An Overview
South Asian security landscape was marred with mounting militant attacks in Pakistan especially reprisal attacks launched by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other pro-al-Qaeda militant groups, in the aftermath of Osama Bin Laden’s assassination. In the back drop of Badar Offensive (Spring Offensive) declared by Afghan Taliban Shura on April 30 this year, Taliban insurgents stepped up their attacks in parts of Afghanistan, scheduled to be handed over to Afghan security forces in July this year. Meanwhile India’s internal security situation deteriorated owing to Maosit-led pre and post poll violence in parts of eastern India. At the same in Indain Administered Kashmir, cross-border infiltration of militants and armed clashes between suspected militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT); violent public demonstrations in Nepal for a timely completion of constitution writing; criminal violence and armed protests in Sri Lanka were also among then prominent features of South Asian security landscape in this month.  

Conflict related casualties across South Asia registered an increase of 12 percent in May compared to fatality figures recorded in April.  Pakistan was the most volatile country of the region where 665 people were killed and around 698 others were injured in various incidents of terrorism, sectarian strife, nationalist insurgent attacks and incidents of ethno- political violence. Meanwhile in Afghanistan terrorism related incidents left as many as 1,007 people dead and injured 201 others injured. Similarly in India as many as 113 people were killed and 88 others were wounded. Kashmir witnessed 20 casualties including 17 fatalities and 3 injuries. Whereas in Sri Lanka the peaceful situation wavered due to violent demonstrations of the locals on civil issues injuring almost 54 people. Situation in Nepal was peaceful with the exception one incident of target killing and a Maoist-led assault on a village resulting in 13 casualties. Maldives remained calm and peaceful security wise. (See Chart1)

1-Afghanistan[1]
In the backdrop of Badar Offensive (Spring Offensive) declared by Afghan Taliban in April this year, an upsurge of 23 percent was witnessed in the attacks and ambushes of Afghan Taliban against US-led NATO/ISAF forces. It is pertinent to mention that the current augmentation of Taliban attacks in Afghanistan should not be seen as a concerted campaign of revenge attacks by Taliban for assassination of former Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden —in a May 2 US raid in northern Pakistani city of Abbotabad—but extension of Badar Offensive which was declared two days ahead of his killing. What further validates this assertion is the statement issued by Afghan Taliban Shura after Bin Laden’s killing. The statement was carefully crafted and constructed. Though, Afghan Taliban eulogized the services of Osama Bin Laden for the cause of jihad but did not pledge any attacks to take revenge of his killing.[2]

Cross-border militant movement from Pakistani tribal areas to Afghanistan was another contentious issue of Afghanistan’s security landscape, as in almost all high profile assassination traces of foreign involvement were observed. For instance, the suicide bombers of attacks on Kabul military hospital and General Daud were suspected to be Pakistani nationals. Moreover, in the reporting month US-led NATO/ISAF forces killed several militants—including would-be suicide bombers—who were nationals of Pakistani France and Morocoo.[3] Tensions further mounted between Pakistan and Afghanistan when the Afghan Intelligence chief leveled an accusation that the spring offensive was planned in Pakistan’s south-western Balochistan province.[4] However, while admitting the presence of Afghan Taliban in Pakistan Salman Bashir, the foreign secretary of Pakistan, strongly refuted the claims of Afghan army chief, during his recent visit to Kabul.[5]

In conflict related casualties at least 1,007 people—including 238 civilians, 632militants, 29 International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) troops, 103 troops of Afghan National Police (ANP) and five Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel—were killed. Meanwhile 201 others—among them 61 civilians, 35 ANP, 61 militants, 11 ANA and 22 ISAF personnel—were injured.

Meanwhile it was also witnessed in the reporting month that ahead of US-led NATO/ISAF forces’ scheduled withdrawal and  transfer of security responsibilities to Afghan secuirty forces in different parts of Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents are employing various lethal tactics including the suicide bombers to undermine the security transition plan. This month at least 19 suicide attacks were reported in different parts of Afghanistan which were perpetrated against a variety of targets including the security icon ANP Chief of Northern zone General Muhammad Daud and six strings of suicide attacks on the Governor office and Intelligence service office in Kandahar.
(See Table 1)

For last few months mounting civilian casualties in NATO night air raids have been a bone of contention between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO forces. Owing to further killings of civilians at the hands of NATO forces, during the reporting month, President Karzai gave a stern last warning to the NATO Forces to end unilateral airstrike.[6] However, ISAF spokesman Brigadier General Josef Blotz rejected President Kara’s  warning and maintained that  night raids are essential for targeting the militants but the collateral damage cannot be reduced.[7]

With Germany’s mediation secret talks between the US and Taliban were underway in Germany. In these secret meeting State Department and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials represented the American side, while Agha Tayyab (personal spokesman of Mullah Muhammad Umar) represented Afghan Taliban. Previously these talks were held were held in Qatar in December 2010 as well.

2-India[8]
In India, during the reporting month, left wing guerillas stepped up their attacks in the insurgency hit areas of the “Red Corridor” to sabotage the assembly polls. The states of Central and Eastern India prominently Maharashter, Jharkand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh witnessed the highest level of unrest caused by the Maoists assails targeting the security forces, government officials, construction sites and schools.

Moreover, political violence and clashes between the security forces and militants further added to already grim security situation. Such incidents claimed lives of 113 people—including 51 civilians, 46 Central Reserved Police Force (CPRF) personnel and 16 militants;  while injuring 88 others—among them 18 civilians, 59 CPRF officials and 11 militants.

