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In Drive Against Taliban, Pakistani Airstrikes Hit Strongholds In Drive Against Taliban, Pakistani Airstrikes Hit Strongholds
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Pakistani fighter jets attacked Taliban strongholds on Monday, and Islamist fighters retaliated with a roadside bombing, as a long-expected military operation in North Waziristan, the country’s most lawless tribal district, moved into its second day.LONDON — Pakistani fighter jets attacked Taliban strongholds on Monday, and Islamist fighters retaliated with a roadside bombing, as a long-expected military operation in North Waziristan, the country’s most lawless tribal district, moved into its second day.
The Pakistani military command said in a statement that it had attacked six targets in the district and killed 27 militant fighters. Most of the strikes occurred in the Shawal Valley, a thickly forested highland area that Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters use as a sanctuary.The Pakistani military command said in a statement that it had attacked six targets in the district and killed 27 militant fighters. Most of the strikes occurred in the Shawal Valley, a thickly forested highland area that Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters use as a sanctuary.
Several hours later, the military reported that at least six soldiers were killed when an explosion struck their convoy north of Miram Shah, the main town in North Waziristan.Several hours later, the military reported that at least six soldiers were killed when an explosion struck their convoy north of Miram Shah, the main town in North Waziristan.
The action on Sunday and Monday, with a combined reported death toll of at least 167 people, suggested that the military’s Waziristan campaign will initially be waged mainly from the air.The action on Sunday and Monday, with a combined reported death toll of at least 167 people, suggested that the military’s Waziristan campaign will initially be waged mainly from the air.
The military has said little else about the scope of the operation, except to note that artillery and ground troops will also be used. One official told Agence France-Presse that as many as 30,000 soldiers could be involved.The military has said little else about the scope of the operation, except to note that artillery and ground troops will also be used. One official told Agence France-Presse that as many as 30,000 soldiers could be involved.
The military’s casualty figures could not be independently confirmed because the tribal belt is inaccessible to outside journalists, and local journalists operate under considerable restrictions.The military’s casualty figures could not be independently confirmed because the tribal belt is inaccessible to outside journalists, and local journalists operate under considerable restrictions.
Pakistanis in the rest of the country are girding for possible reprisal attacks in major cities. Still, public opinion seems largely to support the operation, which the army calls Zarb-e-Azb, or Strike of the Prophet’s Sword. “Operation at last!” read Monday’s front-page headline in The Nation, a conservative English-language daily.Pakistanis in the rest of the country are girding for possible reprisal attacks in major cities. Still, public opinion seems largely to support the operation, which the army calls Zarb-e-Azb, or Strike of the Prophet’s Sword. “Operation at last!” read Monday’s front-page headline in The Nation, a conservative English-language daily.
In a brief speech to the Pakistani Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tried to address speculation that there had been disagreement between his government and the military over the offensive. He called it a joint decision that became necessary after the Pakistani Taliban kept up a barrage of attacks during attempts to engage them in peace talks.
“We were talking to these groups and being attacked at the same time,” he said. Mr. Sharif recounted attacks on an Islamabad court and last week’s siege of the Karachi airport, noting that Pakistani citizens no longer felt safe. He said his government was committed to restoring peace in Pakistan.
Mr. Sharif said that while there may have been different opinions about a military operation and peace negotiations in the past, “this chapter now has to be closed.”
Mr. Sharif’s main political rival, Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has routinely criticized the Sharif administration for not being serious about negotiating with militant groups. However, television channels reported on Wednesday that Mr. Khan’s party would be backing the military operation.
Public opinion in Pakistan has long been divided on whether to try to end the Taliban insurgency through negotiations. But the militant attack on the Karachi airport last week, which killed at least 36 people and temporarily closed the airfield, has been seen as a humiliation and has galvanized opinion in favor of military action.Public opinion in Pakistan has long been divided on whether to try to end the Taliban insurgency through negotiations. But the militant attack on the Karachi airport last week, which killed at least 36 people and temporarily closed the airfield, has been seen as a humiliation and has galvanized opinion in favor of military action.
Even so, experts warn that the Taliban has a broad network of militant supporters across the country, some of them in allied jihadist groups, which could be used to hit back.Even so, experts warn that the Taliban has a broad network of militant supporters across the country, some of them in allied jihadist groups, which could be used to hit back.
On Monday in Multan, a city in Punjab Province, unidentified gunmen abducted a nephew of the country’s chief justice, police officials and family members said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and it was not clear whether the abduction was related to the North Waziristan offensive. But one of the victim’s relatives, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the missing man worked as a junior official at Inter-Services Intelligence, the country’s powerful spy agency.On Monday in Multan, a city in Punjab Province, unidentified gunmen abducted a nephew of the country’s chief justice, police officials and family members said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and it was not clear whether the abduction was related to the North Waziristan offensive. But one of the victim’s relatives, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the missing man worked as a junior official at Inter-Services Intelligence, the country’s powerful spy agency.
The army said on Monday that it had blocked all entry points between North Waziristan and the rest of Pakistan, and had requested assistance from the Afghan government in sealing North Waziristan’s border with the Afghan province of Khost.The army said on Monday that it had blocked all entry points between North Waziristan and the rest of Pakistan, and had requested assistance from the Afghan government in sealing North Waziristan’s border with the Afghan province of Khost.
A Taliban commander, speaking by telephone from Waziristan, said that surveillance drones were seen in the skies over the district, showing that the United States was helping Pakistan with its offensive. “They are jointly conducting this operation against us, helping each other and sharing intelligence,” he said.A Taliban commander, speaking by telephone from Waziristan, said that surveillance drones were seen in the skies over the district, showing that the United States was helping Pakistan with its offensive. “They are jointly conducting this operation against us, helping each other and sharing intelligence,” he said.
