Some within our nation are doing a pretty alright job of subverting without any help from the outside...we need to realize this before pointing fingers all the time.
FATA Situation
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Some within our nation are doing a pretty alright job of subverting without any help from the outside...we need to realize this before pointing fingers all the time.
Always Neutral
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mujahideen
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Unilateral US action in Fata harmful: Negroponte
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Feb 29: The talk of direct US military action in Pakistan is harmful, says a senior American official, adding that the United States must consult Islamabad before taking any action against militants in the tribal area.
We are not going to be able to use American military forces, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday evening.
Completely understand. We want the Pakistanis to do this, said Senator John Kerry, a prominent member of the committee.
Mr Negroponte strongly rejected suggestions by American politicians and the media that US forces should hit actionable terrorist targets inside Pakistan with or without Islamabads consent.
I think that it is harmful when people, very often unidentified sources, talk about us somehow taking this matter into our own hands and acting unilaterally, he said. I think all that does is get peoples backs up on the scene.
Mr Negroponte was explaining what the US expects the new government in Islamabad to do in the war against terrorists, particularly in the tribal areas.
Senator, Pakistan is a sovereign country. And in the last analysis, whatever they do to deal with these issues has got to be based on their governments perception and their peoples perception of their own best self-interest, said Mr Negroponte while responding to a question from Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat, who wanted to know how the US would like Islamabads new rulers to fight the war against terror.
I think that whatever we do should be done on a cooperative basis, he added.
The United States, he said, would like to work with the government of Pakistan to help them in their social and economic programmes in Fata and in other parts of the country.
Unilateral US action in Fata harmful: Negroponte -DAWN - Top Stories; March 01, 2008
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Feb 29: The talk of direct US military action in Pakistan is harmful, says a senior American official, adding that the United States must consult Islamabad before taking any action against militants in the tribal area.
We are not going to be able to use American military forces, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday evening.
Completely understand. We want the Pakistanis to do this, said Senator John Kerry, a prominent member of the committee.
Mr Negroponte strongly rejected suggestions by American politicians and the media that US forces should hit actionable terrorist targets inside Pakistan with or without Islamabads consent.
I think that it is harmful when people, very often unidentified sources, talk about us somehow taking this matter into our own hands and acting unilaterally, he said. I think all that does is get peoples backs up on the scene.
Mr Negroponte was explaining what the US expects the new government in Islamabad to do in the war against terrorists, particularly in the tribal areas.
Senator, Pakistan is a sovereign country. And in the last analysis, whatever they do to deal with these issues has got to be based on their governments perception and their peoples perception of their own best self-interest, said Mr Negroponte while responding to a question from Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat, who wanted to know how the US would like Islamabads new rulers to fight the war against terror.
I think that whatever we do should be done on a cooperative basis, he added.
The United States, he said, would like to work with the government of Pakistan to help them in their social and economic programmes in Fata and in other parts of the country.
Unilateral US action in Fata harmful: Negroponte -DAWN - Top Stories; March 01, 2008
mujahideen
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Taliban end ceasefire
OUR STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR - In connection with its spring resistance strategy for the coming summer, Al-Qaeda has announced fresh appointments, highly placed sources told TheNation on Friday.
They said that the Al-Qaeda leadership had declared Aslam Pakistani, as its new commander and Muhammad Al Shahrani, as his deputy for the Eastern Zone.
Both these persons were appointed after the arrest of the organizations high-profile leader Mansoor Dadullah.
Dadullah along with his two brothers and several others was arrested from Quetta. Before his arrest, Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Muhammad Omar Akhund removed Mansoor Dadullah from his office.
It merits mentioning that a number of Al-Qaeda leaders are active in Afghanistan and Mustafa Abu Yazeed at Helmand, Abu Yahya in South-Eastern and Abu Ekhlas at Kunar are prominent amnog them.
