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SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 15, No. 27, January 2, 2017

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT

BANGLADESH
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Unrelenting Response
S. Binodkumar Singh
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On December 24, 2016, two Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists were killed during an operation, codenamed ‘Ripple 24’ at Ashkona in the Dakhkhin Khan area of the capital city, Dhaka. Two women, Jebunnahar Shila, wife of ex-army Major Zahid who was killed in a 'gunfight' with law enforcers at Roopnagar in the capital on September 2, 2016; and Trishna, wife of absconding JMB leader Musa, along with two children, surrendered to Police.

On October 8, 2016, a Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit killed seven JMB terrorists who were staying in a two-storey house in the Patartek area in Gazipur District. Police recovered three small arms and locally-made sharp weapons from the site.

On August 27, 2016, three terrorists including Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of Gulshan attack and his two close aides were killed in a Police raid in JMB den in Paikpara area under Narayanganj District. Police recovered an AK-22 rifle, one pistol, several magazines and four live grenades from the area.

On July 26, 2016, nine JMB terrorists were killed during a special drive of the joint forces in Dhaka city's Kalyanpur area. The joint force recovered 13 locally made grenades, around five kilograms of gelatin, 19 detonators, four 7.62mm pistols, seven magazines of 7.62mm pistols, 22 bullets, three commando knives, 12 guerrilla knives and two black flags with Arabic letters.

On July 2, 2016, 28 persons including 20 civilians, six terrorists and two Police officers were killed in a hostage crisis at Holey Artisan Bakery, a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic zone. A pistol used by the terrorists, a folded butt AK 22 rifle, IEDs, a walkie-talkie set and a large number of locally made sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.

The Awami League (AL)-led Government, which came to power on January 6, 2009, has consolidated its secular commitments through 2016, reining in Islamist extremist groups and targeting the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) movement in the country.  According to partial data collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 74 Islamist terrorists were killed and another 1,227 arrested across Bangladesh in different raids in 2016. Prominent among those killed were the ‘national operations commander’ of JMB Abdullah aka Noman (35); ‘Dhaka regional commander’ of JMB Kamal aka Hiran (30); ‘military and IT trainer’ of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) Shariful aka Arif; Neo-JMB leader and mastermind of Gulshan attack Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury aka Shaykh Abu Ibrahim Al Hanif aka Amir (30); JMB ‘military commander’ for the northern region Khaled Hasan aka Badar Mama (30); Neo-JMB ‘military commander’ Murad aka Jahangir Alam aka Omar; and JMB ‘regional commander’ Tulu Mollah (33). By comparison, 31 Islamist terrorists were killed in 2015 and 22 in 2014.

18 LWE-linked fatalities were recorded, all of terrorists, in 2016. These included four Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) ‘regional leaders’ Anwar Hossain (40), Al Amin Hossain (35), Asadul Islam Fakir (39) and Mozaffar Sana (40); one Gano Bahini ‘regional leader’ Amirul Islam; nine PBCP cadres; three Gono Mukti Fauj (GMF, ‘People’s Freedom Army’) cadres; and one Biplobi Communist Party (BCP) cadre. Similarly, there were 17 LWE fatalities, all of terrorists, in 2015; and 16, all of terrorists, in 2014. Meanwhile, a total of 14 LW extremists including BCP ‘regional leader’ Badsha Mallik (45), eight PBCP cadres, four BCP cadres and one Sarbohara Party cadre were arrested through 2016. There were 10 such arrests in 2015 and 20 in 2014.

The War Crimes (WC) Trials, which began on March 25, 2010, have thus far indicted 74 leaders, including 44 from Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI); 12 from the Muslim League (ML); five from Nezam-e-Islami (NeI); four from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); two each from the Jatiya Party (JP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); four former Razakar members; and one former Al-Badr member. Verdicts have been delivered against 51 accused, including 29 death penalties and 22 life sentences. So far, six of the 29 people who were awarded the death sentence have been hanged. On September 3, 2016, JeI central executive member Mir Quasem Ali (63) was hanged at Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur District; on May 11, 2016, JeI Ameer (Chief) Motiur Rahman Nizami (75) was executed at Dhaka Central Jail; on November 22, 2015, JeI Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed (67) and BNP Standing Committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury (66) were hanged simultaneously at Dhaka Central Jail; on April 11, 2015, JeI Senior Assistant Secretary General Mohammed Kamaruzzaman (63) was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail; and on December 12, 2013, JeI Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah (65), who earned the nickname ‘Mirpurer Koshai (Butcher of Mirpur)’ was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail. 12 others are absconding and another 11 cases are currently pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, out of 22 persons who were awarded life sentences, four persons have already died serving their sentence – former JeI Ameer Ghulam Azam (91), who died on October 23, 2014; former BNP minister Abdul Alim (83), who died on August 30, 2014; former JeI National Assembly member S.M. Yousuf Ali (83), who died on November 17, 2016; and former JeI member Gazi Abdul Mannan (88), who died on December 19, 2016. 11 others are absconding and another seven are lodged in various jails of the country.

