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Terrorism (Pakistan and Afghanistan)

Suicide bomber kills eight soldiers (Daily Times, November 3, 2008) DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A suicide car bomber rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint in South Waziristan on Sunday, killing eight paramilitary troops. The deadly blast occurred near the main gate of the Zalai Fort as Frontier Corps troops gathered nearby, said Maj Gen Athar Abbas, the army’s top spokesman. The attack was condemned by the PM and the president of Pakistan.

Suicide attacks un-Islamic, declares Jamiat Mashaikh Ahle Sunnat moot (Daily Times, November 3, 2008) LARKANA: The participants of Jamiat Mashaikh Ahle Sunnat Conference have declared suicide attacks ‘un-Islamic’. Custodians of more than 100 shrines across the country attended the conference on Sunday in Mashoori Sharif, 13 kilometres from Larkana. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\03\story_3-11-2008_pg7_2 Taliban occupy four schools in Mohmand (Daily Times, November 3, 2008) GHALANAI: Taliban occupied four schools in Mohmand Agency’s Safi tehsil on Sunday, and forced residents of a village to evacuate their houses.

Taliban killed, 4 cops abducted in Swat (Daily Times, November 3, 2008) MINGORA/ KHAR: The security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, killed 13 Taliban and injured nine in clashes in various areas of Swat valley, a security official said on Sunday. Three missiles were fired in Angoor Adda from Afghanistan, however, no loss of life was reported. staff report/daily times monitor/agencies

War on terror high on agenda as Petraeus arrives in Pakistan (Daily Times, November 3, 2008) US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General David Petraeus, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, arrived here on Sunday night on his first foreign tour after assuming CENTCOM command. Sources said that co-operation in the war on terror would be high on the agenda during the US general’s meetings with Pakistani leaders, adding the two sides would also discuss better intelligence sharing.

Petraeus Visits Key Anti-Terrorism Ally (The Washington Post, November 3, 2008) Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, newly tasked with responsibility for two wars, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday as part of his first international trip as head of the U.S. Central Command. The trip signals Pakistan's crucial role in the fight against terrorism, but it comes as tension simmers in the country over suspected U.S. missile strikes.

Pakistan, U.S. To Discuss Anti-Terrorism Fight With Visit Of Gen. Petraeus (AHN, November 3, 3008) New chief of the U.S. Central Command Gen. David Petraeus makes his first visit to Pakistan after assuming his new role taking charge of the U.S. military operations throughout the Middle East and much of Asia, highlighting Pakistan's key role in the fight against global terrorism. Petraeus' trip comes amid thawing relations between Islamabad and Washington over U.S. missile strikes on suspected militants in northwest Pakistan that has reportedly killed several civilians. Since assuming chief of the U.S. Central Command, Petraeus is in charge of America's two wars against terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan Reaffirms Anti-Terrorism Campaign After Bomber Kills 8 (AP, November 3, 2008) By Michael Heath (Bloomberg) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed his country's resolve to defeat terrorists after a suicide bomber killed eight soldiers near the Afghan bomber. The bomber rammed his explosives-laden truck into a check post at about 9:30 a.m. local time yesterday, APP said. Five soldiers were also injured in the attack that occurred 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal region that is the base for Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

Taliban killed in Bajaur strikes (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) KHAR/MIRANSHAH: Eighteen Taliban were killed in the security forces’ operation in Bajaur Agency on Monday. In Khar, the agency headquarters, a grand jirga of tribal elders decided to take strict action against those found involved in anti-state activities. A suspected US drone was seen flying at low altitude over several areas of North Waziristan Agency, spreading panic among the people. The elders said if the attacks were not stopped, the tribesmen would join the Taliban to fight against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Afghan govt adviser abducted (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) CHITRAL: Unidentified gunmen kidnapped an Afghan government adviser from a village in Chitral, police said on Monday, Reuters reported. Akhtar Kohistani, an adviser at the Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, was abducted in Seerdoor Kadak, Chitral. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\04\story_4-11-2008_pg7_2

Rocket lands at Peshawar airport (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) PESHAWAR: A rocket fired by unidentified persons landed in a grove of trees in Peshawar Airport premises in the limits of Tehkal Police Station late on Sunday. There were no reports of causalities or damage, police said.

