Senate Standing Committee on Defence Weekly Highlight of Stories and Events
during June 8 – July 3, 2015

1.    COAS and PM meeting to discuss India funding terrorism in Pakistan.

a.    BBC report alleging MQM-RAW ties were discussed.
b.    Internal security and war against terrorism was discussed. 
c.    Security at Pakistan’s Eastern and Western borders was examined. 

2.    Amnesty International criticized India for not making their troops accountable for human rights abuses in Indian-held Kashmir.

a.    India has been delaying the cases and denying prosecution under article 7 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
b.    AFSPA serves as a blank cheque for military forces to act unbridled. 
c.    The report also termed the Indian military courts as ‘unreliable’ and ‘dishonest’.

3.    U.S. State Department says Pakistan has not yet shared any information linking India to terror activities in Pakistan.

a.    During a recent visit,  Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said Pakistan had evidence of Indian  involvement in Pakistan. 
b.    U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby denied having knowledge about India’s involvement in Pakistan and vice-versa.
c.    Mr. Kirby urged both countries to resolve their issue through peaceful means. 

4.    Military train falls into canal near Gujranwala.

a.    Three bogies of a special train carrying army officials fell into a cana, killing atleast 19 people on board including 4 army officers.
b.    The deceased include Pakistan Army Engineering Battalion Unit Commander Lt. Col Amir Jadoon, his wife and two kids, Lt. Col Rashid, Major Adil, Lieutenant Kashif, Constable Islam, Lance Naik Zafar and staffers Babar and Aslam.
c.    A rescue train, two helicopters and other relief teams reached the crash site. 
d.    As many as 80 affected passengers have been rescued.

5.    IS-inspired militants arrested in Peshawar.

a.    Acting on intelligence services, security personnel raided a shop and arrested three alleged terrorists. 
b.    Laptops containing anti-army and pro-IS literature was confiscated. 
c.    Among the three arrested, two were Afghan nationals and one belonged to Mohmand agency.

6.    Pakistan Foreign Office say Nawaz-Modi may possibly meet at SCO summit.

a.    SCO summit is scheduled to take place in Russia.
b.    There has been no formal contact between the two leaders regarding any upcoming meetings.

7.    KP provincial government wants army to supervise local government re-elections.

a.    Polling for the re-elections of LG will be done on the 25th July, 2015.
b.    A request for the military has been placed to avoid rigging and other mismanagement during the polling process. 
c.    The decision to call the army was taken under article 245 of the Constitution. 

8.    Two Pakistan Army personnel injured in firing incident in South Waziristan Agency.

a.    Afghan National Army (ANA) fired at Pakistan military position in SWA.
b.    In retaliatory fire from the Pakistan end, an Afghan border guard was killed.
c.    Official sources say the dispute developed over Pakistan’s construction of a gate, “Bab-i-Waziristan”. And Afghan authorities have issued reservations about the plan.

9.    Second phase of IDPs return to North Waziristan Agency beings.

a.    Federal Disaster Management Unit (FDMU), upon the demands of the IDPs, has initiated their return to NWA.
b.    99 families residing in Bannu left for NWA. And a total of 4000 families would be returning to NWA in this second phase. 
c.    To facilitate the return of the IDPs, the government provides Rs25,000 in cash and Rs10,000 for transportation to the families.