Order Code RS21584
Updated December 18, 2006
Pakistan: Chronology of Recent Events
K. Alan Kronstadt
Specialist in Asian Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This report provides a chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and Pakistan-
U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, major newswires, the U.S.
Department of State, and Pakistani news outlets. For a substantive review, see CRS
Report RL33498, Pakistan-U.S. Relations. This report will be updated regularly.
12/18/06 — The United States launched a
Acronyms:
three-year, $11.5 million effort to
FATA:
Federally Administered Tribal
improve children’s health in
Areas
Pakistan’s tribal areas.
NWFP:
North West Frontier Province
12/16/06 — Pakistan’s Anti-narcotics Force
received $850,000 worth of
vehicles and counternarcotics security equipment from the United States.
12/15/06 — Pakistan’s Supreme Court blocked a new attempt to enact a Taliban-style
Islamic law bill in the NWFP. The controversial Hasba (or accountability)
bill is opposed by President Musharraf. On the same day, 2 people were
killed and 10 others injured in conflict between ethnic Pashtuns and
Mohajirs in Karachi.
12/14/06 — Islamabad claimed to have arrested more than 500 Taliban militants in
2006 and remanded 400 of them to Afghan custody.
12/13/06 — Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Islamist JUI-F party, refused to stage anti-
government rallies in western Pakistan as called for by his coalition allies.
On the same day, Islamabad reportedly sanctioned the payment of $5
million as compensation to victims of conflict in North Waziristan. Also,
a judge dismissed terrorism charges against British national Rashid Rauf,
who had been arrested in August on suspicion of masterminding a plot to
destroy American passenger jets flying out of London.
12/12/06 — Afghan President Karzai again blamed Pakistan for supporting pro-
Taliban militants and seeking to “enslave” the Afghan people.
12/11/06 — Brussels-based International Crisis Group issued a report criticizing the
apparent failure of Islamabad’s efforts to “appease” Islamist militants in

---

CRS-2
Pakistan’s tribal regions. On the same day, Pakistani and Chinese soldiers
began unprecedented ten-day joint counterterrorism exercises in the
NWFP. Also, Pakistani border guards arrested 90 Afghans for illegally
entering Pakistan. Finally, a retired Pakistani air marshal claimed the
Pakistan Air Force had no capabilities to undertake the 10/30 Bajaur
madrassa attack, suggesting that the attack was launched by U.S. forces.
12/10/06 — Some 10,000 supporters of Islamist political parties took to the streets of
Karachi to protest passage of the Women’s Protection Bill.
12/09/06 — Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable Hatf III (Ghaznavi) short-range
ballistic missile.
12/08/06 — Foreign Minister Kasuri ended a two-day visit to Kabul without
resolving differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the
composition of proposed tribal councils to stem the Taliban insurgency.
On the same day, London-based Amnesty International criticized
Islamabad for human rights abuses related to its cooperation with the U.S.-
led “war on terror,” including the arbitrary detention, enforced
disappearance, and torture of hundreds of people.
12/07/06 — The Pentagon notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to
Pakistan worth up to $855 million. The deal involves refurbishment and
modification of three excess P-3 aircraft with the E-2C Hawkeye airborne
early warning suite. On the same day, Washington unveiled the Secure
Freight Initiative, which seeks to prevent nuclear-related smuggling into
the United States by placing specialized x-ray and optical scanners at sea
ports in six foreign nations, including Karachi.
12/06/06 — President Musharraf again said he would not resign his position as army
chief before slated 2007 polls and that exiled former Prime Ministers
Bhutto and Sharif would not be allowed to contest those elections. On the
same day, Pakistani press reports said Islamabad would in 2007
implement major changes to primary school curriculum, including “less
biased” discussion of the partition of British India.
12/05/06 — The U.S. Air Force awarded to Maryland-based Lockheed Martin a $144
million contract to provide materials for F-16 combat aircraft being sold
to Pakistan. On the same day, President Musharraf called the Women’s
Protection Bill “just the beginning” and “a victory for moderates,” and
said his government would soon introduce legislation outlawing forced
marriages. Also, the NWFP Chief Minister, a leading Islamist politician,
accused Pakistani intelligence of planting a bomb outside his Peshawar
office. Islamabad called the claim a fabrication.
12/04/06 — President Musharraf told an interviewer that Pakistan is “against
independence” for Kashmir, instead offering a four-point proposal that
would lead to “self-governance,” defined as “falling between autonomy
and independence.” Many analysts saw the proposal as being roughly in
line with New Delhi’s Kashmir position. Some opposition political
parties and Kashmiri separatist groups rejected Musharraf’s proposal as
an abandonment of Islamabad’s long-held policy, but the Foreign Office
insisted that Pakistan’s “legal position” continues to be based on relevant
U.N. Security Council resolutions.
12/03/06 — A suicide bomber, suspected to be of Uzbek origin, killed himself and a
policeman in North Waziristan.

