.Pakistan: Taliban leader flees northwest
Islamabad, 22 May (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - The Taliban leader in Pakistan's Swat Valley Mullah Fazlullah is believed to have fled Malakand in the North West Frontier Province.
Pakistani security officials believe he has taken refuge in Afghanistan and some independent observers believe he may join Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in the border region and expand the war against Pakistani security forces.
The war in the Swat valley is far from being over. But there are contradictory claims on the part of Pakistani security agencies seeking control of various districts.
Pakistani media broadcast claims without any independent confirmation. However, international media like the BBC's urdu service daily broadcast news reports showing that on the ground militants are still in control and that Pakistani security forces often miss their targets and strike the civilian properties.
Militants are calling the shots on the roads and along the main artery.
Nevertheless, the escape of Mullah Fazlullah from the Malakand Agency does not necessarily indicate the success of the military operation.
It appears to be a very well planned strategic retreat, like what he did in 2007 when he retreated well out of Swat Valley
He may now be aiming to launch a broader war on Pakistani security forces.
This new war is likely to begin in parts of the country, like what happened after the Red Mosque operation in Islamabad in 2007 when there were 60 suicide attacks till January 2008.
The stage of the new war has already been set with the Taliban of Darra Adam Khel who threatened to hit the aircraft at Peshawar airport with rockets.
Pilots who work for Pakistan International Airlines have written a letter to the airline's managing director to ensure the security of aircraft, passengers, crew and pilots as there are daily 8 PIA flights operating through Peshawar Airport.
On Friday there was a suicide attack at a crowded market in the heart of Peshawar that killed at least 10 people and injured scores of others.
A suicide attack killed several paramilitary forces in Jundola a town in South Waziristan on Thursday.
However, militants are not aiming to restrict themselves to the mountains of Swat and tribal areas.
They have a clear desire to hit the urban centres of the country very hard to squeeze the decision makers of the country for a ceasefire in Swat.
On Thursday night Pakistani security forces raided a local petrol pump located on the outskirts of the southern port city of Karachi and arrested 8 men allegedly linked with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
AKI
Pakistani security officials believe he has taken refuge in Afghanistan and some independent observers believe he may join Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in the border region and expand the war against Pakistani security forces.
The war in the Swat valley is far from being over. But there are contradictory claims on the part of Pakistani security agencies seeking control of various districts.
Pakistani media broadcast claims without any independent confirmation. However, international media like the BBC's urdu service daily broadcast news reports showing that on the ground militants are still in control and that Pakistani security forces often miss their targets and strike the civilian properties.
Militants are calling the shots on the roads and along the main artery.
Nevertheless, the escape of Mullah Fazlullah from the Malakand Agency does not necessarily indicate the success of the military operation.
It appears to be a very well planned strategic retreat, like what he did in 2007 when he retreated well out of Swat Valley
He may now be aiming to launch a broader war on Pakistani security forces.
This new war is likely to begin in parts of the country, like what happened after the Red Mosque operation in Islamabad in 2007 when there were 60 suicide attacks till January 2008.
The stage of the new war has already been set with the Taliban of Darra Adam Khel who threatened to hit the aircraft at Peshawar airport with rockets.
Pilots who work for Pakistan International Airlines have written a letter to the airline's managing director to ensure the security of aircraft, passengers, crew and pilots as there are daily 8 PIA flights operating through Peshawar Airport.
On Friday there was a suicide attack at a crowded market in the heart of Peshawar that killed at least 10 people and injured scores of others.
A suicide attack killed several paramilitary forces in Jundola a town in South Waziristan on Thursday.
However, militants are not aiming to restrict themselves to the mountains of Swat and tribal areas.
They have a clear desire to hit the urban centres of the country very hard to squeeze the decision makers of the country for a ceasefire in Swat.
On Thursday night Pakistani security forces raided a local petrol pump located on the outskirts of the southern port city of Karachi and arrested 8 men allegedly linked with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
AKI
posted by madtom at 8:51 PM
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