Posted on 10/05/2007 8:01:32 AM PDT by milwguy
WANA, Oct 4: Mutilated bodies of three of the soldiers kidnapped in South Waziristan on August 30 were found in the adjacent Frontier Region of Jandola on Thursday.
Army spokesman Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad termed the killing of the soldiers a ‘cowardly and barbaric act’.
“This is a terrorist act and the perpetrators will not go unpunished,” he told Dawn from Islamabad. He said security forces were assessing the situation and would take action in keeping with the new development.
Over 250 security forces personnel, including eight officers, had been made hostage in the Momi Karam area of South Waziristan by militants of the Baitullah Mehsud group. After some time, 31 soldiers were freed as a ‘goodwill gesture’.
The killings followed a Wednesday warning from a spokesman for Baitullah Mehsud that the militants would start slaughtering the soldiers if security forces did not stop their operation in Tank. He had warned that three soldiers would be killed every day.
Sources said the soldiers’ bodies had been thrown near a road in Jandola early on Thursday morning. Quoting eyewitnesses, they said the soldiers’ limbs and heads had been chopped off.
Personnel of the Khasaddar Force found the bodies and informed the local authorities. The bodies were later handed over to the military authorities.
The sources said a note found near the bodies warned that more soldiers would be killed if the operation in the tribal area was not stopped.
The victims were identified as Khizer Hayat, Tariq and Mohammad Ikhlaq, belonging to Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan and Khairpur, respectively.
Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad said security forces had exercised maximum restraint and given enough time to the tribal jirga and the local administration to get the soldiers released through negotiations.
“The government does not want to harm the peace-loving people in the tribal area, but now it is necessary to take some steps.” He said the local administration had taken action under the Frontier Crimes Regulation.
Objective evidence of the religion of peace ping.
I found this article confusing. Were these our soldiers? I suspect they were not, I have not heard about 3 soldiers captured. Would you mind so much posting a bit of context? I imagine most people are following these details closely enough to recognize this, perhaps, but I have not been. Thanks.
“You shall know them by their fruits.” The fruits of these barbarians are so evident. I cannot understand why so many people STILL make excuses for them.
They are all Pakis.
I fully agree with your assessment. The Packs need to finish this, we can provide full air and logistical support to their efforts but I think it is important that this be a Pakistani lead operation. Its beyond time to take out the trash.
Saved for later. Thanks.
Last month the militants captured an entire convoy of Pakistani soldiers, numbering about 250. They included a general I think. The militants want the gov’t of Paksitan to abandon South Waziristan to the Taliban style gov’t. This would continue to provide a base for Al Qaeda nd Taliban to operate and stage cross border attacks on our troops in the Afghan theater. Our Gov’t wants Pres Musharaff to send his troops in and kill or chase out the Taliban and especially Al Qaeda arabs.
Musharaff speaks out of both sides of his mouth. I wonder if he’ll clean it out up there...
Mushy is being painted into a corner. He may find he has no options but to start fighting a GWOT campaign.
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