Afghanistan – A suicide bomber has killed at least eight military officers in an attack on an Air Force bus in the Afghan capital Kabul it was reported on the 2 Jul 14. Another 13 people, including civilians, were injured in the attack near Kabul University in the west of the city. The bomber detonated explosives after approaching the bus on foot. Although the year 2014 is half way through there is not the reports of serious incidents you would expect considering the NATO withdrawal which comes at the end of the year. It is more than possible that many more incidents are ongoing in the country but the lack of reporting in open source material makes it difficult to assess.
On the 9 Jul 14 in Kandahar City, eight militants, including suicide bombers, attacked the governor's house and a police station. The explosion and fire fight resulted in 30 people killed, including the militants. According to Afghan press, about 300 Taliban fighters conducted an offensive in north-eastern Ghor Province and seized the district headquarters of Chahar Sada district. Local officials, including the provincial government confirmed the clashes. Ghor is in the mountainous region west of Kabul, at the western end of the Hindu Kush. The local security force consisted of ten policemen, according to a Taliban statement. The number of fighters reported is twice to three times higher than the estimate of Taliban who operate in Ghor. There are several explanations for the increase, but none of them are good for the security of Ghor Province. This is the second district that the Taliban successfully seized. Last month (Jun 14) a Taliban force of similar numbers seized Sangin District in Helmand Province. The timing of the attacks and other recent bombings supports a hypothesis that the Taliban are taking advantage of the political confusion and paralysis in Kabul. If so, expect more attacks on district centres and more sensational bombings.
An explosion took place in capital Kabul early on the 10 Jul 14 morning leaving at least one person dead. The incident has took place in Karte Parwan area of Kabul city after a magnetic bomb planted in a police vehicle went off. A security official confirmed that a policeman was killed and another one was injured following the blast. Earlier reports suggested at least one person was injured in the explosion. No group including the Taliban militants at the time of consolidating this report had so far claimed responsibility behind the incident. 361 COMMENT: The magnetic bomb or what may also be a limpet bomb was used in Iraq when targeting westerners by beggars. The beggars were paid to identify foreigners in areas that would have built up traffic. If they knocked on a window the opposition would then attempt to follow and get close enough to attach a magnetic/limpet bomb on the vehicle. COMMENT ENDS
India – New Delhi police reported on 5 Jul 14 that unidentified men had fired shots outside a house in the upscale neighbourhood of Vasant Vihar. The house was reportedly occupied by members of the Israeli embassy. No casualties were reported, and although no militant group had claimed responsibility for the incident, it is highly likely that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the killing of a Palestinian youth in Israel last week. Israeli and Jewish assets have been targeted in India in the past, most notably in Feb 12, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), attached to a vehicle belonging to the Israeli embassy, exploded in New Delhi; and in Nov 08, when Islamist militants targeted the Chabad House, a Jewish cultural centre, during the Mumbai attacks. There will be an increased risk of Israeli citizens being attacked in India over the next couple of months. India is a vulnerable location as large numbers of Israelis visit the country for business or tourism, and there are several active Indian domestic Islamist militant groups with the capability to mount attacks. At greatest risk will be major cities such Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai, and New Delhi, due to the presence of large numbers of tourists.
Myanmar – Two people have been killed during clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar's second-largest city of Mandalay it was reported on the 3 Jul 14. Police imposed an overnight curfew on the 3 Jul after angry mobs rampaged through Mandalay for a second straight night leaving a Muslim and a Budhist man dead. A witness who lives in the mostly Muslim neighbourhood said a Buddhist mob had gathered late on the 1 Jul 14 after rumours spread that the Muslim owner of a tea shop had raped a Buddhist woman. No evidence of such an attack was immediately available. In a radio address on the 3 Jul President Thein Sein raised the country's need for stability as it transitions to democracy from a half-century of military rule, but did not mention Mandalay specifically. Myanmar has been wracked by violence between the two communities since Jun 12. More than 200 people have been killed and at least 140,000 displaced. Most of the victims have been Muslim.
Pakistan – Three militant improvised explosive device (IED) factories were destroyed during an army offensive in an unspecified area of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the 2 Jul 14. A large quantity of explosives, anti-tank mines, rockets, and a suicide bomber training facility were also destroyed during the operations.
