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Afghanistan/South Asia
Pakistani cordon now 60 kilometers
2004-03-21
Commanders say they have trapped the fighters in a 60 kilometer (37 mile) circumference cordon around two villages in the semi-autonomous northwest tribal region, within 20 kilometers of the Afghan border.
It just keeps getting bigger and bigger, doesn't it ...
Hussain said he had no idea of the nationality or identity of the senior Al-Qaeda figure and could not rule out the possibility he may have escaped. "We are doing our best but no cordon can be absolutely waterproof. Any foreign Al-Qaeda element is a high-value target to me." Troops Saturday were searching homes for Al-Qaeda suspects and their supporters in the villages of Shin Warzak and Kalushah, inside the cordon. Hussain accused the local Yargulkhel clan, a sub-tribe of the Pasthun tribes who straddle both sides of the border, of supporting the "terrorists" and vowed to punish them. "The Yargukhel, who are totally involved in criminal activities, are part of the local support network for the terrorists," he said.

Afghan commanders in southeast border provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost, facing Pakistan's South Waziristan and North Waziristan, said US forces had stepped up activities in recent days. "There is increased activity by American forces in Paktika province and along the Afghan-Pakistan border," border commander Zakim Khan told AFP. "The Americans have increased their activities in Khost recently," Khost governor Hakim Taniwal said.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#11  A 60 km circumference divided by 6000 troops gives a spacing of 10 meters (32.821 feet LOL)betweem soldiers, on the average.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-3-21 8:40:24 PM  

#10  Does a target rich environment work better than HVT. 10 miles across is not that large an area, if drones are available. Will MOAB's, Daisy Cutters and AC-130 strikes open a new chapter in tribal blood feud? Continual battles where the snuffies die and the upper echelon bolt to safety hamper future recruitment drives.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-3-21 8:40:03 PM  

#9  actually I place "high entertainment value" on a lot of dead turbans, even if they are mid-level to fodder.
Posted by: Frank G   2004-3-21 10:44:27 AM  

#8  High value is a relative term depenging on who is placing the value - and its also relative to whomever happens to be in the area at the moment, which is subject to change. The Pakistani "cordon" is probably very much like a sieve at night.
Posted by: OldSpook   2004-3-21 10:01:56 AM  

#7  This "high value target" talk is all crap.
Posted by: UncleWar   2004-3-21 9:46:13 AM  

#6  The Encyclopedia Britannica sure isn't written like this anymore

The Waziris are the largest tribe on the frontier, but their state of civilization is very low. They are a race of robbers and murderers, and the Waziri name is execrated even by the neighboring Mahommedan tribes. Mahommedans from a settled district often regard Waziris as utter barbarians, and seem inclined to deny their title to belong to the faith. They have been described as being free-born and murderous, hotheaded and light-hearted, self-respecting but vain. The poverty of their country and the effort required to gain a subsistence in it have made the Waziris a hardy and enduring race. Their physique is uncommonly good, and though on the average short of stature, some extremely tall and large men are to be found amongst them. They are generally deep-chested and compact of build, with a powerful muscular development common to the whole body, and not confined to the lower limbs as is the case with some hill tribes of the Himalayas.

Broken ground and tortuous ravines, by making crime easy and precaution against attack difficult, have fostered violence among the people and developed in them an extraordinary faculty of prudence and alertness. In consequence of his isolation the Waziri has become independent, self-reliant and democratic in sentiment. Through the inaccessibility of his own country to lowlanders, combined with the proximity of open and fertile tracts inhabited by races of inferior stamina, he has developed into a confirmed raider; and the passage through his country of mountain footpaths, connecting India with Afghanistan, has made him by frequent opportunity a hereditary highwayman as well. The women enjoy more freedom than amongst most Pathan tribes, and are frequently unfaithful. The ordinary punishment of adultery is to put the woman to death, and to cut off half the right foot of the man. Amongst Waziris also, as amongst other Pathans, the blood-feud is a national institution.
Posted by: Paul Moloney   2004-3-21 3:51:59 AM  

#5  It is obvious the Pakistanis have BIN LADEN, his number two and a who lot of other al-Qa'ida bottled up. What is being described in the news media paints the picture of the al-Qaida version of the Alamo. This is looking good. The only question is will bin Laden's remains be intact or in bits. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!
Posted by: Anonymous   2004-3-21 3:19:56 AM  

#4  "The Yargukhel, who are totally involved in criminal activities, are part of the local support network for the terrorists," he said

Basically the only industries in the whole FATA are smuggling, drug trafficing, gun manufacturing and kidnapping.
Posted by: Paul Moloney   2004-3-21 1:08:32 AM  

#3  free the yargulkhel--its a massacre--el cubo rant
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI   2004-3-21 1:06:05 AM  

#2  Any foreign Al-Qaeda element is a high-value target to me.

Is this guy for real? Some foreign jihadi fresh off the plane at Karachi is a high-value target? Jeebus.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-3-21 12:59:29 AM  

#1  
Yar! We be Yargulkhels!!
Posted by: Mike Sylwester   2004-3-21 12:40:39 AM  

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