RAWALPINDI: The security forces have killed up to 200 miscreants in 24 hours in the insurgency-hit Swat and Shangla areas, the army said on Sunday. Suspected locations of miscreants were engaged at, Kanju, Mingora, Venaibaba, Namal, Qambar, Peochar (Miscreants Headquarters), Fizagath, Tiligram, Chamtalai and reportedly 50-60 miscreants were killed on Sunday, an army statement said.

Indiscriminate mortar firing and planting of IEDs in the streets and roads by the miscreants in the populated areas of village Thana, Malakand and Mingora, resulted into civilian casualties, it said. The security forces have warned the citizens to remain vigilant and careful as the miscreants have planted IEDs in various areas of Mingora city and district Swat to put the blame of civilian causalities onto Security Forces.

Miscreants also destroyed 2 schools at Barikot and Maniar, it said. Curfew was relaxed in Swat from 0600 to 1500 hours on Sunday. The ISPR said that Zahid Khan, Imam Masjid at Nishat Chowk mosque has been murdered by the miscreants.

In Shangla, area has been secured upto Biladram and forces during advance encountered IEDs at Chamtalai bridge. Intense exchange of fire also took place between the miscreants and Security Forces at Chamtalai.

The Security Forces resumed operation from important heights known as Point 2245 and pt 2266 which were captured yesterday, and secured area upto Shalwal Kandao. One soldier embraced Shahadat during the operation at Shalwal Kandao, the statement said. During advance a large number of dead bodies and weapons of miscreants were found near Ramotai Loe Sar. One soldier who was injured during operation on 8 May also embraced Shahadat during evacuation, it said.

The statement said that miscreants training camp at Banai Baba was destroyed and dead bodies and weapons of miscreants were found in the area. Reportedly 140-150 miscreants were killed at Banai Baba Training Camp and DCO Shangla confirmed through his sources the killing of 140-150 miscreants, the ISPR said. Shangla top has also been secured, it said.

About Dir, the statement said that area from Kala Dag to Haya Sarai, has been secured and miscreants gave resistance during advance at Musa Jan and Sarai Kot. “Resultantly, one soldier injured and 5 militants were killed in the process”.

Reportedly, miscreants kidnapped a reporter of leading private News Channel from Chakdara, Lower Dir, the statement said. In Gulabad consolidation of positions on Gulabad heights continue and area between Chakdara Bridge at Landakai has been secured by ground forces. It said troops during advance encountered 3 IEDS which were neutralized.

In Buner, the miscreant locations were engaged by attack helicopters at Barwada Char and resultantly, miscreants suffered heavy casualties,6 miscreants bunkers and 2 ammunition dumps were also destroyed.
The Security Forces have secured the ridges around Sultanwas and miscreants present there have been surrounded, the statement said, adding 2 Miscreants were arrested in a raid at Daggar.

The statement said that in South Waziristan Agency, last night miscreants attacked a security forces convoy at Spin area south of Tanai. The troops retaliated and 18 miscreants were killed in the retaliatory fire by security forces. “An officer Capt Muneeb also embraced shahadat while 2 other soldiers were injured”. Miscreants fled from the area leaving behind dead bodies, it said and added that one injured miscreant has been arrested. NNI

PESHAWAR: The government has devised a comprehensive development strategy to bring about a qualitative change in the socio-economic condition of the tribesmen. According to a press release issued by Media Cell FATA, a record allocation of Rs. 7616.00 million has been made in the annual development programme 2008-09 for implantation of 884 on going and 189 new schemes in education, health, communication, agriculture, power and other social sectors.

It stated that the roads and education stand atop the development strategy and the highest allocation of Rs. 2193.622 million which is 21.10 percent of the development outlay has been made for execution of 177 schemes in communication sector while the second highest financial allocation of Rs. 1606.726 million has been made for promotion and expansion of education facilities.

