Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[ajpirzada]

55 militants killed in Swat operation
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Security forces killed 55 militants in various areas of Swat on Saturday during the ongoing operation to curb militancy in the area. According to ISPR, early morning attack helicopters engaged militants hideouts in Mingora and 15 militants were reportedly killed in the engagement.

The militants were harassing the civil population and were intensely involved in various activities of looting and arson in the city of Mingora.

Suspected locations of militants were engaged at Rama Kandhao ridge in Matta and main headquarter of militant in Loenamal, Matta has been completely destroyed.

Militant hideouts were also engaged in Peochar, Qambar, Banababa, Ziarat, Mushkomai and Chamtalai areas in Khawzakhela and 30‑40 militants have reportedly been killed.

ISPR says, indiscriminate mortar firing by the militants in the populated areas of Mingora, resulted into civilian casualties.

Moreover, the militants are using houses of civilians as bunkers for engaging Security Forces. Two soldiers at circuit house were also injured.

There are also reports that the criminals who had sided with hardcore militants, are now fleeing from the area.

In ransacking activities, the militants damaged Government Girls Primary School at Kanju and damaged and looted Muslim Commercial Bank main branch at Mingora Bazar.

In Gulabad, operation commenced last night at 2100 hours and successfully cleared area upto Chakdara by 0530 hours in the morning. Ridges on the outskirts of Gulabad have been secured, the ISPR said.

In Shangla, Security Forces attacked militants hideouts in Loe Sar and secured two dominating mountain heights known as Point 2245 and point 2266. Militants suffered heavy casualties while 2 soldiers were injured in the operation.

Operation in this area as well as in Buner area of Sultanwas is progressing smoothly, the ISPR added.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - 55 militants killed in Swat operation

this time we will erase them InshAllah...........
how many of us will they kill... let them. even the last man standing amongst us will fight them. their existance is an insult to islam

 

[ajpirzada]

Taliban vows to 'eliminate' Pakistan's top leadership

ISLAMABAD: Angered by Pakistan government's decision to launch an all out war against them, the Taliban has vowed to "eliminate" country's top
leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and their close family members.

"We thought that being a member of a religious family, Gilani will support our demand of implementing Sharia in the Malakand division but instead he has announced an all-out war against us, which has angered our commanders as well as fighters," an unnamed Taliban commander told The News daily.

The militant commander, who spoke to the newspaper by phone, said after Gilani declared during an address to the nation on Thursday that the Taliban would be wiped out from the Swat Valley and adjoining areas, the militants had started planning to "eliminate the top leaders of the ruling alliance, including President, Prime Minister and their close family members and aides".

The commander said Gilani's hometown of Multan and tomb of former premier Benazir Bhutto might also be targeted by the militants.

"Besides, the personnel and installations of security forces, we have now also included civilian rulers in our hit list. We will definitely need some time to plan our actions but it is not impossible for us and we have all the means to implement our plan of attack anywhere in Pakistan," he claimed.

Taliban vows to 'eliminate' Pakistan's top leadership - Pakistan - World - The Times of India

their time is over. they have already lost enough public support. they will only do more damage to themselves by targetin leaders of any big political party.

 

[white_pawn]

Taliban is pissed off as there are unable to do much in fornt of PA as now PA is in full swift and is talking out taliban, and in this desperation they are let out these statements.

 

[asq]

Report by Rahman Malik about fighting Taliban.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Rehman Malik presents ?proof of Indian hand in unrest?

 

[ajpirzada]

Taliban is pissed off as there are unable to do much in fornt of PA as now PA is in full swift and is talking out taliban, and in this desperation they are let out these statements.

accordin to reports there were 40 to 50 suicide bombers with swat talibans. out of these 20 were killed in buner operation. now they have got around 20 to 30 more whom we ll be welcomin in our cities hope army end up killin them as well.