A special "Kasab class" is part of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)'s training module for its new recruits during which they are told about the mistakes committed by Ajmal Kasab during the deadly Mumbai terror attack. This detail reportedly emerged during the interrogation of LeT terrorist Mohd Naveed Jutt alias Abu Hanzala, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, who was arrested by police in the third week of last month in South Kashmir, according to official sources. Jutt is the first Lashkar terrorist who has said during interrogation that he had met Kasab, the Pakistan terrorist hanged in Nov 13 after being sentenced to death for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attack. Accused of killing many policemen in South Kashmir, Jutt is reported to have said that he was part of the Borevalla Sahiwala camp of LeT in Multan district of Punjab where he had met Kasab, whose father was a butcher at the same madrassa (religious school). Jutt is reported to have told his interrogators that the LeT bosses gave a video presentation to the new recruits in which there is graphic description of his mistakes during "Daura-e-Sufa" (training cadre for religious indoctrination) at Maksar Aksar Camp in 2009, the sources said. Among the mistakes which were pointed out by LeT in its presentation was the inability of Kasab and his team to destroy the boat that carried them to the Mumbai coast, speaking on satellite phones with real identities, inability to take any hostages and getting arrested, the sources said. A Class V dropout, Jutt had entered Kashmir through Keran in North Kashmir in Oct 12. He shifted to South Kashmir after spending the winter of 2013 in the Dachigam forest along with 21 terrorists of LeT. He claimed he was tasked with carrying out sensational killing of policemen and central para-military forces, the sources said, adding that he was allegedly involved in the killing of one police officer at Pulwama in May 13. He is also alleged to have been involved in an attack on army camp in Jun 13 and in attacks on police patrol parties in Tral, Shopian, Kulgam -- all in South Kashmir. The accused had also planned the assassination of ruling National Conference MLC from Wachi, Showkat Ganaie, in South Kashmir but the plan had to be aborted because of heavy police presence, the sources said.
(Source http://firstpost.com/india/let-has-special-kasab-class-for-new-recruits-says-arrested-terrorist-1605541.html?page=2)
361 COMMENT: For anyone who does not believe that terrorists debrief or look to ensure future attacks do not conduct the same mistakes this is a clear indication that they take their operations seriously. COMMENT ENDS
On the 9 Jul 14 in Kandahar City, eight militants, including suicide bombers, attacked the governor's house and a police station. The explosion and fire fight resulted in 30 people killed, including the militants. According to Afghan press, about 300 Taliban fighters conducted an offensive in north-eastern Ghor Province and seized the district headquarters of Chahar Sada district. Local officials, including the provincial government confirmed the clashes. Ghor is in the mountainous region west of Kabul, at the western end of the Hindu Kush. The local security force consisted of ten policemen, according to a Taliban statement. The number of fighters reported is twice to three times higher than the estimate of Taliban who operate in Ghor. There are several explanations for the increase, but none of them are good for the security of Ghor Province. This is the second district that the Taliban successfully seized. Last month (Jun 14) a Taliban force of similar numbers seized Sangin District in Helmand Province. The timing of the attacks and other recent bombings supports a hypothesis that the Taliban are taking advantage of the political confusion and paralysis in Kabul. If so, expect more attacks on district centres and more sensational bombings.
