition=ISL&id=4656188_357 71216 July 1, 2019 The CTD Punjab arrested 12 leaders of banned The Express Tribune, July 1, 2019 groups and they were convicted by the anti-terrorism https://tribune.com.pk/story/2003 courts. 560/1-12-leaders-banned-groups- convicted-terror-financing/ July 3, 2019 America designated the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Dawn, July 3, 2019 as a terrorist organization, and Pakistan welcomed https://www.dawn.com/news/149 the decision. 1717 July 04, 2019 FIRs were registered against top 13 leaders of Dawn, July 4, 2019 banned outfit (JuD) including its chief Hafiz Saeed, for https://www.dawn.com/news/149 terror financing and money laundering. 1997 July 4, 2019 Karachi police said two militants of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Dawn, July 4, 2019 (LeJ) who escaped from prison in 2017 were involved https://www.dawn.com/news/149 in the target killing of two policemen of the Sindh 1939 Reserve Police (SRP).

172 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source July 13, 2019 Hafiz Saeed and his seven affiliates approached the Dawn, July 13, 2019 Lahore High Court (LHC) against the CTD for wrongly https://www.dawn.com/news/149 attributing them as members of the proscribed 3727 Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and allegation of terror financing. July 16, 2019 The anti-terrorism court granted pre arrest bails to Dawn, July 16, 2019 the petitioners i.e. Hafiz Saeed (JuD chief) and his https://www.dawn.com/news/149 three associates who approached the LHC for wrongly 4388 describing them members of LeT. July 18, 2019 US President was pleased to know about the arrest of Dawn, July 18, 2019 Hafiz Saeed for involvement in terror financing and https://www.dawn.com/news/149 money laundering. 4736 July 26, 2019 NACTA has asked Sindh and Punjab government to Dawn, July 26, 2019 take effective measures to ensure the security of https://www.dawn.com/news/149 property tycoon Malik Riaz threatened by the 6214 Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). August 1, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan Dawn, August 1, 2019 2019 has warned people of dire consequences against https://www.dawn.com/news/149 playing loud music, women going outside alone and 7395 polio vaccination campaign. August 3, The death of Hamza Bin Laden, son of Osama Bin , August 3-4, 2019 Laden, is considered as blow to Al Qaeda, as Hamza 2019 intended to serve a great role for Al Qaeda. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08 /01/world/middleeast/hamza-bin- laden.html August 04, A report said that Pakistan Army may leave the The News on Sunday, August 4, 2019 erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 2019 by 2022, if Frontier Corps (FC) is strengthened there. http://tns.thenews.com.pk/army- leave-tribal-areas-2022/ August 4, Commander Lashkar-e-Islam, who was involved in The News, August 4, 2019 2019 attack on security forces in Peshawar, was killed by a https://www.thenews.com.pk/print rival group in Afghanistan. /508185-lashkar-e-islam- commander-killed-in-afghanistan August 14, Tehreek-i-Taliban militants warned the Awami Dawn, August 14, 2019 2019 National Party’s provincial General Secretary Buner of https://www.dawn.com/news/149 his anti-Taliban policies and threatened to kill. 9398 August 19, Police is on high alert at Buner district where ANP Daily Jang, 19 August 2019 2019 Provincial secretary also received threat letters. https://e.jang.com.pk/08-19- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=528.p ng August 23, NACTA declared Hizbul Ahrar and Balochistan Raaji Dawn, August 23, 2019 2019 Ajoi-R-Sangar (BRAS) proscribed organizations. https://www.dawn.com/news/150 1110/nacta-slaps-ban-on-two- more-organisations September India parliament recently passed a bill that declared Daily Jang, September 05, 2019 05, 2019 Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki Rehman and Daood https://e.jang.com.pk/09-05- Ibrahim terrorists. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=531.p ng September 8, Police claimed to have arrested 4 suspect of Lashkar- Dawn, September 8, 2019 2019 i-Jhangvi in Karachi for their involvement in target https://www.dawn.com/news/150 killing of members of the Shia and Bohra communities 4114

