Order Code RS21584
Updated July 25, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Pakistan: Chronology of Recent Events
K. Alan Kronstadt
Analyst in Asian Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This report provides a reverse chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and
Pakistan-U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Department of
State, New York Times, Washington Post, Dawn (Karachi), Daily Times (Lahore), News
International (Karachi), and major newswires. For a substantive review, see CRS Issue
Brief IB94041, Pakistan-U.S. Relations. This report will be updated regularly.
07/25/05 — President Musharraf said Al
Acronyms:
Qaeda’s former Pakistan
LOC:
Line of Control (Kashmir)
sanctuaries had been overrun
MMA: Muttahida
Majlis-e-Amal
and destroyed. On the same
NWFP:
North West Frontier Province
day, Islamabad expressed a
PPP: Pakistan People’s Party
desire to expand Pakistan-U.S.
cooperation in the areas of
nuclear energy, civilian space research, and high technology. Also, a team
of Pakistani experts began inspecting the site of a controversial Indian
dam project on the Chenab River in Baghliar, Kashmir.
07/24/05 — Prime Minister Aziz visited Kabul, where he vowed “seamless
cooperation” with the Afghan government in fighting terrorism and
Islamic extremism.
07/22/05 — More than 2,000 supporters of the MMA Islamist coalition rallied in
Islamabad to protest the government’s recent crackdown on religious
extremists. Smaller rallies were held in other Pakistani cities. On the
same day, gunmen killed nine tribesmen, including two pro-government
tribal elders, in separate attacks in South Waziristan. The elders had been
assisting army efforts to hunt fugitive Islamic militants in the region.
07/21/05 — President Musharraf gave a televised speech to the nation in which he
denounced the 7/7 London bombings as “unIslamic” and again vowed to
combat religious extremism. He also acknowledged that some Pakistani
madrassas (religious schools) “are involved in extremism and terrorism”
and insisted that all madrassas register with the government by year’s end.
More than 200 suspected Islamic extremists were arrested in
nationwide sweeps over a period of several days.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
07/20/05 — The House-passed version of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
FY2006 and FY2007 (H.R. 2601) would require the President to report
to Congress on the extent to which a “fully functional democracy” has
been restored in Pakistan. On the same day, the Senate-passed version of
the Foreign Operations FY2006 Appropriations bill (H.R. 3057) would
require the Secretary of State report to Congress on steps taken by
Pakistan to protect the rights and safety of Pakistani human rights lawyers
and journalists. Also, India’s prime minister warned that rising violence
in Kashmir could jeopardize the Pakistan-India peace talks. Finally, the
Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist group claimed responsibility
for a car bomb attack in Indian Kashmir that killed five Indian soldiers and
one civilian.
07/19/05 — U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Crocker said the United States and Pakistan
“need to have a long-term strategic partnership, as the 9/11 Commission
Report suggests.” On the same day, police in Lahore reportedly detained
seven members of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-
Mohammed terrorist groups while investigating possible Pakistani links
to the 7/7 London bombings.
07/18/05 — Pakistani officials confirmed that three of the four suspects in the 7/7
London bombings had visited Pakistan during the past year. On the
same day, the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Abizaid,
visited Islamabad to meet with President Musharraf and other top
Pakistani military officers. Also, Pakistani intelligence agents reportedly
arrested five Taliban leaders, including a deputy to Mullah Omar.
07/17/05 — Pakistani solders conducting a search operation killed 17 suspected
militants in North Waziristan near the Afghan border. Up to 15 of the
dead were reported to be women and children, some of whom may have
participated in the fight as combatants.
07/16/05 — Thirteen suspected separatist militants were killed by Indian security
forces after they reportedly crossed into Indian Kashmir from Pakistani
territory. On the same day, security forces in the Punjab province arrested
ten suspected militants, including alleged members of the Jaish-e-
Mohammed terrorist group.
07/15/05 — U.S. forces based in Afghanistan exchanged rocket and heavy
weapons fire with militants just across the border in Pakistan, killing
24 of them. Thousands of Pakistani tribesmen later denounced the U.S.
action and Pakistan later told the United States that border violations
would not be tolerated. On the same day, President Musharraf asked the
Supreme Court to declare the NWFP’s Hasba law unconstitutional.
