FATA Situation

[Tiki Tam Tam]

I regret that the whole incident, and the dialogue that is going on, reminds me of the Gujarat carnage!

It is stupid to say, X will pay and yet, I understand the anguish that prompts these sentiments.

But is that the answer?

Sane minds is the answer.

Not revenge!!

Or bloodshed!

Law is the answer!

Slow, but hopefully, fair!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Over 50 militants killed near Afghan border​

Updated at Saturday, January 12, 2008 2120 PST
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani troops killed more than 50 Taliban militants after fighting off an attack on a military fort in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan, security officials said Saturday.

The clash occurred on the night between Wednesday and Thursday near the town of Ladha in the South Waziristan tribal district, where thousands of Pakistani troops are deployed to fight Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

"More than 50 miscreants were killed in the attack and an unknown number were also injured," a senior security official was quoted as saying, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that militants suffered "heavy casualties in the encounter" but said he had no official figures yet.
Over 50 militants killed near Afghan border: officials

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Soldiers withdrawn from key posts in North Waziristan: Jirga negotiating new peace deal​

* Paramilitary forces take control of checkposts
* Over 50 militants killed in Wednesday’s fighting in S Waziristan

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: The army has withdrawn soldiers from key checkposts in North Waziristan and a tribal jirga is negotiating a peace deal between pro-Taliban militants and the government, official sources and military spokesman said on Saturday.

“The situation has improved and the withdrawal of troops from certain checkposts is part of the re-alignment,” Major General Waheed Arshad told Daily Times as barriers and strict checking at checkposts were abolished, according to eyewitnesses.

Paramilitary takeover: “These posts are now manned by paramilitary soldiers. Barriers to movement have also been removed and the strict checking of people at these places has stopped,” sources said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the Taliban announced a unilateral ceasefire till January 1, which was later extended to January 20.

A tribal source reported that a tribal jirga was ‘shuttling’ between the Taliban and government authorities to broker another peace deal.

“There are signs that the two sides are working on something similar to a peace deal. But we don’t know how close they are to the deal because of secret negotiations,” a tribal source close to the jirga told Daily Times on condition of anonymity.

Over 50 killed: Also on Saturday, security officials said that Pakistani troops had killed more than 50 Taliban militants on Wednesday after fighting off an attack on a military fort in South Waziristan. Chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP that militants suffered “heavy casualties in the encounter” but said he had no official figures.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Suspected militants hit Army camp in Shawal​

By Javed Afridi & Haji Mujtaba

PESHAWAR/MIRANSHAH: Suspected militants twice attacked an Army camp and a military convoy a day after the Army withdrew soldiers from a number of check posts in North Waziristan following a secret peace deal between the two sides.

Three missiles were fired at Mana Military Camp in Shawal, 20 kilometres West of Miranshah, during the night between Saturday and Sunday. The security forces hit back by launching artillery shells against the attackers.

The camp was attacked again with a volley of shells late in the night, which too was retaliated by the security forces. Exchange of fire continued till late in the night. A military convoy heading from Miranshah to Gorbaz was attacked by suspected militants, injuring one of the security men, Riaz. Also, two tribesmen were injured when security forces in a military convoy opened fire at a passing vehicle on suspicion of carrying militants.

The Army convoy was on its way to Bannu from Miranshah Military Camp when the occupants of the approaching vehicle failed to notice signal of the forces to stop. One of the injured whose name could not be ascertained was flown to CMH Bannu by the security forces, while the other, identified as Hazrat Ullah, was shifted to the Agency Hospital, Miranshah.

Tribal sources told 'The News' that militants groups have denied involvement in the attacks saying they had already announced a unilateral ceasefire on December 17. The ceasefire was to end on January 1, but was later extended till 20 of this month.

Taking advantage of the ceasefire, a tribal Jirga continued its efforts to strike a peace deal between the government and the militants in North Waziristan. Tribal sources held that the government side took more interest in taming militants in North Waziristan after government announced Baitullah Mehsud, a militant commander in South Waziristan, to be the main suspect in the assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

In a quid pro quo response to halting attacks by the militants against the security forces, the government removed Army soldiers from six key check posts in the agency, including Kajori,Esha, Gora Qabaristan, Sargardan Banda and Boya check posts and replaced them with paramilitary forces.

