Operation Rah-e-Nijat (South Waziristan)
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Officials: US missiles kill 9 Taliban in Pakistan
By RASOOL DAWAR, Associated Press Writer Rasool Dawar, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago
MIR ALI, Pakistan – Suspected U.S. missiles hit a compound and a bunker in Pakistan's volatile tribal region, killing nine militants as part of an unprecedented wave of strikes since a deadly attack against the CIA across the border in Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.
Three missiles targeted Taliban militants early Saturday in the Mohammad Khel area of North Waziristan, where militant groups blamed for launching attacks on American and NATO troops across the border are based, the officials said. The mountainous area is where a suspected U.S. drone is reported to have crashed on Jan. 24, they added.
Another such strike early this month targeted a meeting of militant commanders in an apparently unsuccessful attempt to kill Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
Mehsud appeared in a video sitting beside the Jordanian man who carried out the Dec. 30 suicide bombing of a remote CIA base in Afghanistan's Khost province that killed seven of the agency's employees. A Pakistani Taliban spokesman also claimed responsibility for the attack to avenge the killing of their former chief, Baitullah Mehsud, in a drone strike last year.
Analysts suspect the Haqqani network, an al-Qaida-linked Afghan Taliban faction based in North Waziristan, also helped carry out the CIA attack, the worst against the spy agency in decades.
Since the bombing, the U.S. has carried out 13 suspected drone strikes in North and South Waziristan, an unprecedented volley of attacks since the CIA-led missile program began in earnest in Pakistan two years ago.
Two missiles in Saturday's attack hit the compound being used by the militants, killing seven of them, the intelligence officials said. The third killed two more insurgents in the bunker, they said.
The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to the media.
The U.S. does not usually comment on the strikes or their targets, but officials have said in the past that they have taken out several senior al-Qaida and Taliban leaders. The Pakistani government publicly condemns the strikes as violations of its sovereignty, yet it is thought to have a secret deal with Washington allowing them.
By RASOOL DAWAR, Associated Press Writer Rasool Dawar, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago
MIR ALI, Pakistan – Suspected U.S. missiles hit a compound and a bunker in Pakistan's volatile tribal region, killing nine militants as part of an unprecedented wave of strikes since a deadly attack against the CIA across the border in Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.
Three missiles targeted Taliban militants early Saturday in the Mohammad Khel area of North Waziristan, where militant groups blamed for launching attacks on American and NATO troops across the border are based, the officials said. The mountainous area is where a suspected U.S. drone is reported to have crashed on Jan. 24, they added.
Another such strike early this month targeted a meeting of militant commanders in an apparently unsuccessful attempt to kill Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
Mehsud appeared in a video sitting beside the Jordanian man who carried out the Dec. 30 suicide bombing of a remote CIA base in Afghanistan's Khost province that killed seven of the agency's employees. A Pakistani Taliban spokesman also claimed responsibility for the attack to avenge the killing of their former chief, Baitullah Mehsud, in a drone strike last year.
Analysts suspect the Haqqani network, an al-Qaida-linked Afghan Taliban faction based in North Waziristan, also helped carry out the CIA attack, the worst against the spy agency in decades.
Since the bombing, the U.S. has carried out 13 suspected drone strikes in North and South Waziristan, an unprecedented volley of attacks since the CIA-led missile program began in earnest in Pakistan two years ago.
Two missiles in Saturday's attack hit the compound being used by the militants, killing seven of them, the intelligence officials said. The third killed two more insurgents in the bunker, they said.
The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information to the media.
The U.S. does not usually comment on the strikes or their targets, but officials have said in the past that they have taken out several senior al-Qaida and Taliban leaders. The Pakistani government publicly condemns the strikes as violations of its sovereignty, yet it is thought to have a secret deal with Washington allowing them.
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One terrorist arrested in operation Rah-e-Nijat
ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 (APP): Security forces also conducted search and clearance operation at Jani Khel near Sein Tanga and arrested one terrorist in operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan.
In Jandola sector, security forces carried out sanitization of Ditta Wall, Spedorai near Dawatoi, Shinkai near Biland Khel and Sarmashai Raghzai near Kacharai Narai and recovered cache of arms and ammunitions.
Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Shamkai near Nanu and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition in Shakai sector.
Security forces carried out sanitization and consolidation of their positions in Razmak sector.
Two suspects voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Arambagh and Sar in Swat.
