Pakistan Launches Strike Against Taliban

Official Tells CBS News Insurgency In Volatile Border Region Represents "The Gravest Threat"

(CBS/AP)  Pakistan's newly elected government launched the first major assault against militants in the country's volatile northwest on Saturday, destroying a militant leader's headquarters and shelling suspected hideouts of other fighters.

The offensive in the Khyber tribal region appeared to mark a refinement in strategy by the new government, backing its calls for peace deals in the tribal areas along the Afghan border with the threat of forceful action against militants who get out of line.

The United States said such deals were giving militants the freedom to regroup for attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. With growing militant threats to the nearby Pakistani city of Peshawar — and to the key Khyber supply route for U.S. forces in Afghanistan — Pakistan took action.

Late Friday, 700 troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps moved into Kyber in preparation for the offensive, a round-the-clock curfew was imposed in the Bara area, and heavy contingents of troops blocked the main road from Peshawar into Kyber, local officials said.

By Saturday afternoon, the Frontier Corps began shelling suspected militant hide-outs in the mountains, local official Muhammad Siddiq Khan said.

Authorities blew up the headquarters of militant leader Menghal Bagh in a scene broadcast on national television. Bagh fled to the remote Tirah Valley along the Afghan border, a military intelligence official in the frontier said, speaking on condition of anonymity because identifying himself would compromise his work.

In recent weeks, Bagh's fighters waged attacks in Peshawar in what provincial officials say was an attempt to prove they wield influence outside the tribal regions and to intimidate the population. Bagh's followers also have been accused of threatening supply convoys bound for coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Alam Khattak, head of the Frontier Corps, said his troops destroyed three militant centers in Bara and killed one attacker in the operation, which was expected to last up to a week.

"We have occupied, captured all important heights, and we have taken control of the area," he said. Hinting the offensive would not be last, he said, "Other pockets of resistance and crime will also be visited."

The operation was also expected to target Haji Namdar, whose Vice and Virtue Movement is suspected of attacks against coalition soldiers in Afghanistan. Namdar has sought to impose his own strict brand of Islamic law in the region.

"If the government thinks there is any issue to address, that should be resolved through talks, not by the use of force," said Munsif Khan, spokesman for Namdar's group. "We are ready for talks with the government."

In response to the offensive and other confrontations with security forces, Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban leader in Pakistan, said he was suspending talks between his allies and the government. He implied his forces could cause trouble in Pakistan's main cities.

"Peace cannot be brought with force and aggression. This will be very unfortunate for the Pakistani nation if fighting starts again," he told The Associated Press by telephone.

The new government elected in February eclipsed former army strongman and U.S. ally President Pervez Musharraf. In a policy shift, the new administration supported peace talks with Taliban militants to try to curb an explosion in violence in the northwest.

But as militant activity grew, Pakistan's top political and military leaders signaled they would use force if necessary to combat militancy.

Concern has grown in recent weeks about militant threats to Peshawar. Two weeks ago, a Taliban force from Khyber entered the city and briefly kidnapped 16 Christians.

Mahmood Shah, a former security chief in the tribal regions, said the Taliban took advantage of a leadership vacuum in Islamabad, where the coalition government is paralyzed by infighting, to take control of the tribal regions along the border. Now, the Taliban "are on our doorstep" around Peshawar, he said.

"The situation is like water flowing into a field and until you have some obstruction to stop it, you will drown. We are drowning," he said.

Taliban have posted notices in some villages outside Peshawar telling residents to shun the judiciary and seek justice through their courts, he said.

Misrri Khan, who works for a tribal paramilitary force that patrols Khyber, said the militants kidnapped 16 of his fellow officers and threatened to behead them — and then to take more captives — if they did not abandon checkpoints in the area. Khan said the force refused.

Afrasiab Khattak, chief negotiator for the provincial government, said the province was considering a second operation in the Swat area, which is wracked by violence despite a peace deal between the provincial government and a radical pro-Taliban cleric.

Police in Swat found the bodies Saturday of four people apparently killed by militants and defused three bombs weighing a total of 45 pounds that had been planted along a main road, Swat police chief Waqif Khan said.