Sources claimed that the government was contemplating for a full-fledged operation against Baitullah-led militants in South Waziristan and was therefore interested in rolling down military engagements in other parts, especially in North Waziristan.

Suspected militants hit Army camp in Shawal

What is confusing about the peace deal is that the TTP (Tehrike Taliban Pakistan) is not restricted to militants under Mehsud - so is this an attempt to undercut the TTP by forging deals with some of the Taliban that may have joined it but are amenable to negotiations?

Or is this "deal" with Taliban factions that were never part of the TTP, and could become allies (like Mullah Nazir), or neutral spectators at worse, and deny the TTP the ability to expand and gain more control?

Or perhaps simply a way to gain time and space to go after Mehsud as the last article suggests.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

And some great news from Parachinar!

Kurram peace agreement signed​

Rs 40 million fine for violators

By our correspondents

SADDA/PARACHINAR: The peacemaking efforts launched jointly by the Hangu reconciliation Jirga, political administration and elders of the area bore fruit after an agreement was signed on Sunday, putting a formal end to the terrible sectarian fighting. Kurram Agency Political Agent Syed Zaheerul Islam divulged the details of the accord at a special briefing that was also attended by the members of the Hangu Jirga, Hangu District Nazim Haji Khan Afzal, Union Nazim Shah Hussain Khan advocate and Allauddin Khan.

The official said the agreement would come into force in the next 24 hours, saying the violators would be fined Rs 40 million. He said the Thall-Parachinar Road and all other roads would be opened to traffic. Under the agreement, the combatants would vacate all the positions occupied by them during the fighting and these would be given under the control of the security forces. The political agent said that Shorko and Shna Warga would be got vacated from the fighters. "Soldiers will be deployed at the areas if there was a need for that," said Zaheer while giving the minutiae of the agreement.

He said the Jirga would ensure adherence to the agreement struck to restore peace to the area, battered by the fratricidal fighting that caused 335 deaths and injured 750 people. Meanwhile, another report said that the security forces transported over 300 people from Peshawar to Parachinar in a convoy. They had been stranded in the provincial metropolis because of the two-week fighting in the area.

Earlier, the Hangu peace jirga spent a busy day in meeting the rival groups. The members held separate talks in bid to broker a peace agreement. There was no relief for the distressed population as the power supply to the area remained suspended. The political administration said that efforts were being made to restore the electricity to the area by Monday evening. The educational institutions and the government offices remained shut and the agency continued to face shortage of provisions.

Kurram peace agreement signed

What a tragedy!

May all the dead rest in peace, and their families have the strength to forgive and raise a generation free from such ignorance, prejudice and hate.

Considering how hard it was to dislodge the two sides from their positions in the mountains, and how so many casualties resulted from the use of heavy weaponry from those areas, it would probably be a good idea to have some sort of a permanent SF presence to limit the damage if such clashes start again.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Do you think that the tribal are preferring peace over the threat of a joint US Pakistan decimation of their lot?

Maybe all the rhetoric of US wanting to attack Pakistan has worked in favour of Pakistan!

If so, it was a great coup!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Taliban Commander Faqir Mohammed Killed!​

Seven troops, 23 militants killed in Pakistan clash: military

PESHAWAR, Jan 14 (AFP): At least seven Pakistani troops and 23 Islamic militants were killed in a major battle Monday near the Afghan border. Local Taliban commander Faqir Hussain was among the rebels killed in the battle, which erupted when gunmen ambushed a paramilitary convoy in Mohmand district of the troubled tribal belt, the army said. “The militants attacked a security forces convoy and the forces responded with the help of local people, killing 23 of the attackers,” military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. It was the first significant attack in Mohmand, which is adjacent to Bajaur district. The paramilitary convoy was travelling from a frontier corps camp to the district centre when it was ambushed, triggering a battle that raged for several hours with both sides using heavy weapons.(Posted @ 16:48 PST Updated @ 17:03 PST)
- DAWN - Latest Stories; January 14, 2008

Now hopefully tomorrow we wont hear about how he called the BBC to tell them that he was still alive!

