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| India-Pakistan |
| Say goodbye to terrorism, Malik tells Taliban |
| 2009-08-15 |
| [Dawn] Pakistan on Friday urged Taliban militants recovering from the apparent slaying of their leader to surrender, promising that those who did would be treated fairly. The call could be a sign the government is seeking to exploit any potential weaknesses in the militant movement since Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was reportedly killed in a CIA missile strike on August 5. Pakistani and US officials believe he is dead, though his followers contend he is still alive. 'Say goodbye to terrorism and start a new life,' Interior Minister Rehman Malik appealed to the militants in televised comments to the media. 'This is a new day.' He said those surrendering would be treated on an individual basis, with authorities deciding between 'leniency' and prosecution. Al Qaeda and Taliban militants based close to the Afghan border have carried out a wave of bombings and shootings on government and Western targets in Pakistan over the last two years. Pakistani officials have called on the militants to surrender before, but with little success. The level of behind-the-scenes contact between the two sides is unknown. US and Western officials have said reaching out to moderate Taliban will likely be a major part of any solution to the raging insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan, but have been concentrating on urging Pakistan to fight the extremists, not talk with them. Pakistan launched an operation against militants close to the border in the Swat Valley earlier this year after they violated the terms of a peace deal. It claims to have killed more than 1,200 extremists there and brought the region under government control. Since the apparent killing of Mehsud, government officials have claimed that militants are fighting over who will replace him. Taliban spokesman have denied any disunity. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Try saying "Either DIE, or SURRENDER THIS SECOND." wait two seconds and shoot. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-08-15 12:39 |
| #1 IOW, say hello Talibs to SECUUULA-A-AR POLITICS = ACTIVE POL CAMPAIGNING, iff your COMMIES-SOCS-ANARCHISTS, ETAL. OWG-NWO COMRADES-IN-GLOBALISM WILL LET YA??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-08-15 01:09 |