Afghanistan – The New York Times reported on the 17 Jul 14 that with two high-profile attacks in the past three days (15, 16 and 17 Jul 14) the Haqqani militant network has gone back on the offensive. The officials said that after a relative lull in recent months during the Afghan presidential elections, the attacks carried all the signatures of the Haqqanis who are close allies of the main Afghan Taliban branch. The resource-rich terrorist group is largely based in Pakistan, but has focused on staging dramatic attacks on Afghan cities and against Afghan and international security forces. It is believed that the Taliban and its allies have taken over at least two former United States bases in the border area of Paktika Province, near Urgun. For the Taliban, Paktika, which shares a long border with Pakistan’s tribal areas, is a particular prize. With its remote, largely un-policed areas, the province provides the insurgents with staging areas and access to central Afghanistan with roads running into several adjoining provinces, and also links to a corridor that runs to Kabul. The attack in Kabul on the 17 Jul was the sort of thing the Haqqani network has been staging for several years, sending in small groups of suicide bombers to blast their way into government buildings or compounds and fight to the death, creating as much damage and publicity as possible. Officials say there has been an increased flow of militants into the Afghan side of the border regions in recent months. That is likely to continue as the Pakistani Army maintains its push into the militant stronghold of North Waziristan right on the other side. Reports from Waziristan say that many armed militant fighters left the region well ahead of the offensive, and are escaping the brunt of it. Afghan civilians and security officials who were interviewed are convinced that the Pakistani military, which has long maintained ties to Afghan-focused militants, is purposefully trying to spare the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani fighters as it advances, despite its promises to disrupt all militant groups in Waziristan.
A suicide bomber on a motorbike has killed at least four people in an attack on a police building in Kabul, Afghanistan it was reported on the 22 Jul 14. The camp is used by the ministry of interior's counter-narcotics department. Deputy interior minister, General Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, said the attacker targeted a compound that housed foreign advisers to the Afghan government as well as the office of the deputy minister for counter-narcotics. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which left at least six others wounded. Taliban spokesman, Zabihulllah Mujahid, said: "In this successful attack up to 15 invader soldiers were killed or wounded and many vehicles were damaged." The bomber was reportedly wearing an Afghan intelligence police uniform.
A bombing in an Afghanistan market has killed at least six people while two foreign women have been killed in a separate attack it was reported on the 24 Jul 14. Sonatullah Timor, spokesman for the Takhar provincial government, said the attack was aimed at a police car but that the police escaped unharmed and the bomb was placed on a motorcycle. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, but Taliban fighters frequently target the country's security forces. Also on Thursday, two foreign women were shot by unknown assailants while travelling in a taxi in the western Afghan city of Heart, the shooter was mounted on a motorcycle.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a NATO convoy in Kabul on the 10 Aug 14. The bomber detonated an explosives-packed vehicle on a main road as the NATO convoy passed by. A large crater was created. There were no reported NATO casualties in the bombing, as the military personnel were travelling in heavily armoured vehicles. Thirty-five civilians were injured. A NATO spokesman said in a statement: "We can confirm that an ISAF convoy was attacked by enemy forces in Kabul today. The Taliban have pledged to step up attacks against Afghan security forces in a bid to undermine the Western-backed government as foreign combat troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year but as yet the theatre of operations against the security forces has been quiet. US-led foreign troop numbers in Afghanistan have declined from a peak of 150,000 in 2012 to just 44,300 now.
China – Dozens of people had been killed or injured in violence in China's Xinjiang region on the 28 Jul 14, Chinese state media said. A knife-wielding gang attacked a police station and government offices in Shache County. Police shot dead many attackers and "dozens" of Uighur and Han Chinese civilians were killed or hurt. Confirming incidents is difficult, as information is tightly controlled. Activists said the violence erupted as Uighurs protested against a crackdown. Xinhua said that more than 30 police cars had been damaged or destroyed in the "terror attack", six of them burnt out. Quoting local police they said "dozens of Uighur and Han civilians were killed or injured". According to Xinhua, the gang began their attack in the township of Elixku before moving to another nearby settlement, attacking civilians and vehicles on the way. US-based activist group The Uyghur American Association, however, citing unidentified local sources, said that local Uighurs were protesting "against Chinese security forces' heavy-handed Ramadan crackdown... and extrajudicial use of lethal force in recent weeks in the county".
