No, really, this one will work, unlike last time. "Pakistani Government Strikes New Truce Deal With Militants," by Barry Newhouse for VOA News, July 10:
Pakistan's government has reached a new peace agreement aimed at stopping a militant group from threatening the northwestern city Peshawar. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad on the latest in a series of controversial agreements that critics say have mainly strengthened pro-Taliban fighters in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Government representatives released details of the agreement on Thursday, after tribal leaders agreed to guarantee that the local extremist group would leave a key town just outside the provincial capital Peshawar and stop hostilities against the government.
Tribal elder Malik Hashim was a member of the delegation and spoke to VOA by telephone from Khyber agency, where the talks took place.
He said the leader, Mangal Bagh, promised that his people will not attack official government offices or paramilitary forces in both the settled and rural areas of Khyber.
Pakistani paramilitary forces launched operations in Khyber in late June after locals complained bands of extremist fighters had moved into settled areas and began harassing people and enforcing strict moral codes. There were also increased sightings of Taliban militants in Peshawar during this time.
The paramilitary forces met little resistance but have since stayed in the region during the talks to provide security. The head of Pakistan's interior ministry, Rehman Malik, said Thursday that some of those troops would now begin leaving.
He said not all of the paramilitary forces will withdraw - those who remain will ensure the militants do not return.
... Really?
Afghan, NATO and U.S. officials have been critical of similar peace agreements the Pakistani government has struck in recent months, saying withdrawing troops and striking peace deals have mainly allowed Taliban fighters safe refuge to launch attacks in Afghanistan....
Meanwhile, the Taliban show they can still menace Peshawar at will: "Pro-Taleban militants end police station siege in Pakistan," from Agence France-Presse, July 10:
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Pro-Taleban militants ended their siege of a police station in restive northwest Pakistan when troops arrived early Thursday, police said.
Police said they requested reinforcements after around 200 militants surrounded a police station in the Hangu district of Northwest Frontier Province late Wednesday to demand the release of seven suspected extremists.
‘The Taleban ended the siege of the police station around 3:00 am (2100 GMT) when troops started arriving,’ local police station chief Jehangir Khan told AFP....
As always another truce another treaty. Very similar to the Israeli Palestinian Issue. Treaty after treaty there will never be peace. It is Islam and warfare is at the core. The fighting and killing of infidels remains the priority since the last 14 centuries. Advancing Islam and war as deceit continues no matter what. Islam is a morbid and cultural anathema.
Only a fool would believe that Pakistani army (whose very motto is "Jihad is our motto") would whole heartedly and ISI would even partially take any action against Jihad. All these cycles of military campaign and truce are just a means to keep on buying time for the Jihadists. Any dollar and faith wasted on Pakistan is criminal waste of time, money and energy, and it becomes even more serious with time as fire is spreading. Politicians would of course say whatelse can be done? Is it not better to sit and think, rather than following wrong course.
All the efforts on the so called war on terror will be a losing battle, till we recognize the fact that all the religions do not have the same message. There is a difference between a religion whose founder himself sets an example and asks followers to fanatically not hurt even an ant (jainism) and another, which himself leads raids, kills and asks followers to keep on doing so until the end of the days or when Islam is dominant on the planet. While former might 7-8 million followers and later might have more than 1 billion; let us not be intimidated by numbers and call a spade a spade. Our leaders and day dreaming mainstream media keep on dreaming that by making a propaganda that Islam is religion of peace, or JIad is inner spiritual struggle we would be able to change the heart of large number of Jihadis and stop conversion of moderate muslim into extremists. But let us remember that moderate muslim is also only moderately secular. The moment power shifts towards jihadists, they would be very happy to abandon and repent their association with 'infidels, and those who won't would be beheaded.
tribal leaders agreed to guarantee that the local extremist group would leave a key town just outside the provincial capital Peshawar and stop hostilities against the government.
And where will they move to?
He said the leader, Mangal Bagh, promised that his people will not attack official government offices or paramilitary forces in both the settled and rural areas of Khyber.
That leaves the locals and whatever foreigners are foolish enough to travel there. Still a target-rich environment.
He said not all of the paramilitary forces will withdraw - those who remain will ensure the militants do not return.
From where?
Afghan, NATO and U.S. officials have been critical of similar peace agreements the Pakistani government has struck in recent months, saying withdrawing troops and striking peace deals have mainly allowed Taliban fighters safe refuge to launch attacks in Afghanistan.
And what is the Afghan government doing to safeguard its own border? Don't the same tribes live on both sides of the border? Do either of them recognize it as such?
But we're putting the Pakistanis in their place, for pulling such stupid tricks...selling them advanced weapon systems which could be used against our boys in not too distant a future....
[US gives Pakistan 18 Sniper spy pods for F-16s
14 May 2007, 2129 hrs IST,IANS
WASHINGTON: The US government has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for 18 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), a part of the new advanced block 52 F-16 aircraft programme for Pakistan.
With deliveries beginning in 2008, Sniper ATP's exceptional stability and superior imagery will allow Pakistan Air Force to perform intelligence, targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from extended standoff ranges.
Pakistan is the eighth international customer to join the US Air Force and Air National Guard flying with Sniper ATP. The contract includes spares and training services. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"This sale culminates a two-year combined effort by Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control and Aeronautics businesses to upgrade the precision attack capability of one of our key allies," said Ken Fuhr, director of Fixed Wing Targeting Programmes at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Monday.
"Sniper continues to demonstrate exceptional performance in meeting the requirements and expectations of the Warfighter."
Sniper incorporates a high-resolution, mid-wave third-generation forward-looking infrared (FLIR), a dual-mode laser permitting eye-safe operation in urban environments, a CCD-TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker.
Sniper is fully compatible with the latest J-series munitions and precision-guided weaponry. Its superior detection ranges are vital to pilots, helping keep them out of range of threat air defences.
The Pakistan Air Force joins the UK Ministry of Defence; the Canadian Forces, the Royal Norwegian Air Force; the Polish Air and Air Defense Force; the Royal Air Force of Oman; the Belgium Defence and other international customers with its selection of the Sniper ATP.
Sniper ATP is currently flying on the US Air Force and multinational F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, A-10s, B-1s and the Harrier GR9. Sniper ATPs have accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours in thousands of sorties in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The Maryland Headquartered Lockheed Martin is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustaining of advanced technology systems.]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/File_US_gives_Pak_18_Sniper_spy_pods_for_F-16s/articleshow/2045845.cms
Hudaibiyya, anyone?
Hudna, anyone?
Surely, by now the Pakistani government must be regarded by the jihadists as apostates and Infidels.
Great post Pagan.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/021714.php#c557320