WASHINGTON: US has said combating war on terrorism is in interest of both Pakistan and United States and it has full trust on Pakistani government and will continue extending support to Pakistan in this connection, Geo news reported Monday.
Briefing media here, the spokesman to US state department Ian Kelley said he was unaware of an agreement to keep some militant factions out of the fight for now, but other U.S. officials said the strategy is not surprising or necessarily worrisome.
Because the faction loyal to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud poses the most direct threat to the Pakistani government and army, it is the logical first target, U.S. officials briefed on the offensive said.
He said conducting operation in tribal mountainous areas is an uneasy job but Pakistan army successfully carried out military offensive against Taliban in Swat and now is engaged in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), which reflects its determination to toot out terrorism.
The United States, while criticizing the suicide bombing on Iran, mentioned that it is not involved in the attack.
Spokesman Kelly said, “We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives”. "Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," he added.
Pakistan cuts deal with anti-US militants
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan's army, in the midst of a major new offensive against Taliban militants, has struck deals to keep two powerful, anti-U.S. tribal chiefs from joining the battle against the government, officials said Monday.
The deals increase the chances of an army victory against Pakistan's enemy No. 1, but indicate that the 3-day-old assault into the Taliban's strongholds in South Waziristan may have less effect than the U.S. wants on a spreading insurgency across the border in Afghanistan.
Under the terms agreed to about three weeks ago, Taliban renegades Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur will stay out of the current fight in parts of South Waziristan controlled by the Pakistani Taliban. They will also allow the army to move through their own lands unimpeded, giving the military additional fronts from which to attack the Taliban.
In exchange, the army will ease patrols and bombings in the lands controlled by Nazir and Bahadur, two Pakistani intelligence officials based in the region told media on condition of anonymity because revealing their identities would compromise their work.
An army spokesman described the deal as an "understanding" with the men that they would stay neutral. The agreements underscore Pakistan's past practice of targeting only militant groups that attack the government or its forces inside Pakistan.
Western officials say South Waziristan is also a major sanctuary and training ground for al-Qaida operatives. The mountain-studded region has been under near-total militant control for years and is considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden.
The United States has responded cautiously to the initial Pakistani strategy, publicly welcoming the offensive but saying little about the specific choice of targets.
"We have a shared goal here, and the shared goal is fighting violent extremism," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Monday.
Kelly said he was unaware of an agreement to keep some militant factions out of the fight for now, but other U.S. officials said the strategy is not surprising or necessarily worrisome.
Because the faction loyal to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud poses the most direct threat to the Pakistani government and army, it is the logical first target, U.S. officials briefed on the offensive said.
SWA operation to target terrorists, says COAS letter to Mehsud tribes
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Monday clarified that the objective of the operation in South Waziristan is not to target peace and country loving people of Mehsud tribes, instead the aim is to eliminate Uzbek, local and foreign terrorists.
In a message addressed to Mehsud tribes, the COAS said he admits that the tribes in question including the Mehsud tribes are loyal to Pakistan. “The tribes have always served as Pakistani troops without remuneration,” he added.
He said the objective of the military operation in South Waziristan is to pull the Mehsud tribes form the clutches of terrorists elements and provide an opportunity to the Mehsud tribes to live in their area in peace.
78 terrorists killed in SWA operation so far: DG ISPR
ISLAMABAD: Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas Monday said 18 terrorists have been killed in the last 24 hours in the ongoing operation is South Waziristan, brining the total number of terrorists killed to 78.
Giving a press briefing along with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, DG ISPR told the reporters that the security forces after facing stiff resistance managed to gain control of Sher Bangai and Kotkai – center of suicide bombings trainer Ustad Qari Hussain.
The security forces have also established its control in Kondka in the last 24 hours.
Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said so far 9 security men have been martyred.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Karia said all the terrorist activities in the country have links in South Waziristan.
He said state within state will not be tolerated in Pakistan. The government will take a sigh of relief only when it succeeds in cleansing the country of terrorists.
The Information Minister said so far 14,500 families have migrated from South Waziristan.
100,000 SWA migrants registered: UN
ISLAMABAD: Registration of 100,000 displaced persons from South Waziristan has been completed, according to United Nations Organization.
UNO sources said that 5,000 people have been migrating each day from South Waziristan since operation Rah-e-Nijat has begun.
The representative of UNO’s Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told Geo News that registration of displaced persons is in progress at Tank and D.I. Khan and migrants are being provided with food and other essentials.
He said, in case of need, tents will also be fixed for the affectees with the help of local government.
Commander among 8 militants killed in S Waziristan fight
WANA: Eight militants including a militant commander have been killed and several others wounded as operation ‘Rah-e- Nijat’ is on in South Waziristan.
According to sources, clashes continued between security forces and militants in Khesor and Shahvangi areas. A militant commander among eight militants killed during forces offensive.
Security forces pounding militants’ positions by gunship helicopters, fighter jets and heavy artillery in Laddha, Makken, Sam and other adjoining areas. The death toll of militants killed during three-day action has risen to 33.
On the other hand, mass evacuation from the affected areas. However, people migrating towards safer places facing difficulties due to non-availability of transport because of the curfew.Over 100,000 migrated from Waziristan
WANA: More then 100,000 people have been migrated so far from South Waziristan since start of operation in the area.According to Army Support Group Colonel Wasim Shahid100, 000 people migrated to Tank and different districts of Dera Ismail Khan. At least 80,000 people had already left the area before launch of operation whereas 22,000 people of 1500 families migrated from South Waziristan during last two days. The officials said more families would likely left the affected areas in coming days.
The sources of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that more then 100,000 migrants have been registered.
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