Posted on 07/17/2008 7:16:38 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The Pakistani Army has launched a military operation against the Taliban in the settled district of Hangu in the Northwest Frontier Province.
The military took over security in Hangu from the Frontier Corps on July 16 after imposing a curfew and warning the residents to leave the area and not to shelter the Taliban. "People who fail to move to relief camps will be considered to be anti-government," a pamphlet distributed by the district administration warned.
The Army moved more than 1,500 infantry into the region. The force is backed by Cobra attack helicopters and artillery. The target of the operation are more than 4,000 Taliban, "along with Uzbeks and Taliban from Waziristan" operating in the Zargari and Shinawari regions in Hangu. Troops have blocked the Kohat-Parachinar road to limits Taliban movement in the district, and have "secured the Naryab dam where militants were deeply entrenched and putting up stiff resistance for five days." The military reported the Taliban withdrew from Zargari and Shinawari, and the fighting has stopped.
There are no reports of Army or Taliban casualties. Five suspected Taliban were reported captured, but were later released. Civilians appear to have taken the brunt of the casualties, with 13 reported killed and homes leveled by artillery fire.
The Taliban have responded by issuing an ultimatum to the provincial government, warning it would attack if the operations against Taliabn forces did not cease and the government did not live up to the terms of the peace agreements signed throughout the tribal areas and the Northwest Frontier Province.
(Excerpt) Read more at longwarjournal.org ...
fyi
This makes it a free fire zone!
You're either with us or against us.
yitbos
The target of the operation are more than 4,000 Taliban, "along with Uzbeks and Taliban from Waziristan" operating in the Zargari and Shinawari regions in Hangu.
Troops have blocked the Kohat-Parachinar road to limits Taliban movement in the district, and have "secured the Naryab dam where militants were deeply entrenched and putting up STIFF RESISTANCE for FIVE DAYS."
The military reported the Taliban "WITHDREW" from Zargari and Shinawari, and the fighting has stopped.
There are NO reports of Army OR Taliban casualties.
Five suspected Taliban were reported captured, but were later RELEASED.
CIVILIANS "appear" to have taken the BRUNT OF THE CASUALTIES, with 13 reported killed and homes leveled by artillery fire."
Hmmmm....NO ARMY or TALIBAN CASUALTIES REPORTED, but 13 CIVILIANS KILLED and THEIR HOMES LEVELED BY ARTILLERY FIRE?????????
....and Pakistan doesn't want the U.S. to "cross the border" to go after the Taliban.....because WE "might" hurt "civilians"?????????
geeezzzz....
Well,...it’s their civilians..../s
We've seen this dog and pony show so many times that it's ludicrous.
“the fighting has stopped”
Doesn't it always? But the taliban are still there. They still have their training camps. They recoup and regroup stronger after each one of these phony forays.
Time cover the NWFP inch by inch - we have the power.
People will die, but essentially a Kabuki show.
The USCongress is sending more money to Pakistan, who, being smart, is doing the necessary to secure the money.
Meanwhile Osama sits in his mountain villa, (prolly paid for by USD) calmly contemplating the situation.
The Taliban fighters are the civilians.
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