Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/rantburg/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances... Rantburg

India-Pakistan
TTP fighters kill 11 Pakistani Security Personnel
2024-12-28
[KhaamaPress] Sources report that fighters from the Tehrik-e-Taliban
...Arabic for students...
Pakistain (TTP) killed 11 Pak security personnel in different areas of North Wazoo.

According to reports, the TTP fighters involved in the attacks on Thursday, December 26, were from the group of Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
The reports also added that the attacks took place in the Mirali area, specifically in the Khaiderkhel, Khadki, and other regions, with at least 16 other security personnel reported injured.

The Pak government has not yet made any statements regarding the incident.

Earlier, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) carried out an attack on a security checkpoint in South Waziristan, killing 16 Pak security personnel.

Pak officials have consistently claimed that members of the TTP find safe haven in Afghanistan. However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
the Afghan Taliban has denied these allegations made by Pak authorities.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the radioactive tadpoles grown into frogs. Really big frogs, in fact...
on Tuesday evening, Pak fighter jets bombed several locations in the Bermal district of Paktika
...which coincidentally borders North Wazoo and Kurram Agency...
province.

A Pak official told Rooters that the Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s targeted a camp of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) turbans. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, stated that at least 46 people were killed in the attacks, the majority of whom were women and kiddies.

The ongoing airstrikes and cross-border conflicts between Pakistain and Afghanistan continue to cause significant loss of life and highlight the growing security challenges in both countries. The fact that civilians, including women and kiddies, are often caught in the crossfire underscores the devastating impact of such military actions on non-combatants.

The increasing violence in regions like North Waziristan highlights the fragile security situation in Pakistain’s tribal areas, where turban groups like the TTP continue to operate with relative freedom. These deadly festivities not only undermine the stability of the region but also place civilians at great risk, caught in the crossfire between Death Eaters and military forces.
Related:
TTP: 2024-12-27 UN calls for investigation into air strikes on Afghan border
TTP: 2024-12-23 TTP claims killing 35 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan attack, Pak Army sez only 16 dead
TTP: 2024-12-21 Oregon city asks residents to stop sticking googly eyes on art pieces
Related:
Wazoo: 2024-12-27 UN calls for investigation into air strikes on Afghan border
Wazoo: 2024-12-27 Pakistan Army major martyred, 13 terrorists killed in three KP operations
Wazoo: 2024-12-26 Security forces kill 13 terrorists in South Waziristan IBO
Related:
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2024-11-02 Pakistani airstrike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kills civilians
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2024-10-29 CHR - New Intel: Sources Report Terrorists in Afghanistan Taking A Page From October 7 Playbook
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2024-09-04 Pak Institute for Peace Studies reports surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan
Related:
Mirali : 2023-05-24 Two girls’ schools blown up in North Waziristan
Mirali : 2023-05-16 Five security men among nine injured in Waziristan blast
Mirali : 2023-04-09 Two police officials martyred in Swabi, Waziristan attacks
Link


India-Pakistan
Schools and Colleges in Islamabad and Punjab closed over security concerns
2024-12-17
[KhaamaPress] Pak authorities announced that all public and private colleges and schools in Islamabad and Punjab
...1. Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2. A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3. A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots
...
.
province will be closed on Monday, December 16, due to "security concerns."

The Pak newspaper Dawn reported, citing its sources, that the decision was made in response to the current security situation.

On Sunday, December 15, Dawn reported that this order was issued by security and education officials in several cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.

The newspaper mentioned that while no specific reasons were provided for the closures in Islamabad and Lahore, the Commissioner of Rawalpindi stated that schools in the area would be closed to mark the tenth anniversary of the attack on the Army Public School in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire...
in 2014.

On December 16, 2014, a group of faceless myrmidons attacked an army school in Peshawar, killing 147 people, mostly children.
Not just any militants, but that branch of Tehrik i-Taliban-Pakistan led by Mullah Fazlullah
...son-in-law of holy man Sufi Mohammad. Known as Mullah FM, Fazlullah had the habit of grabbing his FM mike when the mood struck him and bellowing forth sermons. Sufi suckered the Pak govt into imposing Shariah on the Swat Valley and then stepped aside whilst Fazlullah and his Talibs imposed a reign of terror on the populace like they hadn't seen before, at least not for a thousand years or so. For some reason the Pak intel services were never able to locate his transmitter, much less bomb it. After ruling the place like a conquered province for a year or so, Fazlullah's hubristic Talibs began gobbling up more territory as they pushed toward Islamabad, at which point as a matter of self-preservation the Mighty Pak Army threw them out and chased them into Afghanistan. He was bombed to smithereens in 2018...
Educational and security officials in Pakistani cities are concerned about the possibility of similar attacks occurring on the anniversary of the Peshawar attack.

