Pakistan Off.: Taliban Withdraw From Buner

(CBS/AP)  A senior Pakistani officials said Saturday that Taliban militants have completed their pullback from a district just 60 miles from the Pakistani capital, and that government troops have fanned out in their wake.

The Taliban's retreat to their stronghold in the Swat Valley brings some relief for Pakistani officials trying to salvage a controversial peace deal that halted nearly two years of bloody fighting in the northwestern region.

But U.S. officials kept up their pressure for more forceful action against Islamist groups that pose a growing threat to nuclear-armed Pakistan's stability as well as to American troops battling in neighboring Afghanistan.

Militants from Swat seized Buner, a jumble of mountains and farmsteads on the west bank of the Indus River, after President Asif Ali Zardari earlier this month signed the peace pact, which provides for the introduction of Islamic Shariah law in the region.

They began pulling out on Friday as officials issued increasingly loud threats of military action and a hard-line cleric who mediated the peace deal intervened to defuse the tension.

Syed Mohammad Javed, the top government official in Malakand Division, which includes Swat and Buner, said Saturday that all the militants had crossed the mountain passes into Swat.

"They all have gone back," Javed told The Associated Press. "No one is left in Buner."

He also said that six platoons of paramilitary troops had deployed to police stations across Buner.

"If police need their help, they will assistant them in maintaining law and order," Javed said.

Javed said the cleric, Sufi Muhammad, had also given his assurance that Swat militants would soon retreat to Swat from another adjoining area, Shangla.

The Taliban's push into Buner raised alarm in Pakistan and the West that militants increasingly threaten key cities such as Islamabad and the vital northwestern hub of Peshawar.

Reporting from Islamabad, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan said the presence of militants in Buner near the capital is important "mostly because of what it represents: that the peace deal the government made with militants in neighboring Swat is a mockery, [that] instead of putting down their guns, the militants are expanding their reign."

It also showed how militants are seizing on the peace accord to demand the imposition of a harsh version of Islamic law across more and more of the country.

During their time in the area, the Taliban issued orders that prohibited women from going to the market alone and barbers from shaving beards. But commanders insisted their fighters were preaching peacefully for Shariah.

Western officials worry that Swat could turn into an expanding haven for allies of al Qaeda. The trouble there also diverts Pakistan from tackling more established militant sanctuaries closer to the Afghan border.

The advance into Buner triggered unusually strong condemnation from the United States, where lawmakers are considering a bill granting Pakistan $1.5 billion in aid each year to help it battle extremism.

The Obama administration is trying to persuade Pakistan and its large army to focus more on militants inside its borders than the nation's longtime enemy, India.

"We're certainly moving closer to the tipping point" where Pakistan could be overtaken by Islamic extremists, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview broadcast Friday.

Pakistan's army, accused by some U.S. officials of secretly helping some insurgent groups, is bristling at the criticism and on Friday issued an unusually tough-worded statement.

Apparently referring to the Swat deal, army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said it was meant "to give the reconciliatory forces a chance (but) must not be taken for a concession to the militants."

Kayani said the army was "determined to root out the menace of terrorism" and would "not allow the militants to dictate terms to the government or impose their way of life."

Logan said the Pakistani government disputes that they aren't doing enough to battle militants despite receiving huge support from the U.S. government. "They say [the militants] would be stronger if they weren't fighting against them. They arrested more al Qaeda leaders than anyone else."

But of the financial support Pakistan receives from the U.S., Logan said, "There is an argument that some of the money is going toward the Pakistani government's efforts to confront India, but the Pakistanis are about to get even more money because U.S. General David Petraeus yesterday requested $3 billion from Congress."

Is it possible for Pakistan to redirect its focus away from confronting India?

"Well, it's certainly possible," Logan told CBS Early Show host Chris Wragge, but really to understand the India problem you have to understand the mindset of the Pakistanis. They are obsessed with their age-old enemy of India. As the top Pakistani general said to me, 'You don't make military strategy on what's impossible, you make it on what's possible. It's possible for India to attack and destroy us. We have to be ready to meet that threat should it arise.'

"There's no real indication at the moment that the Pakistanis will downgrade the importance they attach to India."

Logan said the Pakistani Army - which has been accused of aiding militants - has to decide on which side it stands. "It has a history with many extremist groups," she said. The situation is compounded by the fact that many younger Pakistanis support the Taliban.

"So there's a real conflict here. The Pakistani army has to decide where it stands … With these groups or with the civilian government of Pakistan? That's a very big question."

[quapawsix]

If the evil one's in charge were not trying to force this NWO agenda there would not be any threat from these people. They have lived in peace of hundreds of years, then, in comes this Global agenda which the IMF and World Bankers and the Capitalists are pushing, which these people don't want to be a part of. Could it be they are defending their way of life the same way we would defend our way of life? And had the rolls been reversed the people of this country would be doing the same thing by waging an all out gorilla war on them.

[johnb8888]

"The only reason we as a country should be in Pakistan is to find and either kill or bring Osama to justice. Let the pakistani people fight their on war with the Taliban....if they don't have enough willingness to prevent their country from being over-run by these terrroists so be it.
Posted by rssllbll55"


No, if the Taliban get anywhere near Pakistan's nukes, we will have to strike. There's really no other choice.

[rssllbll55]

The only reason we as a country should be in Pakistan is to find and either kill or bring Osama to justice. Let the pakistani people fight their on war with the Taliban....if they don't have enough willingness to prevent their country from being over-run by these terrroists so be it.

