**Lal Masjid standoff: Operation strategy altered **
Jul 9, 2007
ISLAMABAD: The potential operation against Lal Maasjid management has been deferred in the light of intelligence received from the surveillance aircraft, sources said Monday morning.
According to reports, the strategy against Lal Masjid people has been altered keeping in view the information sent from the aircraft. The possible operation, which was to be carried out today against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa management, has been postponed.
Earlier, there have been reports that the decisive operation against Lal Msjid management could any moment be unleashed at night between Sunday and Monday. On the fourth consecutive day, Fajr azan could not be heard from Lal Masjid.
According to the latest reports, the surveillance pilotless aircraft flew over Lal Masjid around 2:40 am. The plane stayed in air over Lal Masjid for more than two hours. Likes of planes are called unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and are used for monitoring and taking photographs. The plane has very light engine, accordingly it can fly with minimal sound. The surveillance aircraft takes pictures from infrared through global positioning system. The similar plane was used by USA to spy on Osama bin Laden.
The plane recorded the images of people present at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa and their movements. The official kept on reviewing the images received from the plane in control room. In light of the received information, new strategy against Lal Masjid people has been adopted.
According to sources, USA gave the aircraft equipped with the latest system to Pakistan to contain the terrorist activities. This pilotless plane is called predator capable of taking direct images and sounds from the target in the darkness.
Three years back, Pakistani air force gunned down the similar Indian pilotless aircraft in Kot Radhakishan area of Kasur.
It’s a surprise to me that the US would give this beast to Pakistan. Also, apparently Pakistan has had them for years, used in operations in Waziristan.
