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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistani troops move against militants |
| 2007-07-13 |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Thousands of soldiers rolled across northwestern Pakistan on Friday, a day after President Gen. Pervez Musharraf vowed to follow the storming of Islamabad's Red Mosque by eliminating extremism from "every corner" of the country. Anti-Musharraf protesters took to the streets of every major city to blame the U.S.-backed leader for the violence at the mosque, some chanting slogans in favor of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. But the rallies were smaller than expected, and there was a lull in the violent backlash from militant groups that had staged suicide bombings and attacks on foreign aid groups in reaction to the mosque siege. Officials said thousands of soldiers were deploying to various parts of North West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan and where militant groups are increasingly active. An army brigade was heading up the Swat Valley, 75 miles northeast of Peshawar, where a suicide car bomber killed three policeman at a checkpoint Thursday, said Mohammed Javed, the valley's top administrator. That attack raised to 35 the number of people killed in bombings and shootings in the northwest since the Red Mosque crisis began July 3. Television footage showed army trucks, some pulling heavy artillery, lined up on a road in the area. The Swat Valley is a stronghold of a radical cleric who has pressed for the imposition of Taliban-style rule, much like the leaders of the Red Mosque. Maulana Fazlullah, who has close links to a militant group outlawed for sending followers to fight U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2001, reportedly told supporters to prepare for holy war in response to the battle in the capital. Asif Iqbal Daudzai, spokesman for the provincial government, said Fazlullah had broken an agreement to stop using FM radio broadcasts for anti-government agitation. If he does so again, security forces "will react," Daudzai told Dawn News television. Troops were also sent to Dera Ismail Khan, a town near the tribally governed Waziristan border region, a Taliban stronghold where Washington says al-Qaida is regrouping. Police said they raided a house in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, arresting three suspected suicide bombers and seizing five explosives vests. The military said it also deployed soldiers near Battagram, a northern town badly affected by a 2005 earthquake. According to aid workers and media reports, mobs broke off from a Thursday protest against the Red Mosque raid to loot and set fire to the offices of several international aid groups. "Extremism and terrorism will be defeated in every corner of the country," Musharraf said. Madrassas, or religious schools, like the Red Mosque that inculcate violence among students will not be tolerated, he said. More than 1,200 people chanted slogans denouncing Musharraf after they emerged from mosques following afternoon prayers in Karachi, the country's largest city. In Quetta, about 200 protesters chanted "Long live Osama!" and "Long live Taliban!" as well as anti-Musharraf slogans. "It is an insult to dogs to call Musharraf a dog," one man shouted out. Small rallies were also held in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #13 Because, goodness knows, it might be a tyrannosaurus rex comes out. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-07-13 23:32 |
| #12 Musharraf has always run with the fox and hunted with the hounds. This is merely his chickens finally coming home to roost. No question the Pakistani madrassas came before the Afghani egg. Because he's a hedgehog, I hope Perv isn't counting anything before it hatches |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-07-13 22:15 |
| #11 So Zenster, how's that meatless diet coming? |
| Posted by: Unoluse Hitler6655 2007-07-13 20:10 |
| #10 From Dawn Sources told Dawn on Thursday that 12,000 troops, backed by artillery units, were moved to Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts from Okara. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-07-13 17:24 |
| #9 Perv has been planning this for months, with you know who in the background giving him tactical advice. Gradualism wins the day, and with every move Perv becomes stronger, and his enemies become weaker. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-07-13 17:21 |
| #8 The League of Nations is taking up Resolution ID10T. The Mixed Metaphor Law. |
| Posted by: Woodrow Wilson 2007-07-13 16:50 |
| #7 As Friday is muslim seething day smaller than expected crowds my be a good sign. All these military moves are years and thousands of lives to late of course. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2007-07-13 16:21 |
| #6 Change of zip code. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-07-13 16:00 |
| #5 This area has become like Afghanistan pre-911. Cart before horse, JohnQC. Afghanistan's Taliban were born in Pakistani madrassahs. All of this crapulence is a direct result of Musharraf's benign neglect and the ISI's willful sponsorship of global terrorism. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-13 15:53 |
| #4 Hell yes! Go Mushy! Maybe getting continued pressure from us, and more recently China, has finally convinced this man to take more decisive action. /not popping my corn yet -- realistic. |
| Posted by: Captain Lewis 2007-07-13 15:47 |
| #3 I wonder how far Musharraf is willing to push this? Is he up to cleaning house? This area has become like Afghanistan pre-911. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-07-13 15:42 |
| #2 Almost six years too late, but who's counting? Musharraf has always run with the fox and hunted with the hounds. This is merely his chickens finally coming home to roost. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-13 15:18 |
| #1 good sounds like the shit is really about too hit the fan finally |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-07-13 15:06 |