An Overview
As many as 1,308 people were killed and 1,127 others injured in South Asia in various incidents of terrorism, insurgency, military operations and clashes between the security forces and militants. Overall casualties increased by over 7 percent as compared to previous month. Afghanistan remained the most volatile country. Escalated attacks by the Afghan Taliban on the foreign forces including suicide attacks, and heightened raids of the allied forces almost doubled the number of casualties as compared with preceding month of August; 755 people were killed and 507 others wounded. In Pakistan however the overall conflict-related casualties decreased by 24 percent due to decrease in incidents of violence and terrorism during the month. Yet incidents of drone strikes, suicide attacks, political, ethnic and sectarian violence and encounters between militants and the security forces claimed lives of 515 people and injured 526 others. A deadly bomb blast in Delhi High Court in India killed 15 people and left more than 70 injured. A total of 106 casualties were recorded in India in different violent incidents; a surge of 34 percent as compared with previous month. Few incidents of violence in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir resulted in 10 fatalities and injured two other people. In Nepal some low intensity bomb blasts were recorded in its bordering areas with India. A couple of encounters of security forces with the militants caused two fatalities and left 12 people injured. Security situation in Sri Lanka and Maldives remained relatively peaceful.

Casualties in South Asia

1-Afghanistan[1]
Afghanistan was the most insecure and volatile part of the South Asian region in the month of September. The overall conflict-related casualties soared by 59.3 percent as compared with previous month due to increase in militants’ assails such as suicide attacks, bomb blasts, improvised explosive devices (IED) blasts, and heightened incidents of allied forces’ air raids and their clashes with the militants. Such incidents claimed lives of 755 people including 214 civilians, 434 militants, 32 personnel of International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), 7 Afghan National Army (ANA) troops and 68 personnel of Afghan National Police (ANP). Among 507 injured were 254 civilians, 121 militants, 81 personnel of ISAF, 4 ANA troops and 47 ANP personnel. During their search and hunt operations the security forces detained more than 59 militants and recovered a huge quantity of ammunition and weapons from their possession; 66 militants surrendered to the government authorities. As many as 12 suicide attacks were reported during the month that targeted important places in central and western parts of the country (See Table 1).

The Taliban militants attacked the NATO headquarters and the US embassy in Kabul. The US held Pakistan-based Haqqani militants responsible for these attacks and it even threatened Pakistan of launching a direct operation inside Pakistani territory where Haqqani network is based.[2] These Taliban attacks also reveal the security lapses and inability of Afghan security forces to ensure security even in sensitive areas.[3]

The reconciliation process suffered a major setback after Rabbani's assassination. Governor of North Balkh Province ruled out the option of negotiations with the Taliban and stressed that the “Taliban War Machine” must be destroyed.[4] The recent increase in militant activities and assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, former Afghan President and head of Afghanistan’s peace council, have completely ceased the Afghan governments’ efforts to reconcile with the Taliban. Rabbani’s assassination has raised pessimistic views among Afghan political parties and civil society about peace talks with the militants.[5] This incident has also heavily strained Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations. Afghan government has repeatedly said that assassination plot of Rabbani was prepared in Pakistan. President Karzai’s scheduled meeting with the US president Barack Obama on issues of foreign forces’ pull down and security transition also remained shadowed due to Rabbani’s assassination.[6]

2-India[7]
As many as 26 people were killed including 24 civilians and 2 policemen and 80 others injured including 77 civilians and 3 policemen across India in incidents of violence and terrorism. A high intensity bomb blast at the Delhi High Court claimed lives of 15 people and left more than 70 others injured. The Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) and a homegrown militant organization Indian Mujahideen (IM) claimed the responsibility of the terror attack. Another low intensity bomb blast hit Agra city, northern Utter Pradesh.[8] In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Delhi Court the Indian Government upgraded their Comprehensive Security Plan.[9] Violent protests made the daily life miserable in Telangana area.[10]

