April 24, 2007:
In northwestern Pakistan, student supporters
of Islamic militants fought police, which left six students dead and over
twenty wounded. The student mob was trying to destroy the headquarters of an
Islamic moderate group.
In northeast India, police
killed three tribal militants. Police acted on a tip, that a group of ULFA
rebels had set up camp in the hills. Overall, however, the tribal rebels are
not taking much of a beating. They have developed extortion, and other rackets,
that are keeping them financially secure and well armed.
April 23, 2007: At least one police station in eastern India
has been shut down because of fear of attack by large groups of Maoist rebels.
The Maoists are feeling the heat from increased police and army attention, but
are still a major force in parts of the countryside.
April 22, 2007: In the Pakistan tribal areas, the Taliban
are making themselves unpopular by destroying video and music stores. These
places are considered "un-Islamic," but many of the locals resent
losing one of the few sources of entertainment in the region. This has led to
more moderate Islamic groups getting organized and attacking the Islamic
militant groups. The police tend to back the moderates, which leaves the
militants on the losing end of most clashes. The militants do not like this.
April 21, 2007: In Bangladesh, the interim (because of failed
elections) military government has sent the leaders of the two major political
parties into exile. This has cut party support for Islamic terror groups, and
cut down on Islamic militant activity as well.
April 20, 2007: The Taliban are trying to regain the
initiative by physically attacking anti-terrorism journalists, and releasing
even more shocking execution videos. The most recent one shows a 12 year old
boy cutting off the head of a bound man, accused of being a police informer.
The use of the kid in the execution video appears to be a recruiting tactic.
The high death rate among Taliban fighters in Afghanistan has made it difficult
to recruit adults, so the Taliban are going after teenagers.
In eastern India, police
arrested two Maoist leaders.
April 19, 2007: At a meeting of some 2,000 clerics in
northwestern Pakistan, a fatwa (religious opinion) was issued condemning
suicide bombing. Clerics who support the Taliban and al Qaeda have been on the
defensive lately, because their efforts have not succeeded, and have brought
only violence and misery. There have been an increasing number of anti-terror
demonstrations, and street battles between pro and anti-terror gangs.