Operations in Dir and Buner

[fatman17]

Pakistan launches new offensive against militants

FOX News By ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press Writer Zarar Khan, Associated Press Writer – 30 mins ago

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani army says it has launched a new offensive against militants in a northwest district that neighbors the beleaguered Swat Valley and Afghanistan.

The army said in a statement that scores of militants have been killed in Lower Dir district, including an important militant commander. One clash killed a security force member.

The statement says the operation was launched Sunday. The offensive comes just days after the Taliban who largely control the Swat Valley entered into another district, Buner, which is just 60 miles from the Pakistani capital.

Upper and Lower Dir lie west of Swat and there have been reports of Taliban activity there in the past.

It was not possible to independently verify the account from the remote and dangerous region.

 

[PeacefulIndian]

Music to my ears!!

 

[BATMAN]

^^ very wise comment...

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

FC man martyred, several militants killed in Dir operation​

Updated at: 1720 PST, Sunday, April 26, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Frontier Corps has launched a new operation against militants in Dir on the request of provincial government and people, ISPR said on Sunday.

Security forces are targeting suspected militants’ hideouts situated in Lal Qila and Islam Pura areas of Lower Dir.

Earlier, a fierce gunbattle erupted between militants and security forces, killing a large number of militants, including a key commander.

While one security personnel was also martyred in the operation.

The ISPR said that gunbattle was underway at Lal Qila area.

FC man martyred, several militants killed in Dir operation

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Security forces regain control of Lal Qila​

Updated at: 1805 PST, Sunday, April 26, 2009
LOWER DIR: Security forces have seized control of the Lal Qila after fierce gunbatlle with militants in an ongoing operation in Lower Dir on Sunday.

According to sources, security forces have entered the Lal Qila.

On the other hand, intense firing is underway between militants and FC troops at Kala Daag and Islam Pura.

Meanwhile, ISPR said in a statement that Frontier Corps have launched operation against militants in Dir on the request of the provincial government and people.

Earlier in the day, security forces targeted suspected militants’ hideouts situated in Lal Qila and Islam Pura, killing a large number of militants, including a top commander.

While one security personnel was also martyred in the operation.
Security forces regain control of Lal Qila

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Taliban conducted Lower Dir toy bombing: IA

Updated at: 1420 PST, Sunday, April 26, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Interior Advisor Rahman Malik, while fixing the responsibility of Lower Dir children’s killing in toy bombing, said that the government was being forced to take stern action.

Interior Advisor told Geo News that Taliban conducted the Lower Dir bombing and they, taking the innocent children’s lives, have unveiled their real face. Rahman Malik said that the people could not tolerate elements perpetrating such dastardly acts; while by these incidents, the government was being forced to take stern action. He said that Taliban taking the lives of the children through child suicide bombers.

Interior Advisor said that provincial officials have been ordered to investigate into Lower Dir incident on the directives of the President and prime minister especially, from the angle of finding out whether the children of the victim family were killed on their refusal to turn into suicide bomber.

Taliban conducted Lower Dir toy bombing: IA

 

[AliFarooq]

DAWN.COM | NWFP | Thousands rally for peace in Buner

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of people rallied for peace Sunday in the northwest Pakistani district recently infiltrated by Taliban fighters, while an explosion elsewhere in the volatile region was reported to kill at least four people, AP reported.



The rally in Buner came amid growing doubt that a peace pact with the Taliban in the neighboring Swat Valley would hold, and pressure from the US on Pakistan to confront the militants.



Pakistan struck the deal in February, giving in to militants’ demands for imposing Islamic law in Swat, a one-time tourist haven, and surrounding districts that make up the Malakand Division. Some two years of clashes between Pakistani troops and Taliban in Swat had killed hundreds.



In recent days, the Swat Taliban moved into Buner, 100 kilometers from Islamabad. They began pulling out Friday amid talk that the army was preparing for action. But Buner’s police chief estimated at least 100 Taliban remained, and said local sympathizers had been emboldened as well.



Meanwhile, AP quoted army spokesmen as saying that the Pakistani army had launched a new offensive against militants in Lower Dir on Sunday.



DawnNews quoted sources as saying that helicopter gunships bombarded suspected hideouts in the Dokari area, killing commander Moulvi Shahid and five other militants.



Meanwhile, an attack on a convoy of security forces has killed one soldier and injured five others in Aqakhel Darra Maidan area of Lower Dir, as the operation continues.