The location seems to match though - since Faqir Mohammed is the commander of the Taliban in Bajaur.

Some background on him:
Al-Zawahiri's Pakistani Ally: Profile of Maulana Faqir Mohammed

 

[khanz]

Taliban Commander Faqir Mohammed Killed!​

Now hopefully tomorrow we wont hear about how he called the BBC to tell them that he was still alive!

The location seems to match though - since Faqir Mohammed is the commander of the Taliban in Bajaur.

Some background on him:
Al-Zawahiri's Pakistani Ally: Profile of Maulana Faqir Mohammed

good news hopefully the rest will soon be taken out and the peace deal will be able to work.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Seems like in Waziristan, the days of Mahsud Tribe are over .... A lashkar of Wazir Tribe is going to neutralize the balance in Waziristan and kill or force out all the foreign elements......... It seems coming week is important!

 

[IceCold]

Seems like in Waziristan, the days of Mahsud Tribe are over .... A lashkar of Wazir Tribe is going to neutralize the balance in Waziristan and kill or force out all the foreign elements......... It seems coming week is important!

I think instead of forcing them out or for that matter capturing them, its better to kill them with no chance of them to get back as soon as they find any support. Just kill and send them back to hell. That is why i would wana see PA assisting the lashkar with their superior fire support.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Yes but the time is not for blood shed in the Waziristan Region ...

Tribes are supposed to keep the foreigners out of Pakistan ... Which they didnot and for that reason the CIA and others have managed to manupilate within them ... Some groups of Taliban are being used for Anti Paksitan activities .... Not all of them!

Now the tribes are on the move to flush the foreigners with force .. This is a good start!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Some more details. Apparently the locals in the area helped the SF's in the attack, which is a positive development.

On the negative side, Faqir Muhammed was not killed - it was Faqir Hussain.

GHALLANAI: Pro-Taliban militants on Monday attacked a convoy of security forces in Qandharu region of the Mohmand Agency, triggering a firefight that left seven soldiers and 23 militants dead.

The clash near Qayyumabad, Qandharu region, erupted when militants attacked a paramilitary convoy, killing seven security men. The forces responded the attack, killing 23 of the attackers.

Local Taliban commander Faqir Hussain was among the rebels killed in the battle, the army said.

"The militants attacked a security forces convoy and the forces responded with the help of local people, killing 23 of the attackers," military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told newsmen in Islamabad.

It was the first significant attack in Mohmand Agency, which is adjacent to Bajaur Agency where al-Qaeda number-two Ayman Al-Zawahiri is believed to have had a hideout.

The paramilitary convoy was travelling from a FC camp at Mamadgot to Mohmand Rifles headquarters when it was ambushed, triggering a battle that raged for several hours with both sides using heavy weapons.

Monday's ambush came after a battle last week in nearby South Waziristan Agency when the military said it repulsed an attack involving around 300 militants, killing around 50 of them.

Gunship helicopters also reached the spot to help the security forces after the clash and fired mortar shells on the militant positions. The security forces also fired shells on the militant positions from their headquarters.

The security forces sealed the areas after the attack and closed the Bajaur-Mohmand Road for all types of traffic. According to reports, five civilians were also killed in the firing.

According to official sources, among the dead are Haji Rehman, Bahadar Khan, Muhammad Tahir, Islamullah, Khadim Shah, Juma Gul and Muhammad Nawaz, personnel of Mohmand Rifles. The names of militants killed in the clash could not be ascertained.

The local tribesmen in Khwazai area have earlier forced Taliban militants to leave the area. They held talks with Taliban leaders in the hujra of Said Malak.

The attack and later gunship helicopters and artillery firing created fear and terror among the local people.

 

[Spring Onion]

Ahh how shitty news agencies are confusing the names.