As many as 30,916 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 (APP): Security forces also conducted search and clearance operation at Jani Khel near Sein Tanga and arrested one terrorist in operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan.
In Jandola sector, security forces carried out sanitization of Ditta Wall, Spedorai near Dawatoi, Shinkai near Biland Khel and Sarmashai Raghzai near Kacharai Narai and recovered cache of arms and ammunitions.
Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Shamkai near Nanu and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition in Shakai sector.
Security forces carried out sanitization and consolidation of their positions in Razmak sector.
Two suspects voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Arambagh and Sar in Swat.
As many as 30,916 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.
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Pakistan: Mule steps on land mine, kills 2 troops
15 mins ago, associated press
KHAR, Pakistan A local official says two Pakistani paramilitary troops were killed in the country's northwest tribal region when one of the mules they were riding to fetch water stepped on a land mine.
Zabit Khan says suspected militants had recently planted the mine in the dirt track in a village in the Mohmand tribal area.
Khan said two other troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps were seriously wounded in Sunday's blast and were transferred to Peshawar for treatment.
Paramilitary troops are often the main units battling militants in Pakistan's volatile tribal area and have been the target of frequent attacks.
may the souls of martyers rest in peace
Ameen
15 mins ago, associated press
KHAR, Pakistan A local official says two Pakistani paramilitary troops were killed in the country's northwest tribal region when one of the mules they were riding to fetch water stepped on a land mine.
Zabit Khan says suspected militants had recently planted the mine in the dirt track in a village in the Mohmand tribal area.
Khan said two other troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps were seriously wounded in Sunday's blast and were transferred to Peshawar for treatment.
Paramilitary troops are often the main units battling militants in Pakistan's volatile tribal area and have been the target of frequent attacks.
may the souls of martyers rest in peace
Ameen
fatman17
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NATO aircraft kill Afghan troops in ‘friendly fire’
* ISAF says troops did not realise they were engaging Afghan security forces
SALAR: NATO troops clashed with their Afghan allies in a so-called “friendly fire” incident early on Saturday morning, calling in airstrikes that killed four Afghan soldiers and stoked anger among villagers.
NATO and Afghan officials both confirmed the incident in Wardak province, and tried to head off tension by announcing a joint investigation.
“Four army soldiers were killed and six wounded when a foreign forces airstrike hit their post,” said Shahedullah Shahed, spokesman for Wardak’s governor. “We don’t know why it happened, but it is deeply regrettable,” he added.
He said the strike had targeted an Afghan Army outpost that had been newly established. Foreign forces and Afghan troops were both separately conducting overnight operations when they started shooting at each other, he said.
The NATO-led ISAF said its troops had come under fire and called in airstrikes, without realising they were engaging Afghan security forces. reuters
* ISAF says troops did not realise they were engaging Afghan security forces
SALAR: NATO troops clashed with their Afghan allies in a so-called “friendly fire” incident early on Saturday morning, calling in airstrikes that killed four Afghan soldiers and stoked anger among villagers.
NATO and Afghan officials both confirmed the incident in Wardak province, and tried to head off tension by announcing a joint investigation.
“Four army soldiers were killed and six wounded when a foreign forces airstrike hit their post,” said Shahedullah Shahed, spokesman for Wardak’s governor. “We don’t know why it happened, but it is deeply regrettable,” he added.
He said the strike had targeted an Afghan Army outpost that had been newly established. Foreign forces and Afghan troops were both separately conducting overnight operations when they started shooting at each other, he said.
The NATO-led ISAF said its troops had come under fire and called in airstrikes, without realising they were engaging Afghan security forces. reuters
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Sarhad festival reflects return of normalcy
ISLAMABAD: The message from the Sarhad Cultural Festival in the capital is that normalcy has returned to most parts of NWFP including Swat, said Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid as he listened to pounding drums and looked at the panorama of pavilions hawking ethnic tinsels and fabrics spun out of lamb wool.
As Javed, a 22-year-old artist from Peshawar, strikes his stringed traditional musical instrument Rabbab, he brings out the fest alive as if the mannequins enclosed in the heritage museum have come out of their showcases and spread out over the big Lok Virsa campus, the venue of the festival. He begins with the famed welcome tune tu meri jan jana, dilbar jana before striking other melodies.