173 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source and attack on Samaa TV’s vehicle. September America has announced new restrictions on terrorist Roznama92, September 12, 2019 12, 2019 organizations like TTP, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Daesh etc. https://www.roznama92news.com US included Noor Wali Mehsood, leader of banned /efrontend/web/index.php/?station TTP in the international list of terrorists. _id=2&page_id=0&is_common=N &xdate=2019-9-12&n=n37 September UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions committee Dawn, September 29, 2019 29, 2019 allowed Pakistan to let JuD leader use his bank https://www.dawn.com/news/150 account for personal expenses. 7932/allowing-hafiz-saeed-to- access-frozen-accounts-legal-says- us October 03, 12-member delegation of Afghan Taliban visiting The News, 03 October 2019 2019 Islamabad on an official invitation of the Pakistan https://www.thenews.com.pk/print government which would brief the host country’s /535642-after-khalilzad-taliban- leadership about their failed peace talks with the team-arrives-in-pakistan United States. October 04, Khadim Hussain Rizvi’s Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan The Friday Times, 04 October 2019 (TLP) became an electoral force to reckon with. It 2019 appeared that the TLP, with its anti-blasphemy https://www.thefridaytimes.com/f agenda, successfully made inroads in Karachi’s or-tlp-cadre-karachi-is-not-yet- political scene without any considerable challenge. lost/ October 05, Banned outfit Hizbu Tahrir puts up banners in The Express Tribune, 05 October 2019 different areas at Rawalpindi. 2019 https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/Dis playDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=1120191 0050354&EN_ID=1120191005013 0&EMID=11201910050058 October 14, The United States has welcomed Pakistan’s decision Daily Jang, October 14, 2019 2019 to arrest four leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) https://jang.com.pk/news/689374 group, indicating that such moves would help improve relations between the two countries. October 15, The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) suspects Dawn, October 15, 2019 2019 that the banned Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent https://www.dawn.com/news/151 (AQIS) is ‘regrouping’ in the Karachi several 0850 suspected areas to carry out terrorist attacks. October 20, The interior ministry has suggested abolishment and Roznama 92, October 20, 2019 2019 banning of the private militia ‘Ansar-ul-Islam’ of the https://www.dawn.com/news/151 Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) 1863 November Anti-terrorism court has indicted President Maulana Dawn, November 13, 2019 13, 2019 Khadim Hussain Rizvi, its patron-in-chief Pir Afzal https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailIm Qadri and others in a case of launching violent age.php?StoryImage=13_11_2019 protests against acquittal of Christian woman Aasia _176_005 Bibi in a blasphemy case. December The court adjourned further hearing of Jamaatud Dawn, December 01, 2019 01, 2019 Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and other https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailIm leaders till Dec 7 for the indictment of the accused age.php?StoryImage=01_12_2019 persons. _003_007 December Anti-terrorism court in Lahore indicted Hafiz Saeed, Dawn, December 11, 2019 11, 2019 the chief of the proscribed Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), https://www.dawn.com/news/152 and four other JuD leaders who were booked in July 1667/atc-indicts-jud-chief-hafiz- for offences pertaining to terror financing. saeed-in-terror-financing-case

174 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source December An anti-terrorism court prosecuted Jamatud Dawa Dawn, December 21, 2019 21, 2019 (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his associate, https://www.dawn.com/news/152 Prof Zafar Iqbal, in another case of terror financing 3459 registered by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab. December The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department and an Dawn, December 21, 2019 21, 2019 intelligence agency in a joint operation on busted https://www.dawn.com/news/152 media cell of the AQIS (Al-Qaeda Indian 4548 Subcontinent) in Gujranwala. December The federal government has stepped up an action Dawn, December 27, 2019 27, 2019 plan which was devised after the FATF expressed https://www.dawn.com/news/152 concern to ensure compliance by Pakistan related to 4578/two-atcs-notified-to- implementation of anti-money laundering and exclusively-deal-with-terror- counter-terrorist financing laws. financing-cases