Calling for an end to violence



Sunday’s rally attracted political and religious figures as well as other prominent citizens. Attendees interviewed said they wanted peace — and that included keeping the army out of Buner.



‘We don’t want the government to send the army here because the troops coming in will create a Swat-like situation,’ said Misbah Uddin, a leader of a local religious group. ‘We people of Buner are capable of solving our problems on our own.’



Shams Buneri, a local leader of Pakistan’s ruling party, said the Taliban should also remain peaceful.



‘We appeal to the Taliban to abide by the peace agreement and not display arms or go for armed patrolling, because this will be a cause of breach of peace,’ he said.



US officials and many Pakistani critics view the Swat pact as a capitulation before extremists, and are also worried that Swat could turn into an expanding haven for al-Qaida allies.



The deal’s supporters argue that the concession on Islamic law robs hard-liners of any justification for continuing to bear arms.

 

[Beskar]

That's not just music to my ears, but like a 'Cotton bud' ready to infiltrate a wax filled opening which hasn't been touched for some time now.

Gross I know, But sounds just about right doesn't it?

 

[Munir]

Why demonstrating for peace...?
Allowing Taleban there is a declaration of war and the onl cure is eradication of Taleban. Evertime alowing "peace" is just allowing them to re-arm and degrade Pakistan back to the middle ages. What is worser...? Being bombed to the middle ages by an enemy or being forced to be braindead, executed or exploded to hell?

So, without being pr US or anything else. Pakisan first means end of religous politics in Pakistan and certainly death to Taleban.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

On Saturday, 12 children were killed by a bomb hidden in a football in Lower Dir and Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik on Sunday blamed the Taliban.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Pakistan begins military offensive against Taliban

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The News indicates that the Dir operation is being led by the FC with support from Army Aviation. If the involvement of minimal Army troops on the ground is true, it'll be interesting to see if the FC has evolved enough to take the battle to militants on its own now.

The role of the media too should be under close scrutiny, and lets hope that they do not turn against the Military once civilian casualties start piling up, as they did after the Lal Masjid.

The case against the TTP-S is clear.

 

[Beskar]

I say we go after them with full strength. Send in the regular infantry with latest APC's for protection instead of rusted T-59's and its tail as cover. The problem is that we're not realizing that this is a full scale war and that's exactly why we're saving up our shiny new Talha and Saad Apc's in courtyards along with heavy armour. If our latest armour is built to challenge a 125MM shell from a T-90, then I'm sure it can defend itself from RPGs. The more latest equipment we put into this fight, the faster we'll be able to eliminate this threat. Bring in the 'Black Storks'. What exactly were they trained for at Cherat?

When someone pisses off a bee hive, the bees attack you with whatever they've got at their disposal. Which basically is the LOGICAL way to deal with an outsider who decides to rattle your home.

 

[Rajkumar]

I say we go after them with full strength. Send in the regular infantry with latest APC's for protection instead of rusted T-59's and it's tail as cover. The problem is that we're not realizing that this is a full scale war and that's exactly why we're saving up our shiny new Talha and Saad Apc's in courtyards along with heavy armour. If our latest armour is built to challenge a 120MM shell from a T-90, then I'm sure it can defend itself from RPGs. The more latest equipment we put into this fight, the faster we'll be able to eliminate this threat. Bring in the 'Black Storks'. What exactly were they trained for at Cherat?

When someone pisses off a bee hive, the bees attack you with whatever they've got at their disposal. Which basically is the LOGICAL way to deal with an outsider who decides to rattle your home.

i agree with you. Full strength attack is needed so they don't have time to regroup or reinforcement from north. longer the war goes more the casualty will be.

 

[Solomon2]

I say we go after them with full strength

What we are seeing are teeny weeny attacks instead, attacks that make it easy for the units to be surrounded and "forced" to surrender. How encouraging!

 

[S-2]

Two points of concern: These operations in the west have been on-going regardless of any declaration by Tariq Khan in February. In particular Dir. Tribal elders last year were forming lashkars to keep out both the taliban and the military.

That's obviously failed.

Secondly, another demonstration for "peace"? Been down that road but here we go again, eh-

"‘We don’t want the government to send the army here because the troops coming in will create a Swat-like situation... We people of Buner are capable of solving our problems on our own...,’ said Misbah Uddin, a leader of a local religious group." ‘

These mullahs will be the death of you. Put a plug in it and start rendering unto Caesar what's his.