This recreates a typical evening scene at the street of story tellers in Peshawar. And there is also a functioning kehva khana as an assurance that the NWFP feel is real.
In fact, the stamp of the province gets more real when one moves about 50 yards ahead and sees the ethnic Kalash tribal dance from Chitral.
This is presented by five young Kalash women, among whom are Shaera and Ms Toofan (Toofan insisted that she be called Miss), who could converse in English.
As they danced, the music was provided by Fiza - the leader of the troupe - a young man who played the small percussion instrument which can be played on two sides at the end, something like the pakavaj before it was broken into two by Hazrat Amir Khusrau to create the tabla. Fiza said its name was chitawacch shodiak. He was accompanied by Sher Jan who played the big rustic drum called daf.
This set of dance was replaced by the well-known original warrior Khattak dance.
There were 25 or so men twirling with red handkerchief, drawn swords at the ready and also firing into the air as they completed the required round of steps.
An old saying has it that the way to one’s heart is through the stomach. Therefore, to put visitors in the real Pathan mode, a row of canopies has been created as the food street with delicacies and aromas of Central Asian cuisines.
The food street is located near the 11 or 12 pavilions selling authentic Swati caps and Shawls or embroidered women garments from Haripur or handmade khussa from Multan and Dera Ismail Khan.
As Marya, a volunteer from Princeton University on duty at the Sarhad Torism Corporation said it was to show the Islamabad residents and welcome tourists after the disturbance created in Swat.
Haider, an STC events manager, said they had brought a number of new things to the festival especially for children who were treated to dazzling songs and music. At a show in the afternoon, Mr Khokhar, the coordinator, was regaling an audience of teenagers (and some elders) with his jokes. Mr Khokhar must be a fabulous compere because in the morning he was doing the Piyara Pakistan show on the Islamabad FM Radio.
But Khalid Javaid was more enthused over the 100-plus colour and monochrome photo competition sponsored by the STC. The photos had been displayed inside the Heritage Museum. The Lok Virsa has also put on display the camera work of about 50 photographers showing the beauty of the craggy mountainland which is home to the undaunted Pathan warriors.
DAWN.COM | Provinces | ?Sarhad festival reflects return of normalcy?
********************
Many thanks to Allah for peace and for Pakistan Army
ISLAMABAD: The message from the Sarhad Cultural Festival in the capital is that normalcy has returned to most parts of NWFP including Swat, said Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid as he listened to pounding drums and looked at the panorama of pavilions hawking ethnic tinsels and fabrics spun out of lamb wool.
As Javed, a 22-year-old artist from Peshawar, strikes his stringed traditional musical instrument Rabbab, he brings out the fest alive as if the mannequins enclosed in the heritage museum have come out of their showcases and spread out over the big Lok Virsa campus, the venue of the festival. He begins with the famed welcome tune tu meri jan jana, dilbar jana before striking other melodies.
This recreates a typical evening scene at the street of story tellers in Peshawar. And there is also a functioning kehva khana as an assurance that the NWFP feel is real.
In fact, the stamp of the province gets more real when one moves about 50 yards ahead and sees the ethnic Kalash tribal dance from Chitral.
This is presented by five young Kalash women, among whom are Shaera and Ms Toofan (Toofan insisted that she be called Miss), who could converse in English.
As they danced, the music was provided by Fiza - the leader of the troupe - a young man who played the small percussion instrument which can be played on two sides at the end, something like the pakavaj before it was broken into two by Hazrat Amir Khusrau to create the tabla. Fiza said its name was chitawacch shodiak. He was accompanied by Sher Jan who played the big rustic drum called daf.
This set of dance was replaced by the well-known original warrior Khattak dance.
There were 25 or so men twirling with red handkerchief, drawn swords at the ready and also firing into the air as they completed the required round of steps.
An old saying has it that the way to one’s heart is through the stomach. Therefore, to put visitors in the real Pathan mode, a row of canopies has been created as the food street with delicacies and aromas of Central Asian cuisines.
The food street is located near the 11 or 12 pavilions selling authentic Swati caps and Shawls or embroidered women garments from Haripur or handmade khussa from Multan and Dera Ismail Khan.
As Marya, a volunteer from Princeton University on duty at the Sarhad Torism Corporation said it was to show the Islamabad residents and welcome tourists after the disturbance created in Swat.