---

CRS-3
12/01/06 — In a major privatization move, the Pakistan government sold a ten percent
share of the country’s largest oil company for $813 million. On the same
day, a suicide bomber killed himself in the parking lot of a military facility
in Peshawar. No other casualties were reported.
11/30/06 — Indian police named a Pakistani national as the main conspirator behind
the 7/11 Bombay terrorist bombings.
11/29/06 — Education Secretary Spellings led the U.S. delegation at a meeting of the
U.S.-Pakistan Education Dialogue in Washington. On the same day,
Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable Hatf IV (Shaheen I) medium-range
ballistic missile. Also, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the government
to disclose the whereabouts of 41 suspected security detainees who have
“disappeared.” Human rights groups claim to have recorded more than
400 cases of such secret detentions since 2002. Finally, four bombs
exploded on a railway line linking Pakistan and Iran. No injuries were
reported.
11/27/06 — Suspected pro-Taliban militants in South Waziristan killed a tribal cleric
they accused of being a “U.S. spy.”
11/26/06 — Chinese President Hu Jintao ended a four-day visit to Islamabad,
where China and Pakistan sought to bolster their “all-weather friendship
and all-dimensional cooperation” with the signing of 18 new pacts,
including a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. On the same day, some 8,000
supporters of Islamist political parties took to the streets of Karachi to
protest passage of the Women’s Protection Bill.
11/24/06 — China and Pakistan agreed to jointly develop airborne early warning
radars. On the same day, two Pakistani journalists reportedly were
kidnaped by Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan.
11/23/06 — Heavy fighting between government security forces and armed rebels
broke out in the Kohlu district of Baluchistan.
11/21/06 — Police in Quetta arrested 47 suspected Taliban militants.
11/19/06 — British Prime Minister Tony Blair ended a two-day visit to Pakistan,
where Britain and Pakistan agreed to forward their “abiding partnership”
and London vowed to more than double its development assistance to
Pakistan to $944 million over the next three years.
11/17/06 — A suicide bomber killed himself and injured two policemen in an attack
on a police van in Peshawar. On the same day, 15 people were injured by
a bomb blast in Lahore.
11/16/06 — Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable Hatf V (Gauri I) medium-range
ballistic missile. On the same day, Berlin-based Transparency
International placed Pakistan 142nd out of 163 countries in its annual
ranking of world corruption levels.
11/15/06 — The Pakistan-India Composite Dialogue resumed when Foreign
Secretary Khan made a two-day visit to New Delhi for talks with his
Indian counterpart. No progress was made on outstanding territorial
disputes and India presented no evidence of Pakistani involvement in the
7/11 Bombay terrorist bombings, but the two officials did give shape to
a joint anti-terrorism mechanism proposed in September and agreed to
continue the dialogue process in early 2007.
11/14/06 — Pakistan’s National Assembly passed the Women’s Protection Bill to
amend sections of the controversial Hudood Ordinances which apply
Islamic law to cases of rape. Islamist politicians boycotted the vote in