Significantly, on September 29, 2016, Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution to confiscate all movable and immovable assets of the convicted killers of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other war criminals. Further, on December 11, 2016, the Minister of Law Anisul Huq announced that the Government was drafting a law to impound assets of war criminals. Meanwhile, reaffirming her determination to continue the trial of war criminals, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on December 14, 2016, declared, "No one will be able to save them [war criminals]. Whatever the tactics and conspiracy they devise, the trial will go on. I think the time has come the people will have to be vocal. Those who nourished the war criminals, gave them the political rights in the country gave them flag, are the same criminals (sic). They didn’t want the country’s independence and they also do not like development of the country."

Disturbingly, however, on December 8, 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Additional Director General (Operations) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), noted “The terrorist organizations are facing a severe manpower shortage after they lost some high-profile terrorist leaders and trained members during special drives in the previous months. The terrorist outfits want to regain their striking power by hiring new faces, the sources said when they were asked about the recent incidents of going missing by some youths (sic).” Further, on December 19, 2016, Mohamad Shafiqul Islam, Deputy Inspector of General (DIG), Chittagong Range, warned “After the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, the old JMB, which was the follower of Bangla Bhai (Siddique ul-Islam), has become active again. We are keeping an eye on their activities. Most of the JMB members who carried out bomb blasts in 63 Districts are out of jail. We have launched a hunt for the terrorists who were named in the charge-sheet in the bomb blasts case.”

Moreover, there is the threat of increasing radicalization, as significant numbers of youth appear to be attracted to the movements of global jihad. Research conducted by East West University, Dhaka, concluded, on November 21, 2016, that one in every 10 university students in Bangladesh supports terrorism. The study found more than half (51.7 percent) of those students who support terrorism were from well-off families. In terms of age groups, and 54.7 percent of those who share such radical ideas were aged between 18 and 25 years. Similarly, Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Shopner Desh, which conducted a preliminary research project on the impact of militancy, disclosed, on December 20, 2016, that most rural students believe terrorist propaganda. Some 20-25 per cent of Districts in Bangladesh were at risk of terrorist activities and the tendency is significant among students of village and rural level educational institutes, where some 26 per cent of students have received offers to join terrorist activities, the new study revealed. The study also found that 87 per cent of rural students who received such offers think that terrorist activities are justified.

Worried about the increasing number of women taking up the extremist cause, law enforcement agencies disclosed, on December 25, 2016, that several woman terrorists were active in Bangladesh. Most of them were members of JMB, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, and Neo-JMB. Although law enforcement agency members failed to determine the number of women involved in extremist activities, recent operations in different parts of the country exposes the increasing number of women terrorists in these groups. At least 20 women have been arrested on terrorism charges from different areas of the country. According to sources, the terrorist groups pair up a female and a male member, who identify themselves as husband and wife, a pattern spoken of as the ‘couple module’.

On July 26, 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a 19-point directive to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the country to discharge duties more carefully and strictly in maintaining peace, law and order and stability by eliminating militancy, terrorism and communalism, and ensuring that people are not harassed and deprived while receiving government services. Further, on October 8, 2016, Hasina declared, “Our Government has always taken stern action against terrorism and militancy and would continue to curb the twin demons with an iron hand.... There would be no place of terrorism and militancy on Bangladesh's soil.” Reaffirming her firm stance against extremism, on December 29, 2016, Hasina noted, “All will have to remain alert, mobilize public opinion and wage a social movement against terrorism and extremism so that no one can choose such wrong path anymore. We want peace and there will be no development without peace. Terrorism and extremism are not the path of Islam… Islam is the path of peace and there’s no place for terrorism and extremism in it.”