Haider, an STC events manager, said they had brought a number of new things to the festival especially for children who were treated to dazzling songs and music. At a show in the afternoon, Mr Khokhar, the coordinator, was regaling an audience of teenagers (and some elders) with his jokes. Mr Khokhar must be a fabulous compere because in the morning he was doing the Piyara Pakistan show on the Islamabad FM Radio.
But Khalid Javaid was more enthused over the 100-plus colour and monochrome photo competition sponsored by the STC. The photos had been displayed inside the Heritage Museum. The Lok Virsa has also put on display the camera work of about 50 photographers showing the beauty of the craggy mountainland which is home to the undaunted Pathan warriors.
DAWN.COM | Provinces | ?Sarhad festival reflects return of normalcy?
********************
Many thanks to Allah for peace and for Pakistan Army
air marshal
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30,916 cash cards issued for IDPs families of Waziristan: ISPR
PESHAWAR, Jan 31 (APP): As many as 30,916 cash cards have been issued to the internally displaced families of Waziristan, said an ISPR up-date here Sunday. During operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency, in last 24 hours, security forces carried out sanitization and consolidation of their positions in Jandola Sector.
In Shakai Sector, security forces cleared Malik Mela, Spina Mela, Dir and Spir Kharai near Karama and recovered cache of arms and ammunition. Terrorists fired on security forces checkpost at Sultana Ridge, which was effectively responded.
In Razmak Sector, security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Khajuri and Mir Ali and apprehended five suspects.
PESHAWAR, Jan 31 (APP): As many as 30,916 cash cards have been issued to the internally displaced families of Waziristan, said an ISPR up-date here Sunday. During operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency, in last 24 hours, security forces carried out sanitization and consolidation of their positions in Jandola Sector.
In Shakai Sector, security forces cleared Malik Mela, Spina Mela, Dir and Spir Kharai near Karama and recovered cache of arms and ammunition. Terrorists fired on security forces checkpost at Sultana Ridge, which was effectively responded.
In Razmak Sector, security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Khajuri and Mir Ali and apprehended five suspects.
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Forces take control of militants stronghold after seven years
Monday, February 01, 2010, THE NEWS
KHAR: Security forces on Sunday took control of the Sewai area and hoisted the national flag in the erstwhile stronghold of the militants in Bajaurs Mamond subdivision after seven years, official sources said.
Also, 20 militants and two tribesmen were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting. The sources also claimed that several militants hideouts and bunkers were destroyed in the clashes, artillery shelling and air raids in various areas of the agency.
The sources said security forces, backed by tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), gunship helicopters and fighter jets, took control of the Sewai area after a brief but fierce clash with the militants early in the day.
During the operation, gunship helicopters and fighter planes also targeted and strafed the suspected hideouts in Sewai, the Talibans nerve centre, where they had established a parallel judicial system.
The sources said 20 militants were killed and two soldiers were injured when gunship helicopters and fighter planes bombed Jani Shah and Damadola areas in Mamond. Two tribesmen were also killed after an artillery shell reportedly fired by security forces struck a house in Mamond Tehsil. However, the identity of the slain civilians could not be ascertained.
Good going Pak Army
Monday, February 01, 2010, THE NEWS
KHAR: Security forces on Sunday took control of the Sewai area and hoisted the national flag in the erstwhile stronghold of the militants in Bajaurs Mamond subdivision after seven years, official sources said.
Also, 20 militants and two tribesmen were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting. The sources also claimed that several militants hideouts and bunkers were destroyed in the clashes, artillery shelling and air raids in various areas of the agency.
The sources said security forces, backed by tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), gunship helicopters and fighter jets, took control of the Sewai area after a brief but fierce clash with the militants early in the day.
During the operation, gunship helicopters and fighter planes also targeted and strafed the suspected hideouts in Sewai, the Talibans nerve centre, where they had established a parallel judicial system.
The sources said 20 militants were killed and two soldiers were injured when gunship helicopters and fighter planes bombed Jani Shah and Damadola areas in Mamond. Two tribesmen were also killed after an artillery shell reportedly fired by security forces struck a house in Mamond Tehsil. However, the identity of the slain civilians could not be ascertained.
Good going Pak Army
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ejaz007
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Forces take control of militants stronghold after 7 years
Updated at: 0530 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
KHAR: Security forces on Sunday took control of the Sewai area and hoisted the national flag in the erstwhile stronghold of the militants in Bajaurs Mamond subdivision after seven years, official sources said.
