Pakistani Troops Begin New Offensive

[ConcernedCanuk]

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Thursday March 18, 2004 8:01 AM

By AHSANULLAH WAZIR

Associated Press Writer

WANA, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan army troops and paramilitary forces launched a new assault Thursday against al-Qaida and Taliban suspects in a tribal region near Afghanistan, two days after a fierce assault that left dozens dead.

The new push began at around 10 a.m. local time in Azam Warsak, Shin Warsak and Kaloosha villages in South Waziristan, the tribal region that borders Afghanistan, said Brig. Mahmood Shah, the chief of security for the area.

The offensive follows a clash between security forces and suspected Taliban and al-Qaida holdouts in a fortress-like compound in the village of Kaloosha, just miles from the border. Some 39 people - including 15 troops and 24 militants - died in the raid.

Shah said fighting had broken out again Thursday, though it was unclear whether there were any casualties on either side.

The fresh operation began as Secretary of State Colin Powell opened talks with Pakistani leaders in the capital Islamabad on Thursday.



I guess they were just waiting for that "alliance" announcement from Powell?

something smelly here -

Betcha India is getting antsy?

:shrug:

[maddezmom]

1. wonder what kind of aid package has been worked out? n/t

[Aidoneus]

2. read ATO's Syed Saleem Shahzad's reports

he has covered all of this extensively.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. WEAPONS, and fewer restrictions on what they use I figure - -

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From another article:

US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced today the United States will designate Pakistan a "major non-NATO ally," in a move that will boost military cooperation between the two countries.

"I advised the foreign minister this morning that we will also be making a notification to our Congress that will designate Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally for the purposes of our future military to military relations," Powell told a press conference after meeting his counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri.

The designation means that certain restrictions on arms sales are dropped.

Pakistan will join a handful of other countries such as Japan, Thailand, Kuwait, Egypt, Israel and Jordan in receiving preferential treatment from the United States on the military front.