The Maoists continued their militant and criminal activities. The Indian government invited the Maoists to talks without any preconditions[11] but the Maoists put forward a very strong demand of disarmament of the vigilant group.[12] At the same time the Indian security forces continued their anti-Maoist operations in various parts of the country.[13] Maoists’ threats to West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee persuaded her to give up her efforts of negotiations for peaceful settlement between government and the rebels. She said peace could not be a one way process therefore the TMC was ready to fight the rebels not with arms but democratically and politically.[14]

3-Kashmir[15]
The security situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir remained unstable. Incidents of armed clashes between security forces and militants left 7 militants and 3 policemen dead and two others including a policeman and a civilian injured.

As the struggle of Kashmiri people gradually becomes more political in nature, it is gaining attention of Indian leaders and international community. Indian Congress member Rahul Gandhi visited the valley in month of September. He met the Kashmiri youth struggling for their freedom and showed his concerns saying that he himself was a Kashmiri and suffered like them.[16]

The member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict. Addressing an OIC Ministerial Contact Group meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New York the Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that Kashmir struggle was gaining momentum. She emphasized that resolution to Kashmir problem could ensure peace and stability in the region. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Kashmir issue is a regional issue and that South Asia’s security is based on its resolution by Pakistan and India. [17] The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq also met the Pakistani Foreign Minister in New York and exchanged views on the Kashmir issue.[18]

A senior Indian army commander Maj Gen. Rakesh Sharma suggested in a seminar that extending the Pak-India bilateral talks to different levels and to have a direct contact between the armies of India and Pakistan could build better understanding and trust.[19] The General Officer Commanding (COC) 16 Corps Lt Gen JP Nehra called for expediting the modernization process.[20]

4-Sri Lanka[21]
No incident of violence was reported from the Sri Lanka in the month of September. However the government and the military remained focused on the rehabilitation of the ex-LTTE cadres and on finding ways to eradicate international networks of LTTE. The government enacted new laws to deal with LTTE overseas fund raising activities and money laundering. The Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill and the Convention of the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill were passed during September.[22] According to the new law, police will be vested with powers to seize the assets of such people without a judicial order and with regard to money laundering, if a person is found guilty of transferring money earned through illegal means (black money) to a foreign country, the police will have power to seize his or her local assets.[23]

The Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) in assistance with the security forces detained six suspected hardcore LTTE cadres among the 44 illicit emigrants who attempted to migrate to Australia. [24]

5-Nepal[25]
Some incidents of low intensity bomb blasts were reported from various areas of Nepal with no loss of life. Three bomb blasts took place in the Eastern region while three other bomb blasts hit various Mid Western areas of Nepal alongside the Indian border. Janatantrik Terai Madhesh Mukti Party (JTMMP) the indigenous armed outfit claimed the responsibility of the blasts. In a couple of clashes between security forces and the militants two people including a security forces’ personnel and a militant were killed. While a clash between the two hardliner groups of United Communist Party of Nepal- Maoists (UCPN-M) left 12 people injured. During their search and hunt operation the Nepal’s security forces recovered bombs from different areas and defused them. Also three cadres of JTMMP were arrested from the Japha District along with seven cadres of Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha- Goit (ATMM-G).

A delay in the completion of peace process and re-writing of the constitution was attributed to CPN- M’s failure to fulfill their promise.[26] Whereas the Nepali Congress not only blamed the Maoists but also said that the Maoists should be sidelined so that the peace process and constitution writing can go on smoothly.[27] Ignoring all the blames the leaders of the hardliner faction CPN -M General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and Secretary C.P Gajurel were determined to train the hardliner cadres of Nawalparasi district. The leaders are also looking forward to spread their training to other districts as well.[28] CPN- M’s cold behavior towards the peace building efforts and their sincerity to take it forward as a common goal remained vague. 

6-Maldives[29]
Throughout the reporting month Maldives’ security situation remained stable and peaceful.

7-Pakistan
See the conflict and security report on Pakistan available at https://san-pips.com/index.php?action=reports&id=226