"The Gravest Threat We Have Faced"

News of the planned deployment came as concerns built up over the security of Peshawar, the capital of the NWFP that is now at the center of almost a week of intelligence warnings suggesting that the Taliban were poised to take over the city, reports CBS News' Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad.

On Saturday Pakistan’s prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Peshawar in a show of his government’s determination to tackle the security challenge. But ahead of his arrival, a small bomb blew outside a barber shop in yet another example of eagerness by Taliban militants to attack their version of non-Islamic symbols.

Hardline Taliban have threatened to close down barber shops in other parts of the NWFP on the grounds that shaving is forbidden in Islam.

The threat to Peshawar marks the first time ever that a Pakistani provincial capital has been threatened by the Taliban in this way since the country joined the U.S.-led war on terror.

The senior Pakistani security official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said, “This is the gravest threat we have faced ever to a large city.”

A second security official who also spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said, “We have to take decisive action and our options include the military option. We cannot let these people (Taliban) make further inroads.”

Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood, a respected commentator on security affairs, told CBS News: “Unless there is a very determined effort to tackle this problem, the threat of Taliban will only grow.”

General Masood warned that the growth of the Taliban may have been helped by Gilani’s government’s widely-held image of still being unable to bring about a strong focus to deal with Pakistan’s security challenges, notably the problem of confronting the growth of the Taliban movement.

The new government came to office in February, largely on a vote built in opposition to U.S.-backed president Musharraf. Western officials including U.S. officials have opposed new peace initiatives taken by the government.

These initiatives are built upon commitments from leaders of Taliban militants to stop fighting Pakistani military troops in return for the government withdrawing the military from parts of the NWFP. In recent weeks, such an agreement in Swat, a picturesque northern valley which has been a center of Taliban activity, has been criticized by western diplomats in Pakistan.

“The very fact that the Taliban continue to advance even after the agreement in Swat says much about the futility of such peace initiatives,” one western diplomat in Islamabad told CBS News on condition of anonymity. “The situation in Peshawar must be an eye opener. You cannot reason with the Taliban, you have to fight them” he added.

[reptilian96]

BRIT HUME, HOST: It has been more than 16 years since a civilian working for the Navy was charged with passing secrets to Israel. Jonathan Pollard pled guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage and is serving a life sentence. At first, Israeli leaders claimed Pollard was part of a rogue operation, but later took responsibility for his work.



Now Fox News has learned some U.S. investigators believe that there are Israelis again very much engaged in spying in and on the U.S., who may have known things they didn''t tell us before September 11. Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron has details in the first of a four-part series

[DDouville]

To guyhero: Do you work for the Taliban? I''ll guess you live in Canada, but why do you talk the way you do about the USA? You seem to enjoy the fruits of the free world yet you denounce it?!? And really don''t know what you are talking about. You probably still live with your mommy and don''t have a job. Respect the United States or put a lid on it. You wouldn''t be here if not for this great country. Ever think of that? Sure, were not perfect, but then what country is... As far as Iraq, what they did in Kuwait was justification for the 2nd Gulf War. They acted as criminals and barbarians, we should have finished them the first time and done the job right. Like the Taliban, they will keep coming, and we will destroy them. They are not an asset to the world. They persecute women. They are fools to fight. They will lose and be no more. In fact, anyone that does not like Americans go simply go to hell as far as I am concerned. I am sick of all your negative comments. Now be a good boy and have your Apache...

[pensacola88]

I congradulate the Pakistani political system for producing the results that clearly exhibit no tolerance for Taliban fundamental extremist control or influence in their government.

I would love to see our US political system duplicate the effort against Evangelical fundamental exteremist influence that occurs in our government.

[terrorislami]

YOU DO NOT LIKE THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST,,,

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS,,,

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[mandydryer]

Pakistan is a pig country full of terrible american hating **********. They want us all dead. Join Americans against Terrorist countries. www.theseriouspolice.com

[hoseobama]

TomFlint69 - I hope you are correct.

[hoseobama]

Gee, I have to wonder if any civilians were killed...

The US uses lazer guided JDAMs and takes out several Taliban. what do we heard from the media - we killed children.