The AL-led Government’s achievements on the counter-terrorism and internal security fronts through 2016 have been remarkable. Moreover, the Gulshan café siege have stung the Government and law enforcement agencies to take the issue of extremism even more seriously and to declare an all-out war against terrorism. After the attack, law enforcers conducted pre-emptive strikes at a number of terrorist dens, recovered arms, ammunition and explosives and thus prevented further terror incidents. However, the menace is far from over, as terrorist recruitment continues, and new strategies are devised to launch further attacks, creating a significant threat to development and social stability. Given the sheer depth of radicalization in Bangladesh – cultivated under the patronage of successive Governments and legitimate political parties over decades – this is not a problem that is going to go away anytime soon, despite the exemplary efforts and determination of the Sheikh Hasina regime.

INDIA
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Manipur: Troubles amidst Gains
Nijeesh N.
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

On December 20, 2016, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) announced that around 4,000 additional paramilitary personnel had been sent to the State of Manipur, which was experiencing increasing turmoil, as violent protests and an ‘indefinite economic blockade’ on the two National Highways (Imphal-Dimapur NH 2 and Imphal-Jiribam NH 37), that serve as lifelines to the State, completed almost two months. The economic blockade was launched on November 1, 2016, by the United Naga Council (UNC) – the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur – in protest against the State Government’s decision to carve out new Districts from the existing nine in the State, especially from the Naga-dominated hill areas of Manipur. Worse, the Meitei dominated valley people started a ‘counter-economic blockade’ in protest against the UNC’s economic blockade, leading to violence in the area. During the ongoing indefinite economic blockade, the State has recorded several violent incidents and a number of vehicles have been torched or vandalized by the protesters. The landlocked State has also been undergoing severe hardship in the supply of essential commodities as the main highways are blocked by protesters.

The protests had started on October 30, 2016, after the State Government decided to upgrade the Sub-divisions of Sadar Hills and Jiribam to full-fledged Districts. The Government subsequently reversed its decision on October 31, 2016, as it was opposed by the Naga organisations who felt that the upgrade would help form more non-Naga-dominated Districts in the State. However, on December 8, 2016, the Government surprisingly announced the creation of seven new Districts – Kangpokpi (conforming to the boundaries of the proposed Sadar Hills District and carved out from Senapati District), Noney (from Tamenglong District), Tengnoupal (from Chandel), Pherzol (from Churachandpur), Kamjong (from Ukhrul), Kakching (from Thoubal), and Jiribam (from Imphal East District).

Among incidents of violence, on December 15, 2016, at least three Manipur Police personnel were killed and another 11 were injured, when militants ambushed road opening parties (ROPs) of the Manipur Police at two different places in Chandel District. The first ambush occurred at around 6 am [IST] near the Lokchao Bridge in Lokchao village. Two Police constables were killed and 11 were wounded. M-79 grenade launcher shells and spent bullets of M-16 assault rifles were recovered from the ambush site. Around two hours later, a Police team coming from the State capital, Imphal, was attacked in the Bongyang area of the same District, and one Policeman on ROP duty was killed. Though no outfit has claimed the attacks so far, based on a report filed by State Director General of Police (DGP) L.M. Khaute, the Manipur Government sent details to UMHA on December 16, 2016, stating that the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) was suspected to be behind the twin attacks.

Again, on December 17, 2016, around 70 suspected NSCN-IM militants attacked the Nungkao post of the 6th Manipur Rifles (MR) and 7th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in the newly created Noney District and the militants snatched away their loaded weapons by overpowering the Security Force (SF) personnel.

Earlier, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh came under gun attack on October 24, 2016, when suspected NSCN-IM militants opened fire at him and his associates as they were getting out of their helicopter at the Pakshi Ground Helipad in Ukhrul District. Though the CM and his tem escaped unhurt, one Manipur Rifles trooper, identified as William Tarao, sustained severe injuries in the firing, which lasted for more than ten minutes. The ambush on the CM came amidst protests and a boycott call issued by the native Naga tribal groups in protest against the Ibobi Government’s alleged ‘step-motherly’ treatment towards the Naga inhabited hill areas of the State.

The entirety of incidents in the last few months of year 2016 have created a volatile atmosphere in Manipur, which could lead to a spread of violent clashes between the major ethnic groups in the State.

On the other hand, in terms of insurgency/militancy-related activities, the State has recorded remarkable improvements through 2016, compared to the preceding year. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), in 2016, the State registered the lowest number of fatalities, at 33 since 1992 [the year since which SATP data is available], including 14 civilians, 11 SF personnel and eight militants. In 2015, the State had recorded 94 killings, including 17 civilians, 24 SF personnel and 53 militants. The significant decline of 64.89 percent in total fatalities in 2016 over the preceding year is indicative of improvements in the general security environment of the State.