India/Kashmir/Pakistan – Stating that militants attempt to enter into Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh on the 26 Jul 14 claimed there are "150 to 200 militants" staged in various camps on the other side of the border in a bid to infiltrate into this side. The GoC said, "This is the time... During July, August and September -- before the onset of winter -- the militants try to infiltrate into our territory." The Army commander maintained that the militants keep moving up and down at the launching pads and the Army is maintaining tight vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil their bid. On a query regarding the involvement of Pakistani Army in these attacks, he said, "We cannot confirm or deny the involvement of the Pakistani Army, but we have a reason to believe that if they are serious, the Pakistani Army can also discourage them from coming across to our side."
Pakistan – The Lashkar-e-Tabia (LeT) poses a huge threat to India and its nexus with the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq is worrying, warn intelligence sources on the 26 Jul 14. Around 2,000 terrorists of Chechnya and Nigerian origin have joined the Islamic State (earlier known as the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq or Islamic State) to fight jihad in Iraq and Syria, according to a United Nations report. The report comes in the wake of nearly 800 Indians applying for an Iraq visa and insiders said that they intended to join the ISIS in their fight. The terrorists from Chechnya and Nigeria are trained at Lashkar-e-Tabia camps. This development is worrying considering the threat the Lashkar poses to India, said sources. Intelligence Bureau officials warned that the Lashkar-ISIS nexus is a worrying especially after the declaration of the ‘Islamic state’. “The ISIS is on the look out for Lashkar-trained fighters who are familiar with the region. In addition to this, the Lashkar is more than willing to train Indians who wish to fight alongside the ISIS. The terror group has always been looking for groups wishing to hit out against India,” said an IB officer. “The Lashkar over the years would like to take control over terrorist organisations outfits, especially in India. The intent would be to control attacks rather than take part in them.” “The ground work has already been laid with training camps set up by the Lashkar for the ISIS. Over the next couple of months they will begin finalising a strategy as well.” an agency source added.
Philippines – Gunmen have attacked two vehicles in the southern Philippines, killing at least 18 people it was reported on the 28 Jul 14. The military blamed Islamist militants of the Abu Sayyaf group for the attack. They reported that as many as 50 men armed with assault rifles opened fire on two vans in an ambush before dawn in the town of Talipao on the island of Jolo. Abu Sayyaf operates out of jungle hideouts on Jolo in its fight for an Islamic homeland.
Thailand – A car bomb killed at least two people and injured 36 outside a hotel in southern Thailand on the 25 Jul 14. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but parts of the south, in particular the three provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, are majority Muslim and resistance to central government rule has existed there for decades. Police said the bomb was left in a vehicle about 50 metres from a hotel in the town of Betong, which is popular with tourists from nearby Malaysia. At least one of the injured was Malaysian. It was thought to be the work of southern separatists, which often happens during Ramadan it was reported by the district police chief. Violence often spikes during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In 2013 the authorities said an increase in attacks was a reaction to peace talks that had started a few months before but were shunned by some rebel groups.
A suicide bomber on a motorbike has killed at least four people in an attack on a police building in Kabul, Afghanistan it was reported on the 22 Jul 14. The camp is used by the ministry of interior's counter-narcotics department. Deputy interior minister, General Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, said the attacker targeted a compound that housed foreign advisers to the Afghan government as well as the office of the deputy minister for counter-narcotics. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which left at least six others wounded. Taliban spokesman, Zabihulllah Mujahid, said: "In this successful attack up to 15 invader soldiers were killed or wounded and many vehicles were damaged." The bomber was reportedly wearing an Afghan intelligence police uniform.
A bombing in an Afghanistan market has killed at least six people while two foreign women have been killed in a separate attack it was reported on the 24 Jul 14. Sonatullah Timor, spokesman for the Takhar provincial government, said the attack was aimed at a police car but that the police escaped unharmed and the bomb was placed on a motorcycle. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, but Taliban fighters frequently target the country's security forces. Also on Thursday, two foreign women were shot by unknown assailants while travelling in a taxi in the western Afghan city of Heart, the shooter was mounted on a motorcycle.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a NATO convoy in Kabul on the 10 Aug 14. The bomber detonated an explosives-packed vehicle on a main road as the NATO convoy passed by. A large crater was created. There were no reported NATO casualties in the bombing, as the military personnel were travelling in heavily armoured vehicles. Thirty-five civilians were injured. A NATO spokesman said in a statement: "We can confirm that an ISAF convoy was attacked by enemy forces in Kabul today. The Taliban have pledged to step up attacks against Afghan security forces in a bid to undermine the Western-backed government as foreign combat troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year but as yet the theatre of operations against the security forces has been quiet. US-led foreign troop numbers in Afghanistan have declined from a peak of 150,000 in 2012 to just 44,300 now.
