Operation Ghazi

On 13 February 2017, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar released a video announcing the launch of "Operation Ghazi", named after Abdul Rashid Ghazi who was killed in July 2007 inside the Lal Masjid.^[4] The operation started with the suicide bombing at the Mall, in which 12 civilians and six police officers were killed.^[1]

Operation Ghazi
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the War on Terror
Date 13 February 2017 – 30 September 2017 Location Throughout Pakistan Result Pakistani victory
Belligerents
Pakistan	Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Supported by: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Commanders and leaders
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa Chairman JCSC Zubair Mahmood Hayat DG ISI Naveed Mukhtar Air Chief Sohail Aman Naval Chief Muhammad Zakaullah	Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Omar Khalid Khorasani Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Maulana Qazi Fazlullah
Strength
Pakistan Army Pakistan Air Force Civil Armed Forces CIA drone strikes Pakistan Police	Jamaat-ul-Ahrar
Casualties and losses
16 police officers killed,18+ injured[1][2]	100+ militants killed[3]

In the video, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar stated that its future targets would be legislative bodies Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and supporting institutions; interest-based economic institutions; INGOs/NGOs and civil society organisations involved in the advocacy of human rights, women's rights and community awareness campaigns; liberal writers, political leaders and workers; media persons; and coeducational private schools, colleges and universities.^[4]

The Centrum Media released a video statement from Abdul Rashid Ghazi's son, Haroon Rasheed Ghazi, addressing Jamaat-ul-Ahrar. "We should come up with a political solution. This bloodshed is not in the interest of anyone. Our stance is very clear; we do not endorse any violent activities," he said.

Operation Radd ul Fasaad

On 22 February 2017, in response to the Operation Ghazi, Pakistan Army launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (lit. "Elimination of Discord") across the country.^[5] The operation aimed at indiscriminately eliminating residual threat of terrorism and consolidating gains of operations made so far. It further aimed at ensuring security of the borders. The countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control were laid as the additional objectives of the operation.^[6]

Timeline

2017

February 2017

• On 13 February 2017, a suicide bombing took place on the Mall in Lahore, where a group of chemists and pharmaceutical personnel were demonstrating at the Charing Cross.^[1]
• The same day, 2 officers of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were killed and 12 others were injured, when a bomb BDS personnel were trying to defuse went off. The bomb was placed near Karachi Stop on Saryab road, Quetta.^[7][8][9]
• On 15 February 2017, two attacks occurred in Ghalanai and Peshawar. In the first attack in Ghalanai, a suicide bomber killed three policemen and two civilians near an administrative building in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. An accomplice was shot and killed. A second suicide bomber failed to cause any casualties when his suicide vest detonated prematurely.^[2]

In the Peshawar bombing, a vehicle carrying local judges and government officials was targeted by suicide bombers. The driver and a civilian were killed and five others were injured.^[2]

• On 16 February, the Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department raided a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar hideout in Multan and killed 6 militants, who had resisted the operation with firing and explosives.^[10]
• On 21 February 2017, suicide bombers targeted a sessions court in Tangi, Charsadda District. Seven persons were killed and 21 were injured.^[11]

March 2017

• On 5 March 2017, Pakistani military confirmed that 10 militants were killed and five soldiers lost their lives in attacks that took place in Mohmand Agency.^[12]
• On 17 March 2017, al-Jazeera reported that Jamaat-ur-Ahrar militants attacked a Pakistani military border post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan, killing two Pakistani soldiers. Six militants were also killed. Also that day a military operation in Rajgal Valley killed "several" LeI fighters, according to the Pakistani military media wing. Pakistan's military said it had foiled an attempted suicide attack on a paramilitary training centre in Shabqadar, in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, two suicide bombers and a soldier were killed in the attempted attack, while another soldier was wounded.^[13]
• On 31 March 2017, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a blast outside a mosque in north-west Pakistan. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.^[14]

References

1. Randhawa, Samiullah. "14 killed, over 100 wounded in Lahore blast". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
2. "Suicide bombings kill 6 in northwestern Pakistan". ABC.com. ABC. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
3. "Pakistan 'kills 1000 militants' after Sufi shrine attack". BBC. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
4. "Jamaat-ul-Ahrar gives details of its targets in a video". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
5. "Pakistan Army launches 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad' across the country". Dawn. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
6. "Army launches Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad against terrorists across the country". Express Tribune. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
7. "Two killed in Quetta IED blast - The Express Tribune". 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
8. "Two cops killed, 6 injured in Quetta blast". Retrieved 13 April 2017.
9. "Two cops killed while defusing bomb in Quetta - SAMAA TV". Retrieved 13 April 2017.
10. "6 suspected Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants killed in CTD raid in Multan". Dawn. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
11. "3 bombers killed during attack on Charsadda court: officials". Dawn. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
12. "Clashes on Pakistan-Afghanistan border kill 15". All Jazeera. 6 March 2017.
13. "Clashes hit Pakistan-Afghanistan border". Al-Jazeera. 17 March 2017.
14. "Pakistan blast: Parachinar bomb leaves at least 24 dead". BBC News. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.