As in the case of total fatalities, the State also registered the lowest number of civilian fatalities since 1992. The civilian fatalities in the State have been declining since the year 2008, when they stood at 131. Civilian fatalities peaked in 1993, when 266 were recorded.

There were a total of 22 incidents of insurgency-linked killing recorded in 2016, as compared to 46 such incidents in 2015. The number of major incidents (each involving three or more fatalities) in 2016 also declined, with two such incidents resulting in nine killed and seven injured, as against eight incidents in 2015, with 45 killed and 33 injured. In the worst attack in 2016, on May 22, at least six personnel of 29 Assam Rifles (AR), including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed, and another seven personnel were injured in an ambush laid by militants at Hengshi village, near the India-Myanmar border, in the Chakpikarong tehsil (revenue unit) of Chandel District. The militants had triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) before opening fire on the AR convoy, and they also looted four AK-47 rifles, one light machine gun, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle and ammunition. Later, CorCom [Coordination Committee], a conglomerate of six Manipur Valley-based militant outfits – the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), its Progressive faction (PREPAK-Pro), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF, the political wing of the People’s Liberation Army, PLA), and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) – has taken responsibility for the attack.

Killing incidents were reported from eight of the State’s 16 Districts (including the seven new Districts) in 2016. Chandel District recorded the highest number of fatalities, 11 from four incidents, followed by five killings in Imphal East District in four incidents; Tamenglong, five (from five incidents); Senapati, four (four incidents); Imphal West three (three incidents); Thoubal, two (two incidents); Ukhrul, two (one incident); and Churandpur District, one killing (one incident). Bordering with Myanmar, Chandel District has been witnessing deadly militant attacks on SFs at regular intervals in the recent past and remains volatile. Out of the 11 SF fatalities in the State in 2016, nine were located in Chandel. Interestingly, according to SATP data, among the 10 Districts spread across the four northeastern States [Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland] of India that share borders with Myanmar, Chandel is the worst affected, accounting for at least 361 fatalities (61 civilians, 136 SF personnel and 164 militants) between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2016.

Other parameters of violence also declined through 2016. There was a downturn in incidents of explosion, of which 51 were recorded in 2016, resulting in two killed and 28 injured, as compared to 54 in 2015, with eight fatalities and 40 injured. 66 incidents were recorded in 2014, resulting in 15 killed and 76 injured. 

The State also recorded a sharp decline in the number of extortion and abduction incidents registered during 2016. A total of 35 extortion cases were reported during 2016; as compared to 46 in 2015. However, actual incidence is likely to be much higher as a large proportion of cases go unreported. There were at least 13 incidents of abduction registered in 2016, with 44 persons abducted; in 2015, 29 incidents were recorded, resulting in 51 persons abducted. In one recent incident, on December 18, 2016, around 22 non-local labourers hailing from various valley areas were abducted by unidentified militants from Paoi village under the Litan Police Station of Kamjong District. On December 19, 2016, the labourers were released near a State security post in Ukhrul District after they had been relieved of their money and mobile phones. The abductors also allegedly forced the labourers to put their names and signatures on blank papers without giving any reason.

SFs arrested 175 militants through 2016, adding to the 478 arrested in 2015. The highest number of arrested militants belonged to different factions of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), at 20; followed by 14 each of UNLF and different factions of Kuki National Front (KNF); 13 each of KYKL and NSCN-IM; 10 of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA); eight of the Thadou People's Liberation Army (TPLA); seven of the PREPAK; six of the Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K); five of the Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF); four each of the RPF, Progressive faction of PREPAK (PREPAK-Pro), Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM); three of the Naga National Council (NNC); two each of the Vice-Chairman faction of PREPAK (PREPAK-VC), Hmar National Army (HNA) and United Naga People's Council (UNPC); one each of the Kuki Unification Frontal Organisation (KUFO), Bryan faction of Kuki Liberation Front (KLF-Bryan), Kuki People Liberation Front/Army (KPLF/KPLA), Kuki Revolutionary Army Unification (KRA-U), Kangleipak National Revolutionary Front (KNRF); and 35 others, whose affiliation was unconfirmed.

However, the recent spurt in violence by Naga ethnic groups in Manipur in response to the Government’s decision to carve out new Districts in the State casts a shadow on the future of the historic “Frame Work Agreement’ signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015. One of the major challenges to finalizing a settlement has been the issue of 'Naga integration' of all Naga dominated areas in the States neighbouring Nagaland, including Manipur. The principal demand of NSCN-IM for a Nagalim (Greater Nagaland) comprising contiguous Naga-inhabited parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and some bordering areas of the neighbouring country, Myanmar, faces stiff opposition from these States, especially Manipur. The Union Government has, however, committed that it would ‘consult all the stakeholders’, including the State Government of Manipur, before reaching a final agreement.

