Pakistan launches air and tank attacks to halt march of Taliban

Pakistan launches air and tank attacks to halt march of Taliban

www.guardian.co.uk

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships launched attacks on Taliban positions in Buner today in a dramatic expansion of a military operation to halt the march of extremists out of the Taliban-controlled Swat valley.

The army sealed off roads leading to Buner ‑ a district 60 miles north-west of Islamabad ‑ as residents reported tank and troop movements into the area.

"I saw the jet planes earlier and now I can see two helicopters. They are hitting targets in the mountains close to the town," resident Jaffar Shah told the Guardian by telephone, shortly after the attack started.

(visit the link for the full news article)



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OK Maybe the Pakistanis are playing hardball.

This story has been developing quickly over the past few days and it's starting to really heat up. Hillary is still pounding the bell of warning but nobody seems to be paying any attention. It may be that the boy who cried wolf is now being ignored.

The report goes on to say.

He insisted the army had a "great capacity to eliminate" the militants. "There is no reason to be worried that they can pose any kind of threat," he said.

The Taliban ratcheted up pressure on journalists in Swat today, distributing tracts that threatened journalists who did not tell "the truth". "Under sharia law, if you tell a lie you must be punished," Khan said.

www.guardian.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 28-4-2009 by SLAYER69]

Pakistan Battles Taliban in Northwest

Pakistan's military says attack helicopters and fighter jets are pounding Taliban militants in the northwest, as the military works to to expel extremists from Buner, a district that is only 100 kilometers from the capital.

A Pakistani Army spokesman said the military expanded its operation against the Taliban Tuesday. He said officials obtained communications that showed the Taliban extremists had no plans to leave Buner. He said the military estimates about 500 militants are in that district in the Malakand region.

[edit on 28-4-2009 by SLAYER69]

Keep up the good work, seems like you are really on top of this one atm.

I hope they can win the battle.

reply to post by TheKingsVillian


Thanks I think with everyone's head in the swine flu pages the rest of the world is falling apart and nobody is noticing.


[edit on 28-4-2009 by SLAYER69]

Pakistan targets Taliban in air attack

Reporting from New Delhi -- The Pakistani army launched an air attack today and prepared to deploy troops against Taliban bases in an area near the capital, Islamabad. The offensive appeared to signal a broadening of recent moves against militants, many of whom have become increasingly brash after reaching a controversial peace deal largely on their terms.

Athar Abbas, a military spokesman, told reporters in the city of Rawalpindi that army and Frontier Corps paramilitary units launched the operation in Buner district, building on a days-long offensive in the region. Abbas said an estimated 450 to 500 Taliban were believed to be active in areas of Buner, many of them believed to be engaged in what he termed "criminal activities."

I'm just curious why Pakistan have never gotten serious with the Taliban until now. Very few countries would have allowed their enemies to get that close to their capital in the first place.

reply to post by jam321


I think the main reason this is becoming an issue and against popular opinion is that the Taliban are not doing so hot in Afghanistan and since most of them are Pakistani they are heading home and the Pakistani Government doesn't want them even though they have signed some agreements.

Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by TheKingsVillian

 

Thanks I think with everyone's head in the swine flu pages the rest of the world is falling apart and nobody is noticing.


[edit on 28-4-2009 by SLAYER69]

Word...





Been waiting for this to happen for some time now...Pakistan has always had the means to make a run at the Taliban - but I figured our state dept. put pressure on the them to hold back for now...


Looks like the chain has been taken off...

reply to post by chapter29

but I figured our state dept. put pressure on the them to hold back for now...

Why do figure this?

I would like to hear more, sounds interesting.

reply to post by jam321



hey jam...


Well, in truth, the US state dept. has actually put pressure (publicly) on Pakistan to deal with all rogue and belligerent groups/states/ect. for some time now.


IMO, this was just for show...


We really didn't want any military action as the power struggle in Pakistan was coming to a boil, with no real winner yet defined. If the wrong party took office, the US agenda wouldn't matter. As a matter of fact, it would be exposed...



That tells me that we wanted Pakistan to hold off until we determined if Zardari would remain in control...then, have them attack, with the US soon after wards stating their support for the action, allowing for more American military strength in the region.



So, privately we have been informing them that any preemptive military moves will chain up any resources we currently send their way...'buyer beware'. Regardless of the party taking office, Pakistan needs our support to maintain it's own hegemony.


Setting up shop in these areas takes some time ya' know...





One more step towards American power in the middle east - all through our 'support' of peace.



Or, Pakistan just decided to take action on their own...









[edit on 4/28/2009 by chapter29]

reply to post by SLAYER69


Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Lets hope the Pakistan army can do what they say they will do. Its too bad Pakistani leaders waited so long to act. It shows they never cared about harboring Taliban militants.

i posted last year about pakistani actions against the taliban and like the poster above i thought then when they rolled it back something or someone was saying `hold on there a bit`

What would the Taliban do if they captured Pakistan and had access to fire nuclear missiles?

Would the USA nuke Pakistan before they got them?

Would the Taliban launch them against US forces in Iraq?

Would they target Israel?

Would they just try to do a specter and hold the world for ransom?

Or do they have no chance in hell of even getting close to taking over Pakistan?

Any theories about this one?

alot of questions there but not one answer from yourself

how about YOUR opinion to those very same questions?

reply to post by TheKingsVillian

What would the Taliban do if they captured Pakistan and had access to fire nuclear missiles?

I say they would ally themselves with Russia and China pretty dang quick for protection from the US and then they would use the nukes as bargaining chips to get the US to recognize them. Many lessons can be learned from Iran and Korea if the Taliban are willing to pay attention.

reply to post by chapter29


Mighty convincing reply you gave.

I also have believed that the pressure the US put on Pakistan was just a show.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

reply to post by jam321


OR

Sell them quickly to the highest bidder.

Coming to a neighborhood near you.


[edit on 28-4-2009 by SLAYER69]

Pakistan launches air and tank attacks to halt march of Taliban

And? NATO have been launching raids against Taliban for 8 years now and they are still there...

So... this isn't over.

US weighs up to 400 million dollars for Pakistan

Republican Senator Jon Kyl described the monies as a down payment of sorts on 1.4 billion dollars in Pakistan aid included in an 83.4-billion-dollar emergency spending bill that may not clear the US Congress before July.

Spending money like there's no tomorrow... as always.

Do something that will cost less than 10.000$. Put C-4 on all pakistani nukes and blow them up.

[edit on 28-4-2009 by Vitchilo]

Originally posted by jam321
I'm just curious why Pakistan have never gotten serious with the Taliban until now. Very few countries would have allowed their enemies to get that close to their capital in the first place.

Well they created the taliban, how can you expect pakistan to get rid of them instantly? Mullah omar isn't their head, A pakistani General called Hamid Gul who lives a luxury life gave birth to them.