Pakistan army: Taliban holding town hostage

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Troops sent to repel a Taliban advance toward the Pakistani capital killed 14 suspected militants, the army said Thursday, and accused insurgents holding an entire town hostage.

In another development that sent a shudder through Pakistan, officials said a slew of gun attacks in the mega-city of Karachi killed at least 34 people and threatened to ignite ethnic tensions.

President Barack Obama expressed grave concern about the nuclear-armed country's stability, while Pakistan's president urged the public to support the army offensive so that the land would remain "a moderate, modern and democratic state."

Security forces backed by warplanes began pushing into Buner, a district some 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Islamabad, on Tuesday after Taliban militants poured into the area under cover of a much-criticized peace process.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD97SQASO0

---

On edit: Found an updated AP story that I felt was better, so I entirely replaced the previous post on the same subject. (The previous article was also AP).

[leftynyc]

1. Pakistan has to really crack down

on this crap. They were fooling themselves if they thought these barbarians would stop with the Swat Valley.

[MasonJar]

2. The Taliban and al qaeda are really vicious groups and must be stopped

at all costs. I blame this on Bush, who to get his war in Iraq let these monsters go. Their treatment of women alone is enough to send them straight to hell...their virgins are going to be in the form of castrating Amazons, if there is any justice in eternity.

[george_maniakes]

3. This is a good thing in the long run...

the people of pakistan have to wake up and decide where they want their country to go. Sitting back and poking india every now and then over kashmir is not an option anymore.

[cosmicone]

4. Just a window dressing trick by Pakistanis

Act like they are doing something, just enough to start aid flowing and then go back to supporting the terror apparatus covertly.

For a tinpot, bankrupt country, they have big egos and big aspirations of ruling the entire subcontinent.

[ohio2007]

5. Lahore (college) imposes ban on (western style) jeans after alleged threats

LAHORE: The Kinnaird College (KC) administration has banned the students from wearing jeans or other tight dresses in the wake of possible terrorist threats.
The college has imposed a strict dress code that only allows students to wear Eastern dresses such as shalwar qameez or loose trousers. Dupatas have been made mandatory.

KC Vice Principal Nikhat Khan told our sources the measures were in line with a government notification, and had no connection with rumours about burqa-clad women issuing warnings to students.


snip

http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=214333