Posted on 09/18/2008 1:13:18 AM PDT by sidewinder009
Pakistani authorities both confirm and deny the incident that took place near Angoor Adda where a US raid against alleged terrorist on 3 September resulted in the death of women and children. Pakistani general says his country is ready to defend its territory against anyone.
Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Pakistani troops fired at US military helicopters forcing them to turn back after they crossed into South Waziristan near Angoor Adda, a village some 30 kilometres from Wana, the region’s largest town.
“Our troops did not spare them, opened fire on them and they turned away,” a Pakistani security official said in confirming the incident.
Other sources noted that US armoured vehicles were seen moving on the Afghan side of the border.
Pakistan Military spokesman Major Murad Khan confirmed that shooting had taken place, but said that US helicopters did not cross into Pakistani airspace and Pakistani troops were not responsible for the shooting.
On 3 September at least 20 people, including women and children, were killed in Angoor Adda, sparking outrage in Pakistan, prompting a diplomatic protest.
The New York Times newspaper reported last week that US President George W. Bush gave the green light for US raids across the border.
The latest episode was the first overt ground incursion by US troops into Pakistan since US forces went into Afghanistan in 2001.
In the past few weeks the United States has intensified attacks by missile-firing drone aircraft on suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Pakistan is a crucial US ally in its war on terrorism, and its support is key to the success of Western forces trying to stabilize Afghanistan. But Washington has become impatient over Islamabad's response to the threat from al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in Pakistan's tribal lands along the border.
Last week Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani said that Pakistan would not allow foreign troops onto its soil and Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be defended at all costs.
>>Osama is in Karachi, where he lives rather nicely, amoung the Taliban who fled to that city,
It was alleged that he fled there after ToraBora, hiding in plain sight in the Binoria Masjid Fortress.
My guess has always been PoK, in the Chitral area or even east of that towards Skardu.
Karachi is as good as any, I guess, a recent book by Rob Schultheis, mentions a valley NW of Zhob in Waziristan.
One thing, I doubt he’s where we’re hunting, why would he hang out near a hotzone when he could be far safer elsewhere in Pakistan.
Because we've got our hands full in Iraq and Afghanistan and we're not looking to add another enemy to our list these days (especially not a nuclear-armed enemy).
It was a mistake back in 02 to respect the Durand Line and not deal with that area as one theater, not arbitrarily divided by the Durand Line, which technically speaking ceased to be a lawful international border when neither Afghanistan or Pakistan renewed the 1933 agreement between the Kingdom of Afghanistan and the British Raj that expired in 1993.
But, all in all, better late than never.
Rock on, guys, enough people and soldiers have died in Aghanistan due to Pakistani Perfidy.
Nail ‘em.
So you contend that democracies and national sovereignty are irrelevant. That the only thing important is who has the regional military might to pursue their current agendas. That the biggest dog is the only one who will survive.
Lets hope that Russia and China do not share your philosophy.
We have to be careful.
We are not the only ones who can play this game. Russia could crank out a silly excuse for the next round of bullying in Georgia. China could do something nasty in Nepal.
We have to think carefully about every move we make.
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WTH?
The number of Pakistani subs you gave is not exactly correct-As far as I know, only one Agosta 90B was inducted with the MESMA AIP system in 2006. The remaining two vessels and older units will need to be refitted-that takes time.
The missiles part is also inaccurate. Fact is that the Agostas were designed to fire small anti-ship missiles like the Harpoon and Exocet. The Pakis don’t have the tech to miniaturise a warhead for such missiles. Besides-the Agostas only have four torpedo tubes with a total of 16 torpedoes/missiles. The standard loadout of missiles on most conventional subs is 4-6, not more. They would need to modify the torpedo tubes to fire any new cruise missile they will deploy-that hasn’t happened yet.
One place where they should search is under the Paki army chief’s bed.
And no delivery systems worth a damn.
Make that 16 weapons, not launch tubes.BIG difference between the two.
The Bloom article, while written with the right intentions is riddled wih holes.
The 12,000 mile range is again a misleading figure-you get that range only if you go on the surface all the time at a speed of about 5 knots or lower; Spend your entire time underwater-and you won’t get more than 600-1000 miles.No diesel-electric can.
Your post was the first I heard about methanol subs; can’t vouch for the accuracy of the piece I posted, just that the countries matched up.
Also saw stories on methanol reformer, hydrogen fired fuel cell technology being developed in several venues as future propulsion systems.
Take it to ‘em?! Given this incident, maybe its time to ask why we are there in the first place!
Actually, its’ ethanol which is used in the MESMA sysem (along with liquid oxygen).
FR really needs an edit capability
I don’t trust obama.I want president Bush to do the job.Clean up the paki mess.
Yes they do but no means of delivery that could target continental US.They do have some subs but again no nuke capable ballistic or cruise missile that could be launched from a sub.
In other words, the islamists now have nukes for sure.
Great move by the State Dept.
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