The major schemes in education sector include introduction of Post Graduate classes in Govt. Degree College Khar, (Bajaur Agency), Parachinar, (Kurram Agency) and Miranshah, (North Waziristan Agency), construction of student/teachers hostels in Post Graduate Colleges in FATA, establishment of women hostels, rehabilitation and upgradation of the existing educational institutions, provision of free text books up to 10th class, award of scholarships to FATA students, introduction of technical education mainstream and Information Technology, establishment of public schools and construction of sports stadiums in all the Agencies.

A sum of Rs. 244.486 million has been set apart for implementation of 28 development schemes in education sector in South Waziristan while Rs. 203.844, Rs. 202.997, Rs. 185.449, Rs. 171.842, Rs. 128.621 and Rs. 93.109 are being spent in North Waziristan, Kurram, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand and Orakzai Agencies respectively. A provision of Rs. 198.797 million has been made in the current financial year’s budget for a number of educational schemes in the six Frontier Regions of FATA. Initiatives are also underway to establish quality educational institutions in FATA with focus on free education to talented tribal students in the premier educational institutions of NWFP.-SANA

MIRANSHAH: The tribesmen of North Waziristan vowed Sunday to fight with Pakistan Army at eastern border in the wake of Indian war threats. Addressing a press conference, local tribal elder Malik Afzal Khan assured to safeguard the geographical boundaries of the country in case Pakistan was inflected in war. He demanded of Pakistani authorities to end military operation in the region and allow local tribesmen to move to eastern borders of Pakistan to battle Indian army.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday launched the Rs 34 billion Benazir Income Support Programme for the poor and vulnerable segments of society. Under the scheme, families, having income less than Rs 6000 per month would be paid Rs. 2000, every two months under this programme. “This is the first program in the country that will directly benefit the oppressed sections of the society directly,” President Asif Ali Zardari told a gathering here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
President Zardari said the welfare of women was a priority of the government and it was with this objective that the scheme has been initiated.

“I am pleased to launch the scheme on the name of great leader Benazir Bhutto Shaheed,” President Zardari said. He said the scheme was a step towards empowerment of the women and ameliorating the sufferings of the poorest of the poor.“I wish Mohtarma was alive today to have launched the program with her own hands,” he said.

The program to benefit as many as 3 million people will be implemented with complete transparency and by rising above political affiliations, the President said. He said the recommendations of the parliamentarians will be kept in consideration in identifying the vulnerable sections of the society.

The President said the government has also directed NADRA to place all information about the financial transactions on its website so that the people may verify that the money is being given to the real deserving, with complete openness.

The President termed the scheme that will cover around 14 per cent of the population in the low income group across the country; including FATA, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu Kashmir. He said special focus of the scheme will be on the remote areas of Balochistan, Chitral, North and South Waziristan, Kohistan and Tharparkar.

The President handed over cheques to the deserving families. Prime Minsiter Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate and parliamentarians attended the event. Minister for IT and Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is also looking after the BISP said the Benazir Income Support Program will be the largest direct cash grant scheme in country’s history and all members of Parliament, irrespective of party affiliation will be provided equal opportunities to recommend deserving families.

A unique feature of the scheme is that the payment will be made directly to the female head of the family and the amount will help in providing funds for around 25 days of wheat flour for the family. He said the Benazir Income Support Programme is the third largest allocation in the current budget and constitutes 0.3 percent of GDP. For families earning Rs. 5000 per month, the Rs. 1000 payout will amount to a 20 percent increase in their current purchasing power.

The funds would be disbursed through Pakistan Post and will be delivered by postal Money Order at the recipient address, so that they do not have to incur any cost or trouble in obtaining the amount. He said under the scheme each Parliamentarian will be allocated 8,000 forms which would be distributed by MNA’s and Senators in their respective constituencies. The forms would be verified by the Union Councillor as well as the area MNA.

The parliamentarians will collect the completed forms and mail these to NADRA in pre-addressed envelopes provided by BISP.-APP

MIRAN SHAH: At least eight security forces personnel were killed on Saturday when a suicide bomber attacked a military convoy in North Waziristan Agency. Army spokesman Maj. Murad Khan said the attack targeted a military convoy heading from Bannu to Miran Shah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. “Eight soldiers have died and some 12 others were injured,” an official said, adding he feared the toll may increase.

