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Week in Review, Oct 5-9

October 9, 2009 in Afghanistan, Foreign Aid, IDPs, Pakistan, Terrorism, Week in Review | 1 comment

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-09-voa5.cfm

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-09-voa5.cfm

The week ended as it began… with a suicide bombing.  The violence moved from the capital westward to the North West Frontier Province city of Peshawar.

Click here for the story.

It was the deadliest attack in Pakistan in more than six months.  I know several people from that area, and they say the market where the blast occurred is in the center of the city and at a major crossroads for people either traveling to Afghanistan or Islamabad.

Following the explosion, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government has “no option” but to go on the offensive against the militants, specifically in South Waziristan.

In this week’s “Reporter’s Notebook” radio talk show, I discuss today’s attack and how it may affect the government’s response toward militants in the tribal regions.  I also break down the Kerry-Lugar bill, Pakistan’s response toward it and I give a quick react from Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s ruling political party regarding President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.  (Click here for that story.)

Click here for my “Reporter’s Notebook” segment.

Looking ahead, Afghan election officials are expected to formally declare a winner in Afghanistan’s presidential election by late next week.

I spoke earlier to Dan McNorton, a U.N. spokesman in Kabul.  We discussed the The Washington Post’s article, which quoted confidential U.N. data that allegedly shows voter fraud, mainly in favor of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Click here for the story.

Unofficial vote tallies indicate Mr. Karzai leads with 54-percent.  If his lead falls below 50 percent, he could face his top challenger Abdullah Abdullah in a runoff.  There is a lot of uncertainty — both political and regarding security — as we head into next week.  Stay tuned…

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Islamabad on High Alert After WFP Blast

October 6, 2009 in Foreign Aid, Pakistan, Terrorism, Violence | 1 comment

http://www.wfp.org

http://www.wfp.org

Pakistan’s capital remains on high alert a day after a suicide bombing targeted the U.N. food agency’s headquarters in Islamabad.

The Pakistani Taliban’s spokesman said his group was responsible for the attack.  In a phone call to reporters from an undisclosed location, he said organizations such as the World Food Program are promoting what he calls a Western agenda in the country.

Click here for the story.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said authorities had detained nearly two dozen people for questioning.

The WFP offices are located on a street that already has high security due to other nearby U.N. agencies.  Also, across the main road is Pakistani President Asif Ali Zadari’s civilian residence, which is a hub for political activity in the capital.

Today authorities released the CCTV camera footage of the moments before the blast.  (Footage begins about 30 seconds into the video.  And please ignore the added sound effects.)

Pakistani officials say the bomber, who appeared to be in his mid-twenties, was disguised in a paramilitary uniform.  He approached the hired security guards outside the compound’s imposing gate and asked to be allowed inside so that he could use the bathroom.

The WFP’s spokesman for Pakistan, Amjed Jamal, told me the bomber exploded his device inside a reception area.  He said the building had blast proof windows, among other security precautions.  Unfortunately, the bomber appeared to have chosen an area that had several people in it.  Three of Jamal’s colleagues died at the scene.  Two more died in the hospital.

All U.N. offices in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi were temporarily closed following Monday’s blast.  But Jamal says the United Nations is continuing to help Pakistanis through their partner agencies.

Jamal disagrees with the Taliban’s claims that the WFP is promoting any sort of Western agenda.  He said it best in my story today:  “We are a humanitarian organization.  We are working here for the people of Pakistan and for the people being affected by the acts of terrorism.”

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