Pakistani military says no new Taliban offensive soon

[laststeamtrain]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Pakistani military says no new Taliban offensive soon
By Saeed Shah, McClatchy Newspapers 1 hr 5 mins ago

ISLAMABAD — Obama administration efforts to pacify Afghanistan suffered a major setback Thursday with the announcement in Pakistan that Pakistan's military plans no new assault this year on Taliban sanctuaries near the Afghan border.

U.S. strategy in Afghanistan depends on shutting off Taliban havens in Pakistan , especially in the North Waziristan area, where leaders of the Haqqani network, which is considered the most dangerous insurgent group in Afghanistan , shelter.

Pakistan's chief military spokesman, Maj. Athar Abbas, said that any new offensive against the Taliban would have to wait until next year.

"We are not going to conduct any major new operations against the militants over the next 12 months," Abbas told the BBC . "The Pakistan army is overstretched, and it is not in a position to open any new fronts."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100121/wl_mcclatchy/3406622

[rpannier]

1. If they pulled half of their unites off the border with India

They'd have plenty for an offensive

They and India could pull thousands off those borders -- Unfortunately, that might give an opening from the loonies within their countries to start even more problems between the two countries

[fujiyama]

2. .