Madrassahs

Date Progress/News update Source

January 04, Seminaries under Wifaq-ul-Madaris expressed Dawn, January 4, 2019 2019 concerns over banning their bank accounts without https://www.dawn.com/news/145 any alert or reason. They claimed to bring the issue in 5413 meeting with the Prime Minister but it remained unresolved. January 9, Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi said that government Daily Dunya, January 9, 2019 2019 is trying to bring uniformity in basic curriculum of all https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php madaris of Pakistan. ?date=2019-01- 09&edition=ISL&id=4379173_537 72671 January 13, Government could not make any progress in bringing The Nation, January 13, 2019 2019 the seminaries in national mainstream or reforming https://nation.com.pk/13-Jan- them. 2019/madaris-reforms-stuck-in- limbo January 15, Education Department said madrassa reforms are in The Express Tribune, January 15, 2019 process and ensured to take religious scholars on 2019 board in this regard. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1888 474/1-madrassa-reforms-way- says-lehri/ January 28, Representatives of political-religious parties have Roznama92, January 28, 2019 2019 unanimously urged federal government and provincial https://www.roznama92news.com administrations to take steps to resolve problems of /efrontend/web/index.php/?station mosques and seminaries. _id=3&page_id=7&is_common=& xdate=2019-1-28&n=n51 February 3, To harmonize the curriculum of seminaries with Daily Dunya, February 3, 2019 2019 modern education system, government has https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php earmarked around Rs88 billion. ?date=2019-02- 03&edition=ISL&id=4424201_863 86466 April 6, 2019 Total 8721 madaris have yet not registered. It was Daily Dunya, April 6, 2019 proposed to establish a registration authority https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php comprised of members from all school of thoughts, ?date=2019-04-

175 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source

rules and regulations to be amended to restrict 06&edition=ISL&id=4529781_474 religious seminaries from getting direct foreign 99008 funding, and make a compulsory annual audit of the revenues of religious seminaries. April 10, KP government has diverted Rs30 million funds meant Dawn, April 10, 2019 2019 for the development of public sector higher secondary https://www.dawn.com/news/147 schools in region to Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary. 5035 April 11, An editorial in Dawn suggested government to Dawn, April 11, 2019 2019 provide rationale for diverting education funds to a https://www.dawn.com/news/147 seminary. 5323 April 21, A religious seminary for transgender was established Daily Dunya, April 21, 2019 2019 in Rawalpindi, where more than 20 transgenders https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php were enrolled. ?date=2019-04- 21&edition=ISL&id=4554758_445 90620 May 07, Federal government in consultation with Tanzimat e Daily Jang, May 7, 2019 2019 Madaris drafted a registration form and underlined https://e.jang.com.pk/05-07- that the registration of religious seminaries is 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=535.p compulsory. ng May 8, 2019 Federal government has decided the uniform syllabus Dawn, May 8, 2019 for all education institutions in the country, including https://www.dawn.com/news/148 30,000 seminaries under Wifaqul Madaris. 0970 July 18, 2019 Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa held a Jang, July 18, 2019 meeting with senior religious scholar and discussed https://e.jang.com.pk/07-18- the agenda of seminaries’ reforms. The Army Chief 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=53.p assured that reforms would not affect freedom of ng seminaries. July 19, 2019 Government has decided to teach compulsory Dawn, July 19, 2019 contemporary subjects at seminaries and seminary https://www.dawn.com/news/149 students to appear in annual Federal Board of 4851/seminaries-to-teach- Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) contemporary-subjects-students- exams. will-appear-in-fbise-exams

July 19, 2019 In efforts to bring uniform curriculum all over the Jang, July 19, 2019 country, government has decided to seek registration https://e.jang.com.pk/07-19- of all seminaries and link them with federal education 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=444.p system. Non registered seminaries will not be allowed ng to operate. August 18, Government completed geo-tagging of 90% religious Roznama92, August 18, 2019 2019 seminaries from all over the country while Tanzimat https://www.roznama92news.com Madaris Deenia didn’t share any information related /efrontend/web/index.php/?station to source of income and funding of seminaries. _id=3&page_id=7&is_common=N &xdate=2019-8-18&n=n55 August 18, A report opined to bring madarais in mainstream Dawn, August 18, 2019 2019 education system and address the linked national https://www.dawn.com/news/150 security concerns. Reforms should emphasize 0025 educating, employing, and engaging madaris students. August 22, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa said Daily Jang, August 22, 2019 2019 that efforts to bring the Madaris into the mainstream https://e.jang.com.pk/08-22-

