AF/pak/iraq – military sweep pakistan saturday

 

PAKISTAN

 

SATURDAY

· Militants attacked a military check post on Saturday, killing two soldiers in the South Waziristan tribal region, a security official said. The attack took place in the Badar area, 30 kilometres north of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan.  “Militants attacked a military check post today in South Waziristan and killed two soldiers,” a senior security official in the area told on condition of anonymity.  Another security official confirmed the attack and casualties. - Dawn

· Pakistan Saturday received three new F-16 aircraft from the US as part of 18 such fighter jets scheduled to reach the country by December.  The jets landed at the Shahbaz Airbase of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in southwestern Jacobabad city, media reports said.  It was initially reported that five F-16s will reach Pakistan in this consignment but only three arrived Saturday. - IANS

 

SUNDAY

· Police and intelligence agencies, in a joint action, arrested an important commander of Swat Taleban and his three associates during a raid on a house in Nowshera Kalan early Saturday, official sources told.  Taking action on a tip-off, the Nowshera Kalan Police and the sleuths of intelligence agencies raided a house and hauled up Saeedullah, a commander of the Tehrik-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), Swat chapter, and his three associates Shahid, Ibrahim, and Suleman. The sources said the commander and his associates were shifted to a secret place for interrogation soon after their arrest.  The militants had rented a house in Nowshera Kalan and were living there for some time. The sources added that the militants were involved in attacks on government installations, police and security forces and their names included in the list of most wanted insurgents. Saeedullah carries 3m dollars head money. - The News

· A man was arrested with 61 kgs explosives here on Saturday evening, eyewitnesses said. The policemen deployed at Ghazikot check post intercepted a pickup truck and recovered 61kg of explosives from it. The driver of the vehicle was arrested while his aide fled the scene. - The News

· Several hideouts and underground bunkers of militants were destroyed when gunship helicopters carried out shelling in Salarzai subdivision of Bajaur on Saturday, sources said. The sources said choppers bombed the militant hideouts and destroyed several of them in Mandal area of Salarzai Tehsil [sub-division]. Some of the underground bunkers were also shelled, but there was no word on loss of life. - The News

· Adnan Afridi, an alleged militant commander of the Tehrik-i-Taleban Pakistan, was killed by unidentified men here on Saturday. His body was recovered from the Grand Trunk Road. - The News

 

MONDAY

· A US missile strike by a drone killed at least five militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal district on Monday.  The attack targeted suspected militants sleeping at a compound in Haider Khel village of Mir Ali district in North Waziristan, 25 kilometres east of the region's main town of Miranshah. - The News

· Taliban commanders claim they are foiling intensified night-time attacks by elite troops that Nato officials hoped would bring the insurgents to the negotiating table in Afghanistan.  Insurgent commanders from Helmand and Kandahar, interviewed in Kabul, say the effectiveness of Nato special operations forces has diminished.  “In the past year they have had a lot of successes with these operations, but now we have got used to it and changed our tactics,” said the commander of a group of 50 men in Dand, Kandahar province. “At night we have two people in every village who do not go to sleep ñ if they hear the helicopters, we contact each other before they arrive.”  - The News

· Eighteen Taliban militants and two women were killed on Sunday in air strikes and clashes in the Orakzai and Bajaur tribal regions and the Swat valley, security officials said. A vehicle and four militant hideouts were destroyed in air strikes by helicopter gunships at Saifal Darra in Orakzai Agency. At least 12 militants were killed and eight injured in the bombardment, officials said. In the Bajaur Agency, three militants and two women were killed when the gunships targeted Tob Mandal, Markhundai and other suburban areas of Salarzai sub-division. In the Swat valley, three militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces. - The News

· Six militants and a soldier were killed in separate incidents in Bajaur tribal region and Swat district while a volunteer of a peace committee was shot dead mistakenly by his associates in Mohmand Agency on Sunday.  Sources said that security forces shelled militant positions in Mandal area of Salarzai. They said that security forces also targeted suspected locations in Mandal. Several hideouts were destroyed in the area.  Security forces also launched a house-to-house search in various areas of Khar tehsil to recover a kidnapped doctor.  Meanwhile, security forces burnt the house of a militant commander, Obaidullah, during a search operation in Nawagai tehsil. The militant was wanted by security forces in various acts of terrorism. - Dawn

