Experts believe that the operation could result in further disappointment for the United States.
The Pakistan Army may have been planning an all out assault against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud in his stronghold of South Waziristan, but experts believe that the operation could result in further disappointment for the United States.
South Asia specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations, Daniel Markey, warned that Pakistan “may be biting off too much” by initiating an offensive against the Taliban chieftain in his stronghold without establishing total command in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
The Obama Administration wants to establish comprehensive control in Waziristan to counter Islamic extremists, but the objective is unlikely to be achieved. “If Mehsud can be captured or killed, he would likely be replaced by Taliban leaders even more eager to fight US forces in Afghanistan,” said Markey.
The military offensive in the NWFP’s Swat Valley has forced the Taliban to retreat, but the government has not been able to establish its control in the region completely. Moreover, questions are being raised over the chances of success of the military operation against Mehsud in Waziristan, as it had failed to suppress the Taliban on two earlier occasions.
Meanwhile, the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe has decided that it would abide by the peace accord inked with the government in 2007, and would not attack the troops stationed in South Waziristan.
A long road to victory:
18 militants killed in US drone attackAt least 18 militants were killed on Friday in a US drone attack and air strikes by Pakistani combat jets on terrorist bases in the volatile Waziristan tribal region. Thirteen militants were killed and several others injured when a US drone fired three missiles at a militant camp in South Waziristan. Another missile was fired at a madrassa in Mantoi area though no casualties were reported. Five militants were killed in air strikes by Pakistan Air Force jets in in Datakhel area of North Waziristan.
Mehsud buying kids for suicide bombings A report in The Washington Times quoted US officials as saying, that Baitullah Mehsud is recruiting small children as young as six or seven, to serve as suicide bombers. “Mehsud has turned suicide bombing into a production output, not unlike the way Toyota outputs cars,” a US defence official said. The price of a suicide bomber could range anything in between Rs 5,00,000 to one million. The price depends on how how close he is expected to get to the target, the official added.
France to provide military equipment France has agreed to provide Pakistan Tiger combat helicopters and other sophisticated military equipment to strengthen its abilities in taking on Taliban. The Military Personal Staff Advisor to French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, Admiral Edouard Guillaud said that the combat helicopters will be equipped with ground-to-ground missiles with semi-active laser seekers. The helicopters are fitted with advanced radars and can also be equipped with anti-tank missiles.
War on terror cost Pak $10 billion
Pakistan has spent about $10 billion in the war on terror during the financial year 2008-09, the chairman of the Panel of Economists of the Planning Commission, Hafiz Pasha said. Talking to media persons, Pasha said the ongoing military operation in the Swat and Malakand Divisions is likely to cost an additional 100 billion rupees. He added that the military offensive in NWFP has adversely affected the economy of the country and the region particularly.
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