Pakistanis attack the Taliban

[Chris]

More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a long-expected assault on the Taliban lair of South Waziristan today, following a fortnight of militant attacks that left 175 people dead and underlined the threat to Pakistan's stability.

Early clashes were reported to have claimed more than 20 casualties as government soldiers pressed in on the mountain stronghold from three sides, backed by helicopter gunships, warplanes and artillery. A fifth of the local population has fled in recent weeks.

The operation is Pakistan's largest ever drive against Islamist extremists. The army says that it has deployed the 30,000 troops against an estimated 10,000 Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. The battle zone is the Mehsud tribal territory, whose impoverished villages have a long history of producing formidable tribal fighters. The Pakistan Taliban in the region are now led by Hakimullah Mehsud, the successor of Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in an American drone strike last August.

Pakistan sends 30,000 troops for all-out assault on Taliban | World news | The Observer

 

[Sunni Man]

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

 

[Chris]

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

Support for the Taliban in Pakistan has dropped to nil.

Suicide attacks don't win hearts and minds.

All they do is kill innocent people.

 

[rightwinger]

More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a long-expected assault on the Taliban lair of South Waziristan today, following a fortnight of militant attacks that left 175 people dead and underlined the threat to Pakistan's stability.

Early clashes were reported to have claimed more than 20 casualties as government soldiers pressed in on the mountain stronghold from three sides, backed by helicopter gunships, warplanes and artillery. A fifth of the local population has fled in recent weeks.

The operation is Pakistan's largest ever drive against Islamist extremists. The army says that it has deployed the 30,000 troops against an estimated 10,000 Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. The battle zone is the Mehsud tribal territory, whose impoverished villages have a long history of producing formidable tribal fighters. The Pakistan Taliban in the region are now led by Hakimullah Mehsud, the successor of Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in an American drone strike last August.

Pakistan sends 30,000 troops for all-out assault on Taliban | World news | The Observer

Congratulations to Pakistan

We need to press them from both sides.

 

[uptownlivin90]

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

There's less support for the Taliban in the cities, but I think your absolutely right and in the long run this nation and the Afghans are going to have to make a deal with the moderate elements of the Taliban to end this war.

 

[garyd]

In the early 30's millions supported Adolph Hitler. Anyone rooting for the Taliban should seriously consider their approach to human rights.

 

[uptownlivin90]

In the early 30's millions supported Adolph Hitler. Anyone rooting for the Taliban should seriously consider their approach to human rights.

Who's routing for the taliban?

 

[garyd]

Possibly sunni man we shall have to wait his response if any for clarification however.

 

[Chris]

Update....

Pakistani troops seized control of Kotkai, the home village of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, where Mehsud has lived with fellow Taliban commander Qari Hussein. Hussein is the mastermind of some of Pakistan's deadliest suicide attacks.

Airstrikes from jet fighters and helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in Kotkai and the villages of Badar, Barwand, and Khisur -- all strongholds of the Taliban and their late leader Baitullah Mehsud, another official told CNN.

The officials asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Four Pakistani soldiers were killed and 12 others were wounded on the first day of the battle, the military said.

The ground offensive in South Waziristan was launched Saturday morning after the military received clearance from the government, said Gen. Athar Abbas, the Pakistan military spokesman.

He said the region's eight entry and exit points have been sealed by troops.

Pakistani troops 'seize Taliban leader's village' - CNN.com

 

[Sunni Man]

Possibly sunni man we shall have to wait his response if any for clarification however.

I am not rooting for the Taliban. Just using common sense.

You are not going to defeat the so called Taliban

What we call the Taliban is really just a loose confederation of tribes, sub tribes, and intermarriages between tribes.

These groups are made up of members who's loyality is to their family tribe and the local warlord..

They have NO loyality to the Afghan or Pakistan governments and never will.


The best thing we could do is to include the different Taliban groups into any political process.

btw You will never be able to build a viable Afghan government without including the Taliban.

 

[garyd]

Kill enough of them and the rest will take the hint Sunni. Yeah it's harsh and I'd rather the world wasn't like that but the fact is you don't generally have to kill all of them merely enough of them. It's generally especially effective against religious zanies simply because they start asking that deadly question "Okay what if God really isn't on our side in this" especially when they are losing and losing badly.

 

[random3434]

Update....

Pakistani troops seized control of Kotkai, the home village of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, where Mehsud has lived with fellow Taliban commander Qari Hussein. Hussein is the mastermind of some of Pakistan's deadliest suicide attacks.