 

[Hellfire]

their time is over. they have already lost enough public support. they will only do more damage to themselves by targetin leaders of any big political party.

the will gain if they protract the confrontation somehow. then these threats will be a propoganda coup for them

 

[ajpirzada]

Additional troops are being moved west from the Indian border in Pakistan’s Punjab province, says the Washington Post report.—AFP

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has told the Obama administration that it is sending additional six army brigades to join a major government offensive against the Taliban, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

The troops are being moved west from the Indian border in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the report added. This fulfils an old US demand that Pakistan reduce the number of troops deployed along its border with India and moved them to the Pak-Afghan region.

The Pakistani government also has pledged to hold territory where extremist forces are dislodged, said the report quoting Pakistani and US officials said.

The newspaper published the report along with excerpts from an interview President Asif Ali Zardari gave to the Post on Friday but said that Mr Zardari did not confirm the movement of the brigades.

Instead, he said that domestic support for the offensive, combined with US assistance, would allow the effort to succeed where two previous military drives into the Swat Valley and surrounding territory failed.

To support the offensive in Swat, the Pentagon is speeding spare parts, ammunition and other equipment for Pakistan’s fleet of aging Cobra attack helicopters.

The Post noted that an earlier Pakistani request for more Cobras, to add to its existing fleet of two to three dozen, had been slowed because the helicopters were no longer in production and aircraft must be located and refurbished.

US military and intelligence officials told the Post that they feared Taliban forces pushed out of Afghanistan this summer would flow unimpeded into Pakistan, as they did during the 2001 operation.

The Pakistanis need to ‘get ready for the influx . . . into western Pakistan, particularly Balochistan,’ a senior Obama official told the Post.

In the interview, President Zardari described the $15 billion sent to Pakistan over the past decade in counterterrorism reimbursements and direct assistance as only a small fraction of the funds provided recently to failing US financial institutions, adding that ‘the situation in Pakistan is much more important.’ The Pakistani economy needs to be boosted, he said, with ‘some form of a permanent stimulus.’

Mr Zardari said that no one in the US government had asked him for more information about the location and security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. ‘By and large, we’ve always had a relationship that is quite comfortable in the sense that people who need to know, know.’

Asked if any American officials knew ‘everything’ about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, he responded: ‘Every country has a right to their own sovereignty. We don’t ask you personal questions, and you don’t ask us.’

He said he continued to request that Pakistan be given its own fleet of US aerial drones to attack Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries.

‘Maybe some people here would not like to go to that direction,’ he said, ‘but . . . I keep asking.’

Mr Zardari said his first meeting with President Obama since the US inauguration was ‘a very good start’

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Pakistan sending six army brigades to join offensive

 

[ajpirzada]

Cabinet endorses military action in Swat
By Iftikhar A. Khan
Saturday, 09 May, 2009 | 10:17 PM PST |

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) chairing the emergency cabinet meeting in Islamabad.—APP
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Saturday endorsed military action in Swat observing that there was no option left after failure of the peace accord.

Speaking at a press conference after an emergency meeting of the Cabinet, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said it was the battle for survival of Pakistan and was the question of future of the people.

He said the militants’ refusal to accept judiciary, parliament and democracy was nothing short of rebellion. He said they were involved in inhuman acts of abductions, killings, loot and destruction.

He said the cabinet observed that the militants carrying out un-Islamic activities in the name of Islam were ‘anti-state elements.’

He said the National Assembly has been convened to meet on Monday (May 11) to discuss the situation in Swat. He said it had not been possible to take the Cabinet and the Parliament into confidence before launching of the operation as it would have provided an opportunity for the militants to go underground.

He said the national leadership had been taken into confidence, however, and thanked them for extending the much needed support. He said the meeting decided that a group of cabinet ministers will meet the political leadership to gather support for the cause. In that connection, it was learnt, Makhdoom Amin Fahim will shortly be meeting JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

Gilani said it was not possible to give any time frame for the completion of the operation as it was guerrilla war and not a normal war. He said that the cabinet expressed the resolve that there should be minimum collateral damage and should be over as soon as possible.