07/14/05 — President Musharraf ordered a new crackdown on extremist and
terrorist elements. On the same day, legislators in the NWFP
provincial assembly passed a Hasba (or accountability) bill that some
fear will Talibanize the province though creation of a parallel Islamic legal
body. The provincial governor, who represents the federal government,
called the bill unconstitutional and vowed to block it. Also, a top
Pakistani army commander in North Waziristan warned tribal elders of
imminent military action if they did not hand over wanted foreign
militants. Finally, nine suspected separatist militants were killed by Indian
security forces in a lengthy gunbattle after they reportedly crossed into
Indian Kashmir from Pakistani territory.

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CRS-3
07/13/05 — H.Res. 353, expressing U.S. support for India-Pakistan cooperation on the
construction of natural gas pipelines, was introduced in the House. On the
same day, talks between Pakistani and Indian officials ended with a
“serious commitment” to begin work on a $4-4.5 billion pipeline that
would deliver Iranian gas through Pakistan to India. Also, India’s foreign
secretary said that the continued existence of “the infrastructure of
terrorism” on Pakistani soil and the continued infiltration of Islamic
militants into Indian Kashmir could hamper the bilateral peace process.
07/12/05 — India’s external affairs minister said he had provided “photographic
evidence” that terrorist camps exist on Pakistani territory.
07/10/05 — Leading Islamist politician and opposition figure Maulana Fazlur Rehman
said the recently signed U.S.-India defense pact would create instability
and create a war-like situation in South Asia. On the same day, suspected
Taliban fighters ambushed an Afghan army patrol near the Pakistan border
and beheaded ten Afghan soldiers. Also, Herald magazine reported that
several militant training camps have re-opened on Pakistani territory.
07/08/05 — A senior leader of Pakistan’s MMA Islamist political coalition suggested
that Western governments may have “engineered” the 7/7 London
bombings. On the same day, four suspected separatist militants and four
Indian soldiers were killed in gunbattles near the Kashmiri LOC.
07/07/05 — Pakistan expressed concern that a new U.S.-India defense framework
agreement could lead to “induction of advanced weapons systems into
the region” and “destabilize strategic balance” there. Secretary of
State Rice later told Foreign Minister Kasuri that the United States will
“remain responsive to Pakistan’s security concerns.” On the same day,
Pakistan and Iran signed an agreement to build a pipeline that is to deliver
Iranian natural gas to Pakistan by 2009. Also, India’s prime minister said
that repeated terrorist attacks have the potential to disrupt the India-
Pakistan peace process. Finally, masked gunmen shot and killed a
Pakistani intelligence officer in North Waziristan.
07/06/05 — Pakistan said it would deploy an additional 4,000 troops to its border with
Afghanistan, bringing the total to some 80,000. On the same day,
Pakistani troops clashed with suspected militants in North Waziristan,
leaving at least one soldier dead.
07/05/05 — A convoy carrying Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iraq was attacked by
gunmen in Baghdad. On the same day, Pakistan’s interior minister ruled
out the possibility that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan and suggested
the Al Qaeda founder may be in southern Afghanistan.
07/02/05 — Six suspected separatist militants were killed by Indian security forces
after they reportedly crossed into Indian Kashmir from Pakistani territory.
06/30/05 — In S.Rept. 109-96, the Senate Appropriations Committee expressed
concern with “the slow pace of the democratic development of Pakistan.”
06/29/05 — Talks between Indian and Pakistani officials seeking to resolve a
water dispute over the Wullar Barrage ended in deadlock.
06/28/05 — Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the re-arrest of 13 men previously
acquitted in an infamous gang rape case involving Mukhtaran Mai.
06/27/05 — India’s defense minister denied that the India-Pakistan peace process was
“entrenched” and claimed that the “infrastructure for terrorism in Pakistan
and Pakistani-controlled territory remains.” On the same day, militants in

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CRS-4
North Waziristan issued anonymous threats against any tribal leaders who
“spy for the United States.”
06/25/05 — Heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border
reportedly left 178 Taliban fighters dead over a three-day period, but top
Taliban leaders apparently escaped the area.
06/23/05 — President Musharraf reiterated Pakistan’s full support for the government
of Afghan President Karzai. On the same day, a prominent Sunni cleric
was killed by unidentified gunmen in Karachi.
