Posted on 10/16/2008 2:02:45 PM PDT by swarthyguy
ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: Terrorists could launch a fresh wave of attacks in the national capital, targeting President Asif Ali Zardari’s residence and the US embassy, Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned.
Terror masterminds have drawn up plans to hit Zardari House, the Presidency, Parliament House and the US mission in the near future, sources in the Interior Ministry told The News daily.
The strikes could come after a special session of Parliament discussing the Government’s anti-terror policy concludes.
The agencies have said that terror groups are awaiting the outcome of the Parliament debate and what the lawmakers decide on continuation of the army offensive against Taliban and other extremist groups in the troubled NWFP.
"It has been learnt that terrorists have planned to initiate a second wave of bombings in Islamabad. This will be subjected to a decision by the joint session of Parliament to induct additional troops into the tribal areas," the newspaper quoted a report submitted to the Interior Ministry as saying.
"The terrorists may use car bombs to attack the US embassy, the Presidency or the Zardari House," the report said, referring to Zardari’s private residence in a posh residential colony in the heart of Islamabad.
A beef up of security corden around the targeted building has been suggested by the intelligence and security agencies.
Zardari convened the special session of Parliament so that lawmakers could be briefed on the security situation. The Government is hoping to evolve a homegrown anti-terror policy by a national consensus following a debate in Parliament. The newspaper also quoted sources as saying that they believed the terrorists would adopt a new strategy to break through security rings. Suicide bombers could use fake army vehicles, a police van or an ambulance while the attackers themselves could be disguised as army personnel or policemen and could be wearing uniforms.
A countrywide wave of suicide bombings could occur simultaneously in major cities, targeting military installations, foreign missions, buildings of the Federal Investigation Agency, which has been probing terror attacks, and offices of law enforcement agencies, the sources said.
Security agencies have drawn up a counter strategy after putting law enforcement agencies on high alert.
Sensitive areas, including cantonments, military installations and the offices of police chiefs, the Anti-Narcotics Force and FIA, have been put in the list of "highly sensitive areas" and "extraordinary" security measures have been adopted at such places. (PTI)
Hey swarthy...did you see that report about someone in the Paki Intel tipping off those in the AQ meeting that there was going to be a predator strike.
Ya see Mac, Pakistan has there own version of bill ayres running around! Only alot more of them. You should be telling Bama that if you attack pakistan it will infuriate the people creating who knows how many bill ayres type characters.
Yeah, posted a cynical response of mine that’s Paki intel has been sending the USA on wildgoosechases for 7 years or so now.
Islamabad is being wrapped tight as we speak.
There are blast walls being put up, USUK diplos have evacuated families.....major mistrust as no one is sure who in the security apparatus is a jihadi.....
Not to be crass, but a foreign policy “crisis” may be just the thing to focus America’s mind.
the local language press are afire with this. According to them this article underplays the threat as do the Paki agencies, since the rumor is that over a 100K jihadis are infiltrating both the capital and the commercial hub of Karachi......A terror bombing campaign synched with a human wave of jihadis......
Are things heating up?
Way back when, posters like Jeff Head and Travis McGee had many pictorials about this area......
Pak objects to US Army chief’s scheduled Siachen visit
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken serious note of reports that US Army chief Gen W Casey is scheduled to visit the Siachen glacier in Jammu and Kashmir during his ongoing three-day visit to India.
“Any such visit to an area which is disputed and which is under discussion between Pakistan and India will certainly cast a shadow on the ongoing composite dialogue between the two neighbours,” a Foreign Office spokesman told The News daily.
He said there was no official confirmation of the American general’s plan to visit Siachen.
In the past, Pakistan has objected to India allowing civil and military expeditions to the Siachen glacier, where troops from both countries have been engaged in a face-off since 1984.
Indian and Pakistani troops regularly traded fire along the Line of Actual Control on Siachen till a ceasefire was put in place along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir in late 2003.
However, more troops from both sides have lost their lives due to inclement weather condition than to bullets on Siachen, often described as the world’s highest and coldest battlefield.
Gen Casey will be briefed on high-altitude land warfare techniques during his visit to Siachen base camp. (PTI)
America’s way of steadily putting their support behind India on the Kashmir conflict? I think there’s more to the changes in the US-Pak relationship than the leaders have let on. That with Zardari running to Beijing for money and nuclear accords.
I think we are seeing a steady realignment of alliances in Asia. Kind of like what happened between WWI and WWII. Asia will be the scene of the next great war. Wonder what will Russia’s role be.
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