---

CRS-4
protest. Days later, some 10,000 members of the Musharraf-supporting,
ethnic-based MQM party marched in Karachi in support of the changes.
11/13/06 — The Pentagon notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to
Pakistan worth up to $160 million. The deal involves thousands of
military radio systems. On the same day, lawmakers in the NWFP again
passed a controversial Hasba (or accountability) bill that would
establish Taliban-style Islamic laws in the region. Also, a bomb exploded
at a market in Quetta, killing 2 people and injuring 15 others. Finally, a
legal commission from Peshawar found “no proof” that the madrassa at
Chingai had been used to train militants.
11/11/06 — A pro-government tribal chief and eight other people were killed when a
bomb destroyed their vehicle in South Waziristan.
11/08/06 — A suicide bomber killed himself and 42 army recruits at a military
training camp at Dargai in the NWFP, not far from the site of the 10/30
Chingai madrassa attack. Many observers speculated that camp bombing
was revenge for that attack.
11/06/06 — Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Boucher met with
top Pakistani officials in Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations and
regional issues. On the same day, a legal commission from Peshawar
concluded that the 10/30 madrassa attack in Bajaur was most likely
launched by a U.S. Predator drone.
11/05/06 — Suspected pro-Taliban militants shot and killed a pro-government tribal
leader in South Waziristan.
11/04/06 — At least 10,000 people took to the streets in Bajaur to protest the 10/30
attack at Chingai.
11/03/06 — Pro-Taliban militants in Waziristan beheaded a local tribal cleric they
accused of being a “U.S. spy.”
11/01/06 — A pro-Taliban tribal leader claimed to have prepared a squad of suicide
bombers to target Pakistani security forces in retaliation for the 10/30
Bajaur attack. On the same day, a bomb exploded in Quetta, killing three
people, including two policeman, and injuring four others.
10/31/06 — At least 10,000 people took to the streets of Khar in northwestern Pakistan
to protest the previous day’s attack in Bajaur.
10/30/06 — Some 82 people were killed in a pre-dawn air attack on a religious
school at Chingai in the Bajaur tribal agency, just hours before
government officials were to conclude a truce with Islamist militants in
the Bajaur capital. The Pakistani military claimed to have undertaken the
attack after the school’s pro-Taliban leader continued to train terrorists
and shelter “unwanted foreigners” despite repeated warnings. Fugitive Al
Qaeda lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri was reported to have made past visits
to the madrassa. The independent Human Right Commission of Pakistan
later condemned the “atrocity” and “mass murder” by government
authorities, while New York-based Human Rights Watch called for an
independent investigation into the incident. Many observers speculated
that the attack had in fact been carried out by U.S. Predator drones.
On the same day, the body of an accused “American spy” was found in the
Bajaur agency. Also, USAID signed a $120 million contract with a
Massachusetts-based construction company to assist in ongoing
earthquake relief efforts in northern Pakistan. Finally, Islamabad admitted

---

CRS-5
for the first time that it had in August detained British national Rashid
Rauf on suspicion of masterminding a plot to destroy American passenger
jets flying out of London.
10/27/06 — Afghan President Karzai appealed directly to influential Pakistani Pashtun
politicians, including leading Islamist figure Fazlur Rehman, for support
in tackling the Taliban insurgency.
10/24/06 — Indian Prime Minister Singh said New Delhi had “credible evidence”
of Pakistan’s involvement in the 7/11 Bombay train bombings. On the
same day, suspected tribal rebels blew up a gas pipeline in Baluchistan,
leaving tens of thousands of people without gas.
10/23/06 — India’s defense minister accused the Pakistani intelligence services of
seeking to “infiltrate and subvert” India’s armed forces. Islamabad denied
the charges.
10/22/06 — Pro-Taliban militants in North Waziristan reportedly announced plans to
raise their own taxes.
10/20/06 — A bomb exploded at a crowded shopping area in Peshawar, killing 6
people and injuring 31 others. No group claimed responsibility.
10/19/06 — Former Prime Ministers Sharif and Bhutto met in London to reaffirm
a mutual commitment to their May 2006 “Charter of Democracy.” On the
same day, two Pakistani soldiers were shot and killed by Islamic militants
in South Waziristan. Also, Information Minister Durrani urged Indian
leaders to avoid making public statements that could “spoil the
atmosphere” between the two countries.
10/17/06 — Afghan President Karzai expressed certainty that Taliban leader
Mullah Omar was in Quetta, Pakistan. A Pakistani official rejected the
allegation, saying “the entire world knows [Omar] is in Afghanistan.”
10/16/06 — USAID launched an $11.5 million program to improve children’s health
in Pakistan’s FATA.
10/15/06 — Information Minister Durrani said that no one will be allowed to criticize
“the institution of the armed forces as it is enshrined in the constitution.”
10/11/06 — Suspected Taliban militants in North Waziristan shot and killed two men
they accused of being “U.S. spies.”
10/09/06 — Islamabad criticized a reported nuclear test by North Korea, calling it a
“destabilizing” development for the entire region. President Musharraf
later denied the existence of any link between Pakistan and the North
Korean test. On the same day, NATO’s military commander in
Afghanistan met with President Musharraf in Islamabad. Also, Afghan
President Karzai called for a jirga of Pashtun tribes from Pakistan and
Afghanistan aimed at ending the Taliban insurgency.
10/08/06 — U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Crocker said the United States will train
30,000 teachers and build 50 new schools in earthquake-affected areas of
Pakistan.
10/07/06 — Police in Baluchistan reported arresting at least 45 suspected Taliban
militants in a series of raids near the Afghan border.
10/06/06 — President Musharraf said the 9/5 Waziristan truce was designed to
marginalize rather than compromise with Islamic militants, and he insisted
that the truce was working to bolster peace and stability in the FATA.
10/04/06 — Afghan security agents arrested 17 people allegedly trained in Pakistan to
launch suicide attacks in eastern Afghanistan. On the same day,