· Taliban fighters armed with assault rifles fired at two NATO tankers in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, wounding three people, police said.  "Around eight militants in two cars intercepted two oil tankers near the town of Pabbi on the Grand Trunk road and fired at them with Kalashnikovs," local police official Hayat Khan told.  "Two drivers and a helper were wounded and taken to hospital in Peshawar. Their condition is stable now," Khan said, adding that oil leaked from the tankers but did not catch fire.  Intelligence officials in Peshawar also confirmed the attack and said the attackers fled the scene. - AFP

· One policeman was killed and four others were injured in a suicide blast that took place in Swabi’s Police Lines area on Monday, DawnNews reported.  Exchange of fire between unknown assailants and the police was ongoing, reports said.  More casualities are feared. —Dawn

· Law-enforcement agencies on Sunday [31 October] recovered explosive chemical from Burhan near Hassanabdal which they said was stolen from NATO supply trucks. Three persons were arrested on the charge of storing the chemical. Sources said the law enforcement agencies raided at Burhan in the jurisdiction of Hassanabdal police and recovered the chemical known as A-Y. The arrested persons were identified as Niaz Ahmed, Shamsul Hassan Shah and Sangeen Khan. The accused were shifted to some unknown place for further interrogation. – Dawn

· The Taleban have rejected the reports saying that three of their leaders had met and hold talks with President Karzai in Kabul.  Following reports published about talks between the government and the Taleban, the Taleban spokesman, Zabihollah Mojahed, rejected those reports on Monday, 1 November, and told Afghan Islamic Press on the telephone: "It is all lie, no Taleban had held talks with Karzai or his administration." Mojahed added: "Spreading such propaganda is aimed misleading ordinary Afghans and mojahedin and creating concerns and divisions among them. We once again assure all the Muslim nation and especially mojahedin that our stance on talks is still the same and that Islamic Emirate will never hold talks while Afghanistan is occupied and the Islamic Emirate assures the Muslims that whenever and whatever the Islamic Emirate does, it would not be secret or behind the curtains." - Afghan Islamic Press

· Baitullah Mehsud’s brother was murdered in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area, television reports said Monday. - Dawn

 

SATURDAY

· Taliban report: A supply vehicle of the American forces which had a large number of American soldiers on board, has been destroyed by a landmine in the Sarkham area of Tarin Kot, the centre of Urozgan Province.  According to the details, the enemy vehicle was totally destroyed, three foreign soldiers on board were killed and many others wounded in the remote-controlled mine explosion at 1000 [local time] today. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  Heavy fighting took place between the mojahedin of the Islamic Emirate and the American forces in the Chah-e Anjir area of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province this morning, as a result of which one American soldier was killed and two others seriously wounded.  It is said that the fighting began in the Sur Pol area of the district after the invading soldiers came under armed attack and suffered the above casualties as they were trying to carry out operations against the mojahedin.  The mojahedin did not suffer any casualties in the fighting. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  An explosion has been carried out on a military tank of foreign forces in Tarin Kot, the centre of Urozgan Province.  A landmine, planted by the mojahedin, was detonated as the military tank of the foreign forces was leaving its headquarters in the Chinarak area of this city at dawn this morning.  The enemy tank was totally destroyed and the soldiers on board were either killed or wounded in the remote-controlled explosion.  Also, an armed attack was carried out on the police security posts in the Haji Baz Mohammad Ghondai area of this city at 1700 [local time] yesterday. However, there is no information on any enemy casualties so far. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  An armed attack has been carried out on a convoy of vehicles of the American forces in Shegal District of Konar Province.  According to a local mojahedin media official, the attack took place when the invaders' convoy was travelling in the Shinkorak area at 2100 [local time] last night.  He added two fuel tankers were hit and burnt down during the one-hour fighting. Moreover, five soldiers were killed and four seriously wounded. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  The base of the mercenary army in the centre of Shahjoy District of Zabol Province, where a large number of foreign soldiers are also based, has come under armed attack by the mojahedin of the Islamic Emirate.  The attack, which lasted an hour, took place at 2100 [local time] last night when a number of foreign and internal guests were present inside the enemy base. However, there is no information about any enemy casualties in the attack so far.  According to the local people, heavy weapons were fired by the enemy after the attack and a number of homes were hit and heavily damaged by shells. - Voice of Jihad website