176 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source

national education system would render positive 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=51.p results and will boost up the career of seminary ng students. September Wafaq ul Madaris al-Arabia Pakistan has initiated Daily Dunya, September 19, 2019 19, 2019 work on the common curriculum for seminaries. https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php ?date=2019-09- 19&edition=ISL&id=4805395_594 06495 September Government has decided to establish 10 regional Roznama92, September 21, 2019 21, 2019 offices to mainstream Madrassas. Federal government https://www.roznama92news.com has allocated Rs1.80 billion to religious seminaries /efrontend/web/index.php/?station and uniform education system in national _id=2&page_id=0&is_common=N mainstream. &xdate=2019-9-21&n=n0 October 22, The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Dawn, October 22, 2019 2019 Training will establish a directorate under which https://www.dawn.com/news/151 seminaries would be registered and facilitated. It will 2199/directorate-being-set-up-to- be set up in the Basic Education Community School regulate-seminaries (BECS) building in G-8 and will have regional offices in 16 cities. October 25, Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) Dawn, October 25, 2019 2019 issued a notification to regulate seminaries set up. For https://www.dawn.com/news/151 this they have established a directorate for 2734 registration and facilitation of the madaris functioning all over the country. December Directorate of religious education will be established Daily Express, December 20, 2019 20, 2019 to regulate seminaries set up. https://www.express.com.pk/epap er/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=11 07026334&Issue=NP_ISB&Date=2 0191220 December Madarais registration will be completed very soon. A Daily Express, December 31, 2019 31, 2019 directorate general office along with sixteen offices https://www.express.com.pk/epap have been established to start the process. er/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=11 07058195&Issue=NP_ISB&Date=2 0191231

Merged Districts

Date Progress/News update Source January 04, The district administration in North Waziristan allowed Daily Dunya, January 4, 2019 2019 entry of people to region without prior permission or https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php registration on the check points. However, the ?date=2019-01- travelers will have to show their ID card on check 04&edition=ISL&id=4370403_602 posts. 29044 March 19, Government tends to allocate Rs 100bn annually for Dawn, March 19, 2019 2019 ten years for the development of FATA and is ready https://www.dawn.com/news/147 to begin consultations with local. 0519 July 21, 2019 Poling of provincial elections in tribal districts of KP Dawn, July 21, 2019 remained peaceful, though ratio of women voters was https://www.dawn.com/news/149 low. 5305

177 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Date Progress/News update Source January 05, Pakistan officials went to for a meeting with Dawn, January 5, 2019 2019 FATF. Also, it has sent risk assessment report to FATF https://www.dawn.com/news/145 to update it about agencies’ performances regarding 5619 FATF proposed action plan. January 10, FATF seemed satisfied over Pakistan’s performance Dawn, January 10, 2019 2019 against terror financing in compliance with the United https://www.dawn.com/news/145 Nations resolutions. 6640 January 10, There is no any evidence of drug-funded terrorism in Daily Jang, January 10, 2019 2019 Pakistan. https://e.jang.com.pk/01-10- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=512.p ng January 11, FATF called Pakistan to take strict measures against Daily Jang, January 11, 2019 2019 banned outfits under the UN resolution. No banned https://e.jang.com.pk/01-11- organization would be further allowed to participate in 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=543.p general election. ng January 14, Government believed that Pakistan would not be The News, January 14, 2019 2019 blacklisted by FATF in the face of India and US https://www.thenews.com.pk/print conspiracy. /418800-pakistan-unlikely-to-be- placed-on-fatf-blacklist-miftah January 23, To fulfill the conditions of the Financial Action Task Dawn, January 23, 2019 2019 Force (FATF), government is ready to make some https://www.dawn.com/news/145 significant amendments in the Anti-Money Laundering 9232 (AML) Act 2010 and the Federal Investigation Act (FIA) 1974. One proposed amendment included punishment and increased fine with no bail for involvement in the money laundering crime, etc. February 13, A report hinted the smuggling of explosive material, Daily Jang, February 13, 2019 2019 to be used in terrorists’ related activities, from https://e.jang.com.pk/02-13- Pakistan to Afghanistan. Punjab government took 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=1047. notice of report findings i.e. 40 % of explosive png material is sold in black market and directed police to strictly observe the trade of explosive material. February 23, The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) kept Pakistan The Express Tribune, February 23, 2019 in grey list and instructed it to re-examine the ranking 2019 of terror financing risk assessment of 8 banned outfits https://tribune.com.pk/story/1916 including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in view of its 590/1-fatf-urges-pakistan- vulnerabilities for other countries. reassess-militant-outfits-ranking/