Brushing aside the impression that army action had been launched under international pressure at a time when President Asif Ali Zardari was on a visit to the United States, he pointed out that the government had rejected all pressures to go ahead with the peace deal.

About the Nizam-e-Adl regulation, he said the government respected the mandate of the provincial government and the parliament approved it in national interest.

The Prime Minister said the cabinet created a special fund for the victims of terrorism and contributed Rs200 million from their own pockets, besides a month’s salary.

The cabinet directed all the foreign missions of the country to get activated to help generate funds for reconstruction of area and capacity building of law enforcing agencies.

It also directed the provincial government to be vigilant to any reaction in the wake of army operation and said he had directed the law enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies to share reports on the issue with provincial governments.

The Cabinet also asked the Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Program to provide full cover to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). It was decided to provide special attention to Balochistan, carry forward the ongoing dialogue and work for removing the province’s sense of deprivation.

The cabinet was of the view that all political forces and civil society groups should hold peace march against terrorists and militants across the country.

The Prime Minister said the government would soon be constituting cabinet committees to carry out day-to day monitoring of IDPs and to ensure transparency in funds management.

The cabinet observed that the terrorists and militants had no religion and were not bothered about any boundaries. ‘Therefore we have decided to contact the ulema to present a true perception of Islam,’ he said. He announced that Imam-e-Kaaba was being invited to visit Pakistan to play a role in removing misperceptions about the religion.

The cabinet also decided to approach the media to realize the gravity of the situation, and seek their help. About convening of the All Parties Conference, Gilani said he had held consultations with other political leaders and would decide the date soon.

Asked whether the government has given up the path of dialogue, Gilani said the government always pursued the policy of dialogue, development and deterrence. ‘We preferred dialogue at first, but when it did not achieve any results we had to look for other option,’ he said, adding that development could not be achieved unless peace was restored.

About the Charter of Democracy and possibility of PML-N induction into the federal cabinet, he said he had very good relations with PML-N leadership and appreciated the support extended by them in difficult times on issues of national security. ‘We would be in a better position to offer them to join the cabinet when we fulfil the pledge of implementing Charter of Democracy including the abolition of 17th amendment.’

Gilani said the government was fully cognizant of the issues of IDPs. ‘This time we made sure that militants were taken by surprise,’ he said defending the government’s policy of not asking the people to leave the area before the launch of the operation.

He also directed the ministers to visit the camps and to ensure that IDPS are being looked after well.

Gilani also made an impassioned appeal to the nation to support the armed forces as they were doing a job for the country’s future. He also asked the locals to ask the ‘the black sheep’ to leave their area.

He said the government will also strengthen the capabilities of its law enforcement agencies and would build bomb proof police stations. Besides the government will also be sending delegation of parliamentarians and the ministers to different parts of the world to apprise them about the real situation.

The Prime Minister denied rollback or capping of nuclear programme and said, ‘there is no such thing.’

Regarding the memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on transit trade with Afghanistan he said all stakeholders were taken on board in vetting the deal. ‘There is no need for any concern. We have taken care of everything,’ he said.

Answering a question he said the provincial government had been asked to be vigilant in view of a possible backlash in reaction to the operation.

Answering another question, he said the salaries of law enforcing agencies in the troubled areas would be increased and bomb-proof police stations would be built.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Cabinet endorses military action in Swat

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The state finally acts​

Saturday, 09 May, 2009 | 08:09 AM PST |

Pakistan army soldiers patrol on a road to Pakistan's troubled Swat valley, where security forces are fighting with Taliban militants, at Dargai, 90 kilometers from Peshawar— AP/Mohammad Sajjad​

THIS time it appears to be for real. The Pakistan Army has begun what it claims will be a decisive operation in Swat and, crucially, it has done so with the backing of the politicians. On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Gilani went on television to announce his government had asked the army to ‘crush’ the militants in Swat, but it was clear that he was speaking on behalf of more than just the federal government. The ANP, the party leading the provincial coalition in the NWFP, is also on board, as are most of the opposition parties at the centre and in the provinces. Finally, it seems the political consensus is in place to tackle the militants. And perhaps just as importantly, the media is playing a supportive role this time and the general public too seems to have come around to accepting the need for the military option in Swat at this time.

