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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Friday, October 19, 2007

Are the Pakistanis planning something big?

I'm a little dubious because this is the first we've heard of it, but a Pakistani official tells the ATimes that the Pakistanis are about to go all in on the tribal areas.
An all-out battle for control of Pakistan's restive North and South Waziristan is about to commence between the Pakistani military and the Taliban and al-Qaeda adherents who have made these tribal areas their own.


If you believe this, check out how they prepped for the battle.
According to the security official, an ultimatum had been delivered to the militants recently during a temporary ceasefire. The army would set a deadline and give safe passage into Afghanistan to all al-Qaeda members and Taliban commanders who had gathered in Waziristan to launch a large-scale post-Ramadan operation in Afghanistan. They, along with wanted tribal warrior leaders, would all leave Pakistan, and never return.


On the one hand, the NATO forces are probably pretty happy to finally get the Taleban on some ground where they can shoot at them. On the other hand, Pakistan is giving "safe passage" to all these guys who they know are planning operations in Afghanistan.

It could simply be an empty threat by the Pakistanis to try and get them out. I don't know.

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