March 03, FATF has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s The News on Sunday, March 3, 2019 efforts to attain FATF proposed action plan while 2019 identified ten “jurisdiction deficiencies” and directed http://tns.thenews.com.pk/may- Pakistan for effective implementation of the action 2019/ plan. March 05, In order to comply with FATF requirements, Dawn, March 5, 2019 2019 government announced to freeze or seize the https://www.dawn.com/news/146 accounts of UNSC designated terrorist organizations 7656 or individuals.

178 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source March 08, During FATF General committee’s meeting under Daily Jang, March 08, 2019 2019 Federal Finance Secretary of Government of Pakistan, https://e.jang.com.pk/03-08- it was decided that under FATF highlighted terms, 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=544.p government will now deal with banned organization ng with new and more sophisticated techniques. March 9, FATF added three more conditions to the already Daily Jang, March 9, 2019 2019 prescribed 15 conditions for Pakistan to get rid of https://e.jang.com.pk/03-09- blacklist. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=550.p ng March 09, The government has decided to upgrade a group of Dawn, March 09, 2019 2019 proscribed organization’s to ‘high risk’ and started https://www.dawn.com/news/146 monitoring and re-examining their activities and 8506 profiles under heightened security checks at all layers of legal, administrative, investigative and financial regimes to comply with the requirement of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). March 24, The Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Business Recorder, March 24, 2019 (SECP) has issued list of frequently asked questions 2019 on anti-money laundering and countering terror https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/03/ financing to promote awareness about anti money 20190324458183/ laundering among people. March 10, Pakistan has urged FATF to remove India as a co- Dawn, March 10, 2019 2019 chair of Asia Pacific Group (APG) to ensure unbiased https://www.dawn.com/news/146 FATF proceedings on its case. 8695 March 10, Government announced freezing of accounts and Daily Dunya, March 10, 2019 2019 seizure of assets linked to banned organizations. https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php ?date=2019-03- 10&edition=ISL&id=4482981_411 60970 March 24, Federal government has adopted measures to set a Daily Express, March 24, 2019 2019 Special Protection Unit (SPU) in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) https://www.express.com.pk/epap and Kashmir to ensure the security of CPEC projects er/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=11 and its workers. 06252900&Issue=NP_LHE&Date= 20190324 March 26, FATF is all set to evaluate Pakistan’s performance on The News, March 26, 2019 2019 proposed action plan to combat terror financing and https://www.thenews.com.pk/print money laundering. /448737-fatf-set-to-evaluate-pak- performance March 28, Though FATF appreciated Pakistan’s effort to curb Dawn, March 28, 2019 2019 terror financing and money laundering, it has https://www.dawn.com/news/147 expressed serious reservation about measures against 2344 each of 8 proscribed organizations. April 05, Federal government made it clear that measures Dawn, April 5, 2019 2019 taken against banned outfits are part of the National https://www.dawn.com/news/147 Action Plan (NAP) rather than under the action plan 4031 agreed with FATF. April 09, To comply with FATF terms of counter terror Daily Jang, April 9, 2019 2019 financing, the National Counter Terrorism Authority https://e.jang.com.pk/04-09- (NACTA) confiscated the bank accounts of 4863 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=54.p people in country. ng