Meanwhile, the Al-Qaeda Spokesman Ahmad Salman contradicted reports regarding killing of Ezzam Al-Americee in the recent missile attack at Khushhali Toorikhel near Mirali Town of North Waziristan Agency on January 29 last.
The Spokesman said that Ezzam Al Americee is alive.
The leading Al-Qaeda figure Abu Laith Al Laibi along with his aides Abu Sahal and Abu Obaid from Egypt were killed in missile attack at Khushhali Toorikhel, North Waziristan Agency.
Monitoring Desk adds: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has accused the government of violating the peace accord. The Tehrik also announced to end the ceasefire it announced last month and resume its activities against the security forces.
Maulvi Umar, a spokesman of the Tehrik, told BBC on phone that the government had started operations against Taliban in Swat, Bajaur and Darra Adamkhel during the last few days which, he termed, as a violation of the agreement reached between them and the government before February 18 elections.
The Taliban leadership has allowed Taliban activities in the said areas partially, however, Taliban would generally remain committed to the agreement, Maulvi Umar said.
We are still honouring the pact in general, but our central leadership has allowed Taliban to retaliate at places where government is carrying out operations against Taliban, he said.
He refused to own the responsibility of attacks on DSP Javed Iqbals vehicle at Lakky Marwat on Friday and subsequently at his funeral in Mingora, however, said that these attacks could be Taliban activity.
The Nation
OUR STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR - In connection with its spring resistance strategy for the coming summer, Al-Qaeda has announced fresh appointments, highly placed sources told TheNation on Friday.
They said that the Al-Qaeda leadership had declared Aslam Pakistani, as its new commander and Muhammad Al Shahrani, as his deputy for the Eastern Zone.
Both these persons were appointed after the arrest of the organizations high-profile leader Mansoor Dadullah.
Dadullah along with his two brothers and several others was arrested from Quetta. Before his arrest, Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Muhammad Omar Akhund removed Mansoor Dadullah from his office.
It merits mentioning that a number of Al-Qaeda leaders are active in Afghanistan and Mustafa Abu Yazeed at Helmand, Abu Yahya in South-Eastern and Abu Ekhlas at Kunar are prominent amnog them.
Meanwhile, the Al-Qaeda Spokesman Ahmad Salman contradicted reports regarding killing of Ezzam Al-Americee in the recent missile attack at Khushhali Toorikhel near Mirali Town of North Waziristan Agency on January 29 last.
The Spokesman said that Ezzam Al Americee is alive.
The leading Al-Qaeda figure Abu Laith Al Laibi along with his aides Abu Sahal and Abu Obaid from Egypt were killed in missile attack at Khushhali Toorikhel, North Waziristan Agency.
Monitoring Desk adds: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has accused the government of violating the peace accord. The Tehrik also announced to end the ceasefire it announced last month and resume its activities against the security forces.
Maulvi Umar, a spokesman of the Tehrik, told BBC on phone that the government had started operations against Taliban in Swat, Bajaur and Darra Adamkhel during the last few days which, he termed, as a violation of the agreement reached between them and the government before February 18 elections.
The Taliban leadership has allowed Taliban activities in the said areas partially, however, Taliban would generally remain committed to the agreement, Maulvi Umar said.
We are still honouring the pact in general, but our central leadership has allowed Taliban to retaliate at places where government is carrying out operations against Taliban, he said.
He refused to own the responsibility of attacks on DSP Javed Iqbals vehicle at Lakky Marwat on Friday and subsequently at his funeral in Mingora, however, said that these attacks could be Taliban activity.
The Nation
mujahideen
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Major offensive against militants planned
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, March 2: Pakistan is planning a major military offensive against suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda bases in the tribal areas, diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn.
The sources said that the decision to go after the militants followed a recent increase in terrorist attacks in the country. The terrorists were unusually silent during and immediately after the national elections but have carried out several major attacks recently, killing more than 100 people in three days.