The closure of schools is seen as a precautionary measure to prevent any threats and ensure public safety during this sensitive time. The authorities continue to prioritize the protection of educational institutions and students across the country.

The archive search results of the term Army Public School for the period around the attack can be seen here.
Related:
Army Public School: 2024-01-15 The TTP is back
Army Public School: 2022-12-30 Number of TTP Militants in Pak-Afghan Border Region Between 7,000 and 10,000: Pak Interior Minister
Army Public School: 2022-12-26 Blame-shifting: Govt pins TTP’s rise on PTI chairman
Related:
Mullah Fazlullah 09/13/2023 ‘Militant’ killed while planting bomb in Khyber
Mullah Fazlullah 06/05/2023 CTD arrests six ‘militants’ of banned outfits in Punjab
Mullah Fazlullah 09/28/2022 Four ‘terrorists’ of banned outfit killed in gun battle with CTD in Quetta

Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistani airstrike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kills civilians
2024-11-02
[KhaamaPress] A report states that Pak military Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s targeting Tehrik-e-Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
Pakistain (TTP) positions in Bannu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, have caused civilian casualties.

Three Mighty Pak Army personnel, including an officer, were reportedly killed during the operation.

The festivities between the military and TTP forces have been ongoing since midnight. The Pak military deployed helicopters along with both light and heavy weaponry to strike TTP strongholds in the area.

Some Bannu residents claim that military aircraft attacked civilian areas, resulting in civilian casualties. The Pak military has not officially commented on civilian losses, though military sources confirmed the deaths of three army personnel, including an officer.

Reports indicate that early in the morning, Pak forces attempted to surround Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
, a TTP commander. During the operation, a military officer named Atif and his soldiers were ambushed by TTP fighters, prompting the use of helicopters to break the siege.

the report added that non-combatants were killed, and several homes were damaged in the crossfire. The exact number of civilian casualties remains unconfirmed.

Two TTP snuffies have been confirmed dead in the fighting so far. The situation has added to the tensions within the region.

This escalation in hostilities comes as the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has recently called for the military and TTP to vacate Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In a recent assembly, PTM members resolved to take action if both forces do not withdraw from the region.

The continuing festivities have heightened tensions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, leaving local residents in a vulnerable position amidst the violence. The need for a peaceful resolution and immediate protection for civilians is becoming increasingly critical as the conflict unfolds.
Link


Afghanistan
CHR - New Intel: Sources Report Terrorists in Afghanistan Taking A Page From October 7 Playbook
2024-10-29
[CatherineHerridgeReports] "The system is blinking red," a former special operator said. "No one wants to be in the room when the Afghanistan grenade goes off."

The new reporting underscores concern that terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, are strengthening their foothold in Afghanistan.

DEEP DIVE
Vice President and now Presidential candidate Kamala Harris once boasted that when President Biden made the final call to pull US troops from Afghanistan she was the last person in the room.

Three years later, a recent UN report left no doubt Al Qaeda is building out its infrastructure in Afghanistan.

The UN monitoring team found, "Al-Qaida cells are operating in multiple Afghan provinces, mainly in the south-east of the country." And "While the Taliban have done much to constrain the activities of Al-Qaida and their affiliates...its reorganization and training activities, as well as new travel into Afghanistan, indicate that the group still uses Afghanistan as a permissive haven under the Taliban, raising questions about Al-Qaida’s intent."

Credible sources now describe footage that suggests small terrorist cells, primarily Al Qaeda, training with ultralights and paragliders in Afghanistan. The sources describe the terrorists as "taking a page from the October 7 playbook" by mirroring the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of the 2023 Hamas attack which killed more than 1200 people in Israel.

The raw intelligence and reports also describe operatives trained to build light aircraft and drones from "off the shelf" materials available in large home improvement stores. As described, the idea is not to export equipment from Afghanistan, but to build it once an operative is inserted near the target. These small cells apparently have cooperation from the Taliban who, in some cases, monitor training sessions.

