DOMESTIC TERROR KILLS MORE THAN 900 IN 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000113 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017 TAGS: PGOV KCRM PTER PK SUBJECT: DOMESTIC TERROR KILLS MORE THAN 900 IN 2006 REF: 06 ISLAMABAD 6229 Classified By: Ryan C. Crocker, Ambassador. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: A well-regarded local think tank calculates that more than 900 Pakistanis died from terrorist-related attacks in 2006. In addition, more than 1,500 were wounded. The numbers, broken down by province and nature of the incidents, highlight the difficult domestic environment the government of Pakistan must deal with as it pursues its part in the Long War. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), established by Amir Rana in Lahore is a new (2002) but reputable think tank affiliated with the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore. Rana's books "A to Z of Jihadi Organizations in Pakistan" and "Seeds of Terrorism" caused him some problems with the intelligence agencies over allegations regarding the government's involvement with militant and extremist organizations. The "PIPS Security Report 2006" is their most recent product (available at www.san.pips.com/pk/Pakistan/Security.asp),detailing the extent to which terrorism and terrorists confronted security forces as well as how they affected state, public and private activities in each province. ¶3. (U) The PIPS report cites 657 terrorists attacks (which included 41 sectarian attacks or clashes) in 2006, resulting in 907 deaths and 1,543 injuries. According to the report, security forces arrested 1,552 suspected terrorists (1,094 Taliban and Afghans, 47 Al-Qaeda operatives, 213 nationalist insurgents and 198 "other militants"). The report claims 403 attacks in Balochistan, with 277 killed and 676 injured. Many attacks tied to the Baloch nationalist insurgency targeted government facilities and energy infrastructure. In the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),which experienced 144 attacks, 379 deaths and 307 injured, tribal militants and Taliban are blamed for most of the violence, but sectarian clashes between rival tribes in Khyber Agency also disturbed the area. North West Frontier Province (NWFP) suffered 60 terrorist attacks and sectarian clashes, resulting in 139 dead, and 303 wounded. The densely populated Punjab was relatively peaceful, experiencing only 28 attacks, that resulted in 28 killed and 126 injuries. Sindh province experienced 19 terrorist attacks, with 81 dead and 127 injured; one bombing in Karachi,at a religious congregation at Nishter Park (reftel),killed 57 and wounded 100. The Northern Areas generally remained peaceful; three terrorist attacks resulted in three deaths and four injured. ¶4. (U) Post notes that PIPS' statistics are roughly consistent with those reported by other terrorism analysts and GOP interlocuters. CROCKER