CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN PAKISTAN
A two-man suicide bombing of a Christian church in Peshawar, Pakistan, killed at least 78 people and wounded 141 more. It marks the deadliest-ever attack against Christians in Pakistan. The Jundullah branch of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Jundullah spokesperson Ahmad Marwat communicated that the attacks on non-Muslims are a response to the persistent U.S. drone strikes in the Pakistani west and insisted such attacks would continue until drone strikes stop altogether. Following the attacks, Pakistani Christian leaders implored Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to do more to protect them. Sharif has called for a fresh round of negotiations with the Taliban – a plan backed by Pakistan’s major political parties this month – but the Taliban continues attacking innocent civilians and has forwarded a series of preconditions that are unacceptable to the government. (AP, September 22, 2013)
TALIBAN DEPUTY LEADER RELEASED FROM PAK PRISON
Pakistan has released imprisoned Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. “Baradar,” meaning “brother,” is a name that was given to Ghani by Taliban leader Mullah Omar, reflecting his stature and influence in the organization. Baradar was arrested by the Pakistani security services several years ago amidst rumors that he was serving as an interlocutor between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan, many believed, wanted to position itself as the broker in any peace talks and thus detained Baradar. Despite requests by Kabul to release Baradar into Afghan custody, he will remain in Pakistan under constant supervision by the ISI. Questions remain about Baradar’s influence among the Afghan Taliban after years in Pakistani prison, but he remains one of the founding members of the Taliban, and a personal friend to many in the upper ranks of the leadership. (AP, September 21, 2013; Reuters, September 21, 2013))
AFGHAN ELECTION REFORM, ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
The National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s intelligence service, claims to have foiled a Taliban assassination plot targeting Professor Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf. Professor Sayyaf was a mujahideen leader during the Soviet resistance and is now a prominent Afghan politician and prospective presidential candidate. Sayyaf is one of the candidates President Karzai has suggested he could endorse, and is believed by some to be Karzai’s top pick. Sayyaf has also been a long-time critic of the Taliban regime and subsequent insurgency, condemning their operations as a violation of Islamic law. (Pajhwok, September 22, 2013)
President Karzai signed a more liberal and progressive election law in September, which retains the independence of an electoral complaints commission. Bolstering Afghan election monitoring capacity will hopefully lend the process more legitimacy come 2014. There are serious concerns both internally and internationally that if the election is perceived as fraudulent or unfair, it could significantly heighten the risk of sectarian or civil war in the aftermath of NATO’s departure next year. Additionally, if the international community judges the Afghan elections to be illegitimate, it could have an adverse affect on the substantial foreign aid the Afghan government relies on to survive. (Pakistan Observer, September 24, 2013)
BURMA SIGNS NUKE DEAL WITH UN
On September 17 Burma and the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement broadening the purview of atomic energy inspectors in Burma. This deal comes a year after a Burmese regime change that ended a decades-long military junta. Brokered with the intent to further normalize relations with the outside world, the agreement is designed to reassure the international community that Burma is not seeking to weaponize its nuclear program. Once the peaceful nature of the Burmese nuclear program is confirmed, the IAEA will be able to offer Burma additional assistance in developing its nuclear capabilities. This development assistance will help promote nuclear research in energy, agricultural, and medical fields. (Voice of America, September 17, 2013)