The reporting comes through credible sources and I draw no conclusions about potential contact between al Qaeda and Hamas. As described, the most innocuous analysis is the footage was designed to boost morale among fighters and for fundraising.

Another intelligence stream details that in recent months an Al Qaeda operative traveled from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia for financing, tasked with developing a weaponized drone capability for use against the US or its interests overseas.

That said, I understand the reporting has been shared at senior levels of the Defense Department, Homeland Security and likely CIA. They have the ability to investigate, to assess the credibility of the reports, and most importantly, they have a duty to warn.

My contacts say there is a sense of urgency among field agents and officers who are aware of the raw intelligence, but there is a "head in the sand" attitude at more senior levels. Multiple sources explained, "No one wants to turn over the Afghanistan rock."

The presence of these camps, and the threats they pose are amplified by the American military hardware that the Biden administration abandoned in Afghanistan. In 2021, reporters were told and the public was reassured that the equipment would fall into disrepair.

This has proven false. Images shared with our team from multiple sectors in Afghanistan suggest every level of the armed forces from police to military are leveraging our ballistic helmets, gloves, boots, optics, body armor and weapons.

By summer, as I pulled the threads on the Afghanistan story, the warnings became more alarming. NGOs and other groups who work with the US-based Afghan community voiced some of the deepest concerns. They were, understandably, reluctant to go on the record, fearing retaliation from the administration.

Intelligence is like a mosaic. Slowly the pieces fall into place. It is a partial picture at best, but it suggests a landscape that is beginning to mirror pre-9/11 Afghanistan. Twenty-three years ago, the safe haven in Afghanistan afforded al Qaeda the freedom to train, to recruit and to raise money for the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.

On Saturday, seeking comment, our team emailed the media contact for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which has oversight for the US intelligence community. When there was no response, and with the Sunday afternoon deadline approaching, we re-upped our questions adding the Defense Department, Homeland Security and CIA.

The DoD duty officer and a CIA spokesperson responded. Both said they could look into our query Monday. Our questions focus on intelligence community efforts to determine credibility of the intel, risk to national security and briefings to congressional committees with oversight, including armed services and intelligence.

One of the most famous chapters in the 9/11 Commission Report is called, "The System was Blinking Red." It contains the painful chronology and missed opportunities to disrupt the 9/11 hijackers in the summer of 2001.

"As (CIA Director) Tenet told us, ’The system was blinking red in the Summer of 2001.’ Officials were alerted across the world. Many were doing everything they possibly could to respond to the threats. Yet no one working on these late leads in the Summer of 2001 connected the case in his or her in-box to the threat reports agitating senior officials and being briefed to the President.."

Twenty-three years later, the warnings are there. Political sensitivities should not hinder efforts to acknowledge and disrupt emerging threats in Afghanistan.

The article below, published in 8am (Hasht-e Subh Daily), has been sitting, half-edited, for a while because I’ve been too busy with life to finish the job — and at roughly 3000 words it was easy to push off to later. But it relates to Joe of the Jungle’s submission so it’s time to share under his headline, even without doing all the work I intended. The acquisition was triggered by a Media Line piece linked by Grom the Reflective in September in comments:

Hamza bin Laden’s return: Al-Qaida’s revival in Afghanistan sparks global terror fears: Terror group leader's survival and resurgence could signify al-Qaida’s most significant revival since the Iraq War, leading to worry across the world.

Herewith the opening of the piece — the rest can be read at the link.
The Taliban Host Terrorist Groups: Four New Settlements Built for Al-Qaeda and TTP
30.June 2024
The Hasht-e Subh Daily has obtained information indicating that the Taliban are constructing a well-equipped base with residential houses for the al-Qaeda network in the Malekuddin area of Nawa district, Ghazni province. Additionally, they are building three settlements for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Dasht-e Bagh-e Attar area of Qarabagh district, Dasht-e Kabuli area of Waghaz district, and Kotal-e Rouza on the outskirts of Ghazni city. These settlements, in addition to residential houses, also include large religious schools and equipped dormitories, with some nearing completion.

Simultaneously, TTP members have chosen specific areas in Ghazni for relocating their families, with plans to move there soon. One of the TTP factions relocating to Ghazni is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a TTP commander who has carried out extensive attacks against the Pakistani military. Furthermore, the findings of this report indicate that Haji Furqan (Uighur), a commander of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and a senior member of al-Qaeda, is residing in a guesthouse of Sirajuddin Haqqani in the Sherpur area of Kabul.

