An Overview
South Asian security landscape showed mixed trends of peace and volatility, with an increase of 135 % in overall casualty rate compared to the previous month.  This month at least at least 1038 people were killed and 1071 others were injured, in various incidents of militancy, insurgencies and ethno-political violence across the region. Pakistan remained the most unstable country with 610 killings and 745 injuries in various incidents of terrorism, ethnic and sectarian strife, politically motivated targeted killings, drone strikes and military operations. Meanwhile, Afghanistan was the second most volatile country where 393 people were killed and 251 others were wounded due to pervasive terrorist and insurgents assails-- including five suicide attacks and counter terrorism operations. Whereas in India, 16 people were killed and 11 others were injured as Maoist insurgents intensified their attacks against civilians and police personnel along with damaging the government installations. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a relative increase in the casualty rate witnessing 14 killings and 16 injuries. In Nepal casualties in some low intensity bomb blasts caused panic in the country. However, with the exception of some minor incidents of political violence an overall calm and peaceful situation was witnessed in Maldives and Sri Lanka. (See Chart1)

 1-Afghanistan[1]
In Afghanistan the security situation was volatile as various incidents of violence left 393 people –among them 132 civilians, 197 militants, eight soldiers of Afghan National Army (ANA), 30 troops of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and 26 Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel—killed. Whereas, 251 people –including 160 civilians, 28 militants, 14 ISAF, 11 ANA and 28 policemen were wounded. This reporting month Taliban militants carried out five suicide attacks that usually targeted  convoys of  Afghan and NATO-ISAF forces in Nanghar and Kapsia, a training center of ISAF forces in Kunduz and non-combatants in Zabul.[2] Meanwhile, during their search and hunt operations ANP and ANA forces apprehended 130 suspected militants including some would-be suicide bombers, commanders of Hizb-e- Islam Afghanistan (HIA) and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). In addition to this as many as 275 militants surrendered to security forces in different areas of the country. However, Taliban militants kidnapped civilians and some pro-government tribal elders in a bid to derail the ongoing peace process. The Taliban also snatched militants in security forces’ custody, at times in an apparent bid to prevent captured militants from playing a role in facilitating contacts with fellow militants with a view to spur moves towards peace.

In recent months mounting civilian casualties in Afghan conflict have been a constant source of friction between Afghan government and its western allies. Various reports of different independent human rights organizations and think-tanks offer differing accounts of such casualties in Afghan conflict. Few reports consider indiscriminate use of excessive power by NATO/ISAF forces against Taliban insurgents responsible for this increase while few others consider tactics like suicide attacks by Taliban militants as a possible source for this increase.  

In this regard a recent report of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has noted in the first quarter of 2011, Taliban fighters were responsible for 167 of the civilian deaths while the NATO-led coalition was responsible for 117 civilian casualties.[3] Afghan President Hamdi Karazi has severely criticized killings of the civilians in the NATO air strikes against the insurgents.[4] In response the NATO forces insisted on improving the operation mechanisms through increased coordination between the coalition forces to reduce the civilian deaths.

Keeping in view US exit strategy from Afghanistan a number of views and analyses have filled the air. Some experts and political analysts believe that power and security transition can only work with active of international community. They believe Afghan security forces possess the ability to take over the charge of security responsibilities, however, without sustained support of international community –including the provision of modern technology and weaponry to fight with the militants—such plans cannot be realized.[5]

2-India[6]
In the reporting month as many as 16 people –including three civilians, four security forces personnel and 9 militants— were killed while 11 others including- two civilians, eight police personnel and one army soldier - were injured in different insurgent attacks.  During the search and hunt operations police force arrested 6 militants from Bihar while the Government Railway Police recovered arms and ammunition from the Howrah Railway station.  

In Chhattisgarh, Indian police force burnt three villages as a warning to those tribals accused of sympathizing with the Maoists. Moreover the intelligence authorities also declared that prominent Maoists leaders were present in the nearby areas.[7] Whereas the Vidhan Sabha, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar blamed the Maoists saying that they have ambushed the security forces, burnt the villages and fled.

