At least three militants were killed and two others sustained injuries in a remote-controlled bomb blast at Mamozai area of Orakzai Agency here on Thursday. Meanwhile, another 18 militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Bajaur. According to details, a group of militants were allegedly on way to unknown place, when they reached near Adokhel Mosque, an already planted bomb suddenly exploded with a big bang. Resultantly, three militants who were identified as Amir Sher, Sikandar and Kazim were killed in the explosion, while two their other companions- Ismail and Bazid sustained injuries. They are stated to be in critical condition. Soon after blast, militants reportedly cordoned off the area and did not allow anybody to enter the locality. The Nation, Daily Mashriq, Daily Aaj, The News.
Eighteen more militants including two commanders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed on the seventh day of the ongoing clashes in the border areas of Bajaur Agency, official sources claimed on Thursday. They identified the TTP commanders killed in the fighting as Khatir and Turabi. Official sources said the clashes continued in the Salarzai area of Pakistani militants have been carrying out attacks from Afghanistan’s Kunar province into Pakistan’s border areas and recent skirmishes have led to fierce fighting between the militants and Pakistani security forces since August 25. The News, Dawn, Daily Times, Daily Aaj.
The Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Commissioner Tariq Jamil did not hear the appeal of Dr Shakeel Afridi against his 33 year conviction due to a visit to flood-affected areas of the Nowshera district. The doctor has been convicted for allegedly helping the CIA track down al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden that led to his killing in an operation carried by the US forces. On July, 19 the FCR commissioner accepted for formal arguments in the appeal and fixed August 30 for the next hearing. On Thursday, when the lawyers’ panel including Samiullah Afridi, Qamar Nadeem Afridi and Raza Khan appeared in the court of the Frontier Crimes Regulation commissioner, he was not available for hearing the case. The News, Dawn, Daily Jang.
The United States and Pakistan are not planning a joint military operation in tribal areas as Islamabad will not allow foreign troops on its soil, officials familiar with talks between the two countries on this issue say. According to the officials, the two sides have discussed various options for combating terrorism in the tribal areas and Pakistan has assured the Americans that it too views the militants as enemies of the state and is already engaged in fighting them. Pakistan also expressed its desire to conduct a military operation against the militants, particularly those hiding in Waziristan, but told the Americans it would itself decide “when and how to conduct that operation”. Dawn.
Fata Development Authority (FDA) identified 25 potential sites for development of land and water resources in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribesmen, says a press release on Thursday. It said that FDA carried out a comprehensive study for the development of land and water resources. The Frontier Post.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has directed to further strengthen and streamline the Women Skill Development Programme in FATA with special focus on value addition, quality and making the products attractive from demand and marketing point of views. Presiding over a presentation on working and achievements of the programme at Governor’s House, Peshawar on Thursday, the Governor further desired that not only the best instructors having impressive training background from reputed educational institutions of the country should be hired in future but the existing trainers should also be provided opportunities to refresh and up-date their knowledge as well. The Frontier Post, The News.
The Commander, ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), General John Allen’s visit to Pakistan has been postponed, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Thursday. General Allen was expected to meet Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on August 30. Both the commanders were to discuss border coordination measures regarding security scenario at Pak-Afghan border. Fresh date of his visit would be announced later, ISPR said in a statement. It is pertinent to note here that Gen Allen was scheduled to visit Pakistan on Thursday; however, his tour has been cancelled owing to some unavoidable reasons. The Nation, Daily Mashriq.
Elders of seven clans of the Orakzai tribes on Thursday set a one month deadline to the government for repatriation of the tribes people displaced from Orakzai Agency, sources said. Over 500 elders of the Sheikhan, Mishti, Akhel, Rabiakhel, Alikhel, Mulakhel and Bulandkhel held a meeting with the Political Agent Khushal Khan at his office in Babar Mela in Hangu. The tribal elders who did not want their names published said that miscreants had looted the houses. The elders told the political administration official that they had been living as Internally Displaced Persons for the last three years and their properties had been destroyed in their native areas. The News.
The Jamaat-e-Islami vice president Sirajul Haq has asked the government to start financial assistance programme for the tribesmen. Speaking at the distribution of the relief packages among the displaced persons at Jalozai Camp, he said the government should allocate fund for launching financial assistance programme for the tribal people.“The government should provide Rs15,000 per person to all the displaced persons,” he said, adding on the one hand the tribal people were being killed while on the other hand they were being humiliated at the camps.The News.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Khyber Pakhtun-khwa chapter, has feared dire consequences of a possible military operation in North Waziristan and announced protest on September 6 in Nowshera district to force the government to withdraw the decision. JI Nowshera chief Mirajud Din Khan said the tribal region was already in a state of war and the proposed operation in North Waziristan would aggravate the country’s law and order situation further. The News, Daily Times.
The tribal elders have urged the government to negotiate a truce with Taliban, fighting against security forces in the border areas of Bajaur Agency, and provide food and shelter to the people affected by the clashes. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl general secretary in Bajaur Agency Abdul Rashid said that violence escalated in the region after clashes broke out between security forces and Taliban near Afghan border in Salarazai area. Flanked by JUI-F activists and tribal elders, he said that Taliban had attacked security check posts on August 24 to which forces retaliated and exchanged fire with the attackers. Dawn, Daily Aaj.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack at a private clinic in the garrison city and warned more attacks if the retired general’s son will not pay them the amount they demanded, Dawn has learnt. One of the investigators of the incident linked the incident to the terror threat received by Dr Hamid Hassan a few days ago and said: “A fresh telephone call made by the terror group was received by the doctor on Thursday morning who warned him of more such attacks if their demand was not met.” Dawn.
SIRAJ UD DIN, NAWAF KHAN
