An Overview
The incidents of violence and terrorism killed 1,196 people and injured 1,070 others in South Asia during the month of June this year; an over 20 percent decrease in the overall casualties mainly due to decrease in the number of militancy-related casualties in Afghanistan and India. Pakistan suffered the highest number of casualties as the spree of escalated terrorist attacks, which started after Osama Bin Laden’s assassination, continued in the reporting month. Such terrorist incidents along with the operational attacks by Pakistan army, drone strikes, and ethnic, political and sectarian violence in various parts of the country claimed lives of 613 people and injured 581 others. Afghanistan remained the second most volatile area where the Taliban insurgency claimed lives of 509 people and injured 407 others. India’s few political reforms and struggle of the political parties to tackle with the Maoist insurgency resulted in lesser number of fatal militant attacks causing 65 fatalities and leaving 80 others injured. Whereas the Maoist rebels continued their other illegal and unlawful activities like kidnapping, destroying construction sites and blowing railway tracks. Kashmir’s freedom struggle also remained less violent. Nepal and Sri Lanka were relatively peaceful while pursuing their respective political and peace-building measures. Maldives remained the most peaceful country of the region. (See Chart1)

Chart 1: Casualties in South Asia in June 2011

 1-Afghanistan[1]
A 49.5 % decrease in the militant attacks was observed in the war-torn Afghanistan during the month of June. The militants were however successful in hitting some high profile targets. Incidents of terrorism and counter-terrorism attacks claimed lives of 509 people including 11 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, 187 civilians, 203 militants, 18 security guards, 32 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and 58 police personnel. Among the 407 injured people 288 were civilians, 57 Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel, 32 militants, 26 ANA personnel and four private security guards. As many as 12 suicide attacks were reported during this month (See Annex 1). One of the suicide attacks, which targeted a convoy of security forces in Kunar, was carried out by a teenage girl. This increased the concerns of the intelligence authorities who already intimidated that the female suicide bombers will be used as human bombs.[2] To tackle with the child recruitment as soldiers and suicide bombers United Nations called all Afghan groups to join hands to address these issues.[3]

An increased number of cross-border attacks and clashes was reported between security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line.[4] The issue was discussed during a bilateral meeting between the Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, who met in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan reconciliation efforts.[5] Afghanistan also demanded of Pakistan to extradite the militant commanders and eliminate militants’ safe heavens from Pakistan.[6] In response the Prime Minister of Pakistan reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve that an Afghan-led reconciliation will be acceptable to Pakistan.[7]

2-India[8]
India witnessed a lower number of casualties in this month as compared to those in the preceding month. However Maoist’s sporadic attacks on the security forces in Chhattisgarh and Raipur areas along with clashes between militants and security forces killed 65 people including 22 civilians, 20 militants, 19 police and 4 border security force (BSF) personnel. Among the 80 people injured in these incidents, 54 were civilians, 19 policemen and seven BSF personnel. The Maoist rebels remained stuck to their demands of halt in the anti-Maoist operations and unconditional release of the imprisoned Maoists. During their search and hunt operations, the security forces recovered the rocket launchers in a den of Maoist rebels posing greater threat to the security forces as later on the helicopters that were considered as safe tactic against militants would be easily targeted by the rocket launchers.[9] However as a confidence building measure the Central Reserved Police Force (CPRF) personnel would be appointed to impart tuitions to the students residing in the Maoist-hit areas. [10]

3-Kashmir[11]
In Kashmir six people were killed, including four militants and two civilians, and two other army men were injured in various incidents of security forces’ encounters with the militants.

Few incidents of cross-border firing by the border forces was reported on both sides of the LoC.[12] At the same time the militancy decreased in Kashmir to almost half during the month giving rise to the crimes.[13] Expressing satisfaction over the prevailing security situation in Kashmir, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Government was taking every possible measure to ensure peaceful summer this year to normalize the lives and increased influx of tourism.[14]                                                                                                             

4-Nepal[15]
Despite the political instability the security situation in Nepal remained peaceful. However, in a couple of incidents of gang violence two civilians were killed.

A taskforce – which was formed to sort out key disputed issues related to the forms of governance, state restructuring and electoral system – initiated discussion on the forms of future governance but the talks ended without a conclusion.[16] The reason of the non-consented discussions and increased problems rose due to the alleged non-cooperative behavior of Unified Communist Party of Nepal’s (Maoist) associated groups such as Upper Karnali Struggle Committee (UKSC) [17] and Republican Educational Front. Both groups started pressurizing the government over interference of India in the construction sector and by closing all schools in Khatmandu for a day.[18]

5-Sri Lanka[19]
Sri Lanka remained relatively peaceful during this month as compared with the previous months. However riots were observed against the death of a Katunayake FTZ worker, who succumbed to his injuries after the April clash between police and FTZ workers.[20]

As its new move to use the media as a tactic, the LTTE aired a video on the British Channel 4 news channel. Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajoapaksa rejected the contents of the video saying that it was aiming to target the image of government and army.[21] Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minster and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M Karunanidhi has termed the resolution passed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Assembly urging the Centre to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka as an age-old tactic adopted to mislead the people. While, during an interaction with a group of editors, Dr. Singh said he has discussed the issue with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has “good cooperation” and was conscious of the complexity of the issue.[22]

6-Maldives[23]
The security situation in Maldives remained peaceful and calm with no incident of violence during the month.

7-Pakistan
See the conflict and security report on Pakistan available at https://san-pips.com/index.php?action=reports&id=205

 Notes