3-Kashmir[8]
After a hiatus of two months casualties were once again on the rise due to a few violent incidents in Kashmir claiming lives of 14 people --including one civilian, 12 militants and one police personnel-- while  16 others –among them 12 civilians and four police officials—were also injured. Meanwhile in the aftermath of recent blowing up of a railway track in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said there are an estimated 50 militants active in the three central districts of the state including Srinagar.[9] The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s proposed an idea to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Jammu and Kashmir to probe killings and cases of disappearances in the past 20 years. The announcement evoked a mixed reaction from various quarters.[10] The Senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Ashok Khajuria described this idea as “anti-national” and “threat to India’s security.” He remarked, “I want to tell the Chief Minister that there can be no reconciliation with those who want independence and accession with Pakistan”.[11]

Whereas, resumption of talks between Pakistan and India has once again raised hopes of Kashmiri political leadership and freedom fighters to find a peaceful solution to the dispute through political process. However, the peace process initiated by the Indian Prime Minister is not supported by Indian army as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt General K T Parnaik declared ‘freedom (Azadi)’ or accession to Pakistan is not the answer to Kashmir issue and also that no political or economic solution could be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir unless “overt and covert interference” of Pakistan was not neutralized.[12] Therefore the political parties of Kashmir along with the separatists groups need to unite for their struggle.

4-Nepal[13]
The security situation of Nepal remained volatile due to violent incidents of serial bomb blasts in its southern bordering areas targeting the public buses. These violent incidents left one civilian dead and 38 others injured. This aggravated defense challenges that impelled the security forces to take various protective measures especially at the entry points of the country. The government also initiated talks with all "armed political outfits" active in the country.

During the reporting month the escalation of the activities of armed alliance of radical royalists, Hindu groups and army loyalists operating in Terai remained a subject of discussion during a high level meeting.[14] Regarding these attacks as an attempt of violating the Human Rights, the rights watchdog asserted that such terrorizing activities challenge the entire security system amidst the peace process and the constitution-making process in progress in the country.[15]

The constitution drafting that is expected to be finalized in the May 2011, has opened new trajectories at the political front where the main political parties are trying to build consensus on core issues and reducing the differences between them. The three major parties – United Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN) (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML)- have agreed  on preparation of modality of the Maoist combatants’ integration to complete the integration process before the promulgation of the new constitution.[16] To make the integration process easier the members of the secretariat under the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) have agreed to work out an action plan for the rehabilitation of Maoist combatants and implement it before beginning the process of army integration.[17] At this level the political parties should look at their political future and practice the reforms they are committed with to find democratic solution of the political menace.

5-Sri Lanka[18]
With the exception of some minor incidents of political violence the overall security situation remained peaceful. These violent incidents left four civilians dead and 10 others –including nine civilian and a police personnel—wounded.

As a continuous endeavor to eradicate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) ideological effects from the society, government reintegrated over 200 rehabilitated former LTTE rebels to the society. At the same time Sri Lankans and the members of the union of Anarchists staged a protest demanding release of the detained Tamil man whose release orders had been issued by the Supreme Court.[19]

6-Maldives[20]
Maldive’s internal safety was threatened owing to a few violent political protests against the government and increasing criminal gang nexus with the political groups.  At the same time the defense and security forces took serious notice of the panic caused by an international news paper’s claim portraying Maldives is providing sanctuaries to the Al Qaeda members having links with Somalia. Refuting such reports Maldive’s Press Secretary of the President’s Office, Mohamed Zuhair termed it as a blunt lie.[21] Whereas, The Media Coordinator of National Defense Force (MNDF), Major Abdurraheem maintained, “MNDF has conducted full aerial surveillance operations of the Maldivian seas with the help of Indian Air Force. He added that they found no signs of any such terrorist activities. Also the Maldives Police Service took serious notice of the published claims saying that they had not received any information of any base operated by either Maldivians or foreigners in the country.[22]

7-Pakistan
See the conflict and security report on Pakistan available at https://san-pips.com/index.php?action=reports&id=184