On 13 February 2017, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar released a video announcing the launch of "Operation Ghazi", named after Abdul Rashid Ghazi who was killed in July 2007 inside the Lal Masjid.[4] The operation started with the suicide bombing at the Mall, in which 12 civilians and six police officers were killed.[1]
| Operation Ghazi | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the War on Terror | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan |
Supported by: | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Pakistan Chairman JCSC |
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Maulana Qazi Fazlullah | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
 Pakistan Army Pakistan Air ForceCivil Armed Forces  CIA drone strikesPakistan Police |
 Jamaat-ul-Ahrar | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 16 police officers killed,18+ injured[1][2] | 100+ militants killed[3] | ||||||
In the video, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar stated that its future targets would be legislative bodies Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and supporting institutions; interest-based economic institutions; INGOs/NGOs and civil society organisations involved in the advocacy of human rights, women's rights and community awareness campaigns; liberal writers, political leaders and workers; media persons; and coeducational private schools, colleges and universities.[4]
The Centrum Media released a video statement from Abdul Rashid Ghazi's son, Haroon Rasheed Ghazi, addressing Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. "We should come up with a political solution. This bloodshed is not in the interest of anyone. Our stance is very clear; we do not endorse any violent activities," he said.
Operation Radd ul Fasaad
editOn 22 February 2017, in response to the Operation Ghazi, Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (lit. "Elimination of Discord") across the country.[5] The operation aimed at indiscriminately eliminating residual threat of terrorism and consolidating gains of operations made so far. It further aimed at ensuring security of the borders. The countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control were laid as the additional objectives of the operation.[6]
Timeline
edit2017
editFebruary 2017
edit- On 13 February 2017, a suicide bombing took place on the Mall in Lahore, where a group of chemists and pharmaceutical personnel were demonstrating at the Charing Cross.[1]
- The same day, 2 officers of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were killed and 12 others were injured, when a bomb BDS personnel were trying to defuse went off. The bomb was placed near Karachi Stop on Saryab road, Quetta.[7][8][9]
- On 15 February 2017, two attacks occurred in Ghalanai and Peshawar. In the first attack in Ghalanai, a suicide bomber killed three policemen and two civilians near an administrative building in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. An accomplice was shot and killed. A second suicide bomber failed to cause any casualties when his suicide vest detonated prematurely.[2]
- In the Peshawar bombing, a vehicle carrying local judges and government officials was targeted by suicide bombers. The driver and a civilian were killed and five others were injured.[2]
- On 16 February, the Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department raided a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar hideout in Multan and killed 6 militants, who had resisted the operation with firing and explosives.[10]
- On 21 February 2017, suicide bombers targeted a sessions court in Tangi, Charsadda District. Seven persons were killed and 21 were injured.[11]
March 2017
edit- On 5 March 2017, Pakistani military confirmed that 10 militants were killed and five soldiers lost their lives in attacks that took place in Mohmand Agency.[12]
- On 17 March 2017, al-Jazeera reported that Jamaat-ur-Ahrar militants attacked a Pakistani military border post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan, killing two Pakistani soldiers. Six militants were also killed. Also that day a military operation in Rajgal Valley killed "several" LeI fighters, according to the Pakistani military media wing. Pakistan's military said it had foiled an attempted suicide attack on a paramilitary training centre in Shabqadar, in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, two suicide bombers and a soldier were killed in the attempted attack, while another soldier was wounded.[13]
- On 31 March 2017, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a blast outside a mosque in north-west Pakistan. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c Randhawa, Samiullah. "14 killed, over 100 wounded in Lahore blast". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Suicide bombings kill 6 in northwestern Pakistan". ABC.com. ABC. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Pakistan 'kills 1000 militants' after Sufi shrine attack". BBC. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Jamaat-ul-Ahrar gives details of its targets in a video". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Pakistan Army launches 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad' across the country". Dawn. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ "Army launches Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad against terrorists across the country". Express Tribune. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ "Two killed in Quetta IED blast - The Express Tribune". 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "Two cops killed, 6 injured in Quetta blast". Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "Two cops killed while defusing bomb in Quetta - SAMAA TV". Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "6 suspected Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants killed in CTD raid in Multan". Dawn. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "3 bombers killed during attack on Charsadda court: officials". Dawn. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ "Clashes on Pakistan-Afghanistan border kill 15". All Jazeera. 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Clashes hit Pakistan-Afghanistan border". Al-Jazeera. 17 March 2017.
- ^ "Pakistan blast: Parachinar bomb leaves at least 24 dead". BBC News. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.