The findings from the Hasht-e Subh Daily in Ghazni province show that the Taliban are engaged in constructing four residential settlements with large religious schools and other security measures for the relocation of al-Qaeda and TTP members. According to the report, the construction of some of these settlements and religious schools in Ghazni is nearing completion. Information suggests that a settlement with a Madrasa in the Nawa district of Ghazni is being built for al-Qaeda, while the other three settlements are exclusively for TTP members and will soon be operational. The report also indicates that alongside the residential settlements, the Taliban have constructed large religious school buildings with all amenities, funded by the Haqqani network.

Link


India-Pakistan
TTP declared 'Fitna al-Khawarij'; 'Khariji' to precede terrorists' names: govt
2024-08-01
Ha! Good move. That oughta take care of the problem.
[GEO.TV] In a move to shift its war on terror from a physical to an ideological front, the government on Wednesday categorised the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
Pakistain (TTP) as "Fitna al-Khawarij."

The government also made it mandatory for all institutions to use "Khariji" before the names of perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistain, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.

The notification, which comes at a time when forces of Evil have intensified attacks on armed forces, intends to expose the real "ideology" of the banned holy warrior outfits, which it asserts have "distorted the image of Islam under the guise of religion."

According to the notification, titles such as 'Mufti' and 'Hafiz' will not be used for individuals associated with terrorist organizations, while in all correspondence and documents, the term "Khariji" will be written and read before their names.

The notification adds that the TTP forces of Evil have no genuine interest in the religion and such "corrupt elements" are referred to as "Fitna al-Khawarij."

The ministry directed all government institutions to implement the order immediately and use the terms in their letters and documents.

Subsequently, the interior ministry banned two more terrorist outfits, including the Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
Group (HGBG) and Majeed Brigade (MB).

The interior ministry approved the recommendations to ban the holy warrior groups monitoring them for two years, according to the notification.

Following the interior ministry's nod, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) added the aforementioned groups to the proscribed organizations' list.

Pakistain witnessed a surge in terror activities over the past few months, particularly in its Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security report, during the second quarter of 2024, the country suffered 380 violence-linked fatalities and 220 injuries. These stats include casualties of civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, it said.

As a result of as many as 240 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, a mentioned.

Related:
Hafiz Gul Bahadur 07/18/2024 Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to take 'robust action' against perpetrators of Bannu Cantt attack

Hafiz Gul Bahadur 04/18/2024 Security forces kill seven terrorists trying to infiltrate Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan

Hafiz Gul Bahadur 03/22/2024 Islamabad not seeking armed conflict with Kabul, says defence minister

Related:
Majeed Brigade: 2024-03-21 Heavily Armed Militants Storm Pakistan's China-Operated Gwadar Port, 7 Dead
Majeed Brigade: 2023-08-14 Daily Evacuation Brief August 14, 2023
Majeed Brigade: 2023-08-14 2 terrorists killed in retaliatory action after attack on military convoy in Gwadar: ISPR
Link


India-Pakistan
Security forces kill seven terrorists trying to infiltrate Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan
2024-04-18
[GEO.TV] Security forces have killed seven Death Eaters trying to infiltrate the Pakistain-Afghanistan border
...also known as Pashtunistan, home of ignorance, poverty, and automatic weapons...
in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Wazoo district, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the security forces on April 16 (Tuesday) detected a movement of a group of seven Death Eaters near the Pakistain-Afghanistan border in Spinkai area of Ghulam Khan in the tribal district.

"The infiltrators were surrounded, effectively engaged and after an intense fire exchange, all seven territories were sent to hell," it added.

A large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was also recovered from the killed terrorists, the statement added.

The statement highlighted that Pakistain has consistently been asking the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
-led interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border.

The military urged the interim rulers to fulfill their obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Death Eaters for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistain.

"Security forces of Pakistain are determined and remain committed to securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country," read the ISPR’s statement.

Pakistain has time and again urged the Afghan authorities to take meaningful action against Death Eaters using the neighbouring country’s soil to launch attacks inside Pakistain.

Last month, Pakistain carried out an intelligence-based anti-terrorist operation inside Afghanistan on, whose prime target was the Death Eaters belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..

Group along with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP).

Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group had earlier grabbed credit for the terrorist attack.

