Pakistan troops storm Islamabad mosque: military

afp ^ | 09/07/2007 | afp

[mdittmar]

Pakistani troops early Tuesday launched a massive operation against a cleric and his armed men in a besieged Islamabad mosque after negotiations failed, a top military official told AFP.

"The troops are now inside the mosque, they are at the roof top," top military spokesman Major General Arshad Waheed told AFP.

"It is a final push to clear the place of armed militants," he said, adding that the militants were putting up stiff resistance.

The talks between the Pakistani government and a cleric holed up with armed men at the mosque failed early Tuesday after he refused to release women and children allegedly held hostage, an official said.

Top government negotiator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain announced the failure after 11 hours of talks, which was followed immediately by heavy firing and two massive blasts.

"After 11 hours of negotiations we are deeply disappointed that the talks did not succeed," he told a news conference near the Red Mosque.

[Lost Dutchman]

Bookmark for updates

[AdmSmith]

Latest!-10th July 04:15 PM
According to latest reports, security officials are trying to break into the main hall where Ghazi Abdur Rasheed is supposedly present. Despite earlier calls by the security personal to drop their weapons and come out in the open. no one has responded from the hall. There are concerns that the whole hall is bobby trapped and security personals’ break in could trigger explosives and bring down the entire structure. Meanwhile there are reports of investigation being done from the women who have recently been brought out of the complex about the nature of explosives set up in the remaining area as well as possible hostages in the compound to have sufficient information before taking any actions. Security forces have also restricted access of public to the eastern part of blue area.

http://islamabad.metblogs.com/archives/2007/07/operation_silence_final_showdo.phtml

Comment: Check the link later as it is updated.

[katykelly]

for updates

[sarasota]

Did I read that nerve gas is being used? Would this be against the terrorists?

[csvset]

Bump

[CondorFlight]

Thanks again for the great coverage on this. The MSM isn’t saying much (if at all).

[Jumper]

God Bless Mr. President, as you and your faith, along with very few of US stand together. May your independence pervail and may the course you choose bring devine providence to our Nation. May you be redeemed in the eyes of a grateful Nation for doing what is right and necessary. Never waiver, but follow your principles and your sense of dignity for together with God some of US beleive you will do the right thing for the right reason.

[Grampa Dave]

So does this mean all of the high profile al Qaeda Serial Killers have left in their blue burkas?

[P.O.E.]

Aren't "negotiations" the Democrat panacea? Sounds like a failed policy to me.

[P.O.E.]

Forgot to close tags. Slipsies.

[AdvisorB]

Pakistani television is reporting that Ghazi has been killed. This is another small victory in the war against islamofascism.

[agrace]

Musarraf kills 150 innocent people in the back while they were bent over praying and holding their nursing children or something similar.

there, that's more like it.

[Marine_Uncle]

I assume by the time I write my replie only body counts will be the official activity.

[gandalftb]

God Morning FR, let's get caught up.

50 women and one dozen children rescued after a teenage boy came out and showed commandos where they were. Rescued included ghazi's sister-in-law and niece.

Later, 27 more women and 3 children found.

Reports that jihadis are hidden in tunnels.

A tunnel has been discovered between the mosque and the girls school.

All roads in and out of Islamabad are blocked.

[gandalftb]

Ghazi is dead. He had been shot in the leg earlier, was holed up with at least 3 jihadis and tried to surrender and was shot by the jihadis.

There is some chatter of exit tunnels and a need for night vision goggles to search all the tunnels.

[angkor]

Musarraf kills 150 innocent people in the back while they were bent over praying and holding their nursing children or something similar.

I'm getting a sense from looking at these Pakistan TV channels and reading local blogs like at PakTribune that the terrorists' only support is in Waziristan.

Of course in Waziristan they take goats for wives and sell their children to pay gambling debts, so that's understandable.

[sarasota]

Ghazi tried to surrender? What happened to his commitment to martyrdom?

[mutley]

tried to surrender and was shot by the jihadis.

LOL!!! Sorry...thought that was funny.

And by the way, thanks for your reporting on this. Much appreciated.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From link at #202:

*****************************EXCERPT*************************

Latest!-10th July 06:45 PM
According to the latest information, Abdur Rasheed Ghazi has been killed in cross fire. He was asked to surrender out of his bunker after being hit in the leg, but he could not come out after 4 hours of siege of his bunker. Later he was killed in exchange of fire.The operation has entered it's final phase, which is being considered more of operation clean up. This includes securing the room and cleaning up mines. Last firing shot heard at 5:15 PM. A fresh ISPR press conference is due in a few more minutes. Security forces have decided to keep the curfew in order untill operation clean up is complete.

Latest!-10th July 06:15 PM
According to a latest press conference by the clerics here they have put the the blame of failed negotiations on the government. As per the clerics, everyone had agreed to a draft of agreement including the top government officials which was sent to the president house for final approval by Chaudary Shujhat. However on his way back Chaudary Shujhat Hussain was carrying a second copy of draft which had totally different terms of agreements as decided earlier by the committee which casued the bycott of religous leaders and the fi

[RightWhale]

The political question of secular state versus theocracy comes out this way in most cases.