179 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source April 10, To improve the anti-terror financing process, NACTA Dawn, April 10, 2019 2019 has signed multilateral MoUs with related institutions https://www.dawn.com/news/147 and departments to promote inter department 5088 cooperation. April 13, Government issued the guiding principles for the Dawn, April 13, 2019 2019 effective implementation of the United Nations https://www.dawn.com/news/147 Security Council (UNSC) Sanctions against individual 5773 and entities. May 12, Pakistan custom has adopted various policy measures Dawn, May 12, 2019 2019 to curb terrorist financing including the establishment https://www.dawn.com/news/148 of the directorate of cross-border currency movement 1727 that would develop currency trafficker’s profile. May 27, Government has closed the departments of CID and Daily Jang, May 27, 2019 2019 rapid response force in Islamabad. It has established https://e.jang.com.pk/05-27- a Counter Terrorism Departments (CTD) while 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=03_0 merged the CTD departments of crime investigation 2.png and rapid response force. June 09, FATF report noted that out of 27 points of action The News, June 9, 2019 2019 plan, Pakistan could not achieve 18 points. FATF https://www.thenews.com.pk/print ordered country to take action against 8 banned /481936-money-laundering-terror- outfits and expedite implementation of actionable financing-fatf-acknowledges-pak- points to get out of FATF grey list. performance June 14, US continued to seek Pakistan’s support in Dawn, June 14, 2019 2019 Afghanistan peace process and stressed Pakistan to https://www.dawn.com/news/148 take action against militant groups operating from 8085 within its territory. June 22, FATF reviewed Pakistan’s efforts made for the Dawn, June 22, 2019 2019 implementation of actionable points against money https://www.dawn.com/news/148 laundering and terrorism and stressed the need for 9669 further actions to get out of grey list in the next review meeting of FATF in October 2019. July 07, 2019 CTD arrested regional head of an international non- Dawn, July 7, 2019 governmental organization in Peshawar for his alleged https://www.dawn.com/news/149 involvement in terror financing. 2590 July 07, 2019 Federal government has instructed all provinces to The Nation, July 7, 2019 take action against unregistered, non-functional and https://nation.com.pk/07-Jul- non-profit organizations and even also against 2019/provinces-asked-to-block- registered organizations that are found to be involved terror-financing in terror financing. July 17, 2019 To comply with the FATF requirement of seizing terror Daily Jang, July 17, 2019 financing, a charity commission has been established https://e.jang.com.pk/07-17- in Punjab. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=417.p ng July 26, 2019 The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has established Dawn, July 26, 2019 a cell to expedite the action plan against money https://www.dawn.com/news/149 laundering and terror financing proposed by FATF. 6172 July 27, 2019 FATF special unit of FIA has filed a case in Islamabad Roznama92, July 27, 2019 against the UN-designated terrorist Ahmed Shah and https://www.roznama92news.com took into custody his assistant, Mir Waaz. /efrontend/web/index.php/?station _id=3&page_id=7&is_common=& xdate=2019-7-27&n=n32

180 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source August 07, During an independent assessment of Pakistan’s Dawn, August 7, 2019 2019 efforts for FATF action plan, the United States https://www.dawn.com/news/149 stressed Pakistan to show effective results against 8540 banned outfits and their leaders. August 17, Pakistan has submitted 450-page long report along The News, August 17, 2019 2019 with detailed annexure on to Financial Action Task https://www.thenews.com.pk/print Force (FATF). /512997-pakistan-submits-450- page-report-to-fatf August 17, To implement the FTAF action plan, government has Daily Jang, August 17, 2019 2019 constituted a FATF cell. https://e.jang.com.pk/08-17- 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=419.p ng August 21, Pakistan’s exit from FATF grey list is dependent on Dawn, August 21, 2019 2019 the result of Asia Pacific Group’s evaluation reports. https://www.dawn.com/news/150 0711 August 24, Government of Pakistan has rejected reports of being Dawn, August 24, 2019 2019 blacklisted by the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) of FATF https://www.dawn.com/news/150 and mentioned the country is now under ‘enhanced 1334 monitoring category’ and bound to submit quarterly report to APG than biannual. August 26, Government constituted FATF coordination committee Dawn, August 26, 2019 2019 to ascertain the implementation of FATF action plan. https://www.dawn.com/news/150 1746 September On Pakistan’s report, FATF has asked more than 100 Roznama92, September 5, 2019 05, 2019 questions about banned organizations and asked to https://www.roznama92news.com submit answers by September 6, 2019. /efrontend/web/index.php/?station _id=3&page_id=0&is_common=& xdate=2019-9-5&n=n19 September Asia Pacific Group (APG) of FATF during a discussion Nawa-i-Waqt, September 10, 2019 10, 2019 over 127 questions from Pakistan claimed that https://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E- banned outfits have been investing via gold and real Paper/islamabad/2019-09- estates and questioned Pakistan over banned 10/page-1/detail-41 organization’s investment in black market. September Pakistan has submitted its progress report on FATF Dawn, September 12, 2019 12, 2019 action plan. The APG is set to present its evaluation https://www.dawn.com/news/150 report on Pakistan’s performance against terror 4711 financing and money laundering. October 07, A Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) released by the Dawn, October 07, 2019 2019 APG, a regional affiliate of the FATF showed that https://www.dawn.com/news/150 Pakistan was “non-compliant” on four out of 40 9453 recommendations of the APG on effectiveness of the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system. October 08, Pakistan foreign office called for a “fair and unbiased” Dawn, October 08, 2019 2019 evaluation of its progress towards meeting the https://www.dawn.com/news/150 requirements of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 9621 on countering illicit finances as it pointed to continuing malicious propaganda by India.