[johnb8888]

"so you are a snot nose kid or you were sedated for the entire cold war
Posted by ainttaken at 5:57 PM : Apr 25, 2009 "


Oh no dumbofucko, I had to squat under my desk in grade school with the best of them.

Al queda with nukes doesn't make you nervous? You must be either real dumb or an islamist.

[6591Hou]

The entire situation is dire solely because Pakistan has nukes, in fact the nukes in question may be the ultimate target for Al Queda. Strange how many posters here who apparently feel that Al Queda is no threat as a nuclear power.

[ajjaxtheleast]

There's no doubt that Pakistan's army could follow them to their stronghold
and obliterate the Taliban.

The Taliban as we describe them dont exist.,,,Pakistan said "boo" and
they were gone.,,,That should tell you something.

With the bread we give Pakistan Pakistan does what we tell Pakistan to do.,,
,,,and what not to do.,,,And what we tell Pakistan, secretely of course, NOT to do
is obliterate our reason for imposing ourselves on that part of the country
in order to keep our people heading governments that we want them to head.

The Taliban had absolutly no idea of what the jerks that they were protecting
were going to flatten our tower buildings,,,My bet is that the Taliban didn't
even know that Bin Laden was planning ANYTHING.,,,

Yet here we are slopping up the garbage that we must punish the Taliban
for 9/11, and or, that we must stop the Taliban from taking over the world.

We act like because we entered Afghanistan 7 years ago that that is
all the legality we need to simply send in our troops again now.

"No problem, Mister Hague, it's just us,,were back again,,,you understand,,,
we had us a little work to do in another country,,,

Now let's see where were we?,,Oh, yes,,you say there are ten innocent citizens
and two terrorists in the building?,,,Flatten the building!!"

[stn_sage]

Look here! This 'let's throw tons of money at problems' solution by politicians of BOTH major
political parties has to stop!

DO NOT give the Pakistani's $1.5 billion dollars in aid! Forget it! Half of it, will be siphoned off and never put to it's intended use! Even if it was material aid only, the same thing will happen, the weapons will be re-sold for cash (probably to the Taliban)!

If we're going to do anything, send in a force of 'military advisors' of rangers, green berets, and seals; operating within unit integrity, within their own operational zones, with defined
missions! They can put down the Taliban at a cost effective rate, while receiving training under 'real life' conditions!

Granted, it's not a 'perfect' solution! But, I got news for all you 'perfect solution' type people out there! When it comes to some situations, there is NO perfect solutions! It's pick from ' the lesser of several evils' ! THAT'S the world we live in! Don't blame me for it! Deal with it!

[johnb8888]

"A pre-emptive nuclear strike on Pakistanis nuclears by the US? Are you insane? Try to think up the political results. And not only in that region. Even in the US.

A lot of important groups in Pakistan still believe that India is the main enemy. And there is a big rift between Pakistani government and the military.
Posted by lehnahund "


Consider the alternative--suicidal fanatics with hydrogen bombs, holding every non-Muslim hostage until we all surrender to sharia! Is that what you want?

If the Taliban gets anywhere near Pakistan's nuclear weapons (which have already been spread around by the actions of Pakistani Dr. Q, with the tacit approval of the Pakistani government, an all out attack on Pakistan's nuclear capabilities will be the ONLY option, other that letting the Taliban madmen rule us all. And the sooner that happens, the less threat there is of retaliation.

Scared of Taliban Islamists with nukes--you bet your a$$ I'm scared of that! Only a nut--or an Islamist in disguise--would not be.

[nevminer]

The Pakistani government had better show some teeth to the Taliban or get taken over like Afganistan. Those people tasted the sweetness of power and unless it is wiped out completely there is going to be a constant battle. The muslems are hard headed people and changing the minds is no easy task. I don't think the Pakistani government is up to that task.

[lehnahund]

If they're SOOO proud of being "men" over there, why don't they tell the taliban to KMA?
Posted by demongirl60 at 6:32 AM : Apr 25, 2009

If China, Russia and the United States would stick together , they could put a stop to all of these Islamic Terrorist. Would only have to completely take out one region and the rest would shape up....
Posted by the_sir_mr at 5:59 AM : Apr 25, 2009

If Islamist elements in the Pakistani government even let the Taliban get near Pakistan's nuclear weapons, and immediate nuclear strike on all Pakistan's nuclear facilities is in order. Pakistan would have to have all its research and production facilities reduced to a sea of smoking radioactive glass!

Forget Iran, it is Pakistan that is the greatest threat of nuclear terrorism.
Posted by johnb8888 at 5:32 AM : Apr 25, 2009

When will you ever learn??????

That is not the time for the easy solution and the big stick. Because there is no easy solution. I distrust deeply any person, who argues simple solutions.

People doing that, like the posters here, make a lot of noise in the dark woods, because they are frightened stiff. The policy of the big stick brings the young men into the ranks of Taliban. Will you ever learn? Bombard an afghan village from the air and kill a few dozens. Then you have more recruits for Taliban the next day. Will you ever learn? The worsening situation in Afghanistan has a lot to do with way this war is military led?

One cannot win a modern war like that. Remember Vietnam? Will you ever learn?

A pre-emptive nuclear strike on Pakistanis nuclears by the US? Are you insane? Try to think up the political results. And not only in that region. Even in the US.

A lot of important groups in Pakistan still believe that India is the main enemy. And there is a big rift between Pakistani government and the military.