Bangladesh

Bangladeshi troops raid Myanmar rebel camps: Bangladeshi troops are reported to have fought gun battles with Myanmar rebel groups and neutralised several camps in a series of raids along the forested border between the two countries during July 2005. "Twenty-six fugitive rebels from Myanmar, along with huge weapons and ammunition including 31 AK-47 rifles, were arrested during the raids," said a senior Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) official on July 24, 2005. No Bangladeshi troops were injured and rebel casualties could not be ascertained, he said. In the latest incident, a rebel camp was neutralised and 16,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered following an hour-long encounter on July 23 at a forest near Naikkongchhari, 400 kilometres southeast of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, said Lieutenant Colonel M.A. Awal of the BDR. Rebel groups operating in Myanmar's western state of Arakan often set up temporary camps in Bangladesh to escape raids by Myanmar security forces. Alert Net, July 25, 2005

India

Islamist extremists could take control of Pakistani nuclear weapons, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: Expressing concern over the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Washington on July 21, 2005 that there had been "reckless proliferation" and there was a "danger" of extremists seizing power and taking control of the nuclear weapons. Dr. Singh said he was worried about the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets should President Pervez Musharraf be replaced and said there was "always a danger" that extremists in Pakistan could take charge of its nuclear arsenal. "If they get into the hands of the jehadi elements that could pose a serious problem... I hope that this does not happen and I pray that this will not happen," he said while expressing the hope that "credible solutions can be found today with that problem." The Hindu, July 22, 2005.

Five persons killed in suicide bombing in Srinagar: A Major of the Indian Army and two soldiers were among five people who died; 17 persons were wounded when a suspected suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into an Army vehicle near Burnhall School in the high-security civil lines area of Srinagar on July 20, 2005. A civilian who died was identified as Nisar Ahmed Bhat, an employee of the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The fifth person is believed to be the suicide bomber. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Daily Excelsior, July 21, 2005.

Pakistan

More than 300 people arrested in country-wide crackdown on Islamist extremism: Security agencies are reported to have arrested more than 300 people by July 24, 2005, in the ongoing country-wide crackdown on Islamist extremism. These arrests, which commenced on July 19, have occurred in the Punjab, North West Frontier Province, Balochistan and Sindh. Among those arrested was a British Muslim, Haroon Rashid Aswad, a London bombing suspect. Meanwhile, countrywide protests were organised on July 22 in response to the call of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) against raids on the offices of religious parties and Madrassas (seminaries) and arrest of religious scholars and students. Demonstrations were held in almost all big cities and towns of Pakistan after the Friday prayers. Daily Times, July 23, 2005

Eleven persons killed during sectarian violence in Gilgit: At least 11 persons are reported to have died in the ongoing sectarian violence at Gilgit in the Northern Areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. While unidentified assailants attacked a Rawalpindi-bound passenger bus on the Karakoram Highway on July 18, killing five persons and injuring 15 others, one person was killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire in the Amphery area minutes after the arrival of the dead body of a man who was killed a day earlier. Three persons were reportedly killed on July 20 in the Jalalabad and Sonikote areas. Jang, July 23, 2005.

President Musharraf urges the West to resolve disputes facing Muslims: Addressing the nation on radio and television on July 21, 2005, President Pervez Musharraf said the West should help resolve political disputes facing the Muslim world which, he said, were at the roots of extremism and terrorism. While indicating that Pakistan supported the United Kingdom in the fight against terrorism and announced that a special cell would ensure registration of Madrassas (seminaries) in the country by December 2005. Gen. Musharraf also said that while Pakistan had launched a crackdown on banned outfits, Prime Minister Tony Blair should ensure that groups like the Hizb-ut-Tehrir and Al-Muhajiroun were not allowed to operate in Britain. Dawn, July 22, 2005.