Also, 20 militants and two tribesmen were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting. The sources also claimed that several militants hideouts and bunkers were destroyed in the clashes, artillery shelling and air raids in various areas of the agency.
The sources said security forces, backed by tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), gunship helicopters and fighter jets, took control of the Sewai area after a brief but fierce clash with the militants early in the day.
During the operation, gunship helicopters and fighter planes also targeted and strafed the suspected hideouts in Sewai, the Talibans nerve centre, where they had established a parallel judicial system.
The sources said 20 militants were killed and two soldiers were injured when gunship helicopters and fighter planes bombed Jani Shah and Damadola areas in Mamond. Two tribesmen were also killed after an artillery shell reportedly fired by security forces struck a house in Mamond Tehsil. However, the identity of the slain civilians could not be ascertained.
Forces take control of militants stronghold after 7 years
Updated at: 0530 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
KHAR: Security forces on Sunday took control of the Sewai area and hoisted the national flag in the erstwhile stronghold of the militants in Bajaurs Mamond subdivision after seven years, official sources said.
Also, 20 militants and two tribesmen were killed while two soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting. The sources also claimed that several militants hideouts and bunkers were destroyed in the clashes, artillery shelling and air raids in various areas of the agency.
The sources said security forces, backed by tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), gunship helicopters and fighter jets, took control of the Sewai area after a brief but fierce clash with the militants early in the day.
During the operation, gunship helicopters and fighter planes also targeted and strafed the suspected hideouts in Sewai, the Talibans nerve centre, where they had established a parallel judicial system.
The sources said 20 militants were killed and two soldiers were injured when gunship helicopters and fighter planes bombed Jani Shah and Damadola areas in Mamond. Two tribesmen were also killed after an artillery shell reportedly fired by security forces struck a house in Mamond Tehsil. However, the identity of the slain civilians could not be ascertained.
Forces take control of militants stronghold after 7 years
fatman17
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The Taliban babel
Monday, February 01, 2010
With all eyes on what comes in the wake of the London conference on Afghanistan and the accelerating engagement of the Afghan Taliban in talks about talks, our own problems with the Taliban and how we talk to them bear scrutiny. Perhaps the most pressing question is not what there is to talk about, but who to talk to? The Pakistan Taliban are far from being a homogenous or even harmonious entity. There are a number of groups arranged around charismatic individuals or held together by family relationships. The boundaries of these groups are sometimes fluid and always permeable. Conflicts arise such as that recently reported in Bajaur Agency where one group is said to have replaced local Taliban chief Maulana Faqir Mohammad with Maulana Mohammad Jamal (Maulvi Dadullah). Maulana Faqir was the deputy chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud. The supporters of each side claim that there are no differences between them and that all is sweetness and light. It clearly isn’t. In microcosm this illustrates the difficulty of deciding who to talk to – because no individual member of any Taliban group speaks for the others and even those under the banner of the TTP are more of a collectivity than a unified party.
Differentiating between Afghan Taliban (broadly the Haqqani group) and the Pakistan Taliban is more than just difficult. There is a degree of inter-changeability between the two, and the blurred boundaries will do little to ease the process of dialogue. The de-linking of five senior Afghan Taliban figures from sanctions this week also complicate things – they are ‘old’ Taliban from the time when they were the de-facto rulers of Afghanistan and the ‘new’ Taliban on both sides of the border may not see them as appropriate representatives. The younger generation that have matured post-9/11 in Pakistan have a distinctly different local agenda to the Afghan Taliban with whom not all of them share common cause. Consider then our experience of deals done with the Taliban in the past – not one of them has ever moved to full implementation and all of them have quickly collapsed in a welter of recrimination and bloodshed. The Afghan Taliban may be war-weary, and the meeting between Kai Eide of the United Nations and members of the shadowy Quetta Shura in Dubai during early January is perhaps a harbinger of peace; but the Pakistan Taliban are far from war-weary, have plenty of fight left in them and show little inclination for meaningful talks. It may be right to talk to the Taliban, but the Pakistan Taliban talk with many tongues and our problem is deciding which one(s) to listen to.
