Posted on 07/08/2007 6:21:02 AM PDT by Valin
Islamabad, July 8 (PTI): Battling the radicals holed up in Lal Masjid, Pakistan security forces are gearing up to take on another set of well entrenched extremists led by a cleric, in a tribal area, who has issued a decree asking people to attack anyone supporting the crackdown on the Islamabad mosque.
The Government has decided to launch a massive operation against the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) leader Maulana Fazalullah in the tribal Malakand agency of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), media reports said here.
Fazalullah is a close associate of Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz, arrested while trying to sneak out from the besieged mosque in a burqa four days ago, and his younger brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who is leading the resistance.
Fresh deployment of troops started following an announcement of war against security forces by Fazalullah after the operation against Lal Masjid, the Post daily said.
The situation is alarmingly deteriorating in Swat district as most of the students of the madrassas affiliated to Lal Masjid are hailing from the region.
Also, after the security operation Fazaullah, through his illegally-run FM Radio, had issued a statement saying anyone who supported the crackdown was an 'infidel'. He called the religious leaders supporting the present government as "rebels of Islam".
After the operation in Lal Masjid began several attacks against the security forces took place in the Agency.
Pakistan's Minister of State for Information, Tariq Azeem, said he would have to verify the reports.
The News daily said Fazaullah issued a decree against supporters of the action against Lal Masjid and warned the government against conducting military operations.
Wouldn't it be easier and save time to just use one of the F16s we sold Pakistan to drop a few 500-pound bombs onto the cleric's compound
This thing is spreading. Could get serious at any time.
Big development if true - Wait and see if Pak forces move - M. Omar related captures may be Musharaff's last warning shot across the bow....before allowing outsiders in....To help clear up this region....
No those are solely meant to fire their brand new AMRAAMs at Osama’s flying carpets.
The job of hitting the stupid mullahs can be outsourced to the Mirage-3s or Chinese built F-7 jets.
Commander Killed In Pakistan (Red) Mosque Siege
The Telegraph (UK) | 7-8-2007 | Isambard Wilkinson
Posted on 07/08/2007 9:24:30 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1862782/posts
Pakistan troops storm Islamabad mosque: military
afp | 09/07/2007 | afp
Posted on 07/09/2007 8:26:04 PM EDT by mdittmar
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863304/posts
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