He is Faqir Hussian who is killed a little known figure

While Faqir Muhammad is in Bajaur, he isnt killed.

 

[MrConcerned]

Please ask Musharaff - please stop jerking everybody around and actually fight this war or Pakistan is finished.

...
Around 30 Pakistani troops were feared killed early on Wednesday when Taliban militants captured a fort manned by security forces in the restive South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The Taliban militants captured the Sararogha fort manned by about 40 personnel of the Frontier Corps in the early hours on Wednesday, sources close to local authorities said. The militants launched an attack on the fort, located about 80 km from South Waziristan's main town of Wana, at about 9 pm on Tuesday.

The sources and TV channels reported that 20 to 30 troops were either killed or missing following the attack. There were also reports that some of the troops were captured by the militants and some others had managed to reach the nearby Ladha fort.

The Pakistan Army confirmed the attack but denied that the Taliban had taken control of the fort.

Journalists in Wana also confirmed the attack and said that around 1,000 armed Taliban were involved in the attack {Wow} on Sararogha fort. They also claimed the militants had taken 10 troops hostage.

Local authorities in Wana said that they lost contact with the fort after 9 PM.

Reports said the Taliban fighters first opened fire on the fort with rockets and automatic weapons from nearby mountains. The security forces launched a counter-attack and used artillery and mortars.

Locals said the exchange of fire lasted around four hours. But later the forces stopped firing and Taliban entered the fort and also shifted weapons from the fort.

The shifting of the arms continued till Wednesday morning. The Taliban also took away the soldiers who survived the attack, the locals said.

30 Pak troops killed as militants capture fort in Waziristan-Pakistan-World-The Times of India

 

[ejaz007]

Six extremists killed in South Waziristan gunbattles
SARAROGHA: At least six extremists were killed and four others were injured in gunbattles between the militants and security forces at Sararogha town in South Waziristan, the well-placated sources said.
The extremists were killed as the forces retaliated when hundreds of Islamic militants have attacked on security forces camp in a tribal region near the Afghan border, military sources said.
Heavy fighting erupted after the militants attacked Sararogha town in South Waziristan tribal district late Tuesday, they said.
"There was a heavy exchange of fire between security forces and militants who attacked the fort and tried to enter," a senior military official said.
Unconfirmed reports said a number of soldiers were killed or wounded in the attack which lasted several hours.
The attack came after security forces shelled several suspected hideouts of militant leader Baitullah Mehsud in the district, killing three people, a security official said.

Six extremists killed in South Waziristan gunbattles

 

[ejaz007]

Militants attack paramilitary camp in Pakistan
(Reuters)
16 January 2008

WANA, Pakistan - Hundreds of militants in northwest Pakistan attacked a paramilitary camp and up to 30 soldiers were missing, security officials said on Wednesday.
The militants attacked the camp in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border late on Tuesday, the officials said. A military official said there had been fighting in the area but he denied reports the militants had captured the camp.
“About 700 militants attacked the fort at Sara Rogha at about 9:30 p.m. (1630 GMT on Tuesday) and communication with the fort was cut at around 2 a.m.,” a security official said.
“There were about 37 paramilitary troops in the fort and seven of them were able to escape while the rest of them are missing and feared dead,” said the official, who declined to be identified.
Security forces have been battling Al Qaeda-linked militants in South Waziristan for several years.
The Sara Rogha area is a stronghold of Al Qaeda-linked militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, who the government said was behind the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on Dec. 27.
Security forces were firing artillery in the area on Wednesday morning but it was not immediately clear what their target was, residents said.
Another security official said six militants had been killed in the overnight fighting.
Separately, a bomb exploded as a military patrol was passing along a road in the Swat valley in North West Frontier Province on Wednesday but there was no immediate word on casualties, police said.
Security forces have been trying to clear hundreds of militants from the Swat valley since November.
A wave of militant violence in recent months, including many suicide bomb attacks, has added to a sense of crisis in nuclear-armed Pakistan, where President Pervez Musharraf has been facing opposition to his rule.

Khaleej Times Online - Militants attack paramilitary camp in Pakistan