Pakistan army attack on Taliban on our news

Sailor

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That's funny, there is a report on the world news on TV this morning here in Australia about the Pakistan Army attacking the Taliban.
There is nothing on the forum about it yet. Anyone know about this?
 

Daredevil

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Pakistan kills at least 30 militants

Pakistan kills at least 30 militants

Armed helicopters attack positions in the Lower Dir district. Peace pact with the Taliban may be jeopardized by the action, which suggests a tougher line by the Pakistani government.

By Mubashir Zaidi and Mark Magnier

April 27, 2009

Reporting from New Delhi and Islamabad — Pakistan launched a military operation against militants today in a district that has been covered under a controversial peace deal concluded with the Taliban, suggesting a tougher line by the government -- at least temporarily.

The military said at least 30 militants were killed, including a commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban, a Pakistan umbrella group of extremists, as armed helicopters attacked their positions in the Lower Dir district.

The military action in the Lower Dir region could jeopardize the peace pact, under which the Taliban has been allowed to enforce Sharia, or Islamic law, giving it de facto authority in the Swat Valley and nearby areas.

The United States, some Pakistani lawmakers and analysts have criticized the deal, arguing that it could embolden the extremists rather than leading to genuine peace. Some of those fears appeared justified when Taliban fighters moved into the Buner district abutting Swat in recent weeks, hoping to extend their influence.

Government warnings caused the groups to retreat to Swat late last week, although militants were still on the streets when a reporter visited Saturday. Residents said they were local Taliban members.

Sunday's action may have been intended to send a signal to the Taliban. The attack was carried out in the hometown of Maulana Sufi Mohammed, an influential cleric who brokered the deal between the government and the Taliban in Swat.

Also Sunday, the remains of Polish geologist Piotr Stanczak, who was taken hostage and apparently beheaded by Taliban militants, were delivered in a casket to a paramilitary camp, Pakistani officials said.

Stanczak had been kidnapped on Sept. 28. A video released this year showed his apparent beheading, which Polish officials said they believed was authentic. His body will be handed over to Polish authorities. Despite the new military action, government officials said the peace deal remained intact. Under the agreement, Taliban militants were supposed to disarm, although by many indications this has not happened.

A statement by the military today said the Lal Qila area in Lower Dir district was fully secured after the successful operation by the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary unit.

In Islamabad, top Interior Ministry official Rehman Malik warned militants not to challenge government authority.

"Militants have no option but to lay down their arms because the government is serious about flushing them out," he told local television reporters. "Enough is enough."

Analysts said today's operation suggested that the government was now more willing to challenge the militants, although the effects of its actions might be short-lived.

The operation probably won't succeed militarily unless the government sends in significant numbers of infantry, said Tariq Rahman, a professor at Quaid-i-Azam University. And politically, he said, any gains could be temporary because Pakistani society is deeply divided on the topic of fighting Islamic militants.

"Unfortunately, in Pakistani society, there's a view that anyone who uses the name of Islam must be right," Rahman said. "If you start to see a lot of Taliban get killed, you will probably see more criticism against the army."

Today's operation, which took place in an area close to Afghanistan and the Swat Valley, a one-time tourist area, was somewhat unexpected, given that the government has in recent months appeared more interested in negotiating than confronting homegrown militants.

Television footage from the district showed helicopter gunships flying toward the mountains and soldiers guarding a road blocked with paramilitary trucks.

Malik denied that the government launched the military operation at the behest of the U.S. A military statement said the offensive in Lower Dir was carried out at the request of the provincial government and residents.

Pakistan kills at least 30 militants - Los Angeles Times
 

Su-47

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The Pakistan government now has a tough choice. They can either do what is good for their citizens and take tougher military action against the taliban and try flush out the pro-taleban elements in the military, government and ISI, or they can do what is good for their 'strategic depth' and allow taliban free reign, like they did in Swat.

and if they have learnt anything from their experience, they should stop supporting groups like Laskar-e-Taiba and other Mujahideen groups aimed at India. If they don't we'll soon have the pleasure of watching pakistan go to war with the kashmiri extremists. These Jihadi groups always come back to bite the hand that fed them.
 

nitesh

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To me it seems like another charade/genocide in making. The problem is not simple any more to me it seems like it is getting in to class divide means common people vs the elites. Where common people representing the talibunnies

So in fact PA is killing there own citizens and as usual claiming high, see the drama

News In Print Copy Formate

Buner jirga extends 'support' to Taliban
Source: Our Staff Reporter Submitted 7 hrs 35 mins ago