181 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source October 16, The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided in Dawn, October 16, 2019 2019 principle that Pakistan will remain on its grey list till https://www.dawn.com/news/151 next February and directed to take ‘extra measures’ 1090 for ‘complete’ elimination of terror financing and money laundering. October 18, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has set up a cell Dawn, October 18, 2019 2019 at its headquarters for combating money laundering https://www.dawn.com/news/151 and terror financing. 1485 October 19, FATF reviewed measures taken and progress made by Dawn, October 19, 2019 2019 almost 15 countries, including Pakistan, vis-a-vis anti- https://www.dawn.com/news/151 money laundering and combating financing of 1678 terrorism (AML/CFT) in its five-day plenary. October 19, In a highly confidential report, the Pakistani The News, October 19, 2019 2019 authorities informed the FATF that some eight terror https://www.thenews.com.pk/print groups were funding terrorists in Pakistan which were /543151-terror-financing-from- operating from fifteen countries, including the United abroad-fatf-ignores-pak-request- States, China, United Kingdom and some European for-help nations. October 20, Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to implement The Nation, October 20, 2019 2019 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan and (Column) remains hopeful to upgrade from the grey list to the https://nation.com.pk/20-Oct- white list of FATF in 2020. 2019/pakistan-to-come-out-of- grey-list-in-2020-claims-hammad October 20, FATF requires Pakistan to deliver on its commitment Dawn, October 20, 2019 (Column) 2019 to crack down on terrorism financing by fixing the https://www.dawn.com/news/151 strategic deficiencies in the AML/CFT regime. 1895 October 22, Pakistan’s Financial adviser Abdul Hafiz Shaikh said Dawn, October 22, 2019 2019 that Pakistan is committed to fully implement its https://www.dawn.com/news/151 action plan to counter money laundering and 2153 terrorists financing by February 2020. October 24, Minister for Economic Affairs has disclosed that as Dawn, October 24, 2019 2019 part of the global watchdog’s action plan, more than https://www.dawn.com/news/151 700 under-investigation suspected terror financing 2610 cases are near adjudication. October 26, The government authorities have decided to fulfil The News, October 26, 2019 2019 remaining conditions of the Financial Action Task https://www.thenews.com.pk/print Force (FATF) till Dec 2 to come out of its 'grey list. /546295-fatf-grey-list-govt- decides-to-fulfil-remaining- conditions-till-dec-2 October 29, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and a Dawn, October 29, 2019 2019 director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence https://www.dawn.com/news/151 (ISI) will become part of the National Executive 3484/dgmo-isi-official-may-help- Committee (NEC) on terror-financing and money curb-terror-financing laundering as the federal cabinet meeting. October 31, Pakistan has asked the International Monetary Fund Dawn, October 31, 2019 2019 (IMF) to relax conditionality’s under the $6 billion https://www.dawn.com/news/151 Extended Fund Facility (EFF) relating to the Financial 3966 Action Task Force (FATF) and issuance of sovereign guarantees to help raise over $4bn from domestic and international markets.