Early reports from Swat suggest that the armed forces are attacking the TTP’s training camps and their strongholds with more precision than before. If that is indeed the case, then it would appear that the army has studied its previous tactics and adjusted them to the situation on the ground in Swat. This would be welcome news, for high civilian casualties and collateral damage have undermined the armed forces’ legitimacy in the area in the past. However, there should be no doubt that a tough battle lies ahead. Eventually the army will have to sweep through Swat on foot to clear and hold the area, and at that stage it must be careful to not use heavy-handed tactics or allow its soldiers to be trigger-happy. Losing the support of the local population would all but guarantee that the counter-insurgency plan under way will end in defeat.

However, the task is not the army’s alone. Afzal Khan Lala, the Pakhtun leader who defied the TTP in Swat at great cost to himself and his family, got it right when he told this newspaper, ‘Military operations cannot deliver if there is no planning or strategy to consolidate the gains through administrative action once the army withdraws.’ We would add that the politicians need to do much even while the army operation is still under way. The internally displaced persons from Swat must be provided for, and given the scale of the exodus the district, provincial and federal administrations need to act on a war footing. Failure to do so would turn the makeshift camps into a breeding ground for anger against the state and could send ripples of destabilising discontent across an even wider area in Pakistan’s north. Furthermore, once the fighting begins to subside in Swat, the state must be ready to quickly rush in and rebuild the area. Defeating militancy also means having a vision for what a post-militancy era will look like.

 

[SQ8]

Let there be one thing for certain for all those who live in Islamabad and Pindi
It is the GHQ's(heard by word of mouth directly, cant mention who, but for all our sakes I must mention it) assessment that as the army closes in on the militants in swat, They will lash out increasingly at the civilian population especially in the twin cities and there WILL be a bloodbath.
There will be bombs in congested areas, schools, universities, shopping areas.
Be cautious, Warn authorities of any suspicious person, even thought he may be found innocent later, better 10 innocents caught than the one bomber getting in.Still, I press my concern for all in the twin cities, Please be cautious.
don't stop going to Jinnah super or mall road but be careful to avoid crowds.
God help us all in this war against barbarians

 

[PAFAce]

Let there be one thing for certain for all those who live in Islamabad and Pindi
It is the GHQ's(heard by word of mouth directly, cant mention who, but for all our sakes I must mention it) assessment that as the army closes in on the militants in swat, They will lash out increasingly at the civilian population especially in the twin cities and there WILL be a bloodbath.
There will be bombs in congested areas, schools, universities, shopping areas.
Be cautious, Warn authorities of any suspicious person, even thought he may be found innocent later, better 10 innocents caught than the one bomber getting in.Still, I press my concern for all in the twin cities, Please be cautious.
don't stop going to Jinnah super or mall road but be careful to avoid crowds.
God help us all in this war against barbarians

Thanks for that, santro. This was expected. What I would have done if I were ingovernment is ask the public to lay low for a few weeks. Request people to rafrain from organizing any large scale out-door gatherings for at least a month, if not two or three. If it is necessary (such as funerals, mariages etc.), inform the local authorities so that at least minimum security can be arranged. The Taliban will try to target congested areas, like you said, because they want maximum damage. If they can't find large gatherings of people, they will try to blow themselves up near important targets, but as long as no one is killed that damage can be dealt with.

Everyone has to do their part.