"This group is responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistain, resulting in death of hundreds of civilians and law-enforcement officials. The latest attack took place on 16 March 2024 at a security post in Mir Ali in North Waziristan and claimed the lives of seven Pak soldiers," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 18 after over 13 hours after the operation.

A day earlier, Pakistain Army’s top commanders were briefed on how terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan pose a threat to regional and global security, besides acting as proxies against Pakistain and its economic interests, especially the China-Pakistain Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Related:
Inter-Services Public Relations: 2024-04-10 Security forces kill two terrorists in South Waziristan IBO
Inter-Services Public Relations: 2024-04-08 Law enforcers gun down two terrorists in North Wazoo
Inter-Services Public Relations: 2024-04-07 Two terrorists neutralised in Panjgur
Related:
Spinkai: 2017-12-01 Roadside bomb kills 5 pro-govt fighters in South Waziristan
Spinkai: 2017-07-24 Operation Khyber-IV: army clears terrorist strongholds in Rajgal valley
Spinkai: 2013-05-13 Taliban expel agents of 33 candidates: Peaceful polling, good turnout in Fata
Related:
Ghulam Khan: 2023-02-14 Eight injured in blast near car carrying wounded ASI in North Waziristan
Ghulam Khan: 2022-12-11 4 IS-K terrorists killed in joint operation near Pak-Afghan border: CTD
Ghulam Khan: 2022-07-25 Agreement with Kabul reached to facilitate coal trade for power generation
Related:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-04-10 Security forces kill two terrorists in South Waziristan IBO
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-04-08 Shangla attack: Report reveals vehicle carrying Chinese nationals was not bullet, bomb-proof
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-04-08 Law enforcers gun down two terrorists in North Wazoo
Related:
Hafiz Gul Bahadur 03-/22/2024 Islamabad not seeking armed conflict with Kabul, says defence ministerHafiz Gul Bahadur 03-/19/2024 Pakistan hits TTP hideouts in border regions inside Afghanistan amid spike in terror attacksHafiz Gul Bahadur 11-/28/2023 Pakistan blames Afghan national for suicide bombing that killed two civilians

Link


India-Pakistan
Islamabad not seeking armed conflict with Kabul, says defence minister
2024-03-22
Of course. They’d much rather the Taliban simply surrender to their manifestly superior force, not to mention Allah’s clear will in this matter.
[GEO.TV] Days after Pakistain hit outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP) targets inside Afghanistan, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Islamabad does not want any "armed conflict" with Kabul.

"Force is the last resort. We do not want to have an armed conflict with Afghanistan," Asif said while speaking to the Voice of America.

The defence minister's remarks come as the neighbouring countries have experienced a spike in their already tense bilateral relations over increasing terrorist attacks by the TTP and other banned outfits, which are based in Afghanistan, inside Pak territory.

On Monday, Pakistain carried out intelligence-based operations (IBOs) targeting TTP's Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
Group which is responsible for the March 16 attack in Mir Ali, North Wazoo and multiple other terrorist attacks in the country.

Islamabad's action came following a deadly attack on Pak forces which resulted in the martyrdom of seven soldiers including a lieutenant colonel and captain.

Pakistain has repeatedly called on the Afghan interim government to prevent its soil from being used against Pakistain by TTP and other holy warrior organizations — a claim vehemently denied by Kabul.

'NOT LET TTP START A WAR'
Terming Pakistain's military action inside Afghanistan as a necessary message against increasing cross-border terrorism, the minister called on the Afghan interim regime to "control" the TTP and "not let them start a war" with Pakistain while living in Afghanistan.

"We cannot continue like this," he said, adding that Islamabad will be forced to retaliate if the TTP continues its attacks.

Elaborating on the prospects of bilateral trade and prospects of providing an economic corridor to Kabul, owing to the country being landlocked, Asif questioned why Islamabad should entertain such a possibility if the neighbouring country treats it "like an enemy".

As reported by the VOA, around 5,000 to 6,000 TTP fighters reside in Afghanistan after being driven out of Pak territory owing to the military's wide-scale anti-terror operation in erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) along the border with Afghanistan.

Furthermore, United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
' assessments also confirm TTP's presence in Afghanistan, the publication added.

Expressing his views on TTP's presence inside Afghanistan, the defence minister said that the holy warrior group was "being allowed" to operate as part of the interim Afghan government's bid to prevent its fighters from joining IS-Khorasan Province (ISKP) — a rival group which has been engaged in armed conflict with the Afghan regime.

