War in Waziristan
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The News International, Pakistan
Thursday, June 04, 2009
The militants have made it quite obvious the war that is being fought in Malakand and elsewhere must be extended to Waziristan. Indeed, the daring kidnapping of dozens of pupils of the Razmak Cadet College may even have been an attempt to force the military to open up a new front, before it had finished off the battle in Swat, thus hoping to stretch it to the maximum, and by doing so trip it up. There is still confusion over how many students and staff members were kidnapped. Numbers range from around 100 to over 500. But it is now clear not all have been recovered. Accounts from law enforcers say 71 out of 122 victims have been retrieved; the ISPR says 80 were recovered and 15 are still missing; some of those who have returned home after their ordeal say the number is higher. But somewhere in the lawless realms of South Waziristan, a number of terrified boys and possibly their teachers are in the hands of the Taliban. Some reports even suggest they may have been taken to Baitullah Mehsud himself. Certainly, that wily veteran of battle seems to be preparing for a new – and we hope final – confrontation.
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Thursday, June 04, 2009
The militants have made it quite obvious the war that is being fought in Malakand and elsewhere must be extended to Waziristan. Indeed, the daring kidnapping of dozens of pupils of the Razmak Cadet College may even have been an attempt to force the military to open up a new front, before it had finished off the battle in Swat, thus hoping to stretch it to the maximum, and by doing so trip it up. There is still confusion over how many students and staff members were kidnapped. Numbers range from around 100 to over 500. But it is now clear not all have been recovered. Accounts from law enforcers say 71 out of 122 victims have been retrieved; the ISPR says 80 were recovered and 15 are still missing; some of those who have returned home after their ordeal say the number is higher. But somewhere in the lawless realms of South Waziristan, a number of terrified boys and possibly their teachers are in the hands of the Taliban. Some reports even suggest they may have been taken to Baitullah Mehsud himself. Certainly, that wily veteran of battle seems to be preparing for a new – and we hope final – confrontation.
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Labels: Extremism, Kidnapping, Razmak Cadet College, Taliban, Terrorism, Tribal Areas, Waziristan
posted @ 9:54 AM,
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