The Pakistani use indirect fire weapons, and of course not one civilian is killed. (Horse Pucky).

[ioweign]

Google Operation AJAX

If you think you can handle the truth...

Posted by IOWEIGN
...............................


I don''''t know what your point is? Is it that USA is not perfect? I''''ve accept that and have moved on.

WHy do you want to wallow in it?

Posted by Mr_totten at 10:56 PM : Jun 28, 2008




######
When terrorislami posts truth and quotes and facts it just messes up the big doo-doo slinging competition.

Posted by Mr_totten at 06:36 PM : Jun 28, 2008
######

Because you have not moved on when you wallow in it...

[mcvet]

Obama is a say-anything, throw everyone under the bus, world-class fraud. And anyone who still believes he represents change is a fool.

You''''''''ll see. If Obama gets elected, he''''''''ll make Cheney and Pelosi look sincere. You''''''''ll see.

Posted by GreatDriveW at 11:25 PM : Jun 28, 2008

ROFLMAO Can YOU or for that matter ANY Fascist tell me what McSame stands for... YOU LOSERS like to throw mud at Obama and McSame has Flip Flopped so much it''s hard to keep track of the Flips let alone what his position is! I mean talk about someone who will SAY anything... First if against Off Shore Oil Drilling, then he''s for it, then he say''s it''s only to help mentally... First he''s for reform of Immagration Laws, then he''s against his OWN bill, now he SEEMS to be saying he''s for it. He say''s Global Warnimg isn''t real, now he say''s yes it''s real but rejects the solutions proposed by Scientist! I mean I could go on for a long time, the point is McSame seems to be all over the map. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

What is the difference between Curse914 and a bucket of shiit?

Answer: The bucket.

Posted by poopus123 at 08:58 AM : Jun 29, 2008
+ report abu

I have a question for you...and for that matter all you fascist. IS this the SAME Taliban that the Republican''s and McSame said didn''t matter anymore when we invaded Iraq??? YOU know the War of OIL?? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[poopus123]

Do you have any more brilliant comparisons.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by curse914

Yes, I have one.
Question:

What is the difference between Curse914 and a bucket of shiit?

Answer: The bucket.

[terrorislami]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS THE PROBLEM,,,

DEMONIC-RAT HUSSEIN IS NOT THE SOLUTION,,,

[terrorislami]

YOU DO NOT WANT THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE,,,

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (full speech)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[alphaa10-2009]

tech77usa said, "... there will be trouble. soon i believe they will begin to make trouble here, when their numbers are great enough..."
---

Hiding in plain sight is the GOP gang responsible for most of our current troubles, and you want to find mujahedin under every bed?

You channel Joseph McCarthy, pointing the finger to distract people from the truth-- but it won''t work.

Bush is Public Enemy Number One, the most incompetent, criminal, anti-patriotic wannabe president in American history.

Your party promoted him as he committed his acts of treachery and deceit against the American people. That makes the GOP an accomplice to Iraq, in one of the country''s worst scandals, ever.

Bush lies have been documented in the Senate report on pre-war intelligence about Iraq, but you would rather live in denial.

Bush is the individual who, in November, 2005, facing an assembly of his own party members critical of his NSA spying program, bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It''s just a GD)((#@*! piece of paper!"

Is this figure, who claims to be president of the United States, the same who pledged an oath to "protect, preserve and defend" the document he calls a "GD)((#@*! piece of paper"?

[alphaa10-2009]

GreatDriveW said, "...anyone who still believes he represents change is a fool."
---

Quit biting your nails about it.

And remember the admonition, "And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

[inventagod2]

Has Bu$h declared martial law?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080626-4.html

[hamiltongrad]

I don''t believe it.

[greatdrivew]

Obama is a say-anything, throw everyone under the bus, world-class fraud. And anyone who still believes he represents change is a fool.

You''ll see. If Obama gets elected, he''ll make Cheney and Pelosi look sincere. You''ll see.

[mr_totten]

Google Operation AJAX

If you think you can handle the truth...

Posted by IOWEIGN
...............................

I don''t know what your point is? Is it that USA is not perfect? I''ve accept that and have moved on.

WHy do you want to wallow in it?