Link


Afghanistan
Pakistan hits TTP hideouts in border regions inside Afghanistan amid spike in terror attacks
2024-03-19
[GEO.TV] Pak forces this morning carried out intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the border regions inside Afghanistan against snuffies launching attacks in Pakistain from Afghan soil, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Monday.

The target of today’s operation was the snuffies belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
Group, which along with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP), is responsible for the March 16 attack in Mir Ali, North Wazoo and multiple other terrorist attacks in the country, resulting in deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.

On Saturday, at least seven Pakistain Army soldiers — including a lieutenant colonel and captain — embraced martyrdom after gallantly fighting with snuffies as they attacked a security forces' post in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The Foreign Office (FO) issued a detailed statement on the matter, saying that Pakistain, for the past two years, has repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the interim Afghan Government over the presence of terror outfits including TTP inside Afghanistan.

It said that these snuffies pose a grave threat to Pakistain’s security and have consistently used Afghan territory to launch terror attacks inside Pak territory.

Pakistain accords prime importance to the illusory sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. It has, therefore, always prioritised dialogue and cooperation to confront the terrorist threat.

"We have repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete and effective action to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as a staging ground for terrorism against Pakistain. We have also called on them to deny safe havens to TTP and to hand over its leadership to Pakistain," the FO said.

The statement added that Pakistain has great respect for the people of Afghanistan; however, certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistain.

"Such an approach against a brotherly country, which stood with the people of Afghanistan through thick and thin, manifests shortsightedness. It ignores the support extended by Pakistain to the people of Afghanistan over the last several decades.

"We urge these elements in power to rethink the policy of siding with Khwarij snuffies shedding the blood of innocent Paks and to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistain," it added.

The FO further stated that terrorist groups like TTP are a collective threat to regional peace and security.

"We fully realise the challenge Afghan authorities face in combating the threat posed by the TTP. Pakistain would therefore continue to work towards finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organization from sabotaging bilateral relations with Afghanistan," the statement concluded.

However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
the Afghan Taliban claimed that two air strikes carried out inside Afghanistan by Pak forces had killed right people in the war-torn country.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory," said Zabiullah Mujahid, a front man of the Taliban administration, in a Rooters report.

He added that the strikes took place in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
Related:
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2023-11-28 Pakistan blames Afghan national for suicide bombing that killed two civilians
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2023-05-02 Key commander among seven ‘militants’ arrested in N.Wazoo
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2023-03-13 Daily Evacuation Brief March 13, 2023
Related:
Mir Ali: 2024-03-17 7 Pak Army personnel including 2 officers martyred in North Waziristan terror attack
Mir Ali: 2024-01-08 Four dead, three wounded in firing on two vehicles in KP's Kurram
Mir Ali: 2023-11-14 Two soldiers martyred in N Waziristan gun battle
Related:
North Waziristan: 2024-03-17 Good Morning
North Waziristan: 2024-03-03 Security forces gun down three terrorists in KP shootout
North Waziristan: 2024-03-01 Good Morning
Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan blames Afghan national for suicide bombing that killed two civilians
2023-11-28
[AMU.TV] A suicide kaboom in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu District, affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur
...a member of the Madda Khel clan of the Uthmanzai Waziris. Educated in a Deobandi madrassa located in Multan, he is affiliated with the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Upon the formation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007, he was announced as the group's overall naib amir under Baitullah Mehsud, who was based in South Wazoo, but has largely distanced himself from the TTP due to rivalries with the Mehsuds and disagreements about the TTP's attacks against the Pak state..
Group, killed at least two civilians and left 10 others injured, including three Pak soldiers, as reported by the military’s media wing on Monday.

According to Pakistain’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the jacket wallah responsible for the attack was identified as an Afghan national.

The tragic incident occurred in the Bakka Khel area on Sunday, where a cycle of violence-borne suicide bomber detonated explosives.

Out of the maimed, seven were civilians, while three were soldiers, the ISPR stated. A sanitization operation is underway in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists.

"The security forces of Pakistain are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism, and such sacrifices of our brave civilians and soldiers further strengthen our resolve," affirmed the ISPR.

The group responsible for the bombing is a faction of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban
...Arabic for students...
Pakistain (TTP). Pakistain has witnessed a surge in terrorism in recent months, with the TTP and other murderous Moslem outfits intensifying actions against security forces. In response, the state has launched operations to curb terrorism.

