Posted on 04/26/2002 2:33:16 PM PDT by swarthyguy
MIRAN SHAH – The American forces along with Pak army personnel Friday started operation against alleged al-Qaeda members in North Waziristan Agency when they raided a Madrassa of deputy commander-in-chief of former Taliban government of Afghanistan in the area.
Two US helicopters, carrying about ten US troops, landed at Dandi Darpa Khel area and began search of Majmal Uloom of Jalaluddin Haqqani to find alleged members of al-Qaeda. However, the madrassa was already vacated when the joint US-Pak team raided it.
The American troops were reportedly led by a commander who had once given military training to Jalaluddin Haqqani against Russian forces.
The US troops were accompanied by about 200 Tochi Scouts personnel headed by Major Mudassir. Assistant Political Agent of the Agency Javaid Marwat, Tehsiladar Political Muharar, Haji Mohammad Saleem, Muharar Khawaja Khan, Muharar Amanullah and a large number of khasadar also escorted them. The searching operation continued for about one hour.
US will not act alone in Pakistan: An AFP report from London says, top US commander General Tommy Franks said Friday the United States will not act alone in its bid to eliminate remaining pockets of al-Qaeda fighters in the largely lawless area of Pakistan bordering eastern Afghanistan. “What we are going to do is continue the cooperation. I think we have not seen a suggestion of unilateral operations being conducted in Pakistan by any nation that is a member of the coalition.
“The secret is to continue to co-operate and surely the problems we find in Pakistan will be rooted out,” said Franks, who is the commander of US forces in the region. Franks was speaking during a brief visit to Britain — where he spoke with Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon — on his way back from the Middle East.
His assurances came after US defence officials said Thursday discussions were under way with the Pakistani government on arrangements that would allow teams with US military and intelligence operatives to respond quickly to time sensitive intelligence on al-Qaeda fighters in the border area. Many of the leaders of al-Qaeda and Taliban rulers are believed to be hiding in the rugged tribal northwest of Pakistan, able to travel between eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan through a mountainous border area that has been impossible to seal off.
Direct action involving US teams in Pakistan would mark a new level of cooperation in what has been a close but secretive relationship between the US and Pakistani militaries since the start of the US-led campaign in Afghanistan.
Pakistan needs to set up a sting to catch these traitors and then hang them.
Do nations that are not coalition members conduct unilateral operations in Pakistan? If there is a no-man's land maybe they could give it to the Palestinians; apparently there is a lot more free acreage in Pakistan than in West Bank/Gaza.
As long as we have the right Pakis helping us we should never go alone. Like Afghanistan they know the areas better and will help us to continue winning this war on terrorism if they show us where to find the bad guys.
Remember what usually happened when we trusted the arvins?
anyone else see a certain poetic symmetry here ?
This should surprise no one, especially General Franks. Sort of like a visit from a dignitary after spending three weeks cleaning up the town.
I suspect that we'll soon abandon this proceedure since it will produce few productive results.
That is why I said
As long as we have the right Pakis helping us
I am not following what you are trying to say however to answer why would they want to help us out...Just like in Afghan there is a group of people that are sick of these Al-Queda and other terrorists. Sure there are a lot of OBL suppoteres as well. I guess we shouldjust hope we have the right guys helping us.
Tipped off, no doubt, by Pakistani intellgence agents who have aided and supported the Taliban for years.
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