WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: Senior Pentagon officials are debating whether the US military should undertake independent operations against militants operating in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas, The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.
The newspaper said these internal debates followed US intelligence warnings that Al-Qaeda and other militant groups are consolidating their hold on northwestern Pakistan.
The report came as Pakistani soldiers killed up to 37 militants in a massive offensive in northwest Pakistan, and at least six people were killed in separate bomb attacks, according to Pakistani military and police officials.
Troops are battling Taleban militants in the Swat Valley in North West Frontier Province where the violence has left dozens dead and wounded.
But there is a growing belief within the US government that the new leadership in Islamabad has proved ineffectual in the fight against the militants.
“Radical terrorist groups in the border regions have undermined and fought against the central government of Pakistan and carved out sanctuaries and training bases,” an unnamed senior US officer in Afghanistan is quoted by The Times as saying. “They have come back, and they are presenting a significant challenge.”
A team of as many as 30 trainers was supposed be sent to Pakistan this summer to operate out of a base near the northwestern city of Peshawar. But Pentagon officials said the training has been blocked by the Pakistani government for months, in part because of anger over the June killing of 11 Frontier Corps members in a US airstrike near the Afghan border.
The two main parties in the ruling coalition dabbled in peace talks with the militants soon after taking power five months ago. But after meeting limited success, they have increasingly relied on military force to try to beat back Al-Qaeda and Taleban-linked insurgents. The militants have responded with force in recent days.
geedar ki moat aati haey tho wo shaher ki taraf baghta haey..
Brother, you are right. Stupid and Coward NATO forces do not realize that we have people like Salahuddin Ayyubi and Mullah Umar are waiting for them with suicide belt strapped around their waist. Americans should know that if they would enter Pakistan, our suicide squad would kill 100s of hard working innocent Pakistanis every day so that Baighairat NATO forces and Western powers should get shame that their actions are causing life of 100s of innocent Pakistanis in the hand of our suicide bombers.
Brother, you are right. Stupid and Coward NATO forces do not realize that we have people like Salahuddin Ayyubi and Mullah Umar are waiting for them with suicide belt strapped around their waist. Americans should know that if they would enter Pakistan, our suicide squad would kill 100s of hard working innocent Pakistanis every day so that Baighairat NATO forces and Western powers should get shame that their actions are causing life of 100s of innocent Pakistanis in the hand of our suicide bombers.
Pashtuns are on both side of the border the only way to expand this war would be to commit ground troops. Given the terrain it means far more casulties..... naaaaa, US/Nato don't have the stomach for it... Most likely they will bomb Pak territory from the air kill lot of innocent call them terrorist and go home with objectives achieved. Why does this sound so familiar!!...
Pashtuns are on both side of the border the only way to expand this war would be to commit ground troops. Given the terrain it means far more casulties..... naaaaa, US/Nato don't have the stomach for it... Most likely they will bomb Pak territory from the air kill lot of innocent call them terrorist and go home with objectives achieved. Why does this sound so familiar!!...
As some one said nothing is going to change...
There are two options for Pakistan. What you think is best?
Pakistan forces tries to stop miscreants acting in Pakistani soil against NATO forces in Afghanistan and let NATO forces bomb the area selectively where many miscreants and innocents get killed while Pakistan look other way. Obviously, in this situation, miscreants would take revenge against Pakistan by killing innocent Pakistanis with their suicide bombing and hoping that Pakistan government change heart and get into war with them,
Obviously Pakistan would not do that, but if they would do that than West would put sanctions on Pakistan and would bomb many parts of Pakistan indiscriminately making Pakistan suffer heavily.
So, choice for Pakistan is that, Pakistan suffers in the hand of Terrorists miscreants killing Pakistanis because Americans bombing and killing them and Pakistan is not in the war with them ... OR ... put Pakistan put their head in this war (what these miscreants some retards in Pakistan are trying Pakistan to do since 2001) and get destroyed like Iraq and Afghanistan due to sanctions and direct actions of NATO forces against Pakistan.
Re: Pentagon considering sending US Forces into Pakistan
Sa1eem is right...NATO has been attacking civilian populations like a buncha cowards.
But, and IF coalition forces enter Pakistan with a declared motif to expand the war in Pakistan, it will in ways do great service to Pakistan's unity. Because during times of War, Pakistani people have been united. Especially our frontier brethren. A united, and firm Pakistan is baaad bad news for US/NATO. So, i don't think they will enter Pakistan (per se). They might just drop a few from 35K Above and head on back to their bases.
Invasion of Pakistan (again, IF it happens) will possibly start a revolution within Pakistan because the political heads (Zardari, etc.) will look for ways to continue to please USA, hence drilling the last nail in their own coffin because people will oust them and give them public justice. We might see another election with youthful parties emerging to lead the nation during and after the invasion.
These are just speculations. Chances of Pakistan being fully or partly invaded by ground troops are slim. But not discountable.
Re: Pentagon considering sending US Forces into Pakistan
Frankly speaking, I am not sure about where Pakistan soldiers stand anymore. If rank and file continue lay down arms and even side with the terrorists as they have done in recent past, how can government or people rely on them? No wonder NATO wants to do it themselves.
On top of that the instability in government is making it worst
Frankly speaking, I am not sure about where Pakistan soldiers stand anymore. If rank and file continue lay down arms and even side with the terrorists as they have done in recent past, how can government or people rely on them? No wonder NATO wants to do it themselves.
On top of that the instability in government is making it worst
its not rank and file soldiers but the frontier corps who are a militia for the most part.
its not rank and file soldiers but the frontier corps who are a militia for the most part.
More correctly, it is their bosses from Pakistan Army behaving strangely to bring down the morale of FC jawans e.g. jawans not getting enough pay, not provided re-inforcement, ration, etc. when they need it. That is why in places like Dir, Buner, etc. in jirgas, local people have decided to ban both Pak Army and Taleban to enter their areas.