A report released by Pakistain’s Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in October highlighted that security forces lost at least 386 personnel in the first nine months of 2023, marking an eight-year high.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
were identified as the primary centers of violence, contributing to nearly 94% of all fatalities and 89% of recorded attacks, encompassing incidents of terrorism and security forces operations during this period.

Related:
Bannu District: 2023-09-22 Six terrorists involved in Bannu suicide attack killed
Bannu District: 2023-09-01 Nine soldiers martyred in Bannu suicide bombing
Bannu District: 2022-06-06 7 terrorists killed in North Waziristan, Bannu IBOs: ISPRNaveed Siddiqui
Related:
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2023-05-02 Key commander among seven ‘militants’ arrested in N.Wazoo
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2023-03-13 Daily Evacuation Brief March 13, 2023
Hafiz Gul Bahadur: 2022-07-24 3 terrorists killed, 4 apprehended in North Waziristan operations: ISPR
Related:
Bakka Khel: 2015-06-27 Wounds of Waziristan
Bakka Khel: 2009-12-02 Five terrorists killed in SWA, Swat Operation
Bakka Khel: 2009-06-02 Talibs Abduct Hundreds of Schoolkids in N. Wazoo
Related:
TTP: 2023-11-24 Pakistan Army's top brass reaffirms unequivocal diplomatic, political support to Palestinians
TTP: 2023-11-23 Two soldiers martyred in North Waziristan terror attack on security convoy
TTP: 2023-11-22 Three terrorists gunned down in separate KP IBOs
Related:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2023-11-22 Three terrorists gunned down in separate KP IBOs
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2023-11-18 After blasting old-timers, Baby Bhutto says old politics Pakistan's worst enemy
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2023-11-09 Security forces gun down two terrorists in IBO near Pak-Afghan border
Related:
Balochistan: 2023-11-26 More than 400,000 Afghan migrants return home from Iran
Balochistan: 2023-11-26 One million Afghan migrants to be deported by January next year: Pakistani official
Balochistan: 2023-11-18 After blasting old-timers, Baby Bhutto says old politics Pakistan's worst enemy
Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan Claims Capture of 4 Islamic State Operatives
2023-09-28
[VOA] Authorities in northwestern Pakistan said Tuesday that a counterterrorism operation resulted in the arrest of four regional Islamic State-affiliated operatives.

The area’s counterterrorism department said the operation was carried out in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

It identified the detainees as Afghan nationals associated with Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K. The statement said that the men plotted attacks in the city, targeting members of religious minorities and security forces.

IS-K took credit for a suicide bombing of a minority Shiite mosque in Peshawar in January of this year, killing nearly 100 worshipers.

Tuesday's arrests came hours after the military said its forces had raided a suspected "terrorist" hideout near the Afghan border and killed three militants in the ensuing clashes.
That’s the one near Tirah, Khyber district
A key militant commander was said to be among those killed in the pre-dawn raid in the Khyber border district, a former stronghold of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

The group, known as the Pakistani Taliban, routinely carries out attacks against security forces, mainly in districts lining the border with Afghanistan and elsewhere in Pakistan.

Stepped up attacks by the TTP and other insurgent groups in Pakistan this year have killed hundreds of people, mostly members of the security forces. The military has confirmed the deaths of at least 220 soldiers.

Pakistan says the TTP operates out of bases in Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of the neighboring country two years ago has emboldened the militants to intensify cross-border terrorism, allegations de facto Afghan authorities reject.

"We have a concern because groups like TTP do reside on Afghan soil. There are training camps on their soil, which is a concern for us," Pakistani caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Kakar said in an interview aired on Monday.

"But whether it is all intentional, does it enjoy the patronage of that government, that remains to be seen," he told the Turkish TRT channel.
Related:
Peshawar: 2023-09-22 Six terrorists involved in Bannu suicide attack killed
Peshawar: 2023-09-21 Terrorist killed, another injured in DI Khan intelligence-based operation
Peshawar: 2023-09-14 JK: Army Colonel, Major, Dy SP Killed In Gunfight With Terrorists
Link


India-Pakistan
Militant attacks claim 389 lives in six months
2023-07-03
[Dawn] The first half of the current year has witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide kabooms claiming the lives of 389 people across the country, according to a report released by think tank Pakistain Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The report reveals that a total of 271 attacks occurred during the period under review, claiming 389 lives and injuring 656 others. The same period last year witnessed 151 attacks, causing 293 deaths and 487 injuries. The figures represent a staggering 79 per cent increase in holy warrior attacks during the first half of 2023 compared to the corresponding period last year.