· U.S. troops killed as many as 80 insurgents after calling in air strikes to repel a Taliban attack on their outpost in southeast Afghanistan on Saturday, the NATO-led coalition said.  Five U.S. troops were wounded in the attack when the base in Paktika province came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades, gunfire and mortars, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and a regional army spokesman said.  "Insurgents attacked from all directions with rocket-propelled grenades, small arms and mortar fire," ISAF said. "Initial operational reporting indicates more than 80 insurgents were killed in the failed attack." U.S. Army Major Patrick Seiber, a spokesman for the ISAF regional command in the east which includes Paktika, said at least 19 insurgents had been confirmed dead. NATO-led forces were checking the area for more dead and wounded, he said. - Reuters

· A senior Taleban commander and three of his subordinates have been killed in Emam Saheb District. Emam Saheb is one of restive districts of Konduz Province where Afghan and ISAF forces launched a joint mopping-up operation. The operation was carried out in the Oq Masjid area of Emam Sahed District today. - Arzu TV

· Taleban report:  Helmand Province, 11 American military tanks have been destroyed in mine explosions in Bramcha bazaar in Disho District of this province throughout the day today.  A large force of the American forces, which was supported by air power, immediately came under attack by the mojahedin as it arrived in Bramcha bazaar this morning in order to carry out operations against the mojahedin. As a result deadly fighting ensued which is still continuing this evening. Ten enemy tanks fell prey to mine explosions and one armoured tank was hit by a rocked during the fighting. Their wreckage still remains in the battlefield by this evening.  According to the source, in addition to inflicting the above material losses on the enemy nearly 50 American soldiers were also either killed or wounded.  According to the details, in the course of the fighting the American forces heavily bombed the Bramcha bazaar which is situated in the middle of a desert some 200 km to the south of Lashkargah city, the capital of this province. The bombing is still continuing by this evening.  The local mojahedin officials say the Bramcha bazaar, which has hundreds of shops, has been completely destroyed as a result of the bombing. - Voice of Jihad website

 

SUNDAY

· 108 Taleban have been killed and four others detained in a mopping-up operation in Takhar Province.  The Takhar Province governor's spokesman says that 16 police were either killed or injured in that operation as well. He adds that coalition and Afghan security forces started the operation to clear the capital and districts of the province of the Taleban about a month ago. - Tolo TV

· The deputy security commander of Registan District of Kandahar Province and the tribal elder were killed and five guards of the deputy commander injured in the mine blast.  The Taleban claimed responsibility for this attack and their spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yusof Ahmadi, told AIP that Gol Mohammad was killed and seven of his guards were either killed or injured in that attack.  The Taleban spokesman gave no details about the death of the tribal leader, Abdol Samad, in that attack. - Afghan Islamic Press

· Officials report that 14 Taleban including a commander were killed in an air strike by the Afghan National Army and foreign ground troops in Garda Serai District of Paktia Province.  Taleban spokesman, Zabihollah Mojahed, replied that foreign air and ground forces bombarded not the Taleban but the houses of residents of that area. He added 17 civilians, including women and children, had been killed in the foreign forces' air strike. - Afghan Islamic Press

· A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a patrol of Polish troops, but caused no casualties, in the southern [eastern] province of Ghazni, officials said on Sunday.  The blast took place at 9pm on Saturday while the Polish Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) were on patrol near their base, about 4 kilometres south of Ghazni city, provincial police chief, Col Zarawar Khan Zahid told Pajhwok Afghan News.  Only the bomber was killed, he added.  However, the governor's spokesman, Ismael Jahangir, said another person was also killed in the blast, but he did not know their identity. – Pajhwok

