Interior Minister Rehman Malik has just informed us that the Pakistani military is not about to launch an operation in North Waziristan following the Movement of the Taliban’s admitted assassination attempt against Malala, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in Swat. From Dawn‘s article today (from which the title of this post was shamelessly stolen):
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday said that no preparations were underway for a military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region, DawnNews reported.
…
He said the impression that a military operation for North Waziristan was being planned in the wake of the attack on Malala was wrong.
Malik made the statement just four days after teasing everyone (or at least those still gullible to the Pakistani promise of a North Waziristan operation) when he claimed that the government was considering launching an operation in the tribal agency as it was “a hub of terrorists.” Maybe North Waziristan is no longer “a hub of terrorists”?
I’ve written extensively on Pakistan’s “promises” to clear out North Waziristan, and the continual flacking by US officials for the Pakistani leaders who have made the promises. See Threat Matrix report, Pakistan to launch another Potemkin offensive in North Waziristan, from Aug. 3, 2012, for the details.
Just five days after that report in August, the Pakistani military said that a new operation in North Waziristan was not needed, as aptly named operation “Tight Screw” was already putting the “squeeze” on the Haqqani Network and other terror groups there. (But of course there has been no operation in North Waziristan since 2006). Perhaps Malik forgot about the supposedly ongoing operation “Tight Screw” when he said today that an operation isn’t in the cards? Someone in Pakistan really should get the story straight….
Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
12 Comments
We all knew PAQistan would do nothing. This is normal operating procedures for them.
I’m… I’m stunned… I just can’t believe it… I mean, I thought that… my God. [/sarcasm]
“…tight screw…?” Huh? Sounds more like Screwed Again. Maybe the US should cut its own deal with Haqqani’s & help them secede from Pakistan.
Funny how this news is not at all shocking!
Shocking! I’m going to need some help getting my jaw off my desk.
Why would Pakistan attack North Waziristan when they have all their allies/proxies there?
Just glad I wasn’t the only one who was shocked, shocked….
Initially I thought the date was October 15, 2022.
No my eyes are okay and so is my brain. But I am expecting same NEWS in 2022. Perhaps from a different minister or a dictator.
It turns out Operation ‘tight screw’ is only one half of an double operation. Another operation dubbed “the American taxpayer” is scheduled to begin as soon as American funding for the previous operation ends.
Its not difficult neither for taliban nor for Army of pakistan if any operation occurs,because army is not going to kill the good ones and the good ones will just move to another agency perfectly kurram.
@irebukeu
thank you for your insight. Now I know why I’m bending over
There is a simple way to solve Pakistan’s double dealings with the US. Just replace all aid, military and civilian, with a shopping list of terrorists. We can afford to pay a handsome price for the terrorists we want eliminated. Pakistan can deliver them dead or alive–we won’t be picky. In this way, the Pakistani military can become a profit center for the entire country, earning hundreds of millions of dollars for their economy every year.