Pakistan forces battle militants

BBC ^ | Saturday, 13 November, 2004, 16:40 GMT | staff writer

[SunkenCiv]

About 7,000 Pakistani troops, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, were sent into action in the tribal region this week... [T]he Pakistan military... began large-scale operations against suspected foreign militants in March. It believes hundreds of foreign Islamic militants, including Arabs, Afghans and Central Asians, are holed up in the region... Pakistani and foreign militants in the area were fast running out of safe havens... The general said three-quarters of South Waziristan was now under government control, vowing to gain control of the rest by the end of the year... [OTOH, t]he area is a big, remote and inhospitable terrain that gives guerrillas ample opportunity to hide in caves and gullies.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SevenMinusOne]

These operations that are going on by the Pakistan Army are very useful and needed (in the grand scheme)- I think Mushraff is doing the best he can at this point - However, it is clear and simply reasonable to know that there are many "leakers" within the Pak Military as well as the Pak intelligence services -

For us to get UBL or Al Zawahiri we are going to need autonomous U.S. military action within areas of Pakistan.

Extremely frustrating that these two are still alive. But they are alive for very good reasons. Complicated reasons in many aspects. But, there comes a point where we need to nix any of the "complications" and simply get the job done. (come what may afterwards).

[SunkenCiv]

Musharaf's participation in the WOT is a golden opportunity for him to solidify his own hold on power, and help build a more stable Pakistan. If he's overthrown by Islamic nut jobs, the US' top priority will be to destroy Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. And then to seal the Afghan border and strengthen ties with India.

[SevenMinusOne]

Agree with all of what you said - And even with Musaharaf on our side we are still strengthening ties with India daily.

Though, the issue of UBL and Al Zawahiri moving within Pakistan still needs to be dealt with. And unless US SOF can move and operate within Pakistan without Pakistan "minders" the odds of catching either of those guys is nill -

[Coop]

Get 'em!

[BushisTheMan]

The general said three-quarters of South Waziristan was now under government control, vowing to gain control of the rest by the end of the year.

But our correspondent says that timeframe might be optimistic - the area is a big, remote and inhospitable terrain that gives guerrillas ample opportunity to hide in caves and gullies.

Just who is the BBC "correspondent"? Al Jazeera?

[SunkenCiv]

Heh... probably UBL himself.