It was reported that US drones were hovering over different areas of North and South Waziristan, while also covering part of Kurram agency. Sources said that Ghulam Khan, Lowara, Dattakhel, Madahkhel, Shawal, Razmak, Makeen, Laddah and Kurram Agency’s different areas Tarimangal, Maqbal and other areas of North and South Waziristan witnessed the drones hovering over the skies and were seen after taking rounds went back to Afghanistan. Drones flying triggering scare in these areas during the past few days has intensified.-SANA

LONDON: America will not win the war in Afghanistan by taking it across the border into Pakistan’s tribal areas. The gloom of the coalition forces about the war in Afghanistan tends to be seasonal. The hopes of spring are dented by a summer of roadside explosions, suicide-bombings and ambushes. But this autumn they have nearly been dashed altogether. Violence is at its highest level since the toppling of the Taliban in 2001.

The chairman of America’s joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has admitted he is “not convinced we’re winning it” in Afghanistan. On the ground the mood is bleaker. Foreign aid-workers in Kabul feel under siege. Generals grumble about needing thousands more soldiers. Some diplomats seem close to despair. For those hoping Afghanistan can soon achieve peace and stability, these are desperate times.

One desperate measure adopted by America in response has been to attack the presumed bases in Pakistan’s tribal areas from which militants mount cross-border operations (see article). Since Pakistan is failing to live up to its promise to deny the insurgents sanctuary, exasperated American generals have decided to act themselves. But launching attacks in Pakistan in defiance of its government is counterproductive.

On September 3rd American commandos mounted an attack in South Waziristan, part of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistanis say another incursion this week was repulsed, though both armies deny it. Certainly, American forces have been stepping up strikes. There have been a dozen in a fortnight.

Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is easily provoked, and it is hard to imagine greater provocation. The government, which says the American attacks have cost civilian lives, has been fiercely critical of them. Worse, there are suspicions in Pakistan that their timing was influenced by the political calendar in Washington. The Bush administration, it is thought, is impatient for an “October surprise” in the form of the killing or capture of al-Qaeda bigwigs hiding in the FATA.

Even if these suspicions are groundless, unilateral cross-border attacks, which appear to have killed no “high-value targets”, are a bad idea. In Afghanistan itself the Taliban have been adept at duping foreign forces into becoming their recruiters through the killing of civilians. In the FATA there is the same risk: that the raids end up making the local population—and the rest of Pakistan—even more hostile to America. They certainly undermine the fragile new civilian government of President Asif Zardari. To be treated with such contempt by an ally weakens Mr Zardari’s standing at home, and makes Pakistan’s army—never tolerant of civilian direction—even less likely to heed the government.

ISLAMABAD: The top US military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, reiterated yesterday a US commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty after a flurry of US strikes on militants in Pakistan strained relations between the allies. Mullen said this month he was not convinced Western forces were winning in Afghanistan and he was “looking at a new, more comprehensive strategy” that would cover both sides of the border, including Pakistan’s tribal areas.

US officials say Taleban and Al-Qaeda-linked fighters use ethnic Pashtun tribal regions on the Pakistani side of the border as a springboard for attacks into Afghanistan. A new government in nuclear-armed Pakistan has promised support for the US-led campaign against Islamist militancy even though the campaign is deeply unpopular with many Pakistanis.

But Islamabad objects to cross-border strikes and protested against a bloody helicopter-borne ground assault by US commandos in South Waziristan this month. There have been five US missile strikes this month, killing militants and civilians.

In talks with army commander Gen. Ashfaq Kayani and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Mullen expressed appreciation for the positive role Pakistan was playing in the war on terror and pledged US support, the US Embassy said. “Adm. Mullen reiterated the US commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and to develop further US-Pakistani cooperation and coordination,” the embassy said in a statement.

Kayani lodged a protest with the US military commander and said there is not agreement or understanding between two countries which allows US to carry out attacks inside Pakistani boundary. Both military chiefs discussed the issues related to the war on terror and Pak-Afghan borders. Besides this, they discussed recent statements issued by the two sides regarding US attacks inside Pakistan’s territory.

