POLIO PAKISTAN BACKGROUND BRIEFS FOR BMGF SECURITY AND ACCESS STRATEGY SESSION: PAKISTAN 1. Drivers of insecurity and conflict NB: Because of the sensitive nature of the subject matter, information denoted with an asterisk (*) is confidential and can be elaborated upon in oral briefings with Pl. Pakistan was close to complete polio eradication when a combination of external circumstances (conflict, terrorism, US drones and anti-US sentiment, killing of Osama bin Laden & preceding fake vaccination campaign, a Taliban- imposed anti-polio drops ban, and attacks on health workers) as well as management issues (relating to massive corruption, accountability, misreporting, too exclusive a focus on polio eradication to the detriment of other routine immunizations, poor infrastructure, Army operations) created again a continuing increase in the number polio cases, mainly in the tribal and adjacent areas. Key groups involved in the nexus of insecurity and conflict differ in the four provinces, and there is no monolithic Pakistan Taliban entity. The Tehreek Taliban Pakistan are a grouping of major Taliban and allied groups, with over 40 sub- and splinter groups. Some are purely criminal structures, others are IRAN AF OHANISTAN LNKA. ols4nEsi &TIORINNADRStAN AMIT,WN KANO/FM 14LVAI4) Own OIA l oapaCia SALCONTIAAI PAKISTAN INDIA traditional clan-based allies, whose services are used by many, as required.* The mainly Pashtun Taliban have links not only with different Taliban and other groups in Afghanistan, but also with non- Pashtun allies, both from other Pakistani provinces especially the Punjab, as well as with many foreign groups such as those from the Arab world, Central Asia, Caucasus, and Europe. There is evidence of the involvement of external state actors as well.* CONFIDENTIAL- DO NOT CIRCULATE IPI INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS • The unstable security situation along the A