ISLAMABAD, 01 Dec: The November 29 failed attempt by a suicide bomber to kill a prominent Taliban leader from South Waziristan, Mullah Nazir, , was either masterminded by the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Pakistan (TTP), or by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)—the two militant groups which employ human bombs and which have been at odds with him since long. Mullah Nazir is considered to be a “good Taliban” by the Pakistan security establishment but is regarded as a “bad Taliban” by the American security establishment.A teen-aged suicide bomber drove a motorcycle packed with explosives into Nazir’s car on Thursday as it was parked in the main bazaar in Wana, South Waziristan. Maulvi Nazir was out of the car and making a phone call when the deadly attack took place. Seven people were killed and 12 wounded in the suicide attack, which has not yet been claimed by any of the militant groups, with the TTP and the IMU being the prime suspects. The News.
WASHINGTON, 01 Dec: The Obama administration has warned Congress that some of the restrictions it has placed on Pakistan can jeopardise the US-led campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan. A policy statement issued on Friday by the Executive Office of the US President, warns the lawmakers that placing such limitations on reimbursement to the government of Pakistan was having a negative impact on bilateral relations. “The administration strongly objects to the certification requirements in section 1216,” says the statement. Some of “these certification requirements … require the Secretary of Defence to certify Pakistani cooperation on issues outside of his purview”. Dawn.
ISLAMABAD,01 Dec: Pakistan agreed on Friday to release more Afghan Taliban prisoners and facilitate contacts of militants based here with peace negotiators from Afghanistan. Islamabad conveyed its willingness to release more Afghan Taliban to Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, who was here on a day-long visit. Mr Rassoul’s agenda in Islamabad was quite extensive covering trade, aid, security and strategic partnership agreement, but cooperation for furthering the political process in Afghanistan dominated his talks with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. Dawn, The News.
ISLAMABAD, 01 Dec: Suitable legislation should be enacted to provide specific powers of arrest and detention to the army and law-enforcement agencies under special circumstances in order to curb anti-state activities. All detainees must be produced before a court of law in 30 days, and must be given the reason for their detention in writing within a week of their arrest. Compensation should be paid to victims of enforced disappearance, whenever they are located and brought to surface. Pakistan must sign and ratify the International Convention on Prevention of Enforced Disappearances of citizens. It will help establish the right to truth regarding the circumstances of the enforced disappearances, the progress and results of the investigation and the fact of the disappeared person. Dawn.
PESHAWAR, 01 Dec: Policemen remained unhurt when their van was hit by a roadside bomb on Inqilab Road in the suburbs of Peshawar on Friday. An official of Badbher police station said that the police party was on its routine patrol when the blast occurred at about 9am. He said that the police party was the actual target, but it escaped unhurt. An official of bomb disposal unit said that the improvised explosive device weighing about three kilogramme was packed in a canister and planted at a water pipeline on a roadside which went off as the police van reached the spot. “The van was damaged, but the policemen remained unhurt,” he said. Dawn, The News.
GHALANAI/LANDI KOTAL, 01 Dec: Two brothers were killed in a roadside explosion in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency on Friday. Assistant Political Agent of Ghalanai Jamshed Khan told reporters that miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device on Mamad Gat Road in Kuz Chamarkand area and that went off when a double-cabin vehicle hit it. He said Rehmat Khan and Rahimdad Khan, real brothers from Kuz Chamarkand area, were killed and Mohmand Rifles soldier Taj Hussain and child Mujahid injured in the blast. He said the blast was so powerful that it completely destroyed the vehicle.
In Landi Kotal tehsil of Khyber Agency, too, five levies personnel were injured in a roadside blast in the day. An official of the local administration said miscreants had planted two explosive devices on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway in Zakhakhel area. “One device exploded when a vehicle carrying khasadar official Abbas Ali and his subordinates passed by. They all escaped unhurt but their vehicle suffered damage,” he said. Dawn.
NOWSHERA, 01 Dec: A two kilogram explosive device planted by unknown miscreants in front of Behram Shopping Centre at Jehangira Road was defused on Friday. Police said watchman of the plaza informed the police after finding suspicious object lying in a plastic box in front of the market. The police cordoned off the area and called personnel of bomb disposal unit to neutralise the explosive device. Dawn.
NAWAF KHAN, SHARAFAT ALI CHAUDHARY
