Article

2007-07-05 India-Pakistan

Explosions heard near radical mosque in Pakistan

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Posted by Fred 2007-07-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 Asia Times with more background

KARACHI - A fierce battle to seize Taliban and al-Qaeda assets in Pakistan has begun from the capital Islamabad, where hundreds of militants holed up in the radical Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) are surrounded by 12,000 Pakistani troops.

Significantly, Lal Masjid has become the rallying point for jihadis against the establishment. The country's jihadis have traditionally fought under the umbrella of the state in Kashmir or in Afghanistan - not against their own government.
[..]
tanks fired shells at Lal Masjid in the early hours of Thursday, apparently destroying its front wall.
[..]The president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhary Shujaat, and Ghazi spoke on Wednesday night on possible terms of surrender, but suddenly Ghazi changed his mind and refused to lay down his weapons. It is suspected that militants inside the mosque forced Ghazi to take a stand and made it clear to him that they would fight until the last man and the last bullet.
[..]
Interrogators of the students and Aziz can be expected to focus on several key issues:
# Possible channels of communication between Lal Masjid and al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri; Tahir Yuldashev, leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; and Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani, deputy to the Taliban's Mullah Omar.
# The strategic assets of the Taliban, such as training centers in Pakistan. Lal Masjid has been a recruiting center for the Taliban from where youths were sent for training to North Waziristan and South Waziristan, as well as to the Swat Valley in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Malakand in Balochistan province.
# Financial channels - how money collected from all over Pakistan through charities and philanthropists makes its way to Taliban and al-Qaeda members.

Posted by 3dc 2007-07-05 09:25|| 2007-07-05 09:25|| Front Page Top

#2 "made it clear to him that they would fight until the last man and the last bullet. "

Please ignore all those tall burhka-wearin' wimmin-folk leaving the building.....

Posted by Mullah Richard 2007-07-05 09:39|| 2007-07-05 09:39|| Front Page Top

#3 The legitimate burqa-wearing students were likely the ones holding the gun to his head. When females turn fanatic...

Posted by trailing wife 2007-07-05 11:02|| 2007-07-05 11:02|| Front Page Top

#4 Troops ringing the mosque pushed reporters far back from the area.

Best news I've heard in a long time, keep the liars as far away as possible.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2007-07-05 16:54|| 2007-07-05 16:54|| Front Page Top

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