Kayani made it clear that it was the sole authority of Pakistan Army to launch attack inside its territorial boundaries. Kayani further said Angoor Adda-like incidents would affect the ongoing cooperation between US and Pakistan.

The tension with the United States compounded worry on Pakistan’s financial markets. Dealers said the rupee weakened to a new low of 77.20/30, partly because of the row with the United States, a major source of financial help for Pakistan as it struggles with economic problems, but it firmed slightly before the close.

Army commander Kayani said last week Pakistan’s territory would be defended at all cost and a military spokesman said on Tuesday aggression across the border would be confronted.

Pakistan, which is battling Al-Qaeda and Taleban militants in the northwest, says US strikes could spark an uprising among its Pashtun minority along the border. US President George W. Bush approved the US commando assault in South Waziristan on Sept. 3 without Islamabad’s permission as part of a presidential order on covert operations, officials and sources familiar with the matter said.

But officials and analysts in Washington said the Bush administration was unlikely to use commando raids as a common tactic against militant havens in Pakistan because of the high-stake risks to US policy in the region.
Courtesy Arab News

Geo News quoted sources close to Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani as saying that Al Qaeda Pakistan chief Abu Haris was among 26 people killed in Monday’s missile strike by the United States in Miranshah. Among those killed in the strike were at least three low-level Qaeda operatives, including an Arab and an Azerbaijani, Pakistan intelligence officials said.

According to the news, four guards and two wives of Haqqani were also killed in said attack. Four missiles hit a seminary run by Haqqani while three hit populated areas in Miranshah. However It remained undefined whether Haqqani was present at the seminary at the time of the missile strike or not. Pakistani television channels reported that Badruddin Haqqani, a younger brother of Sirajuddin, had said that his brother and father were “alive and well” in Afghanistan.

According to Daily Times Haqqani, a close aide of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar, has not been seen since the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001. The latest attack, in which three Al Qaeda leaders — Hamza Arabi, Qasim Hamza and Musa Arabi — were also killed, comes at a time when the US-led coalition troops are investigating last weekek’s ground attack in Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan that claimed 20 lives.

Lou Fintor, a spokesman at the United States Embassy in Islamabad, said the embassy had no comment on the strike. The attack on Monday was the third American missile strike on Taliban targets in North and South Waziristan since the ground attack on Wednesday.

IHT has reported that one of the Bush administration’s biggest complaints about the Pakistani government has been its reluctance to sever its ties with Taliban militants like the Haqqanis. However this has not been the case Pakistan has staked its own people for fighting American war. People of Pakistan have started questioning sovereignty

ISLAMABAD: Senior al Qaeda commander Abu Saeed al-Masri has been killed in recent clashes with Pakistani forces in a Pakistani region near the Afghan border, a security official said on Tuesday. “He was believed to be among the top leadership of al Qaeda,” the senior security official said on condition of anonymity.

Al-Masri, which means Egyptian, was the most senior al Qaeda operative to have been killed in Pakistan’s tribal belt since the death of his compatriot, Abu Khabab al-Masri, an al-Qaeda chemical and biological weapons expert, last month.

Al-Qa’eda have yet to confirm the latest death, but did acknowledge the earlier killings. In a web statement they said Abu Khabab al-Masri and three other commanders had been killed. It did not give details on when or how they were killed, but Pakistani authorities have said they believe al-Masri died in an American airstrike on a compound near the Afghan border.

Pakistani officials have said six people were killed in that strike, in the country’s lawless South Waziristan tribal region. The first Al-Masri, an Egyptian militant whose real name is Midhat Mursi, had a $5 million bounty on his head from the United States. He is accused of training terrorists to use poisons and explosives, and is believed to have trained suicide bombers who killed 17 American sailors on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.-SANA

KABUL: Taliban fighting Afghan and international forces in the war-torn Afghanistan have increased their activities, spokesman of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. “There has been an increase in Taliban’ activities in south and east Afghanistan over the past two months or so,” Mike Finney told a joint press conference with Afghan defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi. Read the full story