26 February 2010
, The Washington Post, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "A Taliban commander wanted in the deadly 2006 bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi was killed in a suspected CIA missile strike in northwest Pakistan, officials said Thursday - the latest blow in a crackdown on militants in the region. Mohammed Qari Zafar was among at least 13 people killed Wednesday when three missiles slammed into...
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Lahore High Court Blocks Extradition
26 February 2010
Extradition of Taliban from Pakistan Blocked, CBS News, 26 February 2010
EXCERPT: "A provincial high court in Pakistan's Punjab province on Friday blocked the Pakistani government from extraditing recently-arrested Taliban leaders ? notably military chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (left) ? to the United States, Afghanistan, or any other country until the matter is heard further in court. The court's intervention (in response...
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16 Schools Blown Up in February
26 February 2010
, AFP via Yahoo! News, 26 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Taliban-linked militants have blown up a school in northwest Pakistan, bringing to 16 the number of such attacks this month, officials said Friday. 'Militants blew up 16 boys' and girls' schools in the tribal regions of Mohmand, Bajaur, Khyber and Dara Adamkhel during the current month,' provincial education minister,...
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An Analysis of US Drone Strikes, 2004-2010
26 February 2010
, New America Foundation via the Human Security Gateway, 24 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Our study shows that the 114 reported drone strikes in northwest Pakistan from 2004 to the present have killed between 830 and 1,210 individuals, of whom around 550 to 850 were described as militants in reliable press accounts, about two-thirds of the total on average. Thus, the...
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Al-Qaeda Threat Assessment
26 February 2010
[pdf], New America Foundation via the Human Security Gateway, February 2010
EXCERPT: "A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) in July 2007 assessed that al-Qaeda had 'protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including: a safehaven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), operational lieutenants, and its top leadership.' It was not as comfortable for the group...
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US Expands Arms Sales to Both India and Pakistan
26 February 2010
US Sells Arms to South Asian Rivals, The Wall Street Journal, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "The Obama administration is sharply expanding American weapons transfers to both India and Pakistan, longtime rivals about to sit down for peace talks Thursday. The U.S. has sought to remain neutral in the thorny relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbors. But Washington hasn't been shy about pursuing weapons deals in the region, which...
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Govt Agrees to Transfer Baradar to Afghanistan
25 February 2010
Pakistan Agrees To Hand Over Mullah Baradar, DAWN, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Pakistan has agreed to hand over to Afghanistan captured Afghan Taliban number two, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and other militants, the president's office said on Thursday. Three senior Taliban officials were captured in Pakistan this month, including Mullah Baradar - the highest profile Taliban leader to be held. 'The government of Pakistan...
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India-Pakistan Meeting a "First Step" in Rebuilding Confidence
25 February 2010
, The New York Times, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao of India described the meeting with her Pakistani counterpart, Salman Bashir, as a useful discussion, saying it would be premature to restart broader bilateral discussions but adding that the two sides had agreed to keep talking informally... In her comments, Ms. Rao said she restated Indian concerns...
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Rigi Arrest Hints at Easing Regional Tensions
25 February 2010
Rigi Arrest May Show Easing Afghan Regional Tension, AlertNet, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Iran's arrest of the leader of the Jundollah rebel group, possibly with help from Pakistan, is the latest sign of new cooperation among Afghan regional players positioning themselves for an eventual U.S. withdrawal. Islamabad's ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Abbasi said on Wednesday Pakistan had helped Iran capture Abdolmalek Rigi, leader...
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Govt to Alter Blasphemy Law
25 February 2010
Pakistan Intends To Alter Blasphemy Law, Reuters India, 25 February 2010
EXCERPT: "The Pakistani government plans to change its blasphemy law to check its misuse by extremist groups, officials said on Thursday. The law, which carries the death penalty for insulting Islam or its prophet, is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, which is more than 95 percent Muslim. Previous governments have failed to reform the law because of opposition...
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