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| India-Pakistan |
| No withdrawal of army from FATA, Swat: Rehman |
| 2008-12-27 |
| The government will not withdraw army from FATA and Swat and the operation there will continue, Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik said on Friday. Locals were co-operating with the security forces, he said, adding that all political and religious parties were united and would defend the country together. Malik added some elements wanted conflicts between India and Pakistan. Pakistan diverts troops from FATA to Indian border Pakistan is moving nearly 20,000 troops from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to Kasur and Sialkot amid reports of Indian troop movement and rising tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the redeployed 14th Division would "counter any misadventure by India". "The troops have been moved from the western border areas where the operation [against Taliban] is not going on. But this is a limited movement to reinforce our defence on the eastern border," the official told Daily Times. He said Pakistan Army had restricted the leaves of its troops and officers in view of the security situation. Pakistan Air Force continued its 'enhanced vigilance' with fighter jets flying low over major cities on Friday evening to test their capability of countering a possible attack at night. Pakistan Navy's Fleet Commander Rear Admiral M Asif Sandila visited deployed units to assess their operational preparations and told navy troops to stay alert. "Pakistan will respond in a befitting manner if its maritime interests are attacked," he said. Meanwhile, Pakistan told the United Nations Security Council it would consider an Indian attack a declaration of war, a private TV channel cited unidentified officials as saying. |
| Posted by:Fred |