| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan has nearly crushed Baluchistan revolt: governor |
| 2006-08-03 |
| QUETTA, Pakistan -Pakistani forces have nearly crushed an insurgency led by a tribal chieftain in the restive southwest province of Baluchistan, the provincial governor said. Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said late Wednesday that the government controlled “99 percent” of the area around Dera Bugti town, the former stronghold of elderly insurgent leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. The autonomy-seeking rebels say they are fighting for greater political rights and a bigger share of profits from gas-rich Baluchistan’s natural resources. In an offensive launched after rockets landed near President Pervez Musharraf on a visit to Baluchistan in December, 84 tribal rebels and 42 Pakistani troops had died, he said. Sixty-two civilians including women and children had also been killed, mostly by rebel landmines, he told reporters in the provincial capital Quetta. Pakistani forces had used helicopters and spy drones and had received US aid to tackle the insurgents, he said. Hundreds of tribal fighters had also surrendered under an amnesty programme while large quantities of ammunition, rockets and landmines had been recovered, he added. Ghani alleged that the rebels were receiving up to 500 million rupees (eight million dollars) a year from “foreign supporters”, without specifying who they were. Pakistan in January said it had evidence that its nuclear-armed rival India was involved in the troubles in Baluchistan. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 Contrast this with the Pastun areas. Why it's almost as if the Pakistanis want the Taliban running the NWFP. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-08-03 17:42 |