Meanwhile, on July 15, 2016, the Union Government initiated the first round of political dialogue with Kuki militant groups – the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organization (KNO) – in New Delhi. Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, UMHA, who led the central delegation, chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives from the two militant groups and the Manipur State Government. Further, on October 19, 2016, the second round of tripartite talks was held in New Delhi and, during the dialogue, KNO and UPF reiterated their demands in the presence of senior representative of the Manipur Government. According to UMHA officials, the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the next round of dialogue will be held in consultation with the Manipur Government, KNO and UPF. The issue of holding a political dialogue with Kuki militant groups has dragged on for years. The Indian Army and Kuki armed groups have observed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) since August 1, 2005. An agreement involving the UPF, KNO, the Union Government and the Manipur State Government was formally signed on August 22, 2008.

Nevertheless, on November 30, 2016, through a notification issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), J. Suresh Babu, the Manipur Government extended the 'disturbed area status' for the entire State of Manipur, excluding the areas covered by the Imphal Municipal Corporation, under the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, for another year, with effect from December 1, 2016. The notification stated; "The Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire State of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of Armed Force in aid of civil power is necessary". Section 3 of the AFSPA empowers the State Government to extend the disturbed area over the entire State or some selected areas. The AFSPA, which was imposed in the State since September 1980, has been extended from time to time. Except for the seven Assembly segments under the Imphal Municipal Corporation, the 'disturbed area status' would be applicable to all Valley and Hill Districts.

In another development, on August 9, 2016, activist Irom Chanu Sharmila ended her 16-year-long fast demanding the withdrawal of the AFSPA and announced her decision to contest the Assembly polls in Manipur in 2017 under the banner of her newly floated political party, the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA). Sharmila commenced her fast in protest against the November 2, 2000, incident at Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley , in which ten civilians were shot and killed by SFs while waiting at a bus stop, and demanded the scrapping of AFSPA.

Though Manipur has achieved significant success in reducing insurgency-related violence in 2016, the recent escalation of violence and vandalism has the potential to adversely impact on the security situation in the State and across the wider Northeast region as well. Stringent measures to lift the ongoing indefinite economic blockade and counter-economic blockade as early as possible are urgently required, as the current state of affairs is entirely unacceptable and could provoke a cycle of escalating ethnic violence in the State.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
December 26 - January 1, 2017

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

INDIA

 

Assam

0
0
2
2

Jammu and Kashmir

0
1
0
1

Left-Wing Extremism

Odisha

2
0
0
2

Total (INDIA)

2
1
2
5

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

0
0
1
1

Punjab

0
0
1
1

Total (PAKISTAN)

0
0
2
2
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


BANGLADESH

Prime Minister calls to mobilize public opinion and wage social movement against extremism: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reaffirming her firm stance against extremism, on December 29 called to all, including teachers, students, guardians, religious teachers and people of various professions, to mobilize public opinion and wage a social movement against extremism. “All will have to remain alert, mobilize public opinion and wage a social movement against terrorism and extremism so that no one can choose such wrong path anymore. We want peace and there’ll be no development without peace. Terrorism and extremism are not the path of Islam… Islam is the path of peace and there’s no place for terrorism and extremism in it,” she said. New Age, December 30, 2016.

Country will prosecute 195 identified Pakistani war criminals for sure, says Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq: Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq while inaugurating Muktijuddher Bijoy Manch organized by Bangladesh Gano Ajadi League at Liberation War Museum in Dhaka city on December 26 said the country will prosecute 195 identified Pakistani war criminals for sure. "Though we are bringing the people of our country those committed crimes against humanity in 1971, to justice, but we are yet to try the 195 identified war criminals from Pakistan. But we will do it for sure and if necessary, we will go to international court for that," Mozammel said. The Daily Star, December 27, 2016.


INDIA

Demonetisation has effectively neutralised terrorism, naxalism, says PM Narendra Modi: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on December 31 said that terrorism and Naxalism [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)] which were heavily reliant on black money had been effectively neutralised thorough the Government’s demonetisation drive. In his 43-minute address to the nation, he said “Terror, Naxalism, etc rely on black money. This one decision has attacked them. Many youth are shunning violence. We can prevent our children from joining the path of violence. The money that was outside the economic mainstream is back.” Thanking bank officials for working hard during demonetisation process, Prime Minister Modi said the decision will force the corrupt and black money hoarders to come into the economic mainstream. Indian Express, January 1, 2017.