Monday, February 01, 2010
With all eyes on what comes in the wake of the London conference on Afghanistan and the accelerating engagement of the Afghan Taliban in talks about talks, our own problems with the Taliban and how we talk to them bear scrutiny. Perhaps the most pressing question is not what there is to talk about, but who to talk to? The Pakistan Taliban are far from being a homogenous or even harmonious entity. There are a number of groups arranged around charismatic individuals or held together by family relationships. The boundaries of these groups are sometimes fluid and always permeable. Conflicts arise such as that recently reported in Bajaur Agency where one group is said to have replaced local Taliban chief Maulana Faqir Mohammad with Maulana Mohammad Jamal (Maulvi Dadullah). Maulana Faqir was the deputy chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud. The supporters of each side claim that there are no differences between them and that all is sweetness and light. It clearly isn’t. In microcosm this illustrates the difficulty of deciding who to talk to – because no individual member of any Taliban group speaks for the others and even those under the banner of the TTP are more of a collectivity than a unified party.
Differentiating between Afghan Taliban (broadly the Haqqani group) and the Pakistan Taliban is more than just difficult. There is a degree of inter-changeability between the two, and the blurred boundaries will do little to ease the process of dialogue. The de-linking of five senior Afghan Taliban figures from sanctions this week also complicate things – they are ‘old’ Taliban from the time when they were the de-facto rulers of Afghanistan and the ‘new’ Taliban on both sides of the border may not see them as appropriate representatives. The younger generation that have matured post-9/11 in Pakistan have a distinctly different local agenda to the Afghan Taliban with whom not all of them share common cause. Consider then our experience of deals done with the Taliban in the past – not one of them has ever moved to full implementation and all of them have quickly collapsed in a welter of recrimination and bloodshed. The Afghan Taliban may be war-weary, and the meeting between Kai Eide of the United Nations and members of the shadowy Quetta Shura in Dubai during early January is perhaps a harbinger of peace; but the Pakistan Taliban are far from war-weary, have plenty of fight left in them and show little inclination for meaningful talks. It may be right to talk to the Taliban, but the Pakistan Taliban talk with many tongues and our problem is deciding which one(s) to listen to.
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TTP damaged
Dawn Editorial
Monday, 01 Feb, 2010
Another week, another round of rumours that Hakeemullah Mehsud, the TTP leader on the run, has been killed by a drone strike. This time the strike in question took place on Jan 17 either in South or North Waziristan. Pakistanis officials are insisting that an injured Hakeemullah was taken for medical treatment elsewhere before eventually succumbing to his injuries.
At the time of writing this editorial, there has been no independent verification of Hakeemullah’s death. However, the rumours come at what appears to be a critical time for the TTP. Military operations have resumed in Bajaur Agency, where parts of Mamond and an area near the Pak-Afghan border still have a significant militant presence. Maulana Fazullah and his two senior-most commanders are believed to be in the Mamond area while Pakistan has long argued that the Khan of Kunar is providing sanctuary to militants and allowing them to cross over the Pak-Afghan border and stir up trouble in Bajaur. Why these areas were allowed to fester by the Pakistan Army is not clear (perhaps a premature focus on other areas is to blame) but it seems that this time the army is intent on finishing the job.
Similarly, the few trouble spots in Mohmand Agency may also be cleared soon. Add to this the intelligence and counter-terrorism successes in places like Peshawar, where the rate of suicide and fidayeen attacks has dropped in recent weeks, and Karachi, where big and small militants are frequently being caught, and a picture emerges of the TTP on the back foot — perhaps decisively so.
Of course, North Waziristan looms large and the TTP’s links to the bombing of the CIA’s forward operating base in Khost demonstrates the group’s continuing power to inflict severe damage. And even if Hakeemullah Mehsud is dead, potential leaders such as Waliur Rehman and Qari Husain are waiting in the wings. So the violence is not on the verge of ending; indeed, if Hakeemullah is dead the country will be bracing itself for retaliatory strikes. But neither should the severe damage inflicted on the TTP be underestimated. South Waziristan was the ‘centre of gravity’ and Swat/Malakand division a radical attempt at supplanting the state’s writ in areas outside Fata. Both are no more under the TTP’s control.
In addition, the security forces have disrupted the communications network of the militants, making it more difficult for them to coordinate. All of this has seriously hurt the TTP. However, as we have argued before, lasting gains will only be had if there is success on another front: the capture or elimination of the TTP leadership. The hunt for them must be intensified.
