Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), which continued to operate and raise funds openly in Pakistan through
its political and charitable wing, Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD). The Afghan Taliban and Haqqani
Network (HQN) continued to conduct operations against U.S. and Coalition Forces in
Afghanistan from Pakistan. Pakistan took steps to support an Afghan peace process and publicly
called on the Taliban to enter into talks with the Afghan government. Hundreds of terrorist
attacks occurred nationwide against all sectors of society, including Pakistani military and
security personnel.
Pakistani officials continued to make public statements against terrorism and violent extremism.
The widely publicized shooting of a 14-year-old girl, Malala Yousufzai, by the TTP led to public
calls for the government to do more against terrorist groups. In March, Pakistan’s parliament
affirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism and countering violent extremism. The
Government of Pakistan also moved forward several pieces of counterterrorism legislation.
Some banned organizations openly participated in political rallies and forged alliances with
religious political parties. In September and October, militant groups and religious parties joined
forces to protest and conduct public demonstrations nationwide over the video The Innocence of
Muslims. Violence occurred during the early days of the protests. The government and security
agencies undertook enhanced security measures during the protests and sought to convince the
militant groups to participate peacefully.
Pakistan’s Shia minority continued to be targeted in large-scale sectarian attacks, including in
Karachi, Balochistan, and northwest Pakistan. Targeted killings of both Shia and Sunni activists
occurred in Karachi. The TTP claimed credit for some sectarian attacks during the Shia holiday
of Moharram, although increased levels of security prevented many TTP-planned suicide attacks
on Shia processions and mosques, according to law enforcement reports. Despite the
government’s stringent security measures, including a ban on both cell phone usage and
motorbikes, a series of four major bombings in Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan, and Rawalpindi
marred the Moharram religious week.
2012 Terrorist Incidents: Over 2,000 Pakistani civilians and 680 security forces personnel were
killed in terrorist-related incidents in 2012. Terrorist incidents occurred in every province.
Terrorists attacked Pakistani military units, police stations, and border checkpoints, and
conducted coordinated attacks against two major military installations. Terrorists displayed
videos on the internet of the murders and beheadings of security forces. Terrorist groups also
targeted police and security officials with suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). Terrorist groups targeted and assassinated tribal elders, members of peace committees,
and anti-Taliban government officials. The TTP often claimed responsibility for attacks targeting
civilians and security personnel in Pakistan.
Representative incidents included:
On February 17, a suicide bomber killed 41 people in a bazaar near a Shia mosque in
Parachinar, Kurram Agency. A splinter group of the TTP claimed responsibility for the
blast.
On February 23, a remote-controlled bomb inside a parked car exploded outside a bus
station in Peshawar. The blast killed 13 people and injured 38.
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