 

[ajpirzada]

80 militants killed in Swat, Dir

Sunday, May 10, 2009
By Delawar Jan & Essa Khankhel

PESHAWAR/MINGORA: Security forces on Saturday claimed to have killed 55 militants in the Swat Valley and 25, including a commander, in Lower Dir in the ongoing military operation against the Taliban.

Also, four persons, including a woman, were killed and six others were injured when a mortar shell hit a house in Thana area of the Malakand Division.

Tens of thousands of people are still stranded in Mingora, the main town in the Swat Valley, due to curfew. However, the authorities announced to relax curfew for seven hours today (Sunday) to give time to the people to shift to camps set up in other districts.

Security forces used gunship helicopters, warplanes and artillery to pound suspected positions of militants in Rama Kandao ridge in Matta Tehsil and Peuchar, Qambar, Banababa, Ziarat, Mushkomai and Chamtalai areas of Khwazakhela Tehsil.

Gunship helicopters, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, also targeted Taliban hideouts in Mingora. Security forces said they killed 15 militants in the aerial blitz early Saturday. Military sources said that gunship helicopters shelled the militant hideouts at Green Chowk and killed four militants in the strike.

Sources told The News that militants in Mingora had come under immense pressure after an effective operation by security forces. They claimed the Taliban fighters were seen shaving off their beards rofl: so wat happened to their faith now; so called saviors of Islam!!) to avoid security forces’ action. It may be mentioned here that the Taliban are against shaving off beards and had banned the same across the valley. Locals said the Taliban patrolling in the Mingora bazaar had also waned.

Also, the ISPR statement said criminals who had joined the hardcore militants were now fleeing the area.

Jet fighters and gunship helicopters, according to military sources, heavily bombed the hideouts of militants in Peuchar, Wenai Baba, Namal, Qambar, Fizagat, Telegram and Chamtalai areas, killing scores of militants, including key commanders. Many militants also sustained injuries, they claimed.

The ISPR statement claimed that the forces’ action in these areas killed 30-40 militants and completely destroyed their headquarters in Loinamal. Forces said only two soldiers had sustained injuries during firing at the Circuit House.

The ISPR said indiscriminate mortar firing by militants in the populated areas of Mingora had resulted in civilian casualties. Militants, it added, were using houses of civilians as bunkers for engaging security forces.

Besides, the militants damaged the Government Girls Primary School in Kanju and looted the Muslim Commercial Bank’s (MCB) main branch at Mingora Bazaar.

The military sources said the operation against the Maulana Fazlullah-led militants in Swat was in full swing and would continue till the defeat of the militants.

The residents of Qambar and Rahimabad have been asked to vacate their houses by tomorrow (Monday).

Meanwhile, a press release of the Swat Media Centre (SMC) said that curfew would be relaxed in the valley today (Sunday) from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. It said that camps had been established for the internally displaced persons at Pabbi, Nowshera and Shah Mansoor in Swabi. The people, it added, could also use non-custom-paid vehicles to move out from the troubled valley.

However, it said that carrying weapons would not be allowed and all IDPs would properly be checked while leaving the district.

It was learnt that there was shortage of doctors, medicines and water at the two main hospitals of the city — the Saidu Sharif Hospital and the Central Hospital.

In Shangla district, security forces attacked militants’ hideouts in Loisar and secured two dominating mountain heights known as Point 2245 and 2266. Militants suffered heavy casualties in the attack. Two soldiers, according to the ISPR, were injured in the operation.

Our Timergara correspondent adds: Around 25 militants, including a Taliban commander, were killed in fierce fighting and artillery shelling in Major Qilla and Hayaserai areas of Maidan in Lower Dir.

Forces used artillery to flush out militants from the house of Khan of Hayaserai. Sources claimed that six militants were killed in the action.

They said that a key commander Ziauddin was also among the six militants killed in the attack on the house of Khan of Hayaserai.

