Posted on 09/26/2008 3:34:04 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
For the past six weeks Pakistani troops supported by helicopter gunships, tanks and heavy artillery have begun to drive Taliban militants out of the tribal area of Bajaur.
The action was visible as Cobra helicopters pounded positions outside the village of Tang Khatta, a short distance from Khar, Bajaur's main town, and ground troops fought an hour-long gun battle.
Militants have regularly attacked the village compounds with rockets since they were pushed out two weeks ago.
The sound of explosions and machine guns were audible from behind Tang Khatta's thick mud walls as soldiers traded fire with the Taliban across fields hemmed in by barren mountains.
The army claims it has killed over 1,000 militants in Bajaur, a place described by commanders as the "centre of gravity of the insurgency".
"The threat from Bajaur radiates in all directions," said Maj Gen Tariq Khan, the commanding officer of the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force engaged in the bulk of counter-insurgency operations in the tribal areas.
"If we dismantle this here and destroy its leadership then 65 percent of militancy will be controlled. If they lose this, they lose everything."
Khar and its surroundings are deserted. Soldiers have taken over the area's numerous schools and nearly a third of Bajaur's one million people have fled the fighting.
At Tang Khatta militants took cover in fields of half-harvested maize, caves and dried-up ravines a mile away.
"I wish I could take you there but they are in the nullahs [ravines]," Colonel Javaid Baloch told a group of journalists taken to the village on a visit organised by the military.
But fighting did not all go the army's way. Three officers - one of whom lost both his legs - were seriously injured.
Pakistan reluctantly signed up to the American-led "war on terror" after
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I do not recall, "The army claims it has killed over 1,000 militants " before.
Remember, there is a new patsy for president in Pakistan and an Army tired of the terrorists who have infiltrated from Iraq and the world.
yitbos
For entrenched terrorists, one word - NAPALM.
Does Pakistan really want to defeat the Taliban?
Pssssst! They dont call it Napalm any more...we call them “fire bombs”. I love fire bombs:o)
Do Taliban, al Qaeda want nukes?
yitbos
Pakistan also has a new CINC, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He is the guy that crushed the Taliban in the Swat valley. He seems to do a good job when the politicians let him off the leash.
fyi
I think they do - but we need to remember that the NWFT of Pakistan, up against the 'Ghan border, is in such an almost impossible area to fight that - as McCain said - NO ONE has conquered, not even the gov't of Pakistan itself, since Alexander the Great.
It's the terrain that protects the Tribe and Tribal Elders. However, the Taliban and al Q, especially, are outsiders. They have only been able to operate there because of killing and intimidation of the local tribes.
By backing up the Elders/tribes, giving them courage to fight the 'miscreants' (as they call them) themselves, we could see the best solution. (looks up the word "miscreant". Our PC police don't want us using the word "terrorist." So let's call them what Pakistan calls them: "Miscreants" - it's far more fitting.
Nobama made a big noise about attacking PAKISTAN = cutting off the money we send them - while he ignores that we are paying for their letting us send foods, supplies and equipment to our troops in Afghanistan through Pakistan.
Look at the map. WE aren't allowed to send supplies through other bordering countries, nor do so via their airspace.
McCain and our media outlets need to emphasize this: "Hey, Nobama. If we alienate Pakistan, how do we get supplies to our troops in Afgnaistan? And, by the way, are you not aware of the real progress we are making with Pakistan AND the tribes in the NWFT to take on, kill and drive out the "miscreants"? And why would this not be - and is - the only way we can stamp out the Taliban and al Q in that area?"
I have a feeling they actually mean to destroy the Taliban and al Qaeda at this point. Mechanisms will probably be put in place to slowly weed out all the Taliban supporters within the joint Intel service.
Let’s hope so!
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