06/21/05 — President Bush telephoned President Musharraf to discuss tensions
between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Afghan President Karzai asked
Musharraf to halt the infiltration of insurgents across the Afghan-Pakistan
border. Some senior Afghan leaders have said top Taliban leaders are in
Pakistan. On the same day, the United States and Pakistan began a week-
long joint naval exercise in the Arabia Sea.
06/20/05 — Afghan authorities reported arresting three Pakistani nationals minutes
before they planned to kill the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul.
06/19/05 — Director of Central Intelligence Goss told an interviewer that he had
“an excellent idea of where [Osama bin Laden] is” while suggesting
that “dealing with sanctuaries in sovereign states” presented a problem.
06/18/05 — Muslim clerics and “thousands” of Taliban in South Waziristan reportedly
marked the first anniversary of militant leader Nek Mohammed’s death by
vowing to continue their jihad against America.
06/17/05 — President Musharraf reportedly said he had imposed travel restrictions on
gang rape victim Mukhtaran Mai to protect Pakistan’s image from
Western nongovernmental organizations which are “as bad as the Islamic
extremists.”
06/16/05 — Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Khalilzad said that Osama
bin Laden and Taliban chief Mullah Omar were not in Afghanistan.
Islamabad rejected suggestions that Omar was in Pakistan. On the same
day, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Rademaker said”it
would be a mistake to proceed with this [Iran-Pakistan-India] pipeline” as
it would generate revenue that Iran would use “for funding its weapons of
mass destruction program and for supporting terrorist activities.”
06/15/05 — Addressing the case of gang rape victim Mukhtaran Mai, a State
Department spokesman said, “The United States expects Pakistan’s
leaders to honor their pledge to protect the basic human rights of their
citizens, including freedom to travel.” Islamabad said Mai had been
removed from the Exit Control List and was free to travel abroad. A New
York Times editorial criticized President Musharraf for his government’s
handling of the case, which BBC News later called “a public relations
disaster” and a leading Pakistani commentator called “a monumental
blunder.” On the same day, a leading Kashmiri separatist, a former
Pakistani army chief, and the PPP made separate accusations that
Pakistani Information Minister Rashid operated a training camp for
Kashmiri separatist militants during the 1980s. New Delhi later
informed Islamabad that Rashid would not be allowed to travel across the
Kashmiri LOC due to the allegations. Also, a senior fugitive Taliban
leader appeared on Pakistani television to claim that Osama bin Laden
and Taliban chief Mullah Omar were both alive and in good health.

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CRS-5
06/14/05 — During a House International Relations Committee hearing on the
United States and South Asia, Assistant Secretary of State for South
Asia Christina Rocca said that Pakistan is set “on the path of becoming a
moderate, prosperous and democratic state.” Several Members in
attendance spoke against a U.S. policy of selling combat aircraft to South
Asian countries, and expressed concerns about the state of democracy in
Pakistan and about the nuclear proliferation network of A.Q. Khan. One
expert witness warned about Pakistan’s “dysfunctional social order, its
dangerous sectarianism and its distorted political system,” saying the
country had achieved “sustainable failure.” All three witnesses endorsed
resumed U.S. sales of F-16 fighters to Pakistan. On the same day,
President Musharraf visited Canberra, where Pakistan and Australia
agreed to bolster bilateral counterterrorism efforts.
06/10/05 — A court ordered the release of 12 men imprisoned in connection with the
2002 gang rape of Mukhtaran Mai. Mai later complained that the
government was preventing her from moving freely or leaving the country
to accept an invitation to visit the United States.
06/09/05 — During a visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Kasuri suggested that
Pakistan could claim more successes in combating terrorism than any
other country, but he emphasized that military means alone will not end
the problem and opined that the “sense of deprivation will have to be
tackled.” On the same day, Secretary of State Rice told an interviewer that
“Pakistan has to make inroads on democracy.” Also, during a visit to
Pakistan, moderate Indian Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer
Farooq urged interested parties to “move beyond” UN resolutions that call
for a plebiscite in the disputed region.