· The Helmand Province governor's spokesman says that the 17 Taleban were killed and two ISAF soldiers injured in a joint operation by Afghan and foreign forces in the Bahramcha area of Deshu District.  Taleban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yusof Ahmadi, replied that the Taleban set off a number of mines they had planted in that area when a large number of foreign and Afghan forces arrived in the Bahramcha area, on which the Taleban also carried out an armed attack. The Taleban destroyed 10 foreign forces' vehicles through blowing up mines and hit one of their vehicles with a rocket as well. The Taleban spokesman also claimed blowing up five mines targeting foreign forces' foot patrol.  The Taleban spokesman said that the soldiers came to Bahramcha and returned and the area was now under the complete control of the Taleban. - Afghan Islamic Press

· A militant commander and more than a dozen fighters laid down their arms and vowed to support the government, not fight against it, the provincial governor, Daud Saba, said on Sunday [31 October].  The militant commander's surrender, the governor hoped, would boost security in the province.  Bashir Pahlawan and his 15 men were fighting the government in the Pashtun Zarghun District, one of the restive areas of the province.  The group handed over more than 10 weapons, rocket launchers and hand grenades to the intelligence agency, the governor told reporters. – Pajhwok

· A senior Taleban leader blamed for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitating the movement of foreign fighters has been killed during a precision air strike in southern Zabol Province, NATO claimed on Sunday.  "Mullah Abdollah Kakar was killed as he showed subordinate Taleban leadership his newly acquired anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, which was mounted on the back of his vehicle," the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.  The NATO-led force said in a statement coalition troops tracked on Thursday Mullah Kakar, who was recently linked to an improvised explosive device attack, with his vehicle, in a remote area of the Shah Joy District. – Pajhwok

· NATO still faces a shortage of specialist instructors to train Afghan forces and has begun sending hundreds to study outside Afghanistan as a stopgap solution, the head of NATO's training mission said on Sunday.  NATO training chief Lieutenant General William Caldwell said his mission was short of 900 instructors, mostly in the police, but also to train Afghans to become independent of NATO in areas such as logistics, maintenance, transport and medical services.  NATO officials say they have made progress since the training mission began a year ago to build up Afghan force numbers, and to tackle basics such as literacy, attrition and improving conditions for local troops and police.  Caldwell said NATO was covering some shortages by sending Afghan troops for instruction outside Afghanistan, including recently to United Arab Emirates to train nearly 300 officers with French troops and soon to Turkey for police training. - Reuters

· Taleban report:  Helmand Province, fierce fighting took place with the American soldiers in Nad-e Ali and Sangin districts of this province today, as a result of which two American soldiers were killed and five others seriously wounded.  Face-to-face fighting took place with the American soldiers in Siwyak-e Gharbi area of Nad-e Ali District at 1200 [local time] today. As a result, one American soldier was killed and two others seriously wounded.  Similarly, one American soldier was killed and three others seriously wounded as a result of face-to-face fighting in Myan Rodi area of Sangin District of this province at 1400 [local time] toady.  It is said that two mojahedin fighters were also wounded in the last fighting which continued for an hour. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  An armed attack with light and heavy weapons has been carried out on the headquarters of the American forces near the centre of Zheray District of Kandahar Province.  The attack which took place in Kandali area of this district at around 1700 [local time] today, inflicted heavy casualties and material losses on the enemy. However, there is no information on their exact extent so far. - Voice of Jihad website

· Taleban report:  American soldiers have suffered heavy casualties as a result of separate explosions in Zheray and Arghandab districts of Kandahar Province.  According to the local jihadi officials, the first explosion was carried out on the American forces' foot patrol in Charghalaba area of Arghandab District of this province at 0800 [local time] today. As a result, two foreign soldiers were instantly killed and one seriously wounded.  Another remote-controlled mine explosion was carried out in Sya Choy area of the neighbouring Zheray District at 1000 [local time] this morning while the invading soldiers were on patrol.  The enemy suffered heavy casualties in this explosion too. However, their exact number is not known yet. - Voice of Jihad website

