Search Results for: Pakistan

Times of London correspond Zahid Hussein chronicles the failure of the 2004 Pakistani military campaign in Waziristan and claims that there are 15 terrorist training camps around Wana and Shakai. Intelligence agencies believe al Qaeda’s revitalization is due in part to its safe haven in northern Pakistan.

Captured Taliban spokesman Muhammad Hanif said Mullah Omar is living in Quetta. “He is protected by the ISI.” Pakistani authorities are hunting Abu Nasser, “who holds a senior position in Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network.” He was thought to have been injured in the Zamazola strike.

The Pakistani government rejects claims the Taliban are operating in the country. “Local Taliban” killed an “Uzbek fighter” after he ran a Taliban checkpoint in North Waziristan. An oil tanker was bombed by the Taliban just before crossing the border in Kandahar, Afghanistan. A bomb was discovered outside of the NWFP parliament building and diffused. […]

Mullah Mohammad Nazir said he hasn’t seen bin Laden or Zawahiri, but “We hope to see them and if they show up in our area we will protect them with our bodies and souls.” The US will create ‘Reconstruction Opportunity Zones™ in FATA despite the al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries. Tribal leaders back fencing the […]

175 Taliban from South Waziristan have been killed in Afghanistan since 2005. “Families of the dead fighters were recently awarded certificates of commendation by the Taliban.” The ceremony “was presided over by Baitullah Mahsud.” The bodies of 25 Taliban were brought back to Miranshah, North Waziristan, where “the Taliban asked everyone to attend the funerals […]

Gulbadeen Hekmatyar claims the Taliban are not infiltrating Afghanistan from Pakistan. In the aftermath of the Pakistani government attack on Taliban crossing the border into Afghanistan, “heavy weapons including rockets and rocket launchers” were found. Pakistan will have representation in the Kabul Joint Intelligence Operations Center.

Pakistan claims to have attacked destroyed “militant” vehicles “using artillery and mortar in the bordering town of Gorvek” in North waziristan. No word if this occurred in the same region as the NATO attack on Taliban forces crossing the Pakistani border into Paktika. Up to 150 Taliban are reported killed.

Pakistan denies providing ‘covert assistance’ to the Taliban. Sixteen Taliban are arrested in Pashin. The US & Canada push Pakistan to reconsider mining the border, and Pakistan thinks twice. A look at the Taliban’s money men. A Pakistani from Waziristan recounts his path to become a suicide bomber.

Tribals in Kurram agency have noted a marked increase in NATO reconnaissance flights, and believe it portends airstrikes on ‘outsiders.’ During 2006, Pakistan saw 657 terrorist attacks which caused 907 deaths and 1,543 wounded. NATO is accusing British PM Tony Blair for promoting “Musharraf-like policies” in Afghanistan by negotiating with the Taliban. Musharraf said “some […]

The Taliban have taken over the “Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Kohat districts” in the NWFP. During PM Aziz’s visit to Afghanistan, Karzai accused Pakistan of helping the Taliban. Syed Saleem Shahzad said the mining of the border will fail as long as the Taliban have safe haven and can operate openly […]

al Qaeda, Laskhar-e-Jhangvi, and Taliban led by Abdullah Mehsud conspired in carrying out suicide attacks in Karachi in the spring of 2006, and operated from Waziristan. Pakistan tells the US it will not conduct military operations in Waziristan despite knowledge of the dominance of the Taliban and al Qaeda in the region.

Over 80 senior jihadis have been freed from Pakistani jails by the courts, including those who participated in the USS Cole bombing, assassination attempts on Musharraf, the failed London airline plot, and one Daniel Pearl’s killers. See our post on September 15, 2006 for background on Pakistan’s release of Taliban and al Qaeda.

UN Officials have criticized Pakistan’s decision to mine the Afghan border. Jamaat-e-Islami’s emir, Sirajul Haq, called the mining of the border an attempt to sabotage Waziristan “peace” agreement. A tribal jirga warned the Taliban not to attack government officials in Waziristan.

London airline plot conspirator Rashid Rauf will be tried under a Pakistani anti-terror law. The US has stated the Taliban control of Waziristan and in greater NWFP is a serious concern. A Taliban cleric has issued a fatwa to kill all UN employees in Pakistan.

‘Militants’ detonate a car bomb at the Peshawar airport, killing one and wounding several others. Pakistan is planning on mining segments of the Afghan border to prevent the flow of the Taliban. Musharraf said Pakistan’s nukes can withstand a nuclear strike.

The Taliban attacked a government official in North Waziristan, yet again violating the “peace deal.” A policeman was killed and five wounded. Dawn asks if it’s time to review the Waziristan Accord. The trial of Rashid Rauf, the London airlines bombing plotter, has been delayed; and the terrorism charges dropped.

Girls schools are being targeted by Islamists in the NWFP, and some blame the MMA. “The Taliban own the night and part of the day” in Waziristan, said Prime Minister Durrani. Seven Afghans are being held in a Quetta bicycle bombing.