Pakistan begins new offensive against Taliban

[bemildred]

Source: Reuters

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani forces backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships began an offensive on Tuesday against Taliban fighters in a key valley 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad.

Military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said he expected it would take up to a week to clear an estimated 500 militants from Buner district, the latest target of an operation launched on Sunday in nearby Lower Dir.

"The aim of the offensive is to eliminate and expel militants from Buner," Abbas told a news conference in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, next door to Islamabad.

The Taliban's creeping advances across Malakand have raised alarm in Washington that militants were zeroing in on Islamabad and have stoked fears the nuclear-armed country was on the verge of sliding into chaos.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKSP47824920090428

[babylonsister]

1. Good. That's exactly what they should be doing, not depending

on other people to handle their enemies.

[xchrom]

2. pakistan seems to suffer from a kind of split personality

about this.

on the one hand groups like the taliban and others are a spear pointed right at india -- on the other hand they are a spear pointed right at islamabad.

the vast majority of pakistanis -- no matter how much they dislike india -- aren't in sync with extremists like the taliban.

give up the paranoia about india and trying to capture a dream called kashmir that's eats up the nations resources -- and pakistan might become a vibrant whole country.

[Coventina]

3. Pakistan Sends Troops Into District Taken by Taliban

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani is sending in troops against hundreds of militants who overran the district of Buner last week, the government announced Tuesday afternoon, saying that Taliban attempts to expand their territory would not be allowed.

A military spokesman announced that troops had completed a two-day operation against militants in Dir and started a new operation on Tuesday afternoon in the district of Buner at the request of the government.

Paramilitary forces of the Frontier Corps, backed by army helicopters and fighter jets, were involved in the operation, he said. The fighter jets were being used to block the entrances to the valley, he said. He estimated there were 450 to 500 militants in the district of Buner and said the Taliban had staged a show withdrawal at the weekend and were in fact trying to expand the space they control beyond the valley of Swat.

“In Buner people are living under coercion and in fear,” he said. “There was no reason to intimidate people in Buner and the militants started intimidating people and forcibly recruiting young people to take them back to Swat for military training,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29pstan.html?ref=global-home

On edit: accidently hit post before I put in the link

[InfiniteThoughts]

4. good first small step ...

Pakistan needs to act like a sovereign state that it is. That means, it has to have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for non-state actors controlling even an inch of their soil ...

[sledgehammer]

5. I think things might work out, albeit in a weird way...

Attacking Taliban/militant targets has not been a popular move in Pakistan.

However, Pakistan has given in to the Taliban a lot, especially with "ceding" Swat.

And what did Taliban do for the entire country to see? Flog a woman in public. Force men to keep beards, and women to wear burqa. Continue an armed struggle despite promising to lay down arms. Blow up historic shrines. Invade areas outside of Swat. Prevent women from leaving their homes on their own. etc.

For most of conservative Pakistan, these acts cross the line. The difference between extremism and conservatism has been made clear. And now an army assault against Taliban will be justified in a lot of people's minds.

It's going to be a long struggle, but I think the Pak govt/army might finally have public opinion on their side.

[Xithras]

7. Indeed. Ceding Swat was a good propaganda move on their part.

It basically let the rest of the Pakistani's see what the Taliban has in store for them. Overnight, the Taliban were changed from an ephemeral threat that might somehow impact their society, into a real immediate threat to their own lives and daughters.

Seeing people being beaten for listening to music, smoking, or having a beer, and seeing two thousand year old celebrations crushed in the name of Taliban hegemony, has pulled many fence-sitters solidly onto the side of the Pakistani government.

Personally, I think we should help to fund the Pakistani's. Provide money to help them raise more domestic troops and purchase better weaponry. I do NOT want us involved on the ground, but I have no problem helping another country out financially when they're fighting against right-wing extremist rebels who want to subjugate women and kill anyone who doesn't agree with their theology.

[ohio2007]

6. ?

they're just in it for a pay check


http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/12-us-weighs-up-to-400-million-dollars-for-pakistan--bi-01

and DC is ready to throw them a bone over it

[Qutzupalotl]

9. I would too.

If it keeps the country and its nukes from falling to extremists, it might well be worth it.

Good catch on the connection.

[ohio2007]

11. Karachi ( under the radar ) under siege

Mumbai type spooks on the loose

Widespread violence afflicts Karachi
snip
Tension and panic gripped parts of the city as unidentified attackers went on a shooting spree, killing most of the victims at point-blank range.

snip
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/11-violence-explodes-across-north-karachi--10

Shoot at sight’ orders issued in Karachi
snip
We have information that they are the men of a foreign agency who are killing innocent people in collaboration with a religious party,’ the minister said, adding that 10 to 15 armed men in different areas of the city had been tasked to spread terror.

‘They are the enemy of Pakistan and creating unrest in Karachi, but I am hopeful that security forces will overcome the situation by tomorrow.’

snip
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/12-shoot-at-sight-orders-issued-in-karachi--bi-10

If they hold the port city, no telling what they may try to sneak out into the world....
.....like their 'culture'
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/injustice-and-talibanisation-049

[Qutzupalotl]

8. link to BBC article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8022891.stm

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Pakistan army 'retakes key town'

The Pakistan army says it has taken control of a key town in Buner district in the north-west, a day after starting an offensive against the Taleban.

Soldiers were dropped from helicopters into the town of Dagar and were linking up with ground forces.
...
The army said 50 militants and one soldier were killed.

Two ammunition dumps were destroyed by security forces and 70 members of the security forces were abducted by militants, with 18 later released, the army said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8024015.stm

All figures are guesses/boasts at this stage, I suggest.

[ohio2007]

12. Clinton seeks $495 million for Pakistan

Madam secretary doesn't look to amused about throwing food money after bad ?
?MOD=AJPERES

Money used to support Pakistan could run out by mid-May and some funds for other operations could start running out in July: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.—AFP

snip

Mr Gates told lawmakers that money used to support Pakistan could run out by mid-May and some funds for other operations could start running out in July.

‘I urge you to take up this bill and pass it as quickly as possible, but not later than Memorial Day (May 25),’ Mr Gates told the Senate panel considering the Obama administration's supplemental budget request.

snip
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/12-clinton-seeks-495-million-for-pakistan-bi-01

[inwiththenew]

13. Pakistan is reaping the whirlwind

Pakistani ISI was one of the biggest supporters of the Taliban in the '90s and helped them seize power in Afghanistan. Now it is coming back to bite them in the ass.