India slams China for blocking India's bid to list JeM 'chief' as UN designated terrorist: Criticizing China's move to block India’s proposal to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) 'chief' Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist by the UN, India has termed the move as "unfortunate blow" and a step that confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism. Reacting sharply, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the decision by Beijing is surprising as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism. As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organization. New Indian Express, December 31, 2016.

Red zones get over INR 110 billion for infrastructure upgrade: The Cabinet on December 28, approved INR 117.24 billion for construction and upgradation of 5,412 kilometres of road and 126 bridges, including culverts, in the 44 Districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). These works will be implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). They all will be weather roads, meaning the stretches will be concrete or bituminous roads. The roads to be taken up under the scheme would include District roads, village roads and upgradation of the existing major roads that are critical from the security point of view. Bridges up to a span of 100metres, critical from security angle, would also be funded on these roads. Times of India, December 29, 2016.

ISI plotting to attack India from new terror launch pad, says report: Pakistan's intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is planning to open new fronts to launch attacks in India. According to intelligence sources, ISI has made a tactical shift in its strategy for India. After several attacks on the western border, the ISI plans to open a new front in eastern India by launching an attack from a secret terror launch pad. Indian intelligence sources said that ISI has recently set up a terror camp in Mae Sot, which is situated on Thailand-Myanmar border. Intelligence sources have further revealed that ISI is using Taliban fighters to train Rohingya Muslims to launch terror attacks. India Today, December 28, 2016.


NEPAL

Government will not withdraw constitution amendment bill, says Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi: Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi on December 30 said that the Government will not withdraw the constitution amendment bill. He said so at a time when the main opposition party Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) is piling pressure on the Government to withdraw the constitution bill. “The UML stance on the constitution amendment bill is against the democracy, parliamentary system and constitutional norms. I would like to urge UML to back down from its stance,” said Nidhi. My Republica, December 31, 2016.

CPN-Maoist Center Chairman asks all Maoist forces and leaders to come together to safeguard achievements of armed conflict: Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal launching a book on the life of late Maoist leader Bhakti Prasad Pandey in Kathmandu on December 26 asked all Maoist forces and leaders to come together to safeguard achievements of the armed conflict. Dahal said “The people’s war brought the republicanism. Also, there was the Constitution. We achieved federalism, inclusiveness and secularism. But, now attempts are being made if these achievements can be subverted after seeking Maoist forces becoming weaker. We were yet to bear the responsibility of Constitution implementation. We could achieve a common conclusion through discussions.” The Himalayan Times, December 27, 2016.


PAKISTAN

Target killings in Karachi decline by 253%, extortion 36% in 2016: The number of target killings in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, have significantly decreased by 253 percent during 2016, as compared to 2015, while the menace of extortions have slashed by 36 percent during the same period, claimed the annual report of Sindh Police released on January 1. However, Police in the report have claimed that the number of target killings has reduced because of the good performance of the Police while the report has not mentioned the achievement of Sindh Rangers' Karachi operation continued for the past three years. Daily Times, January 2, 2017.

Pakistan has defeated terrorism, now in consolidation phase, says CoAS General Qamar Bajwa: The Chief of Armed Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on December 29 stated that Pakistan has successfully defeated terrorism and is now in consolidation phase. He was speaking after inspecting a Pakistan-Jordan joint military exercise, “Fajr-ul-Sharq 1”, near Attock, according to a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). 'Fajr-ul-Sharq 1' is a two-week joint counterterrorism training program that seeks to share the experiences of both armies. General Bajwa said that the nature and character of war has changed, with direct conflict now becoming a less preferred means of waging war. Dawn, December 30, 2016.


SRI LANKA

Western Provincial Council rejects Development (Special Provisions) Bill: Western Provincial Council rejected the Development (Special Provisions) Bill when it was presented in the Council on December 29 for vote. Members of the Western Provincial Council voted against the Development (Special Provisions) Bill with a majority. While 28 members voted in favor of the Bill, 52 voted against and 5 abstained. The Development (Special Provisions) Bill has been rejected by all provincial councils except the Eastern Provincial Council. The Eastern Provincial Council is yet to vote for the Bill. Colombo Page, December 30, 2016.


The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

 
South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

Publisher
K. P. S. Gill

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


A Project of the
Institute For Conflict Management



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