200 Terrorists Attack Pakistan Post from Afghanistan

[Porus]

It was the same Dir region where in the early 60s the Afghan government backed militants had infiltrated to create havoc but before our lazy army could reach our western border those infiltrators were already neutralized by our tribes and the captured ones were handed over to our lazy army. But time has changed since then. Instead of gradually sealing the pourous border to protect our people our army had different plans - now pay the price for the games our general play.

 

[53fd]

A daylong clash between militants from Afghanistan who crossed the border and attacked a Pakistani checkpoint left 23 troops and 35 insurgents dead, police said Thursday.

The fighting came as a top Pakistani general said the military plans to stage an operation against militants in a tribal region that juts deep inside Afghanistan, but denied media reports of an upcoming offensive in North Waziristan, the tribal area where the US has been pushing for action.

Pakistan’s northwest border with Afghanistan has for years been a stomping ground for extremists, some of whom focus on attacks against Western forces across the border, and others who prefer to attack the Pakistani state because of its ties to the United States.

Pakistan has taken action against the latter groups but they’ve retained the ability to strike back, partly because the border is so porous and insurgents under attack can easily cross from side to side.

The clash that began Wednesday and wound down Thursday occurred in Shaltalo town in Upper Dir district. Upper Dir lies just outside the tribal belt, but it too has witnessed al-Qaida and Taliban militant activity and been the focus of military offensives.

Police said some 200 militants crossed over into Pakistan from Afghanistan, and went after a checkpoint manned by police and paramilitary troops. At least 23 Pakistani security troops died and three were wounded, while 35 militants were killed, police official Johar Khan said.

The situation was under control as of noon Thursday, and funerals were being arranged for the dead security forces, he said.

On Wednesday, army Lt. Gen. Asif Yasin Malik, who oversees military operations in the tribal areas and other parts of the northwest, said the Kurram tribal area would be the next target of an offensive after local leaders there requested it.

Malik said operations would be launched there with the government’s backing, but declined to give any more operational details.

Kurram has seen sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni Muslims for years, but is also home to militants with other aims. According to some accounts, the Haqqani network, a faction of the Afghan Taliban, was shifting fighters there from North Waziristan tribal region.

The Haqqani network is considered one of the biggest threats to US forces in Afghanistan, partly because its fighters can retreat across the border to North Waziristan, where they have bases and have been left alone by the Pakistani army.

The US has pushed the Pakistani military go after the Haqqanis and other factions in North Waziristan. The pressure has increased since the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in a garrison city in Pakistan’s northwest and deeply embarrassed the army.

But officials here have resisted, saying their troops are stretched on other fronts, and that their priority is eliminating insurgents who attack Pakistan, which the Haqqanis have not done.

Malik said Wednesday that that position has not changed, and dismissed recent ”media hype” about an imminent offensive in North Waziristan.

”There is no change in North Waziristan in past months and weeks,” Malik said. ”We will undertake an operation when we want to, when it’s in the national interest.”

Fifty eight die in militant-security border clash | Provinces | DAWN.COM

 

[Avishek]

Rip to soldiers

 

[MUHARIB]

RIP to the soldiers.

 

[WARRANT]

Rest In pEaCe

 

[Pioneerfirst]

This news item caries messages for two types of people
1.The foreign countries who blame that Pakistan is helping Taliban
2.The sympthizers of Afghan Taliban in Pakistan
Watch they are killing our civilians and soldiers so they are our enemy

 

[53fd]

The US should close down the safe havens in Northern Afghanistan that are used by terrorists to infiltrate into Pakistan. This is what happens when you have an open border with Afghanistan, & the safe havens in Afghanistan are not dealt with. Hypocrisy at its best from the US & NATO Forces.

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 PM ----------

Latest figures of the death toll:

22 security, 45 militants killed in Dir operation

It says here that 22 troops & 45 militants have been killed.

 

[WARRANT]

The US should close down the safe havens in Northern Afghanistan that are used by terrorists to infiltrate into Pakistan. This is what happens when you have an open border with Afghanistan, & the safe havens in Afghanistan are not dealt with. Hypocrisy at its best from the US & NATO Forces.

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 PM ----------

Latest figures of the death toll:

22 security, 45 militants killed in Dir operation

It says here that 22 troops & 45 militants have been killed.

So has US and NATO stopped attacking Good Taliban now?

 

[PlanetWarrior]

I dont know the terrain or the logistics of the Pakistani military in that area but how does approximately 200 armed militia cross the border and kill 23 troops whilst 35 militants are downed and the remaining some 165 odd escape ? Couldnt the army call in choppers to pursue the terrorists ?

 

[S.M.R]

GoP should grant approval of planting mines alongside the whole border. At least we can save our soldiers from these terrorists.

 

[Pioneerfirst]

I dont know the terrain or the logistics of the Pakistani military in that area but how does approximately 200 armed militia cross the border and kill 23 troops whilst 35 militants are downed and the remaining some 165 odd escape ? Couldnt the army call in choppers to pursue the terrorists ?

they went back from where they came i-e Afghanistan

 

[bc040400065]

I dont know the terrain or the logistics of the Pakistani military in that area but how does approximately 200 armed militia cross the border and kill 23 troops whilst 35 militants are downed and the remaining some 165 odd escape ? Couldnt the army call in choppers to pursue the terrorists ?

some reports say they were 600. and in that area only police and para millitary was there to retaliate and majority of the dead are policemen or Frontier constabliry. they don't have any air support or any heavy weapons. some of the dead from our side are civilians as well.

 

[S.M.R]

they went back from where they came i-e Afghanistan

Good, The world still doubts that we have home grown terrorism. This proves that from where we are importing terrorists from.

 

[PlanetWarrior]

they went back from where they came i-e Afghanistan

Understood. But if the US and Afghan authorities view these people as enemies as well, then why couldnt the Pakistani military get a go ahead to pursue these terrorists across the Afghan border and if possible, conduct a joint attack on them ?

 

[Pioneerfirst]

GoP should grant approval of planting mines alongside the whole border. At least we can save our soldiers from these terrorists.

This will be great idea to mine and fence the border.Musharraf wanted to do this but Afghanistan and USA did not agreed on this in 2005.In this way we will end the smugling which causes 200 bn PKR damage to Pakistan and drug trafickers cause embarisment to us in yhe world.You know Afghanistan claim many parts of Khyber Paktoomkha as their territory.Its is our weakness that we have presented our selves for distruction