The sources said that while the United States will provide technical support for this offensive, there will be no direct US participation.
Reports in the US media on Sunday said that Washington is sending 100 military trainers to Pakistan who may also participate in operations against the militants.
Pakistan will also continue its efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict with tribal supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents, the sources said, adding that the military offensive will not terminate the peace talks.
The sources claimed that US intelligence experts also have confirmed Pakistans assessment that Baitullah Mehsud and his group are responsible for most of the attacks inside Pakistan. They said that since December, when Mehsud assumed command of a militant umbrella group called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, he has become active on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border.
In an unusual interview to Washington Post last month, CIA chief Michael Hayden blamed Mehsud for assassinating former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and warned that a new nexus between Al Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups is seeking to destabilise Pakistan.
It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists, he added.
US officials in Washington say that the United States is helping Pakistan deal with this threat and recently sent a four-member intelligence team to the country to help enhance their intelligence gathering capabilities.
The proposed military offensive, according to diplomatic and US sources, aims at curbing Mehsuds growing influence in the tribal zone, particular in Waziristan.
Pentagon officials, while talking to various US media outlets, said that US intelligence experts are helping Pakistan locate Mehsud who, they said, needs to be hammered down.
Diplomatic sources said that since Mehsud and his militants hide among local tribes, it has been difficult to pinpoint him. The fear of collateral damage --- civilian casualties - also prevents US and Pakistani troops from targeting Mehsud.
The Pakistan Army last conducted an operation against Mehsud in early January. But the action ended after a few days amid talk of an unofficial truce.
Major offensive against militants planned -DAWN - Top Stories; March 03, 2008
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, March 2: Pakistan is planning a major military offensive against suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda bases in the tribal areas, diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn.
The sources said that the decision to go after the militants followed a recent increase in terrorist attacks in the country. The terrorists were unusually silent during and immediately after the national elections but have carried out several major attacks recently, killing more than 100 people in three days.
The sources said that while the United States will provide technical support for this offensive, there will be no direct US participation.
Reports in the US media on Sunday said that Washington is sending 100 military trainers to Pakistan who may also participate in operations against the militants.
Pakistan will also continue its efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict with tribal supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents, the sources said, adding that the military offensive will not terminate the peace talks.
The sources claimed that US intelligence experts also have confirmed Pakistans assessment that Baitullah Mehsud and his group are responsible for most of the attacks inside Pakistan. They said that since December, when Mehsud assumed command of a militant umbrella group called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, he has become active on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border.
In an unusual interview to Washington Post last month, CIA chief Michael Hayden blamed Mehsud for assassinating former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and warned that a new nexus between Al Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups is seeking to destabilise Pakistan.
It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists, he added.
US officials in Washington say that the United States is helping Pakistan deal with this threat and recently sent a four-member intelligence team to the country to help enhance their intelligence gathering capabilities.
The proposed military offensive, according to diplomatic and US sources, aims at curbing Mehsuds growing influence in the tribal zone, particular in Waziristan.
Pentagon officials, while talking to various US media outlets, said that US intelligence experts are helping Pakistan locate Mehsud who, they said, needs to be hammered down.
Diplomatic sources said that since Mehsud and his militants hide among local tribes, it has been difficult to pinpoint him. The fear of collateral damage --- civilian casualties - also prevents US and Pakistani troops from targeting Mehsud.
The Pakistan Army last conducted an operation against Mehsud in early January. But the action ended after a few days amid talk of an unofficial truce.
Major offensive against militants planned -DAWN - Top Stories; March 03, 2008
mujahideen
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Helicopters pound militant positions
By Our Correspondent
GHALANAI, March 9: Security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded suspected militant positions in Mohmand Agency on Sunday, killing one person and wounding two women and four children.
Officials said the action followed a militant attack on Khasadar posts early in the morning in Lakaro, 24km north of Ghalanai. There was a heavy exchange of fire and security forces sought the help of helicopter gunships.