China – Dozens of people had been killed or injured in violence in China's Xinjiang region on the 28 Jul 14, Chinese state media said. A knife-wielding gang attacked a police station and government offices in Shache County. Police shot dead many attackers and "dozens" of Uighur and Han Chinese civilians were killed or hurt. Confirming incidents is difficult, as information is tightly controlled. Activists said the violence erupted as Uighurs protested against a crackdown. Xinhua said that more than 30 police cars had been damaged or destroyed in the "terror attack", six of them burnt out. Quoting local police they said "dozens of Uighur and Han civilians were killed or injured". According to Xinhua, the gang began their attack in the township of Elixku before moving to another nearby settlement, attacking civilians and vehicles on the way. US-based activist group The Uyghur American Association, however, citing unidentified local sources, said that local Uighurs were protesting "against Chinese security forces' heavy-handed Ramadan crackdown... and extrajudicial use of lethal force in recent weeks in the county".
India/Kashmir/Pakistan – Stating that militants attempt to enter into Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh on the 26 Jul 14 claimed there are "150 to 200 militants" staged in various camps on the other side of the border in a bid to infiltrate into this side. The GoC said, "This is the time... During July, August and September -- before the onset of winter -- the militants try to infiltrate into our territory." The Army commander maintained that the militants keep moving up and down at the launching pads and the Army is maintaining tight vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) to foil their bid. On a query regarding the involvement of Pakistani Army in these attacks, he said, "We cannot confirm or deny the involvement of the Pakistani Army, but we have a reason to believe that if they are serious, the Pakistani Army can also discourage them from coming across to our side."
Pakistan – The Lashkar-e-Tabia (LeT) poses a huge threat to India and its nexus with the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq is worrying, warn intelligence sources on the 26 Jul 14. Around 2,000 terrorists of Chechnya and Nigerian origin have joined the Islamic State (earlier known as the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq or Islamic State) to fight jihad in Iraq and Syria, according to a United Nations report. The report comes in the wake of nearly 800 Indians applying for an Iraq visa and insiders said that they intended to join the ISIS in their fight. The terrorists from Chechnya and Nigeria are trained at Lashkar-e-Tabia camps. This development is worrying considering the threat the Lashkar poses to India, said sources. Intelligence Bureau officials warned that the Lashkar-ISIS nexus is a worrying especially after the declaration of the ‘Islamic state’. “The ISIS is on the look out for Lashkar-trained fighters who are familiar with the region. In addition to this, the Lashkar is more than willing to train Indians who wish to fight alongside the ISIS. The terror group has always been looking for groups wishing to hit out against India,” said an IB officer. “The Lashkar over the years would like to take control over terrorist organisations outfits, especially in India. The intent would be to control attacks rather than take part in them.” “The ground work has already been laid with training camps set up by the Lashkar for the ISIS. Over the next couple of months they will begin finalising a strategy as well.” an agency source added.
Philippines – Gunmen have attacked two vehicles in the southern Philippines, killing at least 18 people it was reported on the 28 Jul 14. The military blamed Islamist militants of the Abu Sayyaf group for the attack. They reported that as many as 50 men armed with assault rifles opened fire on two vans in an ambush before dawn in the town of Talipao on the island of Jolo. Abu Sayyaf operates out of jungle hideouts on Jolo in its fight for an Islamic homeland.
Thailand – A car bomb killed at least two people and injured 36 outside a hotel in southern Thailand on the 25 Jul 14. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but parts of the south, in particular the three provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, are majority Muslim and resistance to central government rule has existed there for decades. Police said the bomb was left in a vehicle about 50 metres from a hotel in the town of Betong, which is popular with tourists from nearby Malaysia. At least one of the injured was Malaysian. It was thought to be the work of southern separatists, which often happens during Ramadan it was reported by the district police chief. Violence often spikes during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In 2013 the authorities said an increase in attacks was a reaction to peace talks that had started a few months before but were shunned by some rebel groups.
RSS Feed