Army captures Pakistani Taliban leader's hometown (Kotkai)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/24/09 | Asif Shahzad - ap

[NormsRevenge]

ISLAMABAD – Soldiers captured the strategically located hometown of Pakistan's Taliban chief Saturday after fierce fighting, officials said, the army's first major prize as it pushes deeper into a militant stronghold along the Afghan border.

A suspected U.S. missile killed 22 people elsewhere in the northwest, but apparently missed a top Taliban figure, authorities said.

Pakistan's eight-day-old offensive in the Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold of South Waziristan is considered its most critical test yet in the campaign to stop the spread of violent Islamist extremism in this nuclear-armed, U.S.-allied country. The army operation has prompted a wave of retaliatory attacks by militants this month that have killed some 200 people.

The battle for Kotkai town took several days and involved aerial bombardment as soldiers captured heights around the town. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said troops were now ridding the town of land mines and roadside bombs planted by the insurgents.

[NormsRevenge]

another secure community under new management.

here's hoping they hold the ground.

[Alter Kaker]

Maybe I’m missing something, but why is the US pushing Pakistan to invade South Waziristan, when Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban are based around the city of Quetta in Balochistan?

[piroque]

bump

[gaijin]

I’m not saying this is bad news —it’s great. But many times the Pakistan Army and the ISI have proven remarkably adept at satifying US ambitions to juuuuus the extent that qualifies them to earn Uncle Sugar’s larges$e.

Let’s see if they keep the pressure up, OK? And let’s look REALLY carefully at the body count —we need tangible results, not smoke and mirrors and flamboyant half-measures...

[G8 Diplomat]

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off

[FDNYRHEROES]

This is usually about the time that the Pakistanis start a negotiation which will result in the Taliban slipping away...

[maine-iac7]

Washington has encouraged the operation in the northwest because many militants there are believed to shelter al-Qaida leaders and are also suspected to be involved in attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan

golly gee. That's nice. (puke)

How about giving our troops in harms way - on the 'ghan side of the border where these miscreants run to when things get hot in Pakistan - some more boots on the ground (they have ALWAYS been under-forced and under equipped there) so's they can protect themselves and may even catch the barbarians in a pincher move.

Nah, that would upset the Taliban, 'bama's new friends - then they might not sit down and talk with him.

Has he heard back from them yet on his plea to talk with them?

I've got an idea. Let's drop 'bama off right on the border. That way, he can talk to everyone and this whole thing will be over...

[NormsRevenge]

Here's hopin'..

Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud. Pakistan's army said it had captured Mehsud's hometown after fierce fighting as it pressed a major offensive against the Islamists into a second week. (AFP/File/A Majeed)
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Handout picture from Inter Services Public Relations shows Pakistani troops at a check point in Shingwari. The Pakistani military has captured the hometown of Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in the country's South Waziristan tribal belt, security sources said on Saturday (AFP/ISPR/File)