BRIEFS

SECURITY OFFICER DECAPITATED IN SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi security forces recently discovered the body of a security officer who was murdered at his home in al-Qasim region, northeast of the capital Riyadh (Asharq al-Awsat, April 15). The officer, identified as Colonel Nasser al-Othmani, is believed to have been the head of one of the security agencies in al-Qasim (Arab News, April 16; Asharq al-Awsat, April 15). Al-Othmani had apparently been decapitated, leading authorities to believe that his death was the work of Islamist terrorists. Saudi Arabia, which has suffered from Islamist terrorist attacks since 2003, has recently appeared to regain control over its domestic security situation, but concerns about a possible resurgence of Islamist terrorist attacks inside the country remain. In fact, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz recently announced that the Interior Ministry may release a new list of most wanted terrorist suspects deemed threatening to the kingdom.

PAKISTAN ESTABLISHES NEW TRIBAL FORCE IN BALOCHISTAN

In a sign of Pakistan’s difficulties in curbing attacks on infrastructure in Balochistan province, the provincial government has announced plans to establish a new tribal force in Bolan district to protect government infrastructure (Dawn, April 23). The tribal force will be deployed to protect railway tracks, power lines and gas pipelines that connect Quetta with the rest of Pakistan. Militants consistently attack critical infrastructure in the province, especially in Bolan, which serves as a hub for many of these lines. The first phase of the government’s plan involves inducting 100 men from various tribes in the district to maintain security at critical points between the Dhadar and Kolpur areas of Bolan (Dawn, April 23). In the past, the government has created similar tribal forces to protect key areas of the province.