Pakistani army will no longer operate in the area where Al-Qaeda resides

[sabra]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/pakistan_throws.html

Pakistan Throws in the Towel

The Pakistani military will no longer operate in the area where Osama bin Laden and other top al Qaeda operatives are believed to be hiding, according to terms of what the Pakistan government calls a "peace deal," signed today with militant tribal groups allied to the Taliban and al Qaeda.

It is a stunning setback for U.S. efforts to root out al Qaeda and Taliban strongholds.

The agreement, signed in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan's volatile tribal belt, calls for the military to return to its barracks and for the insurgents to stop launching attacks on Pakistani troops.

"The army will pull back to its camps," spokesman Major General Shaukut Sultan told ABC News. "They will not undertake any terrorist activity. There will be no parallel government, and foreigners will leave the area."

[maxsolomon]

1. i'm not stunned

the effort has been, at best, half-hearted, half-assed.

musharraf wants to survive, period.

what 'foreigners' (besides AlQ) are there, anyway?

[acmavm]

2. Gee Mushie, that's not helping your buddy george out now,

is it?

OR IS IT?

[Oreo]

3. Heckuva job Georgie

"The army will pull back to its camps," spokesman Major General Shaukut Sultan told ABC News. "They will not undertake any terrorist activity. There will be no parallel government, and foreigners will leave the area."

And the Cubs will win the World Series and there will be no more Republicans.

So the Taliban said they wouldn't make any terrorist attacks and Musharraf believed them?

[Benhurst]

4. What a joke. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. NT