· The Taleban spokesman, Zabihollah Mojahed, in a short conversation told Afghan Islamic Press [AIP] on Monday, 1 November: "I can only say now that the Taleban took control of Khogiani District of Ghazni Province after a fierce fighting last night. Police forces suffered casualties and a number of others captured alive but I do not have other information."  When AIP contacted the Ghazni Province governor's spokesman, Sayed Esmail Jahangir, he admitted that contacts between district's officials and Ghazni city based administration were disconnected and he knows nothing whether the district has fallen to the Taleban or not." - Afghan Islamic Press

· An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator of improvised explosive device components during an overnight operation in Kandahar province.  Over the last month, 13 insurgent leaders directly linked to IED attacks were captured in the province.  Intelligence tips led the security force to a compound in Luv Bala Karz in Kandahar district to search for the facilitator, who is active in Panjwa’i district as well as the Malajat area of Kandahar City. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully, and then the security force cleared and secured the area.  After initial questioning at the scene, the security force identified and detained the facilitator along with one of his associates. - ISAF website

· An Afghan security force, backed by coalition forces, captured a Haqqani Network facilitator in charge of coordinating the acquisition of improvised explosive devices and providing specialized support for insurgent attacks conducted in Terayzai district, during an overnight operation in Khost province.   Intelligence information led the security force to a location in Murmendah in Terayzai district to search for the facilitator. An Afghan-only force used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully, and then cleared and secured the area.  After initial questioning at the scene, the security force detained the targeted individual. The security force also found IED material at the scene.  Additionally, a separate security force targeting a Haqqani Network senior leader responsible for planning and coordinating attacks on the Sperah District Center, detained two suspected insurgents during an overnight operation in Paktika province. - ISAF website

· An Afghan governor said Monday that security forces had recaptured a remote southern district that had been overrun by Taliban guerrillas.  Militants stormed Khogyani district in the troubled province of Ghazni late Sunday, seizing the local administration, provincial governor Musa Khan Akbarzada told reporters.  “This morning our national security forces — police, army and intelligence — mobilised and took back the control of the district,” he said in Ghazni, the provincial capital.  “Our security forces are stationed in the district. They are in control now,” he said, declining to give further details. — AFP

· An Afghan and coalition security force killed Zubair, a Haqqani Network facilitator responsible for the movement of weapons and improvised explosive device materials for distribution to foreign fighters and Haqqani networks in the area, during an overnight operation in Paktiya province Saturday.  Additionally, Shabudin and Ibrahim, both Haqqani Network senior leaders in the area, were also among those killed during the operation.  Intelligence tips led the security force to a remote compound in Dzadran district to search for the facilitator. As the security force approached the area, they encountered several armed insurgents in established fighting positions. The security force killed more than five throughout the operation.  The security force could not assess all the engagement areas, but rocket-propelled grenades were among the weapons used by the insurgents. Intelligence reports later confirmed the death of the three Haqqani leaders.  “We will continue to target Haqqani leadership and fighters as we work with our Afghan partners to bring security to the region,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. - ISAF website

 

SATURDAY

· The death toll of a suicide bombing in Iraq's Diyala province late Friday has risen to 25, while 70 others were wounded, an interior ministry source told.  "We confirm 25 people were dead and 70 others were wounded in the blast," the source said on condition of anonymity. - Xinhua

· At least nine persons, including three policemen, have been injured in two explosive charges blasts in southern Baghdad on Sunday [31 October], a security source said.  "An explosive charge, planted in Tu'ma District in southern Baghdad's Al-Dawrah area, wounding five civilians," he said, adding that "another explosive charge, planted close to a school in southern Baghdad's Sa'diyah district, blew off aimed at a police patrol to wound three of its policemen and a civilians," he added. - Aswat al-Iraq

· Two children were killed by gunmen who raided their house east of the city of Ba'qubah on Saturday [30 October], a security source in Diyala said.  "Unidentified gunmen stormed a house of a local resident in Al-Wajihiyah area, al-Muqdadiya district, (45 km) east of Ba'qubah, and opened their machine-gun fire on two children, killing them instantly," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.  "The gunmen later escaped to an unknown place," the source said, not giving further details. - Aswat al-Iraq

