Monday, January 2, 2012

Pakistani troops kill dangerous Taliban commander

The Pakistani military killed a dangerous Taliban commander who was responsible for the murders of scores of Pakistani soldiers, policemen, and civilians.
Qari Kamran, a senior Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan commander in the northwestern district of Nowshera, was killed along with 11 fighters yesterday during a military operation in the tribal agency of Khyber. The Taliban have been fighting the Pakistani military as well as the rival Islamist terror group Lashkar-e-Islam in Khyber.


The Pakistani military killed a dangerous Taliban commander who was responsible for the murders of scores of Pakistani soldiers, policemen, and civilians.

Qari Kamran, a senior Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan commander in the northwestern district of Nowshera, was killed along with 11 fighters yesterday during a military operation in the tribal agency of Khyber. The Taliban have been fighting the Pakistani military as well as the rival Islamist terror group Lashkar-e-Islam in Khyber.
Map showing the location of Nowshera District ...Image via Wikipedia
Map showing the location of Nowshera District (highlighted in yellow) within the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province

Kamran was involved in some of the most deadly suicide attacks and ambushes in northwestern Pakistan over the past several years. The most devastating attack took place on May 13, 2011, when a suicide bomber detonated among a crowd of newly trained troops of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier
Corps at a training center in Shabqadar in the neighboring district of Charsadda. The suicide attack was followed by a car bomb. More than 80 Pakistani troops and civilians were killed in the twin blasts.

The Taliban claimed credit for the horrific attack and said it was carried out to avenge the death of al Qaeda emir Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US special operations forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011.

The Shabqadar attack was followed by the June 5, 2011 suicide attack at the Nowshera Cantonment that killed 18 Pakistani soldiers.

In addition to attacking Pakistani security forces, Kamran was also involved in targeting anti-Taliban militias in Nowshera. Three such attacks in the past year have taken place in mosques. In the last attack, on Nov. 19, Kamran's fighters gunned down an outspoken mosque imam who was vocal in opposition to the Taliban. Another attack, on June 12, killed six people and leveled the mosque.

Sources: Allvoices, Pakistan Today

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/01/pakistani_troops_kil.php
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Al-Qaida, Taliban ask Pakistani militants for help

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistani militant commanders say prominent al-Qaida and Afghan Taliban fighters have asked them to set aside differences and step up support for the battle against US-led forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban commanders say the request came during two meetings in Pakistan’s tribal region in November and December.

They said Monday that the senior al-Qaida commander Abu Yahya al-Libi attended both meetings, as did Sirajuddin Haqqani, the de-facto head of the most feared militant group in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s most prominent militant leaders, including Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud, also attended. The commanders who described the meetings spoke on condition of anonymity because of their sensitivity.

AQ Linked Boko Haram Orders Christians Out of North Nigeria


A purported spokesman for Nigerian Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram has warned southerners (Christians) to leave the country's north, while promising clashes with government soldiers.

Abul Qaqa, who has spoken on behalf of the Al-Qaeda affiliated Islamist group in the past, told journalists in a phone conference late Sunday that the group's fighters will “confront” soldiers sent to parts of four states under a state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Qaqa said Boko Haram is giving southerners living in northern Nigeria three days to move away, and also called on Muslims living in southern Nigeria to return, saying the group has evidence they will be attacked.

President Jonathan declared the state of emergency in 15 locations Saturday, after months of deadly violence that authorities blame largely on Boko Haram.
The group has claimed responsibility for numerous bombings and shootings across the north and in the capital, Abuja, including a Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic church.

Mr. Jonathan has vowed to crush Boko Haram, which first staged a violent uprising against Nigeria's government in 2009. The group's size and structure remain unclear.

The state of emergency gives security forces control of the areas in which the declaration applies. It also closes parts of Nigeria's borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. VoA

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Suicide attack injures Afghan child in Nangarhar province

A heavy explosion rocked Behsud district of eastern Nangarhar province on Monday morning.
According to local authorities, the explosion took place as a result of a suicide bomb attack.
Behsud district governor Haji Nemat said, the incident took place near a religious school (Madresa) at Benega area.

Mr. Nemat said, the incident took place around 10:30 am local time.
According to Behsud district governor Haji Nemat, the suicide bomber was looking to storm a police training facility in the area.

Based on the preliminary information an Afghan child was injured during the incident, Haji Nemat said.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives before he reaches his target to storm a security check post in the area, injuring an Afghan school child.

This comes as Nangarhar provincail governor spokesman Ahmadzia Abdulzai earlier said, an Afghan child was killed following the incident.
No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

3 Afghan Army soldiers killed, 7 injured in various incidents

At least ten Afghan National Army service members were killed and injured in various incidents across the country.