The helicopters bombed suspected hideouts and paramilitary forces shelled the area from their bases in Yousaf Khel and Mamad Gat. A villager, Dawai Khan, was killed. Two women and four children were injured when a mortar shell hit their house.
A checkpoint of paramilitary forces in Darwazgai was also attacked but no casualty was reported.
Traffic on the Bajaur-Peshawar road remained suspended.
Inter-Services Public Relations said security forces did not suffer any casualty.
Four Khasadar checkpoints were blown up by militants in Targhakhai, Kotagai, Jansher and Watki Kandao on Saturday night, Pindiali Naib Political Tehsildar Miraj Khan told Dawn.
Helicopters pound militant positions -DAWN - Top Stories; March 10, 2008
By Our Correspondent
GHALANAI, March 9: Security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded suspected militant positions in Mohmand Agency on Sunday, killing one person and wounding two women and four children.
Officials said the action followed a militant attack on Khasadar posts early in the morning in Lakaro, 24km north of Ghalanai. There was a heavy exchange of fire and security forces sought the help of helicopter gunships.
The helicopters bombed suspected hideouts and paramilitary forces shelled the area from their bases in Yousaf Khel and Mamad Gat. A villager, Dawai Khan, was killed. Two women and four children were injured when a mortar shell hit their house.
A checkpoint of paramilitary forces in Darwazgai was also attacked but no casualty was reported.
Traffic on the Bajaur-Peshawar road remained suspended.
Inter-Services Public Relations said security forces did not suffer any casualty.
Four Khasadar checkpoints were blown up by militants in Targhakhai, Kotagai, Jansher and Watki Kandao on Saturday night, Pindiali Naib Political Tehsildar Miraj Khan told Dawn.
Helicopters pound militant positions -DAWN - Top Stories; March 10, 2008
moha199
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i SAY TO MY aRMY kill them all find them and hang them or stone them to death in liaqat bagh
mujahideen
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Rice urges US lawmakers to back FATA uplift plan
WASHINGTON (APP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday said the United States has been in consistent contact with Pakistan on dealing with violent extremism along its border with Afghanistan as she also acknowledged complexity of the challenge on the rugged border.
She said the US has worked with both South Asian neighbours - which are in the frontline of the fight against terrorism - to muster tribal support to address the problem along their border.
Rice was testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on the State, Foreign Relations and Related Programmes in her last appearance as Secretary of State for the FY 2009 budget.
We have been consistently talking to the Pakistanis how they can do more and how we can help them to do more, she told lawmakers in response to a question about the situation in North Waziristan area. At the same time, Rice underscored that it is important to recognise that North Waziristan tribal area has been historically ungoverned.
It is a border that is very difficult to deal with because there are familiar relations across that border, said the top US diplomat as she also looked forward to working with Congress on a requisite legislation for materializing Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) in Afghanistan and border regions of Pakistan as a way to provide employment and economic development to local people.
Continuing, Rice said we have worked with the Afghans and the Pakistanis to try to mobilise tribal support through the local Loya Jirga to deal with both sides of the border. She stated dealing with the problem requires enhancing Pakistans capabilities and added the Pakistanis are aware that they have to do something to deal with the problem.
However, she said getting capabilities there is not an easy matter. Rice said an agreement reached in the tribal area a couple of years ago did not work.
The total State Department and USAID Foreign Operations request for FY 2009 is $ 22.7 billion, which the Secretary said support US strategic purposes of its diplomacy including securing peace, supporting democracy, advocating principles and ideals, meeting global challenges and aid US friends and allies. Rice urged lawmakers to support appropriations for achieving the goals.
The US administration has sought $830 million for Pakistan under foreign operations assistance in the new fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008. The amount includes security assistance, economic support funds, social sector development support and $150 million in support of Pakistans socio-economic development plan for federally administered tribal areas along the Afghan border.
