ejaz007
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Tanks arrive in Miranshah
* Locals fear army preparing to launch offensive in N Waziristans headquarters, claim reinforcements reached area on Tuesday
By Iqbal Khattak
PESHAWAR: A tense calm prevailed in North Waziristans headquarters of Miranshah on Wednesday after the arrival of eight tanks and [army] reinforcements, sparking fear among locals that the army was preparing to launch an offensive against the Taliban.
Locals claimed the reinforcements were sent in on Tuesday a day after clashes between the Taliban and security forces and said the eight tanks had arrived in a show of force ahead of the operation.
While Miranshah Bazaar was open on Wednesday, activity on the streets had dropped considerably partly because of rain and mainly because of security concerns, shopkeepers told Daily Times over the phone. The bazaar was completely shuttered on Tuesday because of a curfew imposed by the authorities, after the killing of two FC troops by suspected Taliban triggered clashes in the middle of Miranshah Bazaar on Monday.
Pamphlets: On Tuesday, locals said the military also distributed pamphlets branding the Taliban agents of Israel and India, to win the hearts and minds of tribespersons ahead of a military operation to deny TTP members safe havens.
The Taliban responded within hours by distributing pamphlets of their own. The exchange sparked fear among civilians that both sides are looking for excuses to mount clashes. These pamphlets, we believe, will not auger well for us ... both sides look set to overrun the other... we have never seen this before, locals told Daily Times over the phone. What we dont want is the operation to start in the summers... the temperatures are too high to live in Bannu and other cities, they said.
Over the last two weeks, the military has set up another post in Kajhori, an entry point to North Waziristan, checking identity cards of all those arriving or leaving. Similar checking is also underway in Bakhakhel, just outside Bannu. Soldiers at two other checkpoints disallow outsiders from entering or exiting North Waziristan through those routes.
Meanwhile, sources in Khar said soldiers were seen on Wednesday moving out of Bajaur Agency for possible deployment somewhere in Waziristan.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* Locals fear army preparing to launch offensive in N Waziristans headquarters, claim reinforcements reached area on Tuesday
By Iqbal Khattak
PESHAWAR: A tense calm prevailed in North Waziristans headquarters of Miranshah on Wednesday after the arrival of eight tanks and [army] reinforcements, sparking fear among locals that the army was preparing to launch an offensive against the Taliban.
Locals claimed the reinforcements were sent in on Tuesday a day after clashes between the Taliban and security forces and said the eight tanks had arrived in a show of force ahead of the operation.
While Miranshah Bazaar was open on Wednesday, activity on the streets had dropped considerably partly because of rain and mainly because of security concerns, shopkeepers told Daily Times over the phone. The bazaar was completely shuttered on Tuesday because of a curfew imposed by the authorities, after the killing of two FC troops by suspected Taliban triggered clashes in the middle of Miranshah Bazaar on Monday.
Pamphlets: On Tuesday, locals said the military also distributed pamphlets branding the Taliban agents of Israel and India, to win the hearts and minds of tribespersons ahead of a military operation to deny TTP members safe havens.
The Taliban responded within hours by distributing pamphlets of their own. The exchange sparked fear among civilians that both sides are looking for excuses to mount clashes. These pamphlets, we believe, will not auger well for us ... both sides look set to overrun the other... we have never seen this before, locals told Daily Times over the phone. What we dont want is the operation to start in the summers... the temperatures are too high to live in Bannu and other cities, they said.
Over the last two weeks, the military has set up another post in Kajhori, an entry point to North Waziristan, checking identity cards of all those arriving or leaving. Similar checking is also underway in Bakhakhel, just outside Bannu. Soldiers at two other checkpoints disallow outsiders from entering or exiting North Waziristan through those routes.
Meanwhile, sources in Khar said soldiers were seen on Wednesday moving out of Bajaur Agency for possible deployment somewhere in Waziristan.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
