Posted on 07/24/2005 4:13:22 PM PDT by Valin
ISLAMABAD: Gunmen have killed nine people in a Pakistani region bordering Afghanistan in attacks against tribal leaders who support a government campaign against Al Qaeda linked insurgents, officials said yesterday.
Unknown attackers shot dead tribal elder Malik Mirza Alam along with his two brothers, a son and a nephew yesterday near the South Waziristan town of Wana, a local administration official said, requesting anonymity.
Alam, who had spoken out in support of the Pakistani troop deployment in the rugged border region, had survived an attempt on his life two week ago and lost a son in an attack about two years ago, the official said.
Also in South Waziristan, gunmen yesterday shot dead another pro-government tribal elder, Malik Khandan, as well as his son and a companion, in an attack on their vehicle in Karwan Manza village, local official Anwer Zeb said.
On Thursday, another pro-government tribal elder, Taj Mohamed, was shot dead by suspected Taliban-linked militants in Kurma village in South Waziristan, an administration official said.
“The militants pumped some 80 bullets into Mohamed’s body and asked his relatives to take the body,” he said. Mohamed had helped authorities in October last year to mount a military operation against militants who had kidnapped two Chinese engineers from a dam construction site in northwest Pakistan.
In neighbouring North Waziristan, three Pakistani soldiers were wounded yesterday when a remote-controlled bomb exploded next to their military convoy, a local military official said.
Pakistan, a key ally in the US “war on terror”, has deployed about 70,000 troops along its border with southeast Afghanistan to track down foreign militants in the lawless tribal area.
Taliban attacks in southeast Afghanistan have surged in recent months ahead of the country’s landmark parliamentary elections in September.
Al Qaeda and Taliban members fled to the traditionally deeply religious mountain region after the hardline Islamic regime was toppled in late 2001 in a US-led invasion that followed the September 11 attacks.
In a series of offensives since last year, Pakistani forces have destroyed hideouts and training camps of militants linked to Al-Qaeda and killed hundreds of rebels, officials say. About 250 soldiers have died. – AFP
well now...this opens up the door for Paki military action....let's see if Musharref takes the opportunity...
Those tribal leaders who support the idea of reforms and removing al Qeade need much more direct support (yet in many ways they won't accept it).
The problem is that even with the minority of tribal elders who support the ideas of reform (and removing al Qeade / Taliban fighters) they don't always accept the notion of having the Pak military come into the region to help in this cause.
What makes you think he's not doing what he can?
that was a plausible excuse in 2002....it is three years later....
the trend that always develops is;
1- an attack occurs
2- it is somehow traced back to Pakistan
3- Musharref arrests a few people...
4- then not much is done and it starts again...
Were he doing all he could he'd give American forces the green light to hit NW Pakistan....
How has the situation in Pakistan changed since 2002?
What you need to understand is Pakistan is not so much a country as a collection of tribal groups.
Isn't killing each other just what Waziris do?
that was a plausible excuse in 2002....it is three years later....
?
A lot easier said then done (for starters) additionally we'd have to decide if we'd want "open" guns in a fight with the tribal leaders of the Pak border region -
Though without a doubt more Pakistan troops continuously working the border region would be helpful.
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