| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan plans 'targeted attacks' in northwest to curb militants |
| 2008-06-22 |
| (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government has decided to initiate targeted action against militants in view of their penetration in some areas of the country's northwest, an official said Saturday. Rehman Malik, an advisor to the prime minister, told the parliament that Pakistani Taliban militants had come close to Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and had started campaign to close down music CD shops and barber shops. "I had discussion with the paramilitary force and the intelligence agencies about the situation and agreed to launch targeted actions against the militants," Malik said in the National Assembly. "The federal government will help the government in the northwest to curb the militants and to stop them from approaching cities," the advisor said. He said that 10,000 volunteers would be recruited in the tribal areas to help maintain law and order there. He said that they would be paid a minimum salary of 16,000 rupees (about 240 U.S. dollars) a month to dissuade them not to have any links with militants who were offering them about 10,000 rupees (about 150 U.S. dollars). Malik said that rule of law was of vital importance for the overall development of a society and the government was committed to ensuring peace in the society. He said that the new government had been successful to secure the release of 62 Pakistani prisoners from the American detention facility at the Guantanamo Bay and 22 from Afghanistan. Referring to the war on terror, Malik said, "it was imposed six years ago on us and the country had to face a number of challenges due to this war". |
| Posted by:Fred |