An explosion took place in capital Kabul early on the 10 Jul 14 morning leaving at least one person dead. The incident has took place in Karte Parwan area of Kabul city after a magnetic bomb planted in a police vehicle went off. A security official confirmed that a policeman was killed and another one was injured following the blast. Earlier reports suggested at least one person was injured in the explosion. No group including the Taliban militants at the time of consolidating this report had so far claimed responsibility behind the incident. 361 COMMENT: The magnetic bomb or what may also be a limpet bomb was used in Iraq when targeting westerners by beggars. The beggars were paid to identify foreigners in areas that would have built up traffic. If they knocked on a window the opposition would then attempt to follow and get close enough to attach a magnetic/limpet bomb on the vehicle. COMMENT ENDS
India – New Delhi police reported on 5 Jul 14 that unidentified men had fired shots outside a house in the upscale neighbourhood of Vasant Vihar. The house was reportedly occupied by members of the Israeli embassy. No casualties were reported, and although no militant group had claimed responsibility for the incident, it is highly likely that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the killing of a Palestinian youth in Israel last week. Israeli and Jewish assets have been targeted in India in the past, most notably in Feb 12, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), attached to a vehicle belonging to the Israeli embassy, exploded in New Delhi; and in Nov 08, when Islamist militants targeted the Chabad House, a Jewish cultural centre, during the Mumbai attacks. There will be an increased risk of Israeli citizens being attacked in India over the next couple of months. India is a vulnerable location as large numbers of Israelis visit the country for business or tourism, and there are several active Indian domestic Islamist militant groups with the capability to mount attacks. At greatest risk will be major cities such Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai, and New Delhi, due to the presence of large numbers of tourists.
Myanmar – Two people have been killed during clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar's second-largest city of Mandalay it was reported on the 3 Jul 14. Police imposed an overnight curfew on the 3 Jul after angry mobs rampaged through Mandalay for a second straight night leaving a Muslim and a Budhist man dead. A witness who lives in the mostly Muslim neighbourhood said a Buddhist mob had gathered late on the 1 Jul 14 after rumours spread that the Muslim owner of a tea shop had raped a Buddhist woman. No evidence of such an attack was immediately available. In a radio address on the 3 Jul President Thein Sein raised the country's need for stability as it transitions to democracy from a half-century of military rule, but did not mention Mandalay specifically. Myanmar has been wracked by violence between the two communities since Jun 12. More than 200 people have been killed and at least 140,000 displaced. Most of the victims have been Muslim.
Pakistan – Three militant improvised explosive device (IED) factories were destroyed during an army offensive in an unspecified area of North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the 2 Jul 14. A large quantity of explosives, anti-tank mines, rockets, and a suicide bomber training facility were also destroyed during the operations.
A special "Kasab class" is part of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)'s training module for its new recruits during which they are told about the mistakes committed by Ajmal Kasab during the deadly Mumbai terror attack. This detail reportedly emerged during the interrogation of LeT terrorist Mohd Naveed Jutt alias Abu Hanzala, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, who was arrested by police in the third week of last month in South Kashmir, according to official sources. Jutt is the first Lashkar terrorist who has said during interrogation that he had met Kasab, the Pakistan terrorist hanged in Nov 13 after being sentenced to death for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attack. Accused of killing many policemen in South Kashmir, Jutt is reported to have said that he was part of the Borevalla Sahiwala camp of LeT in Multan district of Punjab where he had met Kasab, whose father was a butcher at the same madrassa (religious school). Jutt is reported to have told his interrogators that the LeT bosses gave a video presentation to the new recruits in which there is graphic description of his mistakes during "Daura-e-Sufa" (training cadre for religious indoctrination) at Maksar Aksar Camp in 2009, the sources said. Among the mistakes which were pointed out by LeT in its presentation was the inability of Kasab and his team to destroy the boat that carried them to the Mumbai coast, speaking on satellite phones with real identities, inability to take any hostages and getting arrested, the sources said. A Class V dropout, Jutt had entered Kashmir through Keran in North Kashmir in Oct 12. He shifted to South Kashmir after spending the winter of 2013 in the Dachigam forest along with 21 terrorists of LeT. He claimed he was tasked with carrying out sensational killing of policemen and central para-military forces, the sources said, adding that he was allegedly involved in the killing of one police officer at Pulwama in May 13. He is also alleged to have been involved in an attack on army camp in Jun 13 and in attacks on police patrol parties in Tral, Shopian, Kulgam -- all in South Kashmir. The accused had also planned the assassination of ruling National Conference MLC from Wachi, Showkat Ganaie, in South Kashmir but the plan had to be aborted because of heavy police presence, the sources said.
(Source http://firstpost.com/india/let-has-special-kasab-class-for-new-recruits-says-arrested-terrorist-1605541.html?page=2)
361 COMMENT: For anyone who does not believe that terrorists debrief or look to ensure future attacks do not conduct the same mistakes this is a clear indication that they take their operations seriously. COMMENT ENDS
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