However, talking to reporters from an undisclosed location by phone, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Dir chapter spokesman Mulla Mansoor denied the killing of the commander Ziauddin.

The militants had captured the house some three days back. Seven militants, sources said, were killed in the military action elsewhere in Hayaserai.

In Major Qilla, a small village between Hayaserai and Kaladag, 12 militants were reportedly killed in ground assault launched in the afternoon.

Sources said that some 17 militants were hiding in a house in the village. The forces, they added, launched a ground operation in which troops were backed by tanks. They stormed the village and killed 12 militants.

The sources claimed that the forces also took control of Kaladag, Daro and Kumbar, the native village of Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad.

Late night reports suggested that security forces were engaged in action against militants in Osakai area of Ouch.

The ISPR said forces had successfully cleared the area between Gulabad and Chakdara.

Meanwhile, the people continued migration from the troubled areas of Maidan and came to Timergara.

Surprisingly, the police made an announcement over loudspeakers about the enforcement of curfew but later, when contacted, DCO Dir Lower Ghulam Muhammad expressed his ignorance about the development.

Our Batkhela correspondent adds: A mortar shell landed on a house in Thana area, killing four people, including a woman, and injuring six others.

The shell hit the house of a civilian in the area identified as Qadar Gul.

Qadar Gulís daughter-in-law, grandson, Qayyum and Hazrat Nawab were killed in the incident, while the injured included Ghulam Rabi, Ihsanullah, Muhammad Raza and three others whose identities could not be established.

Reacting to the incident, the locals staged a protest demonstration in front of the Levies Post in Thana. They chanted slogans against the security forces for shelling the houses of civilians.

After the incident, scare and panic spread among the people and thousands started migrating from Thana to safer places.

However, thousands of people remained stranded in their houses on account of long curfew hours.
80 militants killed in Swat, Dir

 

[linkinpark]

A test Pakistan has failed before


* US newspaper says it is far from clear if army will do better in Swat this time than the last while caring for the displaced

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: As soldiers again square off against the Taliban in Swat, an influential US newspaper writes, Pakistan faces a test it has often failed before – fighting an insurgency while caring for those displaced by the conflict.

Military officials say they are determined to continue the current offensive until they control the 400-square-mile area. But it is far from clear that the army will do any better this time than last when it was ground to a halt by the Taliban.

“Everyone here believes they [the Taliban] are coming back,” a 21-year-old in Takht Bhai told the paper.

People fleeing the daily bombardment said Taliban fighters were blocking roads with rocks and trees. Some of those making it out said the Taliban were sneaking out with them. On Friday, Pakistani Army said it had lost 13 men and killed 143 Taliban. There was no word on civilian casualties. But front-line officers reported only slight gains in Swat, Buner and Lower Dir.

“This is going to be hard fighting ... These miscreants know the terrain. They are formidable,” said an army major.

Over the past four years the military has struggled through a series of campaigns against the Taliban in the mountains. Most, like the battle in Swat, ended in a standstill.

US and Pakistani officials say the Americans will provide night-vision goggles and more helicopters. There are also plans to train Pakistani soldiers in counterinsurgency doctrine and wean them away from their reliance on artillery and air power. Still, US officials privately question whether Pakistan’s top brass are committed to reorienting their forces. “Look at what they’re doing right now,” said a US official in Washington, referring to the airstrikes and artillery bombardment. “This is why they keep losing.” Fleeing residents said innocents were being killed in the military's bombardment. “We saw many bodies *rott!ng,” said a farmer who had fled to Dargai from Mingora.