During security forces’ comb and hunt operation a number of Maoist leaders and commanders were arrested from various states while a few Maoists including the women cadres also surrendered to the security forces. Meanwhile owing to increasing Maoist activities in Orissa and the Chhattisgarh police has decided to carry out joint operations against the Maoists.[9] In this realm in a bid to get the army jawans trained in the art of guerilla warfare, a special training camp was planned for them in the densely forested areas of Chhattisgarh.[10]

3-Kashmir[11]
The security situation across Jammu and Kashmir remained more or less the same with incidents of clashes reported between suspected Lashker-e- Taiba (LeT) militants and armed forces. In these violent incidents 17 people—including four civilians, three army personnel and 10 militants were killed while, three others including two civilians and one militant were injured. The issue of cross-border militant infiltration into Indian Administered Kashmir from Pakistan also punctuated the security landscape in the area. The killing of an alleged militant by the Border Security Forces (BSF), in an apparent infiltration bid validated the concerns of Indian intelligence and security officials. The statement of Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram about cross border militant infiltration coupled with the aforementioned killing of a suspected LeT activist suggests that the militant activity has increased in Kashmir.

4-Nepal[13]
A couple of  violent incidents, strikes and public demonstrations demanding timely compeletion of constitution writing  raised law and order problem in Nepal.[14] Moreover, in a incident of target killing one United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-Maoists) cadre was killed while 12 civilians were injured, when Maoists of PLA attacked the villagers of Kamaljhoda of Chulachuli.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s political stalemate, due to the plodding constitution writing and militant’s integration, slowed down process of political transformation. The unmet deadline of the 28th May 2011 of the constitution writing and extension in the term of Constitution Assembly (CA) raised concerns of the Nepal’s people waiting for a stable system of governance under a functional government.[15] This inability of the political apparatus in managing an overly delayed government formation process owing to insurmountable differences between UCPN, Nepali Congress (NC) and United Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (UMLC) has also added to sense of insecurity and uncertainty in Nepal.[16]

5-Sri Lanka[17]
The security situation of Sri Lanka showed mixed trends owing to criminal activities and violent public rioting on civil issues like Trade Union Bills and pension raise. These public demonstrations became serious security concerns due to security forces’ forceful retaliation involving 350 air and military men.[18] The ensuing clashes after retaliation from security forces left 42 protestors and 12 police personnel injured which resulted in a sudden rise in injured casualties across the country. At the same time the scheduled leadership training program initiated by the government raised serious humanitarian concerns over making it compulsory for every new student entering the university to attend this training at the army camps. Various political parties and the opposition dubbed the training as militarization of youth while the Education Authorities testified it saying the training was aimed at promoting ‘positive thinking and attitudes in university students.[19] Despite much resistance by the opposition turn up of the students on the training day remained encouraging.[20]

Meanwhile, from the lessons learnt in the aftermath of the three decade long civil war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lankan army is determined to continue its counter terrorism struggle against LTTE. While in an effort to minimize militant activity inland and meet the international pressure the government strictly ordered at probing the international linkages of LTTE after Norway’s banning of the outfit and arrest of their operative.[21]

7-Maldives[22]
With no incidents of violence reported there, Maldives remained most peaceful country of South Asia.

8-Pakistan
See the conflict and security report on Pakistan available at https://san-pips.com/index.php?action=reports&id=201

[1] For complete statement of Afghan Taliban on Osama’ death see http://occident.blogspot.com/2011/05/afghanistan-taliban-leadership-council.html. last visited May 10, 2011
[2] Statistics and information is based on Pajhwok- Afghan News Agency- reports, news and archives available at http://www.pajhwok.com.
[3] “5 militants killed, French, Moroccan held in Zabul,” Pajhwok, May 10, 2011.
[4] “Taliban's spring offensive planned in Pakistan: spy chief,” Pajhwok, May 21, 2011.
[5] “Pakistan concedes Afghan Taliban presence on its soil,” Pajhwok, May 23, 2011.
[6] “ISAF apologises for Afghan civilian deaths,” Pajhwok, May 30, 2011.
[7] “Nigh ttime raids to continue: Gen. Blotz,” Pajhwok, May 30, 2011.
[8] Statistic and information is based on The Hindu Online reports using the newspaper’s archives available at http://www.hindu.com and on Hindustan Times at http://www.hindustantimes.com.
[9] “Orissa and Chhattisgarh govt plans joint police action against Maoists,” Full Orissa News, May 28, 2011. 
[10] “Army to train in jungle warfare,” Hindustan Times, June 1, 2011.
[11] Statistic and information is based on Greater Kashmir Online reports using the newspaper’s archives available at http://www.greaterkashmir .com. It is published from Srinagar.
[12] “Case solved: DGP, Accused to Be Charge sheeted Soon,” Greater Kashmir, May 19, 2011.
[13] References and news collection made from http://www.nepalnews.com .
[14] “Youths organize pressure rally for timely statute,” Nepalnews, May 15, 2011.
[15] “Govt tables bill for extension of CA term by one more year,” Nepalnews, May 16, 2011.
[16] “PM’s resignation will come only after ‘national consensus’: UML-Maoist,” Nepalnews, 31 May 2011.
[17] The data and information are collected from http://www.dailymirror.lk.com .
[18] “Tense situation in Katunayake,” Daily Mirror Online, May 24, 2011.
[19] “Eighty percent report to training,” Daily Mirror Online,  May 22, 2011.
[20] “Eighty percent report to training,” Daily Mirror Online, 22 May 22,2011.
[21] “Keeping track of LTTE probe,” Daily Mirror Online, 21 May 21, 2011.
[22] The news and information is gathered from Daily Miadhu published from Male, http:// www.miadhu.com.