The Pakistani army, however, has its own drones and recently started using them over Waziristan. Unlike some American drones, the Pakistani drones carry no weapons.The Pakistani army, however, has its own drones and recently started using them over Waziristan. Unlike some American drones, the Pakistani drones carry no weapons.
The Taliban warned foreign companies and airlines to leave Pakistan or risk becoming targets in the conflict. “They should immediately suspend their ongoing matters with Pakistan and prepare to leave Pakistan, otherwise they will be responsible for their own loss,” a Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said in a statement.The Taliban warned foreign companies and airlines to leave Pakistan or risk becoming targets in the conflict. “They should immediately suspend their ongoing matters with Pakistan and prepare to leave Pakistan, otherwise they will be responsible for their own loss,” a Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said in a statement.
After seven years of bloodshed that has killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and soldiers, the military is trying to tackle the militants in their tribal-belt stronghold. “These enemies of the state will be denied space anywhere across the country,” said a military statement issued shortly after the operation started on Sunday.After seven years of bloodshed that has killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and soldiers, the military is trying to tackle the militants in their tribal-belt stronghold. “These enemies of the state will be denied space anywhere across the country,” said a military statement issued shortly after the operation started on Sunday.
That goal will not be achieved easily. Taliban bases are scattered across North Waziristan from the Shawal Valley forests to clusters of remote farmhouses in the hills. A wide array of other militant groups also use the area, including the Afghan Taliban, the Punjab Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Haqqani network and others.That goal will not be achieved easily. Taliban bases are scattered across North Waziristan from the Shawal Valley forests to clusters of remote farmhouses in the hills. A wide array of other militant groups also use the area, including the Afghan Taliban, the Punjab Taliban, Al Qaeda, the Haqqani network and others.
The Pakistani airstrikes have so far been aimed at three groups: the Pakistani Taliban, led by Maulana Fazlullah; the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which played a central role in the Karachi airport attack; and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which is fighting against the Chinese government. The military has avoided striking other groups whose relationships with the military are more complicated.The Pakistani airstrikes have so far been aimed at three groups: the Pakistani Taliban, led by Maulana Fazlullah; the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which played a central role in the Karachi airport attack; and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which is fighting against the Chinese government. The military has avoided striking other groups whose relationships with the military are more complicated.
The Haqqani network, which carries out attacks in Afghanistan but not in Pakistan, was described in September 2011 as a “virtual arm” of Inter-Services Intelligence by Adm. Mike Mullen, who was then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Haqqani network held Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hostage in Afghanistan for five years before releasing him on May 31 in exchange for five Taliban prisoners detained at Guantánamo Bay.The Haqqani network, which carries out attacks in Afghanistan but not in Pakistan, was described in September 2011 as a “virtual arm” of Inter-Services Intelligence by Adm. Mike Mullen, who was then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Haqqani network held Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hostage in Afghanistan for five years before releasing him on May 31 in exchange for five Taliban prisoners detained at Guantánamo Bay.
Tensions between the United States and Pakistan over North Waziristan stem from the two countries’ clashing priorities. The United States wants all militants rooted out of the area, including Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, to help an orderly withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan and to reduce threats against the West.Tensions between the United States and Pakistan over North Waziristan stem from the two countries’ clashing priorities. The United States wants all militants rooted out of the area, including Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, to help an orderly withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan and to reduce threats against the West.
But the Pakistani military wants to maintain its ties with groups like the Haqqanis that may serve Pakistan’s strategic interests in Afghanistan, and to disarm only the militants who have been attacking Pakistani forces.But the Pakistani military wants to maintain its ties with groups like the Haqqanis that may serve Pakistan’s strategic interests in Afghanistan, and to disarm only the militants who have been attacking Pakistani forces.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States nearly collapsed over a number of actions in 2011, including the American commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden, but they have gradually improved over the past 18 months.Relations between Pakistan and the United States nearly collapsed over a number of actions in 2011, including the American commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden, but they have gradually improved over the past 18 months.
The Pakistani military is also mindful of keeping public support at home. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was to address Parliament about the military operation on Monday. Some secular parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, which headed the previous government, say they support the prime minister on the issue. But Mr. Sharif may face criticism from Imran Khan, the former cricketer whose party controls Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a province in northwestern Pakistan that borders the tribal belt. The Pakistani military has not been immune to criticism over the new offensive.
Mr. Khan, who has said that a military operation in North Waziristan would be “suicidal,” was to meet with supporters on Monday to discuss their response. A senior official of his party, Dr. Arif Alvi, complained that they were not forewarned by the military and “should have been taken into confidence.”
Sirajul Haq, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious party, said the military’s decision to attack was “disappointing” and warned that it would “deepen the national and political crisis.”Sirajul Haq, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious party, said the military’s decision to attack was “disappointing” and warned that it would “deepen the national and political crisis.”
The army said it had made appropriate preparations for any refugees who flee the fighting. “Announcements will be made for local population to approach designated areas for their orderly and dignified evacuation,” it said in a statement.The army said it had made appropriate preparations for any refugees who flee the fighting. “Announcements will be made for local population to approach designated areas for their orderly and dignified evacuation,” it said in a statement.
American drone strikes against militants in Pakistan resumed last week after a hiatus of nearly six months, with two strikes on a farmhouse north of Miram Shah that Pakistani officials said was controlled by the Haqqani network.American drone strikes against militants in Pakistan resumed last week after a hiatus of nearly six months, with two strikes on a farmhouse north of Miram Shah that Pakistani officials said was controlled by the Haqqani network.