Kanju jirga proposes peace formula (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) By Saleem Athar MINGORA: In an effort to restore peace in the area, a jirga in Kanju on Monday presented a four-point formula to the Swat Taliban. Kanju Aman (peace) Jirga, led by Syed Inamur Rehman, met the Swat Taliban, including Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan to present the peace formula.

French aid worker kidnapped in Kabul, Afghan killed (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) KABUL: Gunmen abducted a French aid worker in the Afghan capital on Monday and shot dead an Afghan man who tried to rescue him, the Afghan government said. The abducted man, identified by his Paris-based organisation as 32-year-old Dany Egreteau, was an educationist who arrived in Afghanistan a week ago.

Haqqani urges US, Afghanistan to work against terrorism (Daily Times, November 4, 2008) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US) Hussain Haqqani on Monday urged the US and Afghanistan to work together with Pakistan in the country’s bid to exterminate terrorism completely from the region. Talking to CNN, he said the terrorists would be in great trouble if the militaries and intelligence services of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US work in cohesion against them.

ATC adjourns cases as lawyers boycott courts (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) RAWALPINDI: The Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) No II on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of former premier Shaukat Aziz attack case till November 11, as lawyers did not appear before the court due to boycott. Judge Sakhi Muhammad Kahoot was trying Maulvi Imtiaz and Muhammad Usman for their alleged involvement in a suicide attack targeting former premier Shaukat Aziz, who escaped the attack. Seven people were killed and 70 injured in the attack.

Killed in Hangu suicide attack (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) ISLAMABAD: At least seven persons, including three security officials, were killed and six injured in a suicide attack on a security force checkpost in Hangu district on Tuesday morning, APP reported. Police officials said that the suicide bomber’s head has been recovered and the bomber was aged between 20 and 22 years.

Two policemen killed in Mardan (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen attacked a police vehicle in Mardan district on Tuesday, killing two policemen and injuring two others, officials said. The incident occurred in Lundh Khur town of Mardan, local police officer Iqbal Khan said. “Gunmen opened fire on a police van during a routine patrol and shot dead two police officials,” Khan told AFP. agencies

Next US leader must stop attacks: Gilani (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) ISLAMABAD: The next US president must halt missile strikes on suspected Taliban targets in northwest Pakistan or risk failure in efforts against terrrorism, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani warned on Tuesday. Gilani looked frustrated at times as he said the attacks were “uniting the militants with the tribes”.

Armed men kidnap 15 children in Swat (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) MINGORA: Unidentified armed men abducted 15 schoolchildren in Matta tehsil of Swat on Tuesday, security officials said. Major Gen Nasir Janjua, in charge of the Swat military operation, told reporters in Mingora that the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties and the valley would soon be cleared of the Taliban.

Five Taliban killed in Bajaur (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) KHAR: Five Taliban were killed and several injured in artillery fire and bombing by jet planes on suspected Taliban hideouts in Bajaur Agency, official sources said on Tuesday. Jet fighters targeted Taliban positions in Dama Dola area of Mamoond tehsil.

NWFP issues list of foreign Imams (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) RISALPUR: Following a new strategy to tackle extremism, the NWFP government has prepared a list of 1,400 foreign imams (prayer leaders) serving in different mosques across the province. The lists were prepared jointly by the district security bureaus and peace committees on the directive of the federal government.

Two more rockets fired at Peshawar Airport (Daily Times, November 5, 2008) PESHAWAR: Unidentified men fired two rockets at the Peshawar International Airport from an unidentified location early Tuesday, police said.

