South Asia News

Pakistan kills 35 militants but slams US attack threats (Roundup)

Jul 23, 2007, 18:51 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan claimed Monday to have killed at least 35 militants in the restive North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan but warned that any US military action on its soil would be 'dangerous and irresponsible'. 'Two soldiers from the paramilitary frontier corps died in a militant attack while 35 attackers were killed when our troops retaliated near Mirali in North Waziristan,' Pakistani military chief spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. Twelve soldiers were injured in the fresh battle, which erupted Sunday night. The Islamic fighters used rocket launchers and heavy machine guns in their hours-long assault. The fire was still being exchanged at two separate sites, Arshad said, adding that the security forces were skilfully retaliating the intensified attacks by militants. 'This is why they had to suffer heavy casualties,' he said. Tensions in the area were running high since last week when pro-Taliban tribesmen announced to pull out of a peace deal reached with the government in September 2006, and launched a series of attacks, assassinating dozens of soldiers. US officials renewed their criticism of the peace deal after it was scrapped, saying it was only providing shelter to terrorists. 'Instead of pushing al-Qaeda out, the people who live in these federally-administered tribal areas, they made a safe haven for training and recruiting,' US intelligence chief Mike McConnell said. 'Al-Qaeda has been able to regain some of its momentum,' he said, adding that he believed its leader Osama bin Laden was alive and being sheltered in Pakistan's tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. White House Homeland Secretary Adviser Frances Townsend said his country would 'use all instruments at its disposal' to act against al-Qaeda and Taliban elements inside Pakistan. However, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam slammed the statements on Monday saying, 'we have stated in the clearest terms that any attack inside our territory would be unacceptable.' She added that 'such action would be deeply resented in the tribal areas and generally in Pakistan.' She said Pakistan had 'absolutely no such information' that bin Laden was in its territory. 'If the US or any other country has any concrete information to share, they share with us, we will take action. It is not sufficient to say that 'I think Osama bin Laden is alive' and is present in this part of the country or that part of the country,' she said. The spokeswoman reassured Islamabad's commitment to combatting terrorism but called upon Washington to avoid statements that would be counterproductive or 'create an impression of any divergences or differences on the issue of counter-terrorism.' Defending the deal, the spokeswoman said that in order to cope with the problems in the area Pakistan had adopted a comprehensive strategy that included economic and administrative as well as military measures, and the accord was part of that approach. 'Our view is that the deal was helpful and the president has said that if the deal works even 20 per cent it was something we would like to continue,' Aslam said. However, peace talks initiated last week between the pro- government tribal elders and militants to save the accord were stalled on Sunday amid demands that official forces should retreat from the area prior to any dialogue. The tribesmen are enraged over a commando raid to eliminate militants besieged in a radical mosque in the capital Islamabad earlier this month. At least 75 Islamic students killed in the standoff were from tribal areas. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Not bad by any chanceJul 23rd, 2007 - 19:03:55

It is great news, these trouble makers got to lay down their arms or suffer. These animals have killed millions of Muslims since their inception by USA in 1980s.

EVERY PAKISTANION SHOULD BE WATCHFUL FOR THEM AND KILL THEM WHERE EVER THEY ARE FOUND.

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Use Talicowards for target practiceJul 23rd, 2007 - 20:40:38

All Pakistanis should bring their arms to bear against the Talicoward Menace in their midst.

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Bob(sa)Jul 24th, 2007 - 11:57:03

'in responce to not bad by any chance'

its pakistani you plik.

but then again i cant expect someone with a view as ignorant as yours to have got that right.

yes yes kill them all, that must be the answer. Those scary terrorists are big and bad and scarrrry.....you stupid ignorant sod.

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JGJul 24th, 2007 - 20:13:06

Most outsiders do not understand (in my opinion, of course) what exactly the Pakistani government is up against in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).
It is an area where the tribes do not recognize the boundaries established by the British during the last century & as such do not recognize the right of the Pakistani government over the area.
Loyalty there is to the tribes and the tribal leaders have the final word on almost every thing that takes place within the area.
Educational repression is quite possibly the one thing that has allowed the tribal elders to continue governing with an outdated mentality over the people of that region.
Until the government (be it the Pakistani or the U.S.) can reach an agreement with the elders there will be no hopes of dealing with the extremist groups in the area.
Pakistani President Musharraf is literally walking a tightrope as the U.S. is holding on to one end and the Islamic extremists on the other each with very different agendas.
To say that the Pakistani's are not doing anything to combat terrorism is irresponsible but one has to consider the extremely delicate situation that the Pakistani's have found themselves in at the time.
Having lived in Pakistan for over 5 years and just recently moving away I was able to see firsthand some of the challenges that the people and the government face on a daily basis.

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