BUNER - Tribal and local elders have announced conditional support for Taliban and made it clear they along with Taliban and Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi would thwart entry of security forces in Buner.
The decision to this effect was taken during the national peace jirga held at Sawari College Ground Buner and was attended by local elders and leaders of political and religious organisations. Taliban did not take part in the jirga.
The jirga urged Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to call back its non-local militants from the area, otherwise their presence can become a cause of military action.
“We don’t want Swat like violence and bloodshed in Buner,” the Jirga members remarked after adopting a resolution unanimously.
Around 3,000 people attended the Jirga, which, besides others, was addressed by leaders and representatives of different political forces.
The speakers described the situation erupted after slipping of Taliban into Buner district, alleging that certain elements were bent upon creating Swat like situation in Buner that wouldn’t be tolerated. They made it clear that they wouldn’t tolerate exhibition of arms and terrorising of innocent people. In this respect, they requested Taliban leaders to disarm their squads and direct the non-locals to leave Buner without any further delay.
The Jirga welcomed promulgation of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation and urged Taliban to extend support in its early implementation and restoration of writ of law in the region. It also urged Taliban militants to return snatched vehicles and plundered goods. The Jirga also requested the government to ensure release of Taliban in the light of general amnesty.
It may be mentioned here that a large number of armed Taliban militants are still visible in scattered areas of Buner. Scores of Taliban militants, mostly from Swat, have occupied an hospital in an Afghan refugees camp at Koga and converted it into their headquarter.
Agencies add: The jirga constituted a committee comprising District Coordination Officer (DCO) Javed Akbar, District Police Officer (DPO) Rashid, political leaders, tribal chieftains, representative of Taliban and TNSM. The committee would play its role for peace in the district besides ensuring implementation on Nizam-e-Adl, sources said.
It would be the responsibility of committee to ensure permanent peace, the sources added.
The jirga also demanded the government to appoint Qazis and establish Darul Qaza immediately. It was also decided that Taliban would not display arms in the district and arrested Taliban should be released from Dagar Jail. Taliban, TNSM, tribal and local elders would jointly thwart security forces entry in the region, the sources said.
Meanwhile, thousands of people rallied in Buner District on Sunday urging the government and the Taliban to avoid conflict.
Emboldened after winning Swat deal, Taliban fighters moved into Buner, but their commander ordered some of them to withdraw on Friday, leaving behind only those fighters who hailed from Buner.
People living in Buner fear they will have to flee their homes if their valley becomes a battleground, and at a rally in Buner town called for the Taliban and government to show restraint.
“We appeal to the Taliban to stop shows of force and display of weapons, as there is no justification for it after enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation,” Mian Said Laiq, a politician, told the rally.
During the rally in Buner, cleric Misbahuddin Malikpuri warned the government against deploying security forces if the Taliban committed to keeping the peace.
“If government sent troops to Buner despite the Taliban’s commitment not to disturb peace, then we will be with the Taliban,” he added.
 

Yusuf

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Taliban suspend talks with Pakistani government

Taliban on Monday suspended talks with the Pakistani government on the Swat deal to protest against the military operations in Dir,adjoining Swat Valley, in which so far 30 militants and an army officer have been killed.

As the Pakistani forces intensified the operations for second day today, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi spokesman Izzat Khan told reporters that no peace talks would be held with the government unless the security forces halted the operations.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan also said the militants will not lay down their arms at any cost. The Swat peace deal stipulated that the militants would lay down their arms once the demand for enforcing Islamic Sharia law in the once Pakistan's famous tourist resort was implemented.

The security forces continued shelling militant hideouts at several places in Dir district.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said security forces had killed at least 30 militants during the operations, which was launched in retaliation to efforts by the Taliban to extend their influence outside Swat.

The Taliban confirmed that commander Maulvi Shahid was among the militants killed on Sunday. Gunship helicopters targeted militant hideouts, killing and injuring a number of them.

Two personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps were also killed and a major was among five personnel injured in an ambush in Maidan, the hometown of TNSM chief Sufi Muhammad.

Army helicopters airlifted Frontier Corps troops to strategic hilltops in Dir while armoured personnel carriers were seen moving towards the area.

An indefinite curfew was imposed in Lal Qila, Islampura, Kal Kot and several other areas in Dir considered to be strongholds of the Taliban. Security forces yesterday took control of Lal Qila after clearing the key area of militants.

Reports from Swat this morning said the Taliban had occupied a telephone exchange in Bahrain town. Security forces arrested four militants with heavy weapons at Khwazakhela in Swat. Militants in Dir have also taken up positions on hilltops to resist the security forces.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said the operation in Dir was launched on the request of the North West Frontier Province government to rid the area of militants who were threatening peace in the area.

The situation in Maidan, the hometown of Sufi Muhammad, worsened after district police chief Khurshid Khan and local mayor Alamzeb Khan were killed and scores of people were kidnapped in the past few weeks.
 

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