The second half of 2022 recorded 228 attacks, resulting in 246 fatalities and 349 injuries. Thus, the first six months of 2023 witnessed an 18pc rise in attacks compared to the second half of 2022, accompanied by a 58pc increase in fatalities and 88pc in injuries.

Security forces have also step­ped up their response to terrorism, killing at least 236 holy warriors.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the most affected province during the first half of this year with 174 reported holy warrior attacks, claiming 266 lives and injuring 463 others.
That’s Tehrik i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) territory, all the various subgroups of it.
The PICSS data shows a 51pc rise in terror attacks in tribal districts of KP during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, though there was a 10pc and 15pc decline in fatalities compared to the first and second half of last year, respectively.

Mainland KP experienced a striking 108pc rise in terror incidents during the first six months of 2023 compared to the corresponding period last year and a 25pc increase compared to the second half of 2022.

Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
reported 75 terror incidents in the first half of 2023, resulting in 100 deaths and 163 injuries. The data reveals a 103pc increase in terror attacks compared to the same period in the previous year, and a 14pc rise compared to the last six months of 2022. Fatalities in Balochistan rose by 61pc and 64pc in the first six months of the current year compared to the first and second half of 2022, respectively.

Sindh experienced a slight decline in terror incidents, with 13 reported attacks in the first six months of 2023, resulting in 19 deaths and the same number of injuries.

Fatalities in Sindh rose by 27pc compared to the first half of the previous year, while a 171pc increase was observed compared to the last six months of 2022.

Punjab has witnessed a significant rise in terror-related incidents during the first six months of 2023, with eight reported attacks, resulting in six deaths and 10 injuries.

A concerning surge in suicide attacks has also been observed during the first half of 2023, with 13 such attacks resulting in 142 deaths and 309 injuries. In comparison, only five suicide attacks were reported during the corresponding period of the previous year, causing 77 deaths and 225 injuries.
Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorist outfits along LoC
2023-03-26
[ANInews] Pakistan has been known for its perennial support to the Taliban in Afghanistan and other terrorist organizations in India and continues to sponsor terrorist outfits along the Line of Control (LoC).

A recent incident in which three terrorists opened fire at a rally of the Jammu and Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) and National Awami Party (NAP) at Tatrinote in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on March 18 proves that the Pak army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) continue to patronize such terrorist organizations.

Notably, these three terrorists were granted pre-arrest bail with a bond of Pakistani Rs 50000/- each. PoK-based nationalists alleged that terrorists carried out the said attack at the instance of the army and ISI.

One of the said terrorists involved in open firing at the rally was released from an Afghan prison immediately after the Taliban takeover of Kabul - Waqar Sabir, r/o Tatrinote.

Prior to joining Afghan Taliban in their so-called jihad against the US, he had been active as a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander. During the war against the US, he had been arrested. He was one of those JeM terrorists, who had been released from the Afghan jails along with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists.

Following his release from the Afghan jail, Waqar Sabir arrived at Rawalakot on August 22, 2021. On arrival, he was accorded a grand welcome by JeM and other terrorist and Islamist organisations and brought to Tatrinote in a rally.

Moreover, Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Multiple terrorist attacks were witnessed on November 26, 2008, in Mumbai. As many as 166 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreign nationals, were killed and over 300 people were injured.

The country, in which sectarian groups targeting minority communities (Shias, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis) and Kashmir-focused groups confined their operations to J-K and the rest of India, has become a victim of its own holy war as a consequence of the 'unholy alliance' between the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, military and self-styled religious scholars.

This historic alliance has resulted in colossal rise of radical Islam being a factor in the country's proclivity to Islamic fundamentalism.

To sustain the Kashmir movement at minimal cost, the ISI plans to cause disaffection and alienation, play the Islam-in-danger card, highlight the non-performance of the elected government and atrocities allegedly committed by the security forces.

Moreover, a crisis in Kashmir constitutes an excellent outlet for the frustration at home, an instrument for the mobilisation of the masses, as well as gaining the support of the Islamist parties and primarily their loyalists in the military and the ISI.
Link



Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/rantburg/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More