· Three civilians were wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in eastern Mosul city on Saturday [30 October], a local police source in Ninawa said.  "An IED went off on Saturday (Oct 30) near an Iraqi army patrol in Al-Tahrir neighbourhood, eastern Mosul, leaving three civilians near the blast site injured," the source told. - Aswat al-Iraq

· A soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack by gunmen on a joint security checkpoint in western Baghdad city on Saturday [30 October], a security source in Baghdad said.  "Unidentified gunmen opened fire today (Oct 30) on a joint police and army checkpoint in the area of Abu Ghraib, western Baghdad," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.  "The attack left a soldier killed and two other soldiers and one policeman wounded," he added, not giving further information. - Aswat al-Iraq

· Six Iraqi policemen have been killed and four others injured in an explosive charge blast in northern Baghdad on Sunday [31 October], according to a security source.  "An explosive charge, planted by unknown armed men, blew up close to a garage belonging to a police centre in northern Baghdad, killing six policemen and wounding four others," he said. - Aswat al-Iraq

· The commander of the pro-government Sahwa (Awakening) forces in northern Baghdad's Al-Masra village in Sab'a al-Bur area, has been killed and three others wounded, when his car was blown up by an explosive charge, a security source said on Sunday [31 October].  "An explosive charge, planted by unknown gunmen in the car of the commander in charge of Sahwa (Awakening) Force in Al-Masra village of northern Baghdad's Sab'a al-Bur area, Adnan Atallah, blew up, killing him on the spot and wounding three others, the security source said, adding that the explosion caused material damage to a number of cars, that happened to be close to the venue of the blast. - Aswat al-Iraq

· Gunmen attacked a Christian church in central Baghdad on Sunday, detonating three bombs before fighting skirmishes with security forces, a security official said.  "It is an armed attack on the Our Lady of Salvation church. Three explosions occurred and our forces are surrounding the area. What's really going on isn't clear to us yet," said Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, spokesman for the Baghdad operations command.  Other police sources said two security guards were killed in the attack, which began with a loud explosion. One source said the attackers had taken hostages in the Assyrian Catholic church.  Some police sources said they believed the initial target was the nearby Iraqi stock exchange, a fledgling bourse that lists a couple of dozen local companies. - Reuters

· A total of 52 hostages have been killed and 56 people injured during a shoot-out between US and Iraqi forces and al-Qaeda-linked gunmen in a Catholic church in Baghdad. - AP

 

MONDAY

· Al Qaeda group The Islamic State of Iraq claimed its fighters had captured Christians, and gave the Coptic church in Egypt a 48-hour deadline to release alleged female captives, monitors said Monday.  The group said an "angry group of mujahedeen from among the supporters of Allah raided one of the filthy dens of idolatry that was always used by the Christians of Iraq as a headquarters to fight the religion of Islam and to support those who fight that religion," the monitoring group SITE said.  The statement was released after at least seven Christians were killed Sunday in a rescue operation involving U.S. and Iraqi forces to end a hostage drama at a church in Baghdad. – AFP

· An official source in the Iraqi military forces in Mosul said on Sunday that a mortar fell on headquarter of an Iraqi military regiment in the city. The blast caused four injuries among the soldiers.  The source, which preferred anonymity, explained that the soldier’s injuries vary in range, some of them are in dangerous conditions, and others are not. Noting that, “the mortar came from an unknown direction and hit the military’s troops headquarter in Harmat area West of Mosul.” - AKnews

· Security forces on Monday killed a suicide bomber in southern Arbil, according to a security source.  “Security authorities managed on Monday (Nov. 1) to kill a suicide bomb, who was trying to enter the city through the Qushtaba checkpoint on the Arbil-Kirkuk road, southern Kirkuk,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.  “The bomber was driving a car laden with 45 kg of explosive material,” he added, without giving further details. - Aswat al-Iraq