Posted on 02/12/2006 7:08:21 AM PST by Flavius
New Delhi, February 12: After taking ‘virtual control’ of the entire North Waziristan province of Pakistan, Taliban and al-Qaeda have recently ‘declared’ the establishment of an ‘Islamic state’ in the area and gained a major base for their operations against the US-led forces in Afghanistan, media reports said.
"The Taliban recently declared the establishment of an ‘Islamic state’ in North Waziristan, and they now, through the brutal elimination of criminal elements who previously held sway, in effect rule in the rugged territory," a latest report in Asia Times magazine said.
It said that by "taking control of virtually all of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area on the border with Afghanistan, the Taliban have gained a significant base from which to wage their resistance against US-led forces in Afghanistan.
"At the same time, the development solidifies the anti-US resistance groups in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, which will now fight under a single strategy," the report in the Hong Kong-based magazine said.
In a related report, The Friday Times said "the growing influence of militants and resultant insecurity have forced tribesmen in the restive North and South Waziristan to migrate to adjacent districts of the North West Front province".
The Asia Times said Taliban supporters planted bombs along the routes used by Pakistani security forces and "virtually every day one or two vehicles are blown up. This measure is aimed at keeping security forces away from the actual tribal areas of Waziristan".
The report said its correspondent had videos released by the Taliban and claimed the writ of the Pakistani political agent or the central government's representative "barely extends beyond Miramshah Bazar and Wana Bazar where the official headquarters are located."
The video footage clearly indicated the Taliban bases "where thousands of youths are present, preparations for an attack into Afghanistan and shots of criminals executed at a public rally staged by the Taliban".
The report said the video also includes the "official announcement of the establishment of an Islamic state in Waziristan (including the tribal areas of South Waziristan) and a declaration of the Taliban's rule in North Waziristan".
"This announcement of an Islamic state is interpreted as a prelude to the Taliban's summer offensive, precisely at a time when Iran's nuclear dossier will be submitted to the UN Security Council and both Europe and the US will be mounting pressure on Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme," the report said.
Nobody has EVER cleaned house along the Durand line, and the weak government of Pakistan is certainly not going to do so.
It is a prime target for us, but it requires a different war plan than we have seen so far.
well, i allways wonder, what Patton would be doing these days.
LTG Patton was an officer in an American army of 89 divisions.
If, in September 2001, plans had been made to expand the armed forces to sufficient size for dealing with the Islamic threat, then today a LTG similar to Patton would be leading heavy occupation forces into Waziristan.
But, no such plans were made, and no such offensive is possible. Patton or no Patton.
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