06/06/05 — Pakistan’s annual federal budget allocated a total of $18.4 billion,
including $4.6 billion for public sector development (up 35% over the
previous year) and $3.7 billion for defense (up 15% over the previous
year). Opposition parties and some analysts called increased defense
spending unnecessary and claimed the budget will further impoverish the
poor. On the same day, a Pakistan-American and his father were
arrested in California on charges of lying to FBI agents about their
alleged involvement in terrorist training in Pakistan.
06/05/05 — President Musharraf visited Doha, where Pakistan and Qatar agreed to
expedite initial work on a proposed gas pipeline linking the two countries.
06/03/05 — The U.S. State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report
said that “Pakistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for
the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to
do so,” and it removed Pakistan from the “Tier 2Watch List” in
recognition of progress.
06/02/05 — Leaders of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference of
Kashmiri separatist groups began an unprecedented visit to Pakistan.
On the same day, talks between Pakistani and Indian officials to resolve
a dispute over India’s Kishanganga dam project ended in deadlock.
06/01/05 — Prime Minister Aziz visited Ankara, where Pakistan and Turkey agreed to
increase defense trade and cooperation.
05/31/05 — President Musharraf said that captured Al Qaeda suspect Abu Faraj al-
Libbi had been remanded to U.S. custody.

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CRS-6
05/30/05 — Suicide bombers killed themselves and at least two other people, and
injured 20 more, in an apparent sectarian attack on a Shiite mosque in
Karachi. An enraged crowd of some 1,000 Shias rioted, killing at least six
more people. On the same day, India’s prime minister said, “Not
enough has been done [by Pakistan] to dismantle the infrastructure
of terrorism, which is still intact.” Also, gunmen shot and killed a
senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Karachi.
05/29/05 — Talks between Pakistani and Indian officials seeking to resolve a
territorial dispute over the Sir Creek ended in deadlock. On the same
day, suspected militants shot and killed a key tribal ally of the government
in South Waziristan.
05/27/05 — A suicide bomber killed 20 people and injured up to 100 more in an
apparent sectarian attack on a Muslim shrine in Islamabad. On the same
day, talks between Pakistani and Indian officials seeking to resolve a
militarized dispute over the Siachen Glacier ended in deadlock.
05/22/05 — Rockets fired by a U.S. helicopter reportedly killed five Pakistanis in
a North Waziristan town one kilometer from the Afghan border.
05/19/05 — Two U.S. citizens of Pakistani origin claimed that they had been detained
in Pakistan for nine months, and were beaten by Pakistani agents and
interrogated by F.B.I. agents before being released without charges.
05/16/05 — A U.S. Army colonel said that insurgents continue to cross into
Afghanistan to attack U.S.-led forces there before returning to Pakistan.
05/14/05 — Press reports claimed that a U.S. Predator drone had fired a missile on
Pakistani territory, killing suspected Al Qaeda explosives expert Haithem
al-Yemeni. Pakistan denied the reports. On the same day, police in
Lahore used force to disperse a group of human rights activists who had
staged a “mixed marathon” including men and women.
05/11/05 — An emergency supplemental appropriations bill became P.L. 109-13. The
bill allows that up to $1.22 billion in Pentagon funds be used to reimburse
Pakistan and other key cooperating nations for their support of U.S.
military operations. On the same day, the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom released an annual report which claimed
that, “The response of the government of Pakistan to persistent and
religiously motivated violence in Pakistan continues to be inadequate.”
05/10/05 — After consulting with the Indian and Pakistani governments, the World
Bank named a Swiss engineer to serve as Neutral Expert to address the
dispute over a dam India is constructing in Baghliar, Kashmir.
05/06/05 — The Pentagon notified Congress of two possible Foreign Military
Sales to Pakistan worth up to $226 million. The deals involve 300
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
05/04/05 — The Islamabad government announced having captured Abu Faraj
al-Libbi, a Libyan native wanted in connection with lethal attempts to
assassinate President Musharraf in December 2003.
05/03/05 — Police in Islamabad and Lahore used batons to break up gatherings of
journalists marking World Press Freedom Day.
04/27/05 — The U.S. State Department released its Country Reports on Terrorism
2004, which called Pakistan one of the most important U.S. partners in the
war on terrorism and said Pakistan in 2004 achieved notable gains in
efforts to combat terrorism.

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