PESHAWAR – Investigators are seeing the use of Afghanistan-based cellular networks’ SIMs in the recent bombings, kidnappings and other terrorist activities, but still exploring ways and means to curb the menace. “We are discussing how to counter this tactic of both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban militants,” well-placed sources confided to Pakistan Today.
The militants are using Afghanistan cellular numbers to stop investigators and security agencies from intercepting their communication tools. The Afghanistan cellular numbers have already been reported to have been operational in the tribal belt along the Western Afghan border. An official in one of the security agencies said, “We have some clues that an Afghan cellular number was used in the deadly suicide bombing on Pakistan Army jawans in Mardan on February 10.
The planners might have been using Afghan SIMs either here or calling from across the border,” he suspected. However, a security official believed the phone calls might have been received from the border area where Afghan cellular companies’ networks are working. But this cannot be used elsewhere. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has been repeatedly claiming that the security situation can improve if this issue is seriously taken by the Afghan side as many Pakistan militants have hidden in the remote eastern provinces of Afghanistan.
Intelligence reports have also indicated that Pakistani Taliban from Swat, Dir, Bajaur and Mohmand tribal agencies have fled to Afghanistan after the security forces launched operations in their former stronghold areas. Another reliable source said the detained Afghan and Pakistani Taliban militants had also got Afghan SIMs and used them when they had to communicate with their commanders.
This new tactic has also been a serious problem for the investigators and law-enforcement agencies when some high-value kidnapping takes place and the kidnappers want to call the family of the kidnapped person through the said SIM to avoid interception of the security agencies.
A senior security analyst and former military officer, Brig (retd) Mahmood Shah, told Pakistan Today that the militants might have brought Afghan SIMs from across the border and could use them in the remote border areas, but, generally, the service was restricted to that part alone.
“When the militants use Afghan cellular numbers in other parts like Peshawar, Mardan, Swat etc, they use roaming service which can be rejected by Pakistani companies if found suspicious,” Shah said.
