Pak launches operation against Al-Qaeda militants

PTI Times of India ^ | 22 February 2004 | Unknown

[Cap Huff]

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan armed forces, Sunday, launched a major operation in the country's tribal dominated South Wajiristan Agency bordering Afghanistan to crack down on the remnants of al-Qaeda and Taliban hiding there.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said military operations were launched after the end of the deadline given to the local population to surrender the foreign militants hiding there.

The operation followed an amnesty offer by Musharraf to all the foreign militants willing to surrender. Musharraf had promised not to hand over the surrendered militants to any foreign powers. This was the third operation launched by Pakistan Army in the recent months in the same area to apprehend foreign militants. Rashid told reporters here that Pakistani forces have been sent to South Waziristan Tribal Area to apprehend the suspects.

"This action is part of Pakistan 's commitment with the international coalition," he said, adding the operations would be conducted by Pakistan forces alone and not by any foreign forces. "We will not enter into other's territory and will not allow others to violate our boundaries," Rashid said, when asked if US forces would take part in the operation.

He said the operation was aimed at blocking the illegal entry of suspects in Pakistani area. "We have sealed our borders and some people have surrendered. We want the others to surrender."

The Minister said so far around 50 persons have surrendered but declined to give their details or nationalities. He also denied that the action was aimed at apprehending Osama bin Laden or his deputy Aimn al-Zawahri. "This action is not against any one but it is against terrorism," the Minister said.

He said no pictures of Aimnal-Zawahri have been taken through satellite and this is just propaganda by the West. He said American forces have not landed in Pakistan to take part in the operations and the Pakistani forces are capable to deal with any suspect. Asked if these people would be handed over to any other country, Sheikh Rashid said that President Musharraf had already given a policy statement that those who are surrendered would not be handed over to any country. On other issues, asked about lifting the ban on Indian channels, he said time was not ripe for allowing the Indian channels.

[Cap Huff]

This has been obviously coming, but this Indian source is saying that the operation has started.

[Cap Huff]

FYI

[Dog]

The cat and mouse game begins in earnest..

[Dog]

Cap......if I'm Bin Laden and I am sitting somewhere on that border in this area.....I am sweating bullets.

[Cap Huff]

Here's something interesting:

“In the coming days, Khan [South Waziristan administrator] said, paramilitary forces backed by army troops will begin search operations in the area on the basis of ‘real-time intelligence’ on the whereabouts of foreign fighters and their local hosts, he said.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62564-2004Feb22.html

I'll bet this is related to the rumors about satellite photos of al-Zawahiri.

It's past midnight here. I've got to get some sleep. Hold the fort.

[Dog]

Take it easy Cap...see you tomorrow.

[Cap Huff]

He's got to keep himself in amunition some how.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

I think Pakistan made a deal with Bush to actively help capture Bin Laden quick if we don't bring the hammer down on them (at least not now) for selling nuclear secrets to North Korea and others.

[fiftymegaton]

Prediction(even though it might not be considered very bold): Pakistanis will not capture Bin Laden.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Seen this one?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083225/posts

[Cap Huff]

Yes, there are several stories like that floating around.

By the way, the WP comment about the real-time intelligence is nice to see. It could be expected. Here's a nice story about "The Shadow."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083427/posts

How do you say, "Watch the birdie --- say cheese" in Arabic?

[Coop]

Cap......if I'm Bin Laden and I am sitting somewhere on that border in this area.....I am sweating bullets.

Just keep in mind that almost all of the major Al Qaeda players in captivity were nabbed in Pakistani cities. Bin Laden may be in these desolate border areas, but as an analyst was saying last night on a Discovery special about the OBL hunt, getting couriers in and out of these rugged areas would be a logistical nightmare and a risk. There's certainly no guarantee he's where we think he is. (I still have a great deal of trouble believing he ran off to Tora Bora after 9/11, knowing full well that would be the first place we'd look.)

[Cap Huff]

By my recollection it is true that many have been nabbed in cities. I do think this little item is extraordinarily interestin:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1082890/posts

It didn't seem to get much attention when first posted, yet it could be incredibly significant. It is true that I've not yet seen it reported elsewhere, although I've not taken the time to look.

By the way, the Tenet visit to Pakistan is more in the news now.

[swarthyguy]

the major Al Qaeda players in captivity were nabbed in Pakistani cities.

Bingo. Worth repeating. Tho' I doubt he's in the Binori Mosque Compound ( a walled fortress with 10K students inside, complete with tunnels and an armory).

-----Snip-------

London Sunday Express said that bin Laden was holed up in a military camp in the Afghanistan mountains together with up to 50 fanatical henchmen north of the town of Khanozai and the city of Quetta. Utexas Map time.