C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000113
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV, KCRM, PTER, PK
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC TERROR KILLS MORE THAN 900 IN 2006
REF: 06 ISLAMABAD 6229
Classified By: Ryan C. Crocker, Ambassador. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) SUMMARY: A well-regarded local think tank calculates
that more than 900 Pakistanis died from terrorist-related
attacks in 2006. In addition, more than 1,500 were wounded.
The numbers, broken down by province and nature of the
incidents, highlight the difficult domestic environment the
government of Pakistan must deal with as it pursues its part
in the Long War. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS),
established by Amir Rana in Lahore is a new (2002) but
reputable think tank affiliated with the International Center
for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.
Rana's books "A to Z of Jihadi Organizations in Pakistan" and
"Seeds of Terrorism" caused him some problems with the
intelligence agencies over allegations regarding the
government's involvement with militant and extremist
organizations. The "PIPS Security Report 2006" is their most
recent product (available at
www.san.pips.com/pk/Pakistan/Security.asp), detailing the
extent to which terrorism and terrorists confronted security
forces as well as how they affected state, public and private
activities in each province.
3. (U) The PIPS report cites 657 terrorists attacks (which
included 41 sectarian attacks or clashes) in 2006, resulting
in 907 deaths and 1,543 injuries. According to the report,
security forces arrested 1,552 suspected terrorists (1,094
Taliban and Afghans, 47 Al-Qaeda operatives, 213 nationalist
insurgents and 198 "other militants"). The report claims
403 attacks in Balochistan, with 277 killed and 676 injured.
Many attacks tied to the Baloch nationalist insurgency
targeted government facilities and energy infrastructure. In
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which
experienced 144 attacks, 379 deaths and 307 injured, tribal
militants and Taliban are blamed for most of the violence,
but sectarian clashes between rival tribes in Khyber Agency
also disturbed the area. North West Frontier Province (NWFP)
suffered 60 terrorist attacks and sectarian clashes,
resulting in 139 dead, and 303 wounded. The densely populated
Punjab was relatively peaceful, experiencing only 28 attacks,
that resulted in 28 killed and 126 injuries. Sindh province
experienced 19 terrorist attacks, with 81 dead and 127
injured; one bombing in Karachi,at a religious congregation
at Nishter Park (reftel), killed 57 and wounded 100. The
Northern Areas generally remained peaceful; three terrorist
attacks resulted in three deaths and four injured.
4. (U) Post notes that PIPS' statistics are roughly
consistent with those reported by other terrorism analysts
and GOP interlocuters.
CROCKER