FDD's Long War Journal

ISAF, Afghan forces killed deputy shadow governor in the north

Bahadur had close ties to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an al Qaeda affiliate, and was also linked to Taliban leaders in Pakistan.

India

India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations

Afghanistan

US efforts fail to convince Pakistan’s top general to target Taliban

US Predators strike 3 times in North Waziristan

Four “foreigners” were reported killed in one of the strikes.

Danish newspaper plotter arrested twice before

One of the suspects arrested this week for allegedly plotting an attack against the Danish newspaper that published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed had been arrested twice before. He and his supporters claimed both times that he was merely vacationing.

South Waziristan Taliban free captive tribal leaders

The Taliban in South Waziristan are attempting to show who is really in charge in the lawless tribal agency after the Pakistani Army offensive that was launched in October 2009. Last week, the Taliban kidnapped 23 tribal leaders after they met with General Kayani, the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, during his visit to South […]

ISAF continues to target IMU leaders in the Afghan north

The US has targeted the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan during three raids over the past month. Despite suffering losses to its leadership cadre, the IMU continues to operate in the north in conjunction with the Taliban.

India

India’s National Investigation Agency said the Students Islamic Movement of India (or SIMI) is directly linked to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. SIMI and the Lashkar-e-Taiba have carried out multiple suicide attacks and bombings in India.

India

Pakistan says it will defend spy chief in US suits

Suicide assault team kills Mosul emergency police chief

The commander of the 1st Emergency Battalion in Mosul had been targeted by al Qaeda on five other occasions. He had recently killed al Qaeda’s top leader in the city.

Afghanistan

2011 decisive for US strategy in Pakistan, Afghanistan

Afghanistan

US: No way to seal Afghan-Pakistan border

United Arab Emirates

A court is trying two Pakistani brothers accused of “running a jihadi organization and aiding and abetting al Qaeda.” The two men are also said to have had direct communications with senior al Qaeda leaders.

Iran

Iran executed two men, including one who was accused of being an “Israeli spy.” Interior Minister Najjar accused the CIA and Mossad of sponsoring terror groups based in Pakistan such as Jundallah.

US Predators strike again in North Waziristan

The airstrikes killed 15 Taliban fighters in an area used for staging attacks into Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

A Taliban suicide bomber killed three people in Kandahar. The Taliban killed an ISAF soldier in the south. Coalition and Afghan forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters in Ghazni, Helmand, and Kapisa. President Karzai’s spokesman urged Pakistan to stop supporting the Taliban.

Afghanistan

States of conflict: An update on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan

US Predators kill 25 ‘rebels’ in pair of strikes in North Waziristan

The strikes are the first in 10 days, and the first in the Mir Ali area since the end of November.

Iran

Interior Minister Najjar said that he still cannot confirm reports that Pakistan arrested Jundallah leader Abdul Rauf Rigi. Iran agreed to lift a three-week-long blockade of fuel tankers entering Afghanistan. A court sentenced an “Israeli” spy” to death.

Why 2011 is too early for drawdown in Afghanistan

This article from The New York Times on the Andar district in the southeastern Afghan province of Ghazni highlights some of the challenges that Coalition and Afghan forces face in tackling areas of the country that have been ungoverned for years. “And how long has it been since you’ve seen the governor?” the commander, Capt. […]