Timeline of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2007)

The 2007 timeline of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

28 April: Charsadda rally bombing

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On 28 April, a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a political rally in Charsadda, North-West Frontier Province.

3–11 July: Lal Masjid siege

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On 3 July, the militant supporters of the Lal Masjid and Pakistani security forces clashed in Islamabad after the students from the mosque attacked a nearby government ministry building. The Pakistani security forces immediately put up a siege around the mosque complex which lasted until 11 July and resulted in 109 deaths. This represented the main catalyst for the conflict and eventual breakdown of the truce that existed between Pakistan and the Taliban in the northwest. During the siege there were several attacks in Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in retaliation for the siege.

14–15 July: Attacks and end of truce

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At least 75 Pakistanis, including soldiers and police recruits, were killed in three attacks on 14 and 15 July.

In a statement issued in Miranshah, the main town, the militants accused the government of breaking the agreement. "We are ending the agreement today," the Taliban Shura or Council said in pamphlets distributed in Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan.[1]

On 14 July 2007 a suicide bomber attacked a Pakistani Army convoy, killing 26 soldiers and wounding 54. On 15 July 2007, two suicide bombers attacked another Pakistani Army convoy killing 16 soldiers and 5 civilians and wounding another 47 people. In a separate incident, a fourth suicide bomber attacked a police headquarters, killing 28 police officers and recruits and wounding 35 people.[2][3]

15–19 July: Waves of attack

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From 15 July to 19, waves of attacks in Balochistan and NWFP killed over 200 people. On 17 July, a suicide bomber hit a rally featuring the country's suspended chief justice in Pakistan's capital Islamabad killing 15 people and wounding 44. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was travelling to the rally and was about three miles away when the attacker struck near the stage set up for him.

20 July: Car bombing in Karachi averted

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On 20 July panic gripped evening shoppers at a Clifton shopping mall in Karachi, Sindh, when a bomb was defused immediately after it had been found in a car parked in a nearby parking area. An anonymous caller informed the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee that a bomb was planted in the car parked near the Park Towers. The shopping mall was the venue of a Harry Potter book launch and was packed with shoppers. Investigators said that the car carrying the bomb had been stolen from the Ferozabad police limits on 10 July and it had 4 kilograms of explosives. The bomb disposal squad (BDS) defused the bomb as the BDS officials severed the wiring connecting the boxes with the car's battery.[4]

21 July - 2 September: Army moves into Waziristan

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The Army moved large concentration of troops into Waziristan and had engaged in fierce clashes with militants in which at least 100 militants had been killed including wanted terrorist and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Abdullah Mehsud.[5] The militants also struck back in attacking Army convoys, security checkpoints and sending suicide bombers which has killed over 50 soldiers and police and over 100 civilians. In one month of fighting during the period from 24 July to 24 August 250 militants and 60 soldiers were killed. On 2 September, just a few militants managed to ambush a 17-vehicle army convoy and captured an estimated 240 soldiers in it, without a shot being fired; an event that shocked the nation.[6] Seven officers were among the held. Following this, there has been widespread anger at the Pakistan Army within Pakistan.

September: Army garrisons in Waziristan attacked

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The army garrisoned the areas and set up checkpoints, but the militants hit hard - overrunning many checkpoints and kidnapping many soldiers in ambushes.[citation needed]

On 12 September, the first outpost was attacked and overrun by the Taliban, kidnapping 12 Pakistani soldiers.[citation needed]

The next day on 13 September, a suicide bomber in Ghazi Tarbela attacked a Pakistani army base, destroying the main mess hall and killing 20 members of the Karar commando group; Pakistan's most elite army unit. Another 29 soldiers were wounded.[citation needed]

A series of attacks ensued and by 20 September, a total of five Pakistani Army military outposts had been overrun and more than 25 soldiers captured.[citation needed]

21 December: Charsadda mosque bombing

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On 21 December, a suicide bomber killed about 50 people and injured about 100 others in a mosque in Charsadda District, NWFP.