---

CRS-6
Baluchistan’s chief minister accused Indian intelligence services of fueling
the Baloch insurgency.
10/03/06 — Islamabad clarified for U.S. Ambassador Crocker that the A.Q. Khan
issue “is closed” and that no further details about his case would be
shared. On the same day, a follow-up U.S. military earthquake relief
mission to Pakistan included delivery of more than 10,000 sheets of
corrugated iron for home construction.
10/01/06 — President Musharraf told an American television interviewer that some
“retired” former top officials of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
may be providing assistance to the Taliban. Two former ISI chiefs later
rejected Musharraf’s claim as “baseless.”
09/30/06 — Bombay’s top police official said the 7/11 train bombings were
“planned by Pakistan’s [intelligence service] and carried out by
Lashkar-e-Taiba and their operatives in India.” Islamabad swiftly rejected
the allegation as propaganda designed “to externalize an internal [Indian]
malaise.” On the same day, the United States and Pakistan signed a letter
of acceptance for a multi-billion dollar deal to provide Pakistan with new
and used F-16 combat aircraft.
09/28/06 — A U.S. military spokesman in Kabul said the number of militant attacks
in eastern Afghanistan had doubled and even tripled in some cases
since the 9/5 truce in Waziristan (he did not, however, make a causal
link between the two developments). On the same day, a leaked report
from the British Defense Academy said Pakistan’s intelligence service
indirectly supported terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, by
supporting the Pakistan’s Islamist political parties. Also, the United
States and Pakistan signed two agreements on $41 million in U.S.
assistance to strengthening Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies. Finally,
London-based Amnesty International accused the Islamabad government
of abducting hundreds of Pakistanis as part of the U.S.-led “war on terror,”
with U.S. agents paying thousands of dollars in “bounties” for accused
terrorists who could then be held for months with no legal process.
09/27/06 — Islamic militants said they had “taken control” of Miramshah, North
Waziristan, including opening a “Taliban office” there. A government
spokesman later said the office had been closed.
09/25/06 — President Musharraf’s autobiography was released. The book faced
heavy criticism in Pakistan as divulging “state secrets” and being
inappropriate for a sitting president. Musharraf also gave a speech in New
York City, where he called “ridiculous” the claim that the Taliban were
headquartered in Quetta, Pakistan, and insisted that Pakistan was playing
a “totally neutral role” in Afghanistan. On the same day, India’s defense
minister said Pakistan “remains a nursery of global terrorism.”
09/22/06 — President Bush met with President Musharraf at the White House to
discuss a variety of bilateral issues, including security in the Afghanistan-
Pakistan region and the 9/5 truce in North Waziristan. President Bush
praised the leadership and courage of the Pakistani leader, who explained
to the U.S. president that the truce represented a “holistic approach” to
fighting terrorism and would help in the battle against the Taliban.
09/21/06 — The Commander of the U.S. European Command, Gen. Jones, told a
Senate panel it is “generally accepted” that the Taliban headquarters
is somewhere in the vicinity of Quetta, Pakistan.

---