The request for Afghanistan in the new fiscal year totals $1.054 billion.
The Nation
WASHINGTON (APP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday said the United States has been in consistent contact with Pakistan on dealing with violent extremism along its border with Afghanistan as she also acknowledged complexity of the challenge on the rugged border.
She said the US has worked with both South Asian neighbours - which are in the frontline of the fight against terrorism - to muster tribal support to address the problem along their border.
Rice was testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on the State, Foreign Relations and Related Programmes in her last appearance as Secretary of State for the FY 2009 budget.
We have been consistently talking to the Pakistanis how they can do more and how we can help them to do more, she told lawmakers in response to a question about the situation in North Waziristan area. At the same time, Rice underscored that it is important to recognise that North Waziristan tribal area has been historically ungoverned.
It is a border that is very difficult to deal with because there are familiar relations across that border, said the top US diplomat as she also looked forward to working with Congress on a requisite legislation for materializing Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) in Afghanistan and border regions of Pakistan as a way to provide employment and economic development to local people.
Continuing, Rice said we have worked with the Afghans and the Pakistanis to try to mobilise tribal support through the local Loya Jirga to deal with both sides of the border. She stated dealing with the problem requires enhancing Pakistans capabilities and added the Pakistanis are aware that they have to do something to deal with the problem.
However, she said getting capabilities there is not an easy matter. Rice said an agreement reached in the tribal area a couple of years ago did not work.
The total State Department and USAID Foreign Operations request for FY 2009 is $ 22.7 billion, which the Secretary said support US strategic purposes of its diplomacy including securing peace, supporting democracy, advocating principles and ideals, meeting global challenges and aid US friends and allies. Rice urged lawmakers to support appropriations for achieving the goals.
The US administration has sought $830 million for Pakistan under foreign operations assistance in the new fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008. The amount includes security assistance, economic support funds, social sector development support and $150 million in support of Pakistans socio-economic development plan for federally administered tribal areas along the Afghan border.
The request for Afghanistan in the new fiscal year totals $1.054 billion.
The Nation
mujahideen
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US in contact with Pakistan on Waziristan issue
WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday that the US was in contact with Pakistan regarding violent extremism in North Waziristan.
She said Pakistan understands that something beyond agreements needs to be done in North Waziristan, adding that a previous agreement had failed.
Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on the State, Foreign Relations and Related Programmes for the FY 2009 budget, she said the US was working with both Afghanistan and Pakistan to muster tribal support to address the problem. Rice also told US lawmakers that Israels plans to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank did not help the peace process.
WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday that the US was in contact with Pakistan regarding violent extremism in North Waziristan.
She said Pakistan understands that something beyond agreements needs to be done in North Waziristan, adding that a previous agreement had failed.
Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on the State, Foreign Relations and Related Programmes for the FY 2009 budget, she said the US was working with both Afghanistan and Pakistan to muster tribal support to address the problem. Rice also told US lawmakers that Israels plans to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank did not help the peace process.
AgNoStiC MuSliM
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Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
I wonder what the reaction of Mullah Nazir is to all this.
The first strike reportedly killed an associate of Nazir. The second was also reportedly close to his "compound". Both strikes involved foreign militants, and Mullah nazir led the operation against the foreigners last time around, so why is he putting up with them now?
There was a report a few months ago that Taliban with Kandahari accents (Afghan Taliban) had met with Nazir to discuss possible reconciliation between him and the foreign militants. I wonder if that reconciliation did occur...Another "deal" collapsing?
If so, the support from the Wazir tribes mentioned in this article is significant, since it would be counter to what Nazir perhaps compromised on.
fatman17
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Intelligence sharing on Pakistan border
US, Afghan and Pakistani officers have opened the first of six joint military intelligence centres along the Afghan-Pakistan border, in an effort to cut down on militants' movements in a region of rising terrorist activity.