Afghan Defense Ministry officials following a statement said, at least three Afghan Army soldiers were killed and 7 others were injured.

The source further added, Afghan soldiers were killed and injured following various incidents in Maidan Wardak, Nuristan and Laghman provinces.
The officials also said, at least nine militants were also killed and injured during the Afghan national army operations.

According to Ministry officials, at least 7 armed militants were killed and two others were injured during the operations in Tagab district at Kapisa province.
In a separate statement Afghan Defense Ministry officials said, at least 9 militants were detained by Afghan National Army soldiers.

The source further added, at least 8 militants were detained along with weapons and explosives following an operation at Sharshara valley in Takhar province.
In a separate operation by Afghan national army soldiers, a militant suspect was detained along with various types of weapons and explosives in Nawabad area of Takhar province.
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Iran tests first domestically made nuclear fuel rod

TEHRAN: Iran said on Sunday that its scientists have "tested the first nuclear fuel rod produced from uranium ore deposits inside the country."

"After going through physical checks, it was inserted into the core of the Tehran research reactor in order to study how well it works," the website of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation said.

Iran said last month that it planned to insert domestically produced uranium fuel into the Tehran research reactor, which produces isotopes for medical purposes and currently runs on a nearly depleted stock of nuclear plates bought from Argentina in 1993.


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Jan. 02., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 2) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force observed an improvised explosive device detonation on a road in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, yesterday. Shortly after, the patrol stopped and searched a vehicle, which was found to contain two IEDs, two power sources and approximately 300 pounds (135 kilograms) of explosive materials. The IEDs and explosives were not hooked up to the vehicle.
Security forces took the two occupants of the vehicle into custody for questioning. The security force confiscated the IEDs and explosive materials for destruction at a later date.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered three weapons caches while conducting a routine patrol in Tarin Kot district, Uruzgan province, yesterday. The caches consisted of 60 anti-personnel mines, three hand grenades, three rocket-propelled grenade warheads, four 60 mm mortar rounds, 10 mortar charges, and more than1000 rounds of small arms ammunitions. Security forces destroyed a portion of the weapons on site without incident and confiscated the remaining portion for destruction at a later date.

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today. The facilitator moves weapons and explosives to include rocket-propelled grenades and bomb making materials throughout Zharay district. The security force seized weapons and detained multiple suspected insurgents during the operation.

East
In Sherzad district, Nangarhar province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban facilitator, today. The facilitator directs a group of insurgent fighters responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan forces. The security force confiscated weapons and bomb making materials and detained multiple suspected insurgents during the operation. 
An Afghan and coalition security force conducted a search operation for a Haqqani facilitator in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, today. The facilitator was involved in last month’s car bomb attack in Logar province that killed one civilian and wounded nine others. The security force detained multiple insurgents during the operation.

Afghan Police Raids Kill 2 Insurgents, Capture 18 Others

Two insurgents were killed and 18 others were detained in Afghan police operations around the country during the previous 24 hours, the Ministry of Interior said on Monday morning.

The insurgent clearing operations were conducted in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Zabul, Takhar and Baghlan provinces, the ministry said in a statement.

During the operation, the police also seized many weapons, the statement added.

Monday, 02 January 2012 10:10
Last Updated on Monday, 02 January 2012 11:22
Written by TOLOnews.com 

Kunar operations claims militant and civilian lives

Districts of Kunar.Image via Wikipedia
At least one militant and an Afghan civilian was killed following cleanup military operations in eastern Kunar province.

Eastern Kunar provincial governor spokesman Wasifullah Wasifi confirming the reports said, at least one militant and one Afghan civilian was killed during the operations.

Mr. Wasifi further added, at least three Afghan civilians including an Afghan woman was also injured during the operations.

He also said, the operations will continue until the area is completely cleaned up from the presence of the militants.

In the meantime, local residents in the area said that foreign troops have taken a number of the Afghan civilians with them.
Anti-government militant groups yet to comment regarding the operations.
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Attack on telecommunication franchise in Hyderi injures 4

KARACHI: At least four people were injured in an attack on a telecommunication franchise in the Hyderi area of Karachi on Monday, Express News reported.

Initial reports suggest that a hand grenade was hurled at an outlet of Mobilink.
The injured, who have been shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, include two security guards, a company employee and a passerby.
Earlier in a similar incident, a mobile franchise was attacked in the same area of North Nazimabad when two gunmen entered the outlet, opened fire and then set it on fire.

R.I.P. - Spc. Pernell J. Herrera

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Pernell J. Herrera, 33, of Espanola, N.M., died Dec. 31, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, Santa Fe, N.M.

For more information, the media may contact the New Mexico Army National Guard public affairs office at 505-417-1751 or via email at Jamison.herrera@us.army.mil .

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