With over 2,000 civilian lives lost and around 700 security personnel killed, Pakistan continued to experience significant terrorist violence, including sectarian attacks in 2012, a US annual report said.
The State Department report, submitted to US Congress, also noted that during the last year Islamabad remained a key partner in the fight against al Qaeda.
In its strategic assessment, the report noted importantly that terrorist safe havens existed on both sides of Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
“Pakistan took steps to support an Afghan peace process and publicly called on the Taliban to enter into talks with the Afghan government,” the report said.
“Over 2,000 Pakistani civilians and 680 security forces personnel were killed in terrorist-related incidents in 2012. Terrorist incidents occurred in every province.”
Furthermore, the report said that terrorists attacked Pakistani military units, police stations, and border checkpoints and conducted coordinated attacks against two major military installations. Terrorists displayed videos on the Internet of the murders and beheadings of security forces. Terrorist groups also targeted police and security officials with suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Terrorist groups targeted and assassinated tribal elders, members of peace committees and anti-Taliban government officials. The TTP often claimed responsibility for attacks targeting civilians and security personnel in Pakistan.
“In 2012, Pakistan remained an important partner in counterterrorism efforts against al Qaeda. Pakistan also undertook operations against terrorist groups that carried out attacks within Pakistan, such as the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan or Pakistani Taliban,” the report on worldwide terrorism situation said.
Regarding Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts, the report noted that the Pakistani officials continued to make public statements against terrorism and violent extremism.
“The widely publicised shooting of a 14-year-old girl, Malala Yousufzai, by the TTP led to public calls for the government to do more against terrorist groups.”
In March, Pakistan’s parliament affirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism and countering violent extremism. The government of Pakistan also moved forward several pieces of counterterrorism legislation, the report noted.
In its strategic assessment, the report said that al Qaeda core, under the direction of Ayman al-Zawahiri, had been significantly degraded as a result of ongoing worldwide efforts against the organisation.
Osama bin Laden’s death was the most important milestone in the fight against al Qaeda but there had been other successes, it said, adding that dozens of senior militant leaders had been removed from the fight in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
Recounting losses of some key operatives in 2011 and 2012, the report concludes that “as a result of these leadership losses, the al Qaeda core’s ability to direct the activities and attacks of its affiliates has diminished, as its leaders focus increasingly on survival.”
At the same time, the report claimed that despite leadership losses the al Qaeda core still had the ability to inspire, plot and launch regional and transnational attacks.
“Along with al Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, and other like-minded groups continue to conduct operations against US, coalition, Afghan, and Pakistani interests from safe havens on both sides of the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.”
During the last year, the report claimed that Pakistan did not take significant action against some other groups, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT).
US SILENT OVER BREAKDOWN OF PEACE TALKS AFTER DRONE ATTACK
Meanwhile, the State Department on Thursday said the United States and Pakistan had a vital shared strategic interest in taking forward their counter-terror process forward.
Spokesperson Jen Psaki had no comment on the Taliban’s decision on backing out from the talks offer in the aftermath of an American drone strike, which reported killed Waliur Rehman, a key militant commander.
The spokesperson said Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador James Dobbins, who visited Pakistan this week, underscored Washington’s commitment to work with the new democratic government to build strong mutually beneficial relationship.
During the two-day visit – Dobbins’ first to the country in his new capacity – the special envoy met with incoming prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Kayani. He spoke by phone with President Asif Ali Zardari, who was in Karachi at the time.
“He offered congratulations to the people of Pakistan on the historic May 11th elections and underscored the United States commitment to working with the next democratically elected government to build a strong, mutually beneficial bilateral relationship,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
gangsters and foreign agents coming from Afghanistan in Burqas
Is it not possible if USA leaves us alone to handle the issue. Why USA is poking its nose all the time in our internal affairs. We have already sacrificed a lot for them. The friend of america, Mushrraf as claimed by junior Bush, is already behind the bar .
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