Taliban killed in Bajaur (Daily Times, November 6, 2008) PESHAWAR: Eleven Taliban were killed in bombing by jet fighters and artillery shelling in different areas of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday. Official sources told Daily Times the security forces targeted Gat Agra, Damadola and Janzai areas of Mamoond tehsil. The sources said several Taliban hideouts were destroyed. The sources said fresh troops had arrived in Khar, the agency headquarters. The locals extended warm welcome to the troops. Meanwhile, the tribal lashkar in Mamoond and Salarzai tehsils continued its operation against the Taliban. hasbanullah

Situation in FATA threatens Pakistan’s existence’ (Daily Times, November 6, 2008) By Sajjad Malik ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is fighting the war on terror because it faces an existential threat from the situation in the Tribal Areas, US Central Command chief General David Petraeus said. This is not our war that Pakistan is waging. This is their war and it is a result of extremists carrying out acts of truly indiscriminate violence,” Gen Petraeus said.

Terror war Pakistan’s fight: Petraeus (The News, November 6, 2008) ISLAMABAD: The US Centcom chief General David Petraeus has said that, during his discussions with Pakistani officials about the nature of threat to Pakistan in the war against terror, he sees this as not America’s but actually Pakistan’s war.

US air strike kills 36 wedding guests in Afghanistan (The News, November 6, 2008) WOCHA BAKHTA: Weeping Afghan villagers said on Wednesday that a wedding party was turned into a bloodbath after foreign troops unleashed a massive attack killing 36 people, thinking they were targeting insurgents. President Hamid Karzai alluded to the civilian casualties in a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday, giving no details. But he called on new US president-elect Barack Obama to stop his troops harming ordinary people as they pursue the ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan.

Swat militants release 12 schoolchildren (The News, November 6, 2008) MINGORA/PESHAWAR: The Maulana Fazlullah-led insurgents on Wednesday released seven schoolchildren kidnapped on Tuesday, while four persons, including two militants, were killed in fresh incidents of violence in restive Swat Valley. The militants had picked up 12 students of a school from Arkot Nazarabad area of Matta Tehsil, but five of them were released soon after their abduction. Talking to The News from an undisclosed location, Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the militants, admitted to have kidnapped the schoolchildren but said they had been released now. He insisted that they were not children but grown up persons who were spying for security forces and were taking goods for them.The militants agreed to free the captives on the request of a local Jirga.

11 more die in Bajaur air strikes (The News, November 6, 2008) KHAR: Eleven insurgents were killed when gunship helicopters and warplanes pounded their suspected hideouts in Mamond Tehsil, Bajaur Agency, on Wednesday. Also, Lashkars of the Mamond and Salarzai tribes launched an offensive against militants and their harbourers. Sources said the militants had gone into hiding and the tribal Lashkars faced no resistance in any area.

Mohmand militants kill one of seven captives (The News, November 6, 2008) GHALLANAI: The militants on Wednesday killed one of the seven persons who were kidnapped from Kandharo area of Lakaro Tehsil of Mohmand Agency some five days back.

Rockets hit airport, power line bombed in NW Pakistan (AFP, November 6, 2008) PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — Suspected Taliban militants fired rockets at the airport and blew up the main electricity transmission line in northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials said Thursday. A rocket hit the runway of Peshawar airport and two others exploded in the surrounding area at about 1:00 am (2000 GMT Wednesday) damaging the runway slightly, police official Dost Mohammad told AFP. This is the third time this week that rockets fired by suspected Taliban militants have hit the airport, which also houses the main airforce base. Mohammad said nobody had claimed responsibility for the attack, but the police suspected the involvement of Taliban militants and were investigating the incidents. Separately, suspected militants blew up an electricity pylon carrying a main power line supplying electricity to Peshawar and other northwestern towns, local power company spokesman Shaukat Afzal told AFP.

One dead in landmine blast (The News, November 6, 2008) PARACHINAR: A tribesman was killed and another got critically injured when their tractor hit a roadside landmine at Taida village in Upper Kurram Agency, an official of the political administration said on Wednesday. There was a huge explosion after Haji Muhammad Khan and Jamil Khan’s tractor ran over an un-diffused landmine. Haji Muhammad Khan died instantly while Jamil Khan sustained critical wounds and was shifted to hospital.