Militants Attack Pakistan Army Fort, Again

5 Soldiers Killed As Rising Tide Of Violence Threatens Musharraf's Reelection Bid

(AP)  Islamic militants in Pakistan attacked a fort near the Afghan border Tuesday for the second time this month, killing five Pakistani soldiers and highlighting what analysts say is rising extremist control in the rugged region.

The attackers suffered "heavy causalities" in the pre-dawn attack on Lahda Fort and a nearby observation post in South Waziristan, while seven soldiers also were wounded, the military said in a statement.

The violence in the border region, as well as a series of suicide attacks that have killed hundreds in recent months, is triggering uncertainty in the country ahead of Feb. 18 elections that many predict will weaken President Pervez Musharraf's grip on power.

More than 100 rebels and soldiers are reported to have been killed in the region this month alone.

On Jan. 10, insurgents also attacked Lahda Fort. The military said then that between 40 and 50 of the attackers were killed. Last week, the militants overran a second fort in the region, leaving up to 22 soldiers dead or missing in a major embarrassment for the military.

The latest attack on Lahda Fort came hours before Adm. William Fallon - the head of the U.S. Central Command and top commander of American forces in the Middle East - arrived in Pakistan to meet with army chief Ashfaq Kayani, the Pakistan army and the U.S. embassy said.

The agenda for his talks was not released.

The border region emerged as a front line in the war on terror after Pakistan allied itself with the U.S. following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Washington has given Pakistan billions of dollars in aid to help government forces battle militants.

The region, which has never been fully under the control of the central government, is believed to be home to Baitullah Mehsud, a militant leader blamed by Pakistan and the CIA for masterminding the Dec. 27 assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a gun and suicide attack.

A purported spokesman for Mehsud warned the military to stop its attacks in the region.

"The army is killing innocent people in our areas and we will take strong action by attacking soldiers wherever possible, if it does not stop such activities," Maulvi Mohammed Umar told The Associated Press by phone.

The military said in a statement that five soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in the latest attack on Lahda Fort.

Umar said one Islamic fighter died and two others were wounded in the attack. He said the militants captured 13 troops in the action, a claim denied by the military.

"Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan warns the government to stop using brutal force in South Waziristan," he said, referring to the organization that claims to be an umbrella group for militant fighters in the tribal areas. "If it is not stopped, we will respond with full force in the entire country."

Meanwhile, security agencies arrested a suspected militant in the southern city of Karachi in connection with the attack on Bhutto, an intelligence official told the AP.

Yousuf Mehsud, who the official said was a close aide to Baitullah Mehsud, was detained late Monday after a tip-off, said the official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Last week, authorities arrested a 15-year-old boy they said was part of the team sent to kill Bhutto.

The developments came after Pakistan's most popular private television network, Geo TV, went back on the air after signing a government code of conduct that critics say is muzzling independent media.

All stations banned by Musharraf during a state of emergency he declared in November are now broadcasting again, but concerns remain that the former general has whittled away at media freedoms as the country gears up for parliamentary polls. The state of emergency ended on Dec. 15.

The station declined to comment on whether there were any conditions, with its president saying only that the government's lifting of the ban was "a wise and wonderful move."

"As elections are coming up, more media coverage would make the elections more credible and contribute to the positive development of the country," said Geo President Imran Aslam.

Immediately after emergency rule was imposed, Geo was banned along with all private news networks, which had been reporting freely on growing challenges to Musharraf's U.S.-backed rule as well as surging violence by Muslim extremists.

Over the ensuing 10 weeks, the government permitted the other stations to return to the air as they signed the code of conduct, but Geo initially refused to go along.

While there are restrictions, media are in some ways more free in Pakistan than in many other Asian countries. Newspapers and TV stations report openly on anti-government protests, and opinion pages are full of articles calling on Musharraf to step down. Opposition leaders are frequently quoted alleging he is a dictator.

[inventagod]

Ahhhh -

I hear Bu$h has offered to train the Pakistani security forces...

I remember what a great job they did training Iraris.

[samsel3]

The Bush-Cheney-PNAC Cartel are pulling their hair out

The Bush administration is trying to stop a new Natural gas deal between Iran and Italy. Next to Russia Iran has the second largest supply of natural gas. The new pipeline will move several billion cubic feet per day across Turkey and then either Greece or Albania. The gas export to Europe is being strongly opposed by Bush & Cheney as it does''nt fit in with their master energy plans.
China Daily December 25, 2007

January 24,2008 India announced a plan for a 2,775 km Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said, "Iranian ambassador spoke to me tuesday and they are very keen that the project takes shape as it is in the interest of all three countries ". Times of India
China National Offshore Oil Corp, the countries third-largest oil producer, will sign an agreement in March for 3 million metric tons of LNG per year from Iran. Liquified Natural Gas will be shipped to Guangdong Zhuhai Jinwan Corp, They are building a gas import terminal in southeastern China''s Zhuhai, two officials at the terminal, asked not to be named in fear of company regulations. ....China daily 1-22-08

[watcher269-2009]

What don''t you understand about "Shame on Me"?

Ya know the old saying? Attack me once - shame on you! Attack me twice - SHAME ON ME!

[yongamerica]

Our troops are depleated and we have no money left to do it. - skyk
So wrong, Bush will keep pulling money out of poor people''s arzes and the Air Force is still well fed and rested. Why push grunts in them there hills?

[yongamerica]

Hmm, daisy cutters are pretty at night

[brianp55]

If I had my way, the daisy cutters would be dropping like snowflakes in Waziristan.

[skyk-2009]

Hummm! I wonder who is going to help Pakistan beat back the threat from Al Queda... the Al Queda bush said 6 years ago was defeated. Won''t be us that''s for sure. Our troops are depleated and we have no money left to do it. But hey! The TV preachers got their man in the White House... so he''s incompetent, who cares.