The centres represent the latest step in American efforts to get Afghanistan and Pakistan to coordinate in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The countries have a history of rocky relations, though ties have recently grown warmer.
The military centres, to be staffed by about 20 personnel from the three countries, also will allow Afghan and Pakistani officials to use America's intelligence-gathering might.
The officers can watch live video feeds from US spy planes in the centres -- real-time information that can be relayed back to ground forces on both sides.
Major General David Rodriguez, the commander of US troops in Afghanistan, told about 100 military personnel from the three countries at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a small border outpost that they were taking "a giant step forward in cooperation, communication and coordination".
"This facility represents our best opportunity to move forward in our common mission to rid this region of the scourge of terrorism," Maj Gen Rodriguez said.
US, Afghan and Pakistani officers have opened the first of six joint military intelligence centres along the Afghan-Pakistan border, in an effort to cut down on militants' movements in a region of rising terrorist activity.
The centres represent the latest step in American efforts to get Afghanistan and Pakistan to coordinate in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The countries have a history of rocky relations, though ties have recently grown warmer.
The military centres, to be staffed by about 20 personnel from the three countries, also will allow Afghan and Pakistani officials to use America's intelligence-gathering might.
The officers can watch live video feeds from US spy planes in the centres -- real-time information that can be relayed back to ground forces on both sides.
Major General David Rodriguez, the commander of US troops in Afghanistan, told about 100 military personnel from the three countries at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a small border outpost that they were taking "a giant step forward in cooperation, communication and coordination".
"This facility represents our best opportunity to move forward in our common mission to rid this region of the scourge of terrorism," Maj Gen Rodriguez said.
mujahideen
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Wazirs block foreign militants return to Wana
* Tribal elder says decision will stop area from being plunged back into chaos, target-killing and lawlessness
By Iqbal Khattak
PESHAWAR: The Taliban are negotiating with the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes the return of former militant commanders and their foreign fighters to Wana after they were flushed out in last years popular drive, a tribal elder said on Thursday.
However, we have told the Taliban that the former commanders are welcome to return, but they cannot bring Uzbek or other foreign militants back to Wana or surrounding areas, a tribal elder who was part of the jirga, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Daily Times in a phone call from Wana.
The Taliban leadership had invited influential Ahmedzai Wazir elders to a jirga in Wana on March 31 to discuss possible permission for the return of ex-militant commanders along with foreigners who fled when local Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir led a campaign against foreign militants, especially Uzbeks.
Chaos, lawlessness: It was a unanimous decision of the jirga that foreign militants were not acceptable by any means as their return would plunge the area back into chaos, target-killing, and lawlessness, the elder said.
The local tribes rejection of the return of foreign militants to Wana comes after two air strikes by the United States since February 28 in Kaloosha and Wana respectively, pinpointing foreign militants. The two strikes left more than 30 local and foreign militants dead.
Islamic Emirates, a Taliban-led parallel government in the Tribal Areas, is negotiating the return of five key Wazir militant commanders Ghulam Jan, Maulvi Abbas, Haji Umar, Maulvi Javed Karmazkhel, and Noor Islam return to Wana, along with foreign militants who accompany Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir.
The five were commanders for Taliban leader Nek Muhammad, who was killed in a missile attack in Wana in June 2004. They were hosts to Uzbek militants who local residents remember as butchers for their alleged atrocities against the Wazir populace.
The five men, according to tribal sources, are being sheltered by Taliban leaders who sympathise with foreign
militants in South and
North Waziristan.
Around 150 pro-government elders were killed between December 2004 and February 2007 in and around Wana, and Uzbek militants were prime suspects for all these killings and for other crimes.
Sources said that Maulvi Nazir was showing [a] soft corner for the five commanders and also the foreign militants after the Islamic Emirates guaranteed good behaviour of the foreign militants; however the sources added that the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes unwillingness would be difficult for him to bypass, as he had signed a peace accord with them.
