U.S. Drone Kills 5 as Pakistan Hesitates Against Taliban
Five alleged Pakistani militants connected to the Taliban warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur were killed in a drone strike Saturday as the United States pressured Pakistan to attack Taliban forces that may become the country's crucial allies once foreign forces leave.
Five alleged Pakistani militants connected to the Taliban warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur were killed in a drone strike Saturday as the United States pressured Pakistan to attack Taliban forces that may become the country’s crucial allies once foreign forces leave.
A Pakistani general confirmed his military would strike those elements, located in the North Waziristan region of northwest Pakistan, only if such an attack coincided with the country’s interests.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...The Associated Press via The Guardian:
The US has pushed Pakistan repeatedly to take such a step, and earlier this week US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told the Associated Press that Pakistan was preparing an operation targeting the Pakistani Taliban in North Waziristan.
Pakistan has been reluctant to undertake an offensive there, saying its military is already overtaxed by fighting in other tribal areas. But many in the US believe Pakistan does not want to upset the many militant groups there, such as the Haqqani network, that could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces leave.
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
Editorial Cartoons
Military
As DOD integrates artificial intelligence into military operations, concerns rise over ethics, transparency, and unintended consequences.
Opinion
President Biden's rules on drone warfare mask continued violent Islamophobia.
Politics
Obama's only takeaway from the Syria episode was to never again seek Congressional approval for military action.
The president’s foreign policy seldom matches his anti-war rhetoric. In 2020, it’s incumbent on his opposition to offer a true alternative.
There’s a lot about our wars that we don’t know, but what we do know is enough to make a person cry.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.