Dawn Editorial
Monday, 01 Feb, 2010
Another week, another round of rumours that Hakeemullah Mehsud, the TTP leader on the run, has been killed by a drone strike. This time the strike in question took place on Jan 17 either in South or North Waziristan. Pakistanis officials are insisting that an injured Hakeemullah was taken for medical treatment elsewhere before eventually succumbing to his injuries.
At the time of writing this editorial, there has been no independent verification of Hakeemullah’s death. However, the rumours come at what appears to be a critical time for the TTP. Military operations have resumed in Bajaur Agency, where parts of Mamond and an area near the Pak-Afghan border still have a significant militant presence. Maulana Fazullah and his two senior-most commanders are believed to be in the Mamond area while Pakistan has long argued that the Khan of Kunar is providing sanctuary to militants and allowing them to cross over the Pak-Afghan border and stir up trouble in Bajaur. Why these areas were allowed to fester by the Pakistan Army is not clear (perhaps a premature focus on other areas is to blame) but it seems that this time the army is intent on finishing the job.
Similarly, the few trouble spots in Mohmand Agency may also be cleared soon. Add to this the intelligence and counter-terrorism successes in places like Peshawar, where the rate of suicide and fidayeen attacks has dropped in recent weeks, and Karachi, where big and small militants are frequently being caught, and a picture emerges of the TTP on the back foot — perhaps decisively so.
Of course, North Waziristan looms large and the TTP’s links to the bombing of the CIA’s forward operating base in Khost demonstrates the group’s continuing power to inflict severe damage. And even if Hakeemullah Mehsud is dead, potential leaders such as Waliur Rehman and Qari Husain are waiting in the wings. So the violence is not on the verge of ending; indeed, if Hakeemullah is dead the country will be bracing itself for retaliatory strikes. But neither should the severe damage inflicted on the TTP be underestimated. South Waziristan was the ‘centre of gravity’ and Swat/Malakand division a radical attempt at supplanting the state’s writ in areas outside Fata. Both are no more under the TTP’s control.
In addition, the security forces have disrupted the communications network of the militants, making it more difficult for them to coordinate. All of this has seriously hurt the TTP. However, as we have argued before, lasting gains will only be had if there is success on another front: the capture or elimination of the TTP leadership. The hunt for them must be intensified.
fatman17
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Sir Ji, what has this to do anything with Op Rah e Nijat ???
according to Aj-Jazeera, this action took place near afghan/Pak border near NWA.
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ISPR UPDATE 1 FEBRUARY 2010
1. South Waziristan - Operation Rah-e-Nijat.　
Details of the operations of last 24 hours are as follows:-
a. Jandola Sector.
Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Sarai Naurang and apprehended 1 terrorist.
b. Shakai Sector.
(1) Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Aspana Raghzai near Nanu, Zhawar Shabi Khel near Dwatoi and recovered cache of arms and ammunitions.
(2) Terrorists fired on security forces deployed in Trikli Kuhrai and Laghar Sar, Badar valley, which was effectively responded.
c. Razmak Sector.
(1) Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Khajuri and apprehended 1 suspect.
(2) Terrorists fired on PTCL post near Miran Shah Camp which was effectively responded.
2. Swat Malakand Operation Rah-e-Rast.
a. Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Chakesar, Manglour, Qambar, Adbarabad and apprehended 7 suspects along with cache of arms and ammunition.
b. 3 suspected terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Langar near Khawazakhela and Maniari.
http://ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&latest=1
1. South Waziristan - Operation Rah-e-Nijat.　
Details of the operations of last 24 hours are as follows:-
a. Jandola Sector.
Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Sarai Naurang and apprehended 1 terrorist.
b. Shakai Sector.
(1) Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Aspana Raghzai near Nanu, Zhawar Shabi Khel near Dwatoi and recovered cache of arms and ammunitions.
(2) Terrorists fired on security forces deployed in Trikli Kuhrai and Laghar Sar, Badar valley, which was effectively responded.
c. Razmak Sector.
(1) Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Khajuri and apprehended 1 suspect.
(2) Terrorists fired on PTCL post near Miran Shah Camp which was effectively responded.
2. Swat Malakand Operation Rah-e-Rast.
a. Security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Chakesar, Manglour, Qambar, Adbarabad and apprehended 7 suspects along with cache of arms and ammunition.
b. 3 suspected terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Langar near Khawazakhela and Maniari.
http://ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&latest=1
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