Nazir is taking the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes into confidence on every major issue before making any decision, and local analysts say that because of a still unconsolidated and weak position he could not ignore the local tribes strength in protecting him against any attack from foes.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* Tribal elder says decision will stop area from being plunged back into chaos, target-killing and lawlessness
By Iqbal Khattak
PESHAWAR: The Taliban are negotiating with the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes the return of former militant commanders and their foreign fighters to Wana after they were flushed out in last years popular drive, a tribal elder said on Thursday.
However, we have told the Taliban that the former commanders are welcome to return, but they cannot bring Uzbek or other foreign militants back to Wana or surrounding areas, a tribal elder who was part of the jirga, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Daily Times in a phone call from Wana.
The Taliban leadership had invited influential Ahmedzai Wazir elders to a jirga in Wana on March 31 to discuss possible permission for the return of ex-militant commanders along with foreigners who fled when local Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir led a campaign against foreign militants, especially Uzbeks.
Chaos, lawlessness: It was a unanimous decision of the jirga that foreign militants were not acceptable by any means as their return would plunge the area back into chaos, target-killing, and lawlessness, the elder said.
The local tribes rejection of the return of foreign militants to Wana comes after two air strikes by the United States since February 28 in Kaloosha and Wana respectively, pinpointing foreign militants. The two strikes left more than 30 local and foreign militants dead.
Islamic Emirates, a Taliban-led parallel government in the Tribal Areas, is negotiating the return of five key Wazir militant commanders Ghulam Jan, Maulvi Abbas, Haji Umar, Maulvi Javed Karmazkhel, and Noor Islam return to Wana, along with foreign militants who accompany Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir.
The five were commanders for Taliban leader Nek Muhammad, who was killed in a missile attack in Wana in June 2004. They were hosts to Uzbek militants who local residents remember as butchers for their alleged atrocities against the Wazir populace.
The five men, according to tribal sources, are being sheltered by Taliban leaders who sympathise with foreign
militants in South and
North Waziristan.
Around 150 pro-government elders were killed between December 2004 and February 2007 in and around Wana, and Uzbek militants were prime suspects for all these killings and for other crimes.
Sources said that Maulvi Nazir was showing [a] soft corner for the five commanders and also the foreign militants after the Islamic Emirates guaranteed good behaviour of the foreign militants; however the sources added that the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes unwillingness would be difficult for him to bypass, as he had signed a peace accord with them.
Nazir is taking the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes into confidence on every major issue before making any decision, and local analysts say that because of a still unconsolidated and weak position he could not ignore the local tribes strength in protecting him against any attack from foes.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
AgNoStiC MuSliM
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Musharaff did not really have much of an "Iron fist" policy. Under him the military opted for a defensive and reactive role - they responded to hostilities, rather than initiating them and major operations were undertaken only when there was a severe challenge to the authority of the State, or when certain high value targets existed.
That policy is unlikely to change very much for the time being. Musharraf was discredited for kowtowing to US policy and not being "sincere" in his negotiations with the militants. The new government therefore has to pander to public opinion and make the effort to negotiate peace deals. There are also several problems on the economic and commodities front that have to be tackled, and that will not be possible if you have suicide bombings and war in FATA and the rest of Pakistan.
Eventually peace in FATA will only arise through development and progress, and for development and progress you need stability - so the "peace deals" may be a "necessary evil" till the economic and food supply situation is brought under control, and the FATA development plan is set into motion.
In conclusion, the new policy is essentially the old policy, with the "peace deals" being given another chance.
Flintlock
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That's a bit of a catch-22 situation.
The radicals don't want development, i.e. "western" education and values...and they will react violently to it....
At the same time, education and development is the only way to defeat the ideology...
I think the solution lies outside Pakistan's borders...i.e. Afghanistan.
If Afghanistan is won, then the terrorists on this side of the border will die down automatically.
Also, I think this war will be a long-drawn out one...perhaps 10-15 years or more.
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