Posted on 10/16/2009 3:04:51 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani military is setting its sights on the Taliban's remote sanctuary after nearly two weeks of big bombings across the country, as hundreds flee the Afghan border region each day before what promises to be the army's riskiest offensive yet.
With the first snows of winter less than two months away, the army has limited time to mount a major ground attack. The U.S. is racing to send in night vision goggles and other equipment. The Pakistani military insists it's sealing off supply and escape routes, forcing the militants to rely on goat paths.
The army has tried three times since 2001 to dislodge Taliban fighters from their stronghold in South Waziristan, part of the lawless tribal area along the border. All three previous attempts ended in negotiated truces that left the Taliban in control.
This time, however, military spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas said there will be no negotiations for fear any deals would be seen as a failure and could jeopardize gains won last spring when Pakistani soldiers wrested control of the Swat Valley, elsewhere in the northwest.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
No negotiations ..
Good move.
tick tick tick ..
A map locating Peshawar, the largest city in northwest Pakistan. Pakistan's army and political leaders laid their plans at crisis talks on Friday after a twin suicide bombing capped an avalanche of attacks that has killed over 170 people this month. (AFP/Graphic)
Bump.
A photographer walks through rubble in a mosque, which was destroyed by a suicide car bomb attack, in Peshawar October 16, 2009. Hospital officials said a suicide bomber killed 12 people outside an office of the police's Central Investigation Agency and a mosque in Peshawar, in the latest in a wave of militant attacks. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz (PAKISTAN CONFLICT CRIME LAW)
Why is this safe haven still standing?
The invasion will begin
Sunday morning, Eastern Time.
Sure they are. That’s funny.
Thanks. I think I hear the tanks in the distance. ;-)
Time to Gitsum as they say.. whup some hong kong fooey on the foreigners that traveled to fight and die here.. it’ll be interesting to see countries of origin reports on the casualties.
Maybe we could start a pool. Go Pakis!
Doubter
I'm gonna post a thread if one ain't already posted. ;-)
Ground offensive begins in Pakistan al-Qaida haven
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364658/posts
I see Pakistan is doing something, but I doubt, yes doubt, that the ISI will allow them to do any significant harm to the Taliban or al Qaida.
Good point on the ISI factor.. they are kind of the rub in the ointment .. the sand in the craw..
We’ll see if politicians are up to the task considering the environment.
It is no secret forces were coming.. I’d triple the number of Predators in the sky myself, but that’s just me.
Thanks for the ping.
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