 

[linkinpark]

Swat action timing ‘no coincidence’


LAHORE: The coincidence of the Pakistan Army’s apparently full-blown assault on the Taliban in the Swat Valley with President Asif Zardari’s visit to Washington is no accident, Time magazine says. The US has been pressing Pakistan to take on the Taliban on its soil ever since 2001. Under former president Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan generally responded by helping to kill or capture foreign Al Qaeda operatives, and sporadic fighting which usually ended in peace deals. Since President Obama took office, US officials have made a concerted effort to convince Islamabad that it faces an existential threat from homegrown militants, not just foreigners. That effort suffered a huge setback when President Zardari reached a peace deal in Swat. US officials responded by publicly accusing Pakistan of ‘abdicating’ to the Taliban. Behind the scenes, they also threatened to launch missile attacks on Swat and to withhold billions of dollars in aid. Congress is still debating a bill proposing to triple civilian aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over the next five years. The outcome of that debate may depend on how long the army keeps up the pressure on the Taliban.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan Reinforcing Army in Taliban Battle​

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 9, 2009

Pakistan has told the Obama administration that it is sending an additional six army brigades to join a major government offensive against Taliban forces in the northwestern part of the country, and it has pledged to hold territory where extremist forces are dislodged, Pakistani and U.S. officials said yesterday.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said domestic support for the offensive, combined with U.S. assistance, would allow the effort to succeed where two previous military drives into the Swat Valley and surrounding territory failed.

In an interview yesterday with Washington Post reporters and editors, Zardari did not confirm the movement of the brigades, some of which were said by others, on the condition of anonymity, to be moving from Punjab province and the country's border with India.

But the United States and Pakistan, Zardari said, had "gotten to an understanding where we will be supported in all fields." During a White House meeting with Zardari on Wednesday, President Obama said, "I think we agreed that Pakistan needs more help." Congress has questioned whether Pakistan will effectively use the billions in economic and military assistance Obama has requested.

To aid in the attacks, the Pentagon is speeding spare parts, ammunition and other equipment for Pakistan's fleet of aging Cobra attack helicopters. An earlier Pakistani request for more Cobras, to add to its existing fleet of two to three dozen, has been slowed, officials said, by the fact that the helicopters are no longer in production and aircraft must be located and refurbished.

Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai traveled to Washington this week for separate meetings with Obama and for a tripartite summit that the administration hoped would improve relations between the South Asian neighbors. Their mutual suspicion has undercut their overlapping fight against extremists.

Administration officials pronounced the White House meetings -- and separate sessions among senior Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. intelligence, diplomatic, agriculture and other Cabinet-level officials -- a success. But they cautioned that they would await follow-through on promises made by both leaders.

"The tension has gone. Reality has set in," Karzai told reporters yesterday. Volubly upbeat during public appearances, Karzai repeatedly referred to Zardari as his "brother."

Administration officials said the two governments agreed to strengthen cooperation on a number of fronts, including trade and transit, as well as monitoring the traffic of Taliban fighters across their joint frontier. They said they would add two border coordination centers to the one currently in existence.

U.S. military and intelligence officials worry that Taliban forces pushed out of Afghanistan by reinforced U.S. troops this summer will flow unimpeded into Pakistan, as they did during U.S. operations in Afghanistan in 2001. The Pakistanis, a senior Obama administration official said, need to "get ready for the influx . . . into western Pakistan, particularly Baluchistan" province.

In the interview, Zardari described the $15 billion sent to Pakistan over the past decade in counterterrorism reimbursements and direct assistance as only a small fraction of the funds provided recently to failing U.S. financial institutions, adding that "the situation in Pakistan is much more important." The Pakistani economy needs to be boosted, he said, with "some form of a permanent stimulus."

Zardari said that no one in the U.S. government had asked him for more information about the location and security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "By and large, we've always had a relationship that is quite comfortable in the sense that people who need to know, know." Asked if any American officials knew "everything" about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, he responded: "Every country has a right to their own sovereignty. We don't ask you personal questions, and you don't ask us."

He said he continued to request that Pakistan be given its own fleet of U.S. aerial drones to attack Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries.

"Maybe some people here would not like to go to that direction," he said, "but . . . I keep asking."

Zardari said his first meeting with Obama since the U.S. inauguration was "a very good start."