Army Captures Pakistani Taliban Leader's Hometown

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Army captures Pakistani Taliban leader's hometown

By ASIF SHAHZAD, Associated Press Writer – 2 mins ago
ISLAMABAD – The army captured the strategically located hometown of Pakistan's Taliban chief Saturday after days of fierce fighting, officials said, snagging its first major prize in a U.S.-backed anti-Taliban offensive along the Afghan border.

Elsewhere in the northwest, a suspected U.S. missile strike killed 14 people, authorities said.

Pakistan's 8-day-old offensive in the Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold of South Waziristan is considered its most critical test yet in efforts to stop the spread of violent Islamist insurgency in the nuclear-armed country. It has prompted a wave of retaliatory attacks by militants this month that have killed some 200 people.
The final battle for Kotkai town killed 13 militants and two soldiers, said an army officer and an intelligence official. The military has begun to clear the town of landmines and roadside bombs planted by the insurgents. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media on the record.

Kotkai is symbolically important because it is the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud. It also lies along the way to the major militant base of Sararogha, making it a strategically helpful catch.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091024/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

[xchrom]

1. can they stay? are the forces apt to be subverted?

i wish the best for pak on this -- but they have allowed this to develop for a long time.

[autorank]

2. Pakistan: Security forces capture Taliban chief’s hometown

Source: The DAWN Media Group DAWN.Com

"PESHAWAR: Pakistan said Saturday it had captured Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s hometown as the US demonstrated its support for the war on the militants with an air strike that killed more than 14 people.

"Security officials said the army overran Mehsud’s town of Kotkai overnight after three days of aerial bombardments which had underlined the huge challenge facing the military in taking on the Taliban in their tribal heartland.

"And in another part of the northwest tribal belt, a missile fired by an unmanned US drone spy plane killed more than 14 people including three foreign militants, local officials said.

"Although figures are impossible to verify, the army says more than 160 militants and 23 troops have been killed in the week-long South Waziristan offensive. Twelve militants and three soldiers died in the final stages of the battle for Kotkai, it added."

Read more: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-six-militants-killed-in-south-waziristan-kotkai-qs-07

---

DAWN Media Group is one of the four major independent news organizations in Pakistan. This is a
story of great significance. It addresses the integrity of the Pakistani Army's campaign. This
comes as Pakistan's government is dealing more effectively with the 200,000 refugees, civilian, in
Waziristan. The original Taliban assault in Swat, the 2.0 million refugees (now returned), and the
terror campaign has created strong public support for these efforts.


The figures given by official quarters are impossible to verify, but the army says more than 160 militants and 23 troops have been killed in the week-long South Waziristan offensive. — Photo by AFP

[autorank]

3. From The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/24/pakistan-captures-taliban-kotkai

[autorank]

4. From The Pakistani Times

Updated at: 1430 PST, Saturday, October 24, 2009
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=89874

WANA: Security forces have taken control of Kotkai – the native village of Taliban Chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, whereas 13 extremists were also killed in the clashed Saturday.

According to reports, security forces were advancing toward Kotkai – the village of banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Chief Hakeemullah Mehsud and Qari Husain, who is allegedly known as a recruiter of suicide bombers.

The security forces took control of the region previous night.

During the operation security forces had to face stiff resistance on part of the extremists and 13 militants were killed in the clashes.

[DemReadingDU]

5. Sounds like the powder keg is about to be detonated

Pakistan is feuding, Afghanistan is heating up, our economy could implode, and similar woes in other countries. Should be an interesting week.

[roamer65]

6. I'm dumping more dollars.

I refuse to let these bastards destroy all of my savings.

[DemReadingDU]

8. Nah, the dollars will be fine for awhile longer

IMO, When the markets decline, and most likely sooner than later, dollar will increase. Besides, for now, it's the world's reserve currency. People all over the world happily spend dollars. Can you imagine the angry people if they couldn't spend their dollars? I really think government will save the dollar, for now. Most likely in a few years, the government won't have any choice and the dollar wouldn't have value. But it should be fine, for awhile.

[autorank]

7. We'll be reading about it, no doubt.

Pakistan isn't cooperating with the script. When they shut down the Taliban enclave, which they must do for domestic purposes, then the fantasy machine will erase all of those stories about how the U.S. problems in Afghanistan are due to Pakistan's weak resolve on terr-a-ismo.

It's now the facts, it's the storyline that counts;)

[DemReadingDU]

9. Appreciate the updates

:hi:

[chisymbolrho]

10. For sure

Even the Pakistanis are doing better than Bush did!!

[earcandle]

11. frigthening stuff/ what do we do it for?

[autorank]

12. Watch the Pakistani Army clean house with the Taliban

Given them financial support and stay out of the way, don't alienate the Pakistani public with
drone attacks that go astray and kill civilians.

The U.S. and Pakistan put together these right wing mountain militias in the early 80's to fight
the Soviets who were that decade's naive nation trying to fight a useless war in Afghanistan. Now
Pakistan has to clean up the mess.

It will be real, no doubt about it.

[No Elephants]

13. I remember when we captured Baghdad, a tad more significant than Saddam's hometown.

[Alamuti Lotus]

14. Claiming this again? They had it before for about a minute,

but the army retreated after heavy resistance inflicted many casualties.