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| Afghanistan |
| Asia Time: |
| 2008-06-27 |
| Among all the propaganda was this: The Kandahar jailbreak this month, a meticulously planned Taliban operation combining heavily armed fighters and suicide bombers, was the first operation since the switch from Helmand to Kandahar. More than 2,500 prisoners (contrary to claims of 1,100 mentioned in the media) were freed. While these events were unfolding, the Taliban made another significant move in Khost. More than 2,500 'precious assets' was mobilized from the North Waziristan tribal area in Pakistan to Khost, where, with the assistance of the local population, they established bases. Significantly, the Taliban no longer need to retreat to the sanctuary of Pakistan's tribal areas when attacked by NATO - they now have secure bases deep in Khost. Pro-Taliban tribal warlord Baitullah Mehsud's men seized Jandolla, a rural town 70 kilometers east of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan. Then they abducted 30 members of a government-appointed peace committee, killing most of them. And for the first time, the Taliban revealed their impressive strength by entering the capital of NWFP, Peshawar. Last week the Taliban had also gone into Peshawar and kidnapped - and then released - 16 members of a local Christian community. There is now a belief in security circles that should they want to, the Taliban could take the Peshawar Valley. The Taliban also relayed a message to Islamabad that should the military begin operations in the tribal areas, a 'reception', including several new groups, would be ready and waiting. The show of power worked. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani convened a high-level meeting on Wednesday afternoon, attended by all intelligence chiefs and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani, at which it was agreed that dialogue was the best way to deal with the militants. |
| Posted by:3dc |