List of attacks

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Date Location of attack Mechanism of attack Primary target Number of killed & wounded
28 April Charsadda, NWFP Suicide bombing Political rally 22 people killed
4 July Suicide bombing Army convoy 6 soldiers and 4 civilians are killed.[7]
4 July Peshawar, NWFP Ambush Police patrol 4 police officers are killed.[7]
6 July Chakdara, Swat District, NWFP Suicide bombing Army 4 soldiers are killed.[7]
8 July Charsadda, NWFP Ambush Chinese workers 3 Chinese workers are killed.[8]
10 July Kohat District, NWFP Bomb attack Police patrol 1 police officer is killed.[7]
12 July North Waziristan, FATA Double suicide bombing Police and army 4 police officers and 5 civilians are killed.[7][9]
12 July North Waziristan, FATA Suicide bombing Local administrator 2 civilians are killed.[7][10]
13 July Miranshah, North Waziristan, FATA Ambush Pro-government tribal chiefs 3 civilians are killed.[7]
14 July North Waziristan, FATA Suicide bomber Army convoy 26 soldiers are killed and 54 are wounded.[11]
15 July Mingora, Swat District, NWFP Two suicide bombings and a roadside bomb Military convoy 13 soldiers and 5 civilians are killed and 47 are wounded.[11]
15 July Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Suicide bombing Police recruitment center 28 police officers and recruits are killed.[12]
17 July Islamabad, ICT Suicide bombing Chief Justice convention at the F-8 Markaz 17 civilians are killed and 40 wounded.[13]
17 July 2007 Mirali, North Waziristan, FATA Suicide bombing Security checkpoint 3 soldiers and 1 civilian are killed and two wounded.[14]
18 July 2007 North Waziristan, FATA Ambush Military convoy 17 soldiers and 12 militants are killed. Five additional militants killed in a separate incident.[15]
19 July 2007 Hangu District, NWFP Suicide bombing Police academy 6 police officers and 1 civilian are killed.[16]
19 July Hub, Balochistan Suicide bombing Convoy of Chinese engineers 7 police officers and 23 civilians are killed and 30 are wounded.[17]
19 July Kohat, NWFP Suicide bombing Mosque in an army camp 18 killed and 19 wounded, mostly military personnel, 3 children among the dead.[18][19]
22 July North Waziristan, FATA Ambush Military convoy 11 soldiers Wounded and 19 Militants killed.[20]
23 July North Waziristan, FATA Clash Military checkposts 2 soldiers are killed and 7 are wounded and 35 Militants killed.[21]
24 July Bannu, NWFP Rocket attack Mosque and adjacent houses 14 civilians are killed and 33 are wounded. 7 Police officers are wounded.[22]
25 July Tunga, South Waziristan Rocket attack Security checkpost 1 soldier killed and 2 wounded.[23]
27 July Islamabad Suicide bomber Muzaffar Hotel near the Red mosque 14 people killed, including 8 policemen.
30 July North Waziristan, FATA Helicopter gunship attack & roadside bomb Army convoy 3 soldiers are killed and 5 are wounded. 4 Militants are also killed.[24]
31 July North Waziristan, FATA Helicopter gunship attack Army checkpost 18 militants are killed by helicopter gunships.[25]
2 August Sargodha, Punjab Attempted suicide bombing Police training center 1 militant and 1 police officer killed.[26]
3 August Oblanki Shootout Army checkpost 4 soldiers and 10 militants killed.[27]
3 August Parachinar, FATA Suicide car bomber Bus station 12 civilians killed and 35 injured.[27]
6 August 2007 Kohat Road, Peshawar, NWFP Remote-controlled bomb PAf Airbase Two injured, Squadron Leader Mushtaq, driver Zain Khan and an unidentified child.[28]
7 August Degan, North Waziristan, NWFP Helicopter gunship attack Militant compound At least 15 militants killed.[29]
16 August North Waziristan, NWFP Ambush Army convoy At least 19 militants and 10 soldiers killed.[30]
18 August North Waziristan, NWFP Rocket and gun attack Army check post 2 soldiers killed.[31]
18 August Tank, North Waziristan, NWFP Suicide car bomber Army convoy 5 soldiers wounded.[30]
19 August Thal, North Waziristan, NWFP Suicide car bomber Army post At least 3 soldiers killed.
19 August North Waziristan, NWFP Helicopter gunship attack Militant compounds At least 15 militants and 5 civilians killed.[31]
22 August Bannu, North Waziristan, NWFP Gun and rocket attack Army checkpoint At least 4 soldiers and 3 militants killed.[32]
24 August Miran Shah, North Waziristan, NWFP Suicide car bombing Army convoy 5 soldiers killed.[33]
24 August North Waziristan, NWFP Roadside bomb Army convoy 1 soldier killed.[33]
27 August South Waziristan, NWFP Beheading Hostages 1 soldier killed.[34]
2 September Shawangi, North Waziristan, NWFP Ambush Army convoy 280 soldiers held.[35]
3 September Rawalpindi, Punjab Two suicide bombings Ministry of Defense bus and commercial market 19 soldiers and 12 civilians killed.[36]
12 September Clashes Outpost (overrun) 12 soldiers held
13 September South Waziristan, NWFP Clashes Militant hideouts 2 soldiers killed and 8 wounded. 50 militants killed[37]
13 September Ghazi Tarbela Suicide bombing Army mess hall 20 soldiers killed[37]
14 September Clashes Outpost (overrun) 6 soldiers kidnapped.[38]
16 September Clashes Outpost 2 soldiers killed and 5 wounded.
17 September Clashes Outpost (overrun) 16 soldiers and 18 militants killed.[38]
18 September Clashes Outpost (overrun) 2 soldiers kidnapped.[39]
19 September Tall town Clashes Outpost (overrun) 7 soldiers kidnapped.[39]
1 October Bannu, NWFP Suicide bombing Military convoy 4 policemen and 11 civilians killed.[40]
1 October Bannu, NWFP Clashes Outpost (overrun) 33 soldiers kidnapped.[41]
2 October Bannu, NWFP Rescue operation of kidnapped soldiers Militant hideout 2 soldiers and 15 militants killed and 9 soldiers rescued.[41]
4 October Spin Wam Clashes Outpost (overrun) 28 soldiers kidnapped.[42]
7 October North Waziristan, FATA Battle of Mir Ali Militant bases, convoy 45 soldiers, 150 militants and 10 civilians killed and 13 soldiers missing.
6 December Swat, NWFP Re-capturing Swat Militant bases 15 soldiers, 250 militants and 30 civilians killed.[43]
12 December North Waziristan, FATA Ambush Military convoy 6 soldiers and 15 militants killed.[44]
21 December Charsadda District, NWFP Suicide bombing Mosque About 50 killed and 100 injured.

