BRIEFS

JAILED TALIBAN LEADERS PLAN MILITARY OFFENSIVES FROM PRISON

A September 4 report on Afghanistan’s Aina TV explained how jailed Taliban leaders in Kabul’s Pol-e Charkhi Prison have been able to coordinate attacks against Afghan and foreign forces in Helmand province. The network interviewed the head of the Kabul Security Department, who was quoted in Pashto saying that the Taliban leaders in the prison “have contacts with the Taliban in Musa Qala District…They said that they established a seminary inside the prison.” The security chief explained that the prison operates under an internal political organization led by the Taliban and the Hezb-e-Islami party. According to the chief, “We had prisons 10 to 20 years ago, but have not witnessed such agitation in the prisons [as we do now].”

TWO WOMEN BEHEADED IN PAKISTAN’S NORTH-WEST FRONTIER

In a new development in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), two women were beheaded as a result of “immoral activities” (Dawn, September 8). The bodies were discovered in Bannu District, which borders North Waziristan, on September 7. The women were first kidnapped, and then a day later their bodies were found in the Baran Dam area of the district. While beheadings are common in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the NWFP, this marks “the first time that women have been beheaded,” according to Karachi-based Dawn. The entire area has suffered from an “anti-vice campaign” launched by religious militants, who have attacked video and CD shops, barbershops, internet cafes and a number of other entities that are deemed anti-Islamic.

FORUM POSTING BOASTS 3,000 SUICIDE BOMBERS READY IN IRAQ

A new posting on Islamist forums warns that “the holy month of Ramadan is going to be a blazing fire that will consume the enemies in Iraq.” The statement alleges that the Islamic State of Iraq has 3,000 suicide bombers prepared for operations during the month of Ramadan, which officially begins on the evening of September 12. The posting explains that the information on the planned operations was acquired in a conversation with an Islamic State of Iraq operative who was using the messaging service PalTalk.

PAKISTAN CREATES TASK FORCE TO PROTECT CHINESE WORKERS

Chinese workers in Pakistan’s FATA and NWFP are increasingly the victims of attack by Taliban and other militants. In order to combat the rising incidences, the Pakistani government has set up a Provincial Government Task Force to safeguard Chinese workers in the NWFP (Daily Times, September 8). The task force, created by the Interior Ministry, will involve personnel from Pakistani intelligence agencies, the police force, the Frontier Corps and the Frontier Constabulary. According to the Lahore-based Daily Times, there are 559 foreigners in the NWFP and 513 of those are Chinese.