182 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source November The Sindh government has started the legislation The Express Tribune, 02 02, 2019 process to curb money laundering and terror November 2019 financing in line with the Financial Action Task Force’s https://tribune.com.pk/story/2091 (FATF) recommendations. 948/1-sindh-drafts-law-curb- terror-financing/ November The US Congress-mandated report, , represents Dawn, 03 November 2019 03, 2019 official US assessment of the state of global terrorism https://www.dawn.com/news/151 during last year and includes country reviews. 4558 November The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) urged all Dawn, November 07 2019 07, 2019 member states to criminalise financing of terror- https://www.dawn.com/news/151 related travels. 5392 November Minister for economic affairs division, Hammad Azhar, Dawn, November 08, 2019 08, 2019 while speaking at a meeting of the National https://www.dawn.com/news/151 Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and 5579 Revenue reported that Only Rs5.6bn taxes recovered from people owning assets worth Rs1.15tr abroad and Pakistan will submit next report to Asia-Pacific Group by 07 of December 2019. November 8, Government permitted establishment of National Daily Jang November 8, 2019 2019 FATF Secretariat which will also coordinate among https://e.jang.com.pk/11-08- Provinces to achieve Action Plan objectives. 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=633.p ng November 9, Government started scrutiny for registration of The Express Tribune November 9, 2019 vehicles which are affiliated to banned organizations 2019 and will also confiscate the existing ones under FATF https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/Dis recommendations. playDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=1120191 1090060&EN_ID=1120191109002 2&EMID=11201911090009 November EU offered technical assistance to Pakistan for Dawn, November 17, 2019 17, 2019 implementation of FATF at its 10th session. Both the https://www.dawn.com/news/151 parties appreciated the signing of EU-Pakistan 7184 strategic engagement plan (SEP) in June 2019 and highlighted the implementation of EU-Pakistan Readmission Agreement (EUPRA) underlining that Readmission Case Management System (RCMS). November National FATF Coordination Committee (NFCC) in its Dawn, November 25, 2019 25, 2019 recent meeting decided to bring all unregulated https://www.dawn.com/news/151 sectors of the national economy under an interim 8686 regulatory framework to address at the earliest outstanding reservations on money laundering and terror financing (ML and TF) of the international financial watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) December Out of total 27 action plan, Pakistan has submitted its The News, December 07, 2019 07, 2019 progress report on 22 points before the joint group of https://www.thenews.com.pk/print Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in fresh bid to /579659-fatf-wants-conviction-of- avoid falling into blacklist. banned-outfits-members December The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Dawn, December 13, 2019 13, 2019 Interior dissatisfied over government’s move to https://www.dawn.com/news/152 include financial crime and illegal money transfers in 1993/move-to-include-financial- the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). crime-in-anti-terror-law-opposed

183 Pakistan Security Report | 2019

Date Progress/News update Source December During the second edition of Financial Crime Summit Dawn, December 15, 2019 15, 2019 in Karachi, State Bank Governor Reza Baqir https://www.dawn.com/news/152 mentioned that the FATF and the IMF have 2349 acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts for making key progress against money laundering which is crucial for the country as it seeks to come out of the grey list. December Government has submitted detailed report to FATF Daily Jang, December 15, 2019 15, 2019 regarding money laundering cases trials of eight https://e.jang.com.pk/12-15- banned organizations including that of high profile 2019/pindi/pic.asp?picname=51.p alleged members of banned organizations. ng

December Punjab government has decided to freeze assets Daily Jang, December 19, 2019 19, 2019 trustees and charity funding bodies of all banned https://e.jang.com.pk/12-19- organizations. 2019/Pindi/pic.asp?picname=423.p ng December Pakistan submitted the initial progress report to the Dawn, December 22, 2019 23, 2019 Asia Pacific Group (APG) of the FATF regarding https://www.dawn.com/news/152 implementation of the action plan, which related to 3569 shortcomings pointed out at the previous review.

184 PAK INSTITUTEFOR PEACE STUDIES (PIPS)

P.O Box. No: 2110, Islamabad, Pakistan ISSN 2072-0408 Tel: +92-51-8359475-6 Fax: +92-51-8359474 Price: Rs 1000/- Email: [email protected] US$ 30/- www.pakpips.com