References

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  1. ^ "Pakistan militants end truce deal". BBC News. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Two Days of Homicide Attacks Kill 70 in Pakistan". Fox News. 15 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  3. ^ Suicide Bombers Kill 49 in Pakistan Archived 11 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ KARACHI: Car bomb near book launch venue defused -DAWN - Local; 21 July 2007
  5. ^ https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070724/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_militant_leader [dead link]
  6. ^ "Pakistan crisis 'hits army morale'". BBC News. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "CHRONOLOGY: Militant attacks on Pakistani security forces". EarthTimes. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Three Chinese dead in Pakistan "terrorist" attack". Reuters. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Three policemen among seven killed in Pakistan's attacks - Irna". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  10. ^ "CHRONOLOGY: Militant attacks on Pakistani security forces". IRNA. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  11. ^ a b "45 dead and 108 injured in suicide bombings in Swat and DI Khan: Religious extremists carry out revenge attacks". Daily Times (Pakistan). 16 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  12. ^ "Suicide attacks on forces intensify; 49 dead". DAWN. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  13. ^ "Bomber targets Pakistan lawyers". BBC News. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 19 August 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  14. ^ "3 troops killed in Mirali attack". DAWN. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  15. ^ "Pakistan troops killed in ambush". BBC News. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  16. ^ "Dozens killed in Pakistan blasts". BBC News. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  17. ^ "Pakistan suicide bombings kill 36". Yahoo News. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  18. ^ "Pakistan mosque bombed, 15 reported dead". MSNBC. 20 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  19. ^ Witte, Griff. "Deadly Violence Spreads in Pakistan". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  20. ^ "Pakistan kills 19 militants, denies Osama bin Laden claim". AFP. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.[dead link]
  21. ^ "'Militants die' in Pakistan clash". BBC. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  22. ^ "Rockets kill 10 in northwest Pakistan". AP. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.[dead link]
  23. ^ Soldier killed, three hurt in Waziristan attacks
  24. ^ https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070730/wl_asia_afp/pakistanafghanistan;_ylt=Ama1.1lFIk96CgM2_kkjOiJvaA8F [dead link]
  25. ^ https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_militant_attacks;_ylt=AunyZ7VwpPmAJTwkZoHaX4dvaA8F [dead link]
  26. ^ "'Bomber' killed in Pakistan city". BBC News. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  27. ^ a b https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_militants [dead link]
  28. ^ Two PAF men, child injured in bomb blast -DAWN - Top Stories; 7 August 2007
  29. ^ 15 feared killed in air attack -DAWN - Top Stories; 10 August 2007
  30. ^ a b "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ a b "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  32. ^ "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ a b USA Daily
  34. ^ Plett, Barbara (27 August 2007). "Pakistan soldier killed on video". BBC News. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  35. ^ "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ a b https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_violence [dead link]
  38. ^ a b "Rebels 'kill 18 Pakistan troops'". BBC News. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  39. ^ a b "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ AKI - Adnkronos international Pakistan: 'Taliban abduct 24 military personnel'
  41. ^ a b "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "Yahoo India News - Latest India News & World News Headlines". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
  43. ^ "Pakistan army retakes Swat towns". BBC News. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  44. ^ "Militants ambush Pakistani troops". BBC News. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2010.