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| India-Pakistan |
| Thousands of Taliban sent to Afghanistan, claims Wali |
| 2009-12-24 |
| [Dawn] 'Thousands of Taliban fighters' have been sent to Afghanistan to join the war against US-led Nato troops, according to the South Waziristan chief of Taliban, Waliur Rehman. Talking to reporters in the Shaktoi area, he said the move was consistent with Taliban strategy of 'waging a guerilla war' against Pakistani forces and a small number of 'our fighters are sufficient to engage the troops in Waziristan'. Wali, who was accompanied by Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq and a number armed guards, said the move was a response to the US troop surge. 'More reinforcements can be sent to strengthen the Afghan Taliban.' He said that Taliban were 'still strong' in South Waziristan despite the 'tactical withdrawal'. Troops, he said, controlled only areas near roads but the rest of South Wazristan is still under Taliban. The real war will be fought ... in the rough terrain and thick forests of Waziristan'. He denied security forces' claim that over 600 militants had been killed and said Taliban had lost 'less than 20 fighters ... since the launch of the military offensive on Oct 17 this year'. He said that Hakimullah Mehsud, the central leader of Taliban, was safe and 'guiding his men in Waziristan'. According to him, they would stop attacking military forces only if Pakistan severed ties with the US and ended its support. Mr Wali claimed his group had 2,500 trained suicide bombers and a lot of them being trained at secret locations. 'They are waiting for Taliban chief's order to strike anywhere in the country.' Denying that Taliban carried out suicide attacks in mosques and markets, he said that their targets were security forces and government installations. He claimed that 'Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is safe and alive and was in constant touch with his followers', but said he had never met him in person, He rejectd claims that Taliban were Indian agents and said that the TTP would continue its jihad (Holy war) against America and also India.' AP adds: A US military spokesman in Afghanistan, called Wali's comments 'rhetoric' that were not to be believed. 'We have not noticed any significant movement of insurgents in the border area.' Ishtiaq Ahmad, a professor of international relations at the Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, said the comments were an attempt to worsen the already tense relationship between the US and Pakistan. 'When the US expects Pakistan to synchronise its own counter-terrorism policy with troop surge ... the militants issue these statements in an attempt to create problems in this relationship,' said Prof Ahmad. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Bring em on, the Marines need target practice before we go at it with Iran. |
| Posted by: Karl Rove 2009-12-24 12:53 |