Pakistan army to launch big push in militant valley

[tekisui]

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan's army will soon launch a big operation in a northwestern valley to clear out militants who have infiltrated from Afghan border strongholds, a commander said on Saturday.

(snip)

...during heavy fighting this week -- in which the army said about 100 militants were killed in attacks by helicopter gunships and artillery -- the army had been "shaping the environment", blocking a militant escape route.

About 15,000 soldiers would take part in the offensive which would involve what he described as surgical attacks to avoid civilian casualties

(snip)

Many Pakistanis question Musharraf's close alliance with the United States and see operations against militants in the northwest as merely doing America's bidding.

Martial Law Musharraf is doing America's bidding, I wonder how much support he is receiving from bushie in private.


link: http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSISL171603

[The Magistrate]

1. Events In The Swat River Valley, Sir

Are the real key to what is going on in Pakistan now. What is occuring is the opening stages of civil war in that country, with the dividing line running around the Malakand pass, and areas to the north of that in open rebellion under jihadist banners. The Swat valley is the heart-land of jihad against Westerners in the region, dating to the 1840s after the English conquest of Sindh on the Indus.

It will surprise me very much if this offensive succeeds....

[Igel]

2. It's good that Mr. Martial Law finally got permission

from the governor to use the Army.

Now the Army won't take such a beating in the press, having military folk bombed, shot, and kidnapped, and unable to properly respond can't be good for morale. Even those defending the Cosntitution essentially called for Musharraf to violate the Constitution in the last couple of months; perhaps they weren't aware of what the Constitution said.

May Fazlullah, in Allah's kindness, meet the same end that Noor Muhammed met when the light finally was focused on him.