Airstrikes from jet fighters and helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in Kotkai and the villages of Badar, Barwand, and Khisur -- all strongholds of the Taliban and their late leader Baitullah Mehsud, another official told CNN.

The officials asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Four Pakistani soldiers were killed and 12 others were wounded on the first day of the battle, the military said.

The ground offensive in South Waziristan was launched Saturday morning after the military received clearance from the government, said Gen. Athar Abbas, the Pakistan military spokesman.

He said the region's eight entry and exit points have been sealed by troops.

Pakistani troops 'seize Taliban leader's village' - CNN.com

Are the American and British troops involved in this too?

 

[Sunni Man]

Alexander the Great, the British, and the Russians, couldn't conquer the them; and neither will we.

They have fought against invaders for dozens of generations.

They are fiercely independent and will fight against anyone for as many generations as it takes.

There are millions of talibans and their supporters.

We need to work with them and make them part of the solution.

 

[geauxtohell]

Wow. Pakistan decides to attack the Taliban. Again.

Lest anyone get too excited, I'll remind them that the Paki Military has done this before on numerous occasions.

The Pak Army approaches the Taliban like most people approach weeds. They only do enough to knock them back for a few months and never enough to eradicate them.

Could be because the ISI-D created the Taliban.

 

[Sunni Man]

Wow. Pakistan decides to attack the Taliban. Again.

Lest anyone get too excited, I'll remind them that the Paki Military has done this before on numerous occasions.

The Pak Army approaches the Taliban like most people approach weeds. They only do enough to knock them back for a few months and never enough to eradicate them.

Could be because the ISI-D created the Taliban.

You are correct.

This is just a show for Western media and the American government.

They want to keep the money flowing for the so called war on terror.

The Pakistan military is sypathetic to the Taliban.

They will kill a few and then back off.

Business as usual.

 

[Godboy]

Possibly sunni man we shall have to wait his response if any for clarification however.

I am not rooting for the Taliban. Just using common sense.

You are not going to defeat the so called Taliban

What we call the Taliban is really just a loose confederation of tribes, sub tribes, and intermarriages between tribes.

These groups are made up of members who's loyality is to their family tribe and the local warlord..

They have NO loyality to the Afghan or Pakistan governments and never will.


The best thing we could do is to include the different Taliban groups into any political process.

btw You will never be able to build a viable Afghan government without including the Taliban.

So you ARE routing for the Taliban. You would have them be part of the political process, knowing full and well they would do everything in their power to enforce Crapia Law. You are a muslim Sunni, and you stick up for nut cases like these guys. Quit trying to candy coat it and just admit you like them.

Heres a better question to nail down your position... If you had the power to snap your fingers and make it happen, would you rid the world of the Taliban? A yes or no will suffice. None of your typical avoidance or deflection please . Ill take any effort on your part to avoid this simple question as a resounding NO.

 

[Chris]

Wow. Pakistan decides to attack the Taliban. Again.

Lest anyone get too excited, I'll remind them that the Paki Military has done this before on numerous occasions.

The Pak Army approaches the Taliban like most people approach weeds. They only do enough to knock them back for a few months and never enough to eradicate them.

Could be because the ISI-D created the Taliban.

You are correct.

This is just a show for Western media and the American government.

They want to keep the money flowing for the so called war on terror.

The Pakistan military is sypathetic to the Taliban.

They will kill a few and then back off.

Business as usual.

Wrong.

Recent polls show that only 5% of the Pakistani people support the Taliban.

 

[EriktheRed]

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

There's less support for the Taliban in the cities, but I think your absolutely right and in the long run this nation and the Afghans are going to have to make a deal with the moderate elements of the Taliban to end this war.

IS there a moderate element in the Taliban?

 

[Sunni Man]

Recent polls show that only 5% of the Pakistani people support the Taliban.

And what Western media organization conducted the polls?

 

[Sunni Man]

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

There's less support for the Taliban in the cities, but I think your absolutely right and in the long run this nation and the Afghans are going to have to make a deal with the moderate elements of the Taliban to end this war.

IS there a moderate element in the Taliban?

Of course there is a moderate element within the Taliban.

People forget that the Taliban offered to arrest Osama Bin Laden if we could show evidence of his guilt.

And later they even offered to send him to a third party country to be tried in a court of law.

Bush turned down both offers.

The Taliban were never our enemy untill after we invaded them.

Al Qaeda were the ones who declared war on the US not the Taliban.