 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
 |
 |
|
| COAS urges Mehsuds to stand up against militants |
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
18 militants, two soldiers among 32 killed in operation Rah-e-Nijat, militants forcibly bringing tribesmen to battlefield
By Muhammad Anis, Irfan Burki & Daud Khattak
ISLAMABAD/WANA/PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has expressed hope that Mehsud tribes would side with the Pakistan Army in the ongoing operation against terrorists in South Waziristan Agency.
“The objective of the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan is not to target patriotic Mehsud tribes but to get them rid of terrorists and brutal elements,” the Army chief said in his message to Mehsud tribes.
The message written in Urdu and Pashto was provided to the media at a briefing here on Monday. General Kayani called upon Mehsud tribesmen to join hands and stand up against cruel elements for ultimate action against them so that Pakistan’s flag hoist with same pomp and show. He admitted that all tribes, including Mehsuds, have been defending the country voluntarily and are loyal to their motherland.
The Army chief said the targets of operation are Uzbek terrorists and other foreign elements and local militants. Meanwhile, 18 militants, two soldiers and 12 civilians were killed as the Army troops continued with ground and air offensive in the troubled Waziristan region. The troops, making advance after consolidating positions in Kotkai and Shirwangai, reached the Kaskai area located west of Kotkai and north of Kund. Security forces also secured Tor Ghundai, located east of Kotkai and Shishwarm north-east of Kotkai, claimed the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Security forces faced stiff resistance in Shirwangai, where a number of militants were killed, claimed the ISPR statement, which added that the troops were fortifying positions in the south and south-west of Razmak. The Army officials also claimed destroying ammunition dumps of the militants.
Communication between militant leaders intercepted by security officials confirmed they had suffered losses in the previous three days. “Bring all the village colleagues in a Datsun pick-up via the Bobar area to the battlefield and leave none of them behind,” said one intercept as one militant leader was speaking on a walkie-talkie set to another in Waziristan. Asking for men and material (weapons), the speaker said: “If the village people are not coming on their own free will, tie them to bring them here. They will die if they do not wage Jihad.”
Another intercept, received by The News stated that huge quantity of arms and ammunition was seized by security forces. “I heard that huge quantity of arms, worth thousands, owned by Mujahideen, has been seized by the hypocrites,” said a caller introducing himself as Hanif. “You’re right, large number of arms and ammunition of our colleagues have been seized by the hypocrites, but we are not going to discuss the same on walkie-talkie,” said the second caller Manzoor.
Earlier, spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Azam Tariq confirmed killing of only one militant. Due to inaccessibility and closure of communication lines, the claims by the Taliban and the Army could not be confirmed from independent sources.
According to locals, security forces advanced from Spinkai Raghzai to Mandana and the Tarakai areas to get its control. Sources reported fierce fighting between militants and security forces around the Tarakai area, which has a history of bloody clashes between the British army and the tribesmen.
Clashes have also been reported from the Khaisoor Braga Sama area as security forces advanced from Shakai. No reports were received about the casualties on both sides. Security forces continued advance towards Makeen and Ladha from Razmak side after consolidating control over the Nawazkot area.
Reports about fierce fighting were received between the two sides in parts of Makeen. The sources said security forces were firing heavy artillery guns at Makeen, Ladha and Sam areas from the Razmak Army camp.
Meanwhile, 12 civilians were reportedly killed as a mortar shell hit their vehicle in the Hindi Jawar area of North Waziristan. Locals said the people were fleeing from South Waziristan. Majority of the ill-fated people were women and children.
One source said the vehicle was hit by a stray artillery shell as they crossed South Waziristan and entered Hindi Jawar area of North Waziristan. However, another source said the vehicle was hit by a bomb from an aircraft. There is no comment from the ISPR about the civilian casualties.
Thousands of people continued fleeing to North Waziristan, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Bannu as the operation intensified on the third day. Unofficial figures suggested that nearly 200,000 people had so far reached the border cities and the neighbouring North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, briefing the media, along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, about the progress in the operation Rah-e-Nijat, Director General ISPR Athar Abbas said in last 24 hours, 18 terrorists have been killed, while two soldiers embraced Shahadat and 12 others were injured.
He said one soldier got injured due to rocket fired by militants from Makeen side. Arms and ammunition dumps in the caves between Ladha and Makeen have been destroyed by precision air targeting, he claimed.
The military spokesman said security forces have achieved targets before the given time, securing Tor Ghundai, Shishwarm and Shirwangai areas and are also consolidating their positions around Razmak. “We have achieved significant targets before time and forces are continuing their operation successfully,” Athar said.
Responding to a question, Athar said the time frame set for completion of operation, which started on October 17 morning, could not be disclosed but it would be accomplished before the stipulated time. “We have set some time frame and hopefully, the operation will be completed before stipulated time,” he said.
Answering a question about the Indian hand in South Waziristan, Athar Abbas said that some Indian weapons had also been captured but no truckload of Indian weapons was found which could provide any concrete evidence. However, he said, some hostile agencies were providing financial and material assistance to miscreants in South Waziristan.
He said the Pakistan Army has enough resources and would not ask for outside assistance for carrying out the operation.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the option of negotiation was never ruled out but there was no question of any talks with militants at this stage. “Negotiations will be held only when they (terrorists) surrender,” the minister maintained. He said the government took the decision to take action in this area when the writ of the national institutions was challenged by the militants.
He said so for 14,500 families, which left South Waziristan, have been registered which include 11,000 old families and 3,500 new families. He said these internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be provided one-month ration on immediate basis and very soon they would be supplied with the non-food items. He said no camp has been established so far as the IDPs prefer to stay with their relatives. Kaira said sufficient funds have been earmarked to look after the displaced persons.
Replying to a question whether the United States had been asked not to conduct any drone attacks during the operation, the minister said that the government had already condemned the drone attacks which were proving counterproductive. He said Pakistan should be provided the drone technology as Pakistan’s security forces could use this technology in a better way.
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
|
|
12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
|
|
Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
|
|
Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
|
|
Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
|
|
|
Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
|
|
|
French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
|
|
|
Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
|
|
|
Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
|
|
|
Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
|
|
|
FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
|
|
|
Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
|
|
|
Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
|
|
|
No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
|
|
|
Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
|
|
|
Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
more |
|
|
|
Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
|
|
|
Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
|
|
|
Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
|
|
|
Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
|
|
|
briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
