<b>Suicide bomber kills 50 in Jamrud mosque attack </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->JAMRUD: A powerful bomb ripped through a two-storey mosque, packed with worshipers, in the Khyber tribal region, <b>killing at least 50 people </b>and injuring over 150 on Friday.
âIt was a suicide bombingâ, administrator of Khyber tribal region, Tariq Hayat Khan said. Local residents feared that the number of those killed could be higher.
Hayat blamed the defunct <b>Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan </b>for the explosion. âTheir aim is to spread terror and any place where they cause maximum casualties is a legitimate target for themâ, he said.
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Pakistan Winner of Super Lotto
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <b>Obama unveils new Pak-Afghan plan, announces $1.5bn aidge</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->He also called on his allies to help Pakistan out of its economic crisis by supporting the IMF package for Pakistan. Obama announced an aid of 1.5-billion-dollar-worth of âdirect support to the people of Pakistan in the next five years.â<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Mar 27 2009, 05:04 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Mar 27 2009, 05:04 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Suicide bomber kills 50 in Jamrud mosque attack </b><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->JAMRUD: A powerful bomb ripped through a two-storey mosque, packed with worshipers, in the Khyber tribal region, <b>killing at least 50 people </b>and injuring over 150 on Friday.
âIt was a suicide bombingâ, administrator of Khyber tribal region, Tariq Hayat Khan said. Local residents feared that the number of those killed could be higher.
Hayat blamed the defunct <b>Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan </b>for the explosion. âTheir aim is to spread terror and any place where they cause maximum casualties is a legitimate target for themâ, he said.
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Is this a Shia or Sunni mosque? TTP is paki Deobandi outfit.
Looks like Sunni mosque, This info is under discussion in different fora.
<i> Kabbah was attacked and even destroyed number of times by muslims in the past.
Hajjaj bin yousuf destroy kaba completely and killed Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair in the kabbah and hang his dead body on the gate of kabbah for three days. Hajjaj was a muslim and his whole army was muslim too.</i>
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<b>The mosque in a rocky valley near the town of Jamrud lies on the main road along which trucks carry vital supplies to the expanding U.S.-led force in Afghanistan.</b>
Suspected Taliban militants have carried out a string of attacks on both trucks and transport depots along the route in recent months, destroying scores of military vehicles, including Humvees, and raising doubts about the reliability of the supply line.
The area has also been beset by feuds between rival tribal and militant groups â some loosely allied with the government, others close to the Taliban â which have included suicide bombings and attacks on mosques, though none so deadly as Friday's blast.
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Why I am feeling , target were spy./spies ?
03-28-2009, 01:06 AM (This post was last modified: 03-28-2009, 01:08 AM by Naresh.)
<!--QuoteBegin-ramana+Mar 27 2009, 10:57 PM-->QUOTE(ramana @ Mar 27 2009, 10:57 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Is this a Shia or Sunni mosque? TTP is paki Deobandi outfit.
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<b>ramana Ji :</b>
Most probably it is a Sunni Mosque as the Shia place of worship is termed as "ImasmBargah".
Let us wait and see whether it is the Shias or Sunnis who each get the 72 Virgins and 36 Boys.
<b>WASHINGTON, March 28 : Three top US generals and a key envoy have accused the ISI of helping Al Qaeda and Taliban extremists while one of them said that this issue was also raised during the Pakistan Army chiefâs recent visit to Washington.
The claims, made hours after President Barak Obama announced his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday, indicates a major change in US attitude towards the intelligence agency.</b>
âDuring Gen Ashfaq Kayaniâs visit to Washington, Admiral Mike Mullen spoke with him at length, I did as well, and others,â US National Security Adviser Gen James Jones told Dawn when asked if they had evidence of ISIâs involvement.Gen Kayani visited Washington last month for talks on ties between the defence establishments of the two countries and on Pakistanâs role in the war on terror.
âThere are at least some questions that have to be resolved. If thatâs the case, we need to come to resolution with it. I think it is in Pakistanâs interest to be very clear on the issue,â Gen Jones said while talking about his talks with Gen Kayani.
âSo if there is room for improvement, we should together work for that improvement, so that we can have common goals and common pursuits.â
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. David Petraeus, head of the US Central Command, joined their national security adviser in urging the ISI to end its contacts with the militants.
Admiral Mullen and Gen Petraeus also met Gen Kayani during his US trip and discussed ISIâs alleged involvement with the Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists.
In their interviews to the media after President Obamaâs speech, the two US military officers sought Pakistanâs cooperation in the fight against the militants.
Admiral Mullen claimed that the ISI had links to militants on both its western border with Afghanistan and its eastern border with India.
<b>âFundamentally, the strategic approach with the ISI must change and their support ... for militants, actually on both borders, has to fundamentally shift,â he told CNN televisionâs âSituation Roomâ programme.
Asked if there were still elements within the ISI who sympathized with or supported Al Qaeda and the Taliban, Admiral Mullen said: âThere are certainly indications that thatâs the case.â
In another interview, Gen Petraeus said some of the militant groups had been established by the ISI and that their links continued.
He said there was evidence that âin the fairly recent pastâ the ISI had tipped off militants when their positions were in danger.</b>
âThere are some cases that are indisputable in which that appears to have taken place,â he added.
âItâs a topic that is of enormous importance, because if there are links and if those continue and if it undermines the operations [against militants], obviously that would be very damaging to the kind of trust that we need to build,â said Gen Petraeus in a PBS television interview.
Links between the Taliban and ISI âare very strong and some unquestionably remain to this day,â Gen Petraeus said. âIt is much more difficult to say at what level.â
Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to the region who plans to visit Pakistan again next week for follow up talks on the new strategy, said of all issues, investigating the ISI was âthe most important.â
<b>âThe issueâs very disturbing,â</b> Mr Holbrooke told PBS when asked if the ISI was assisting Al Qaeda and Taliban extremists.
âWe cannot succeed if the two intelligence agencies (the CIA and ISI) are at each othersâ throat or donât trust each other and if the kind of collusion you referred to is factual,â Mr Holbrooke said.
<b>Attack on Pak police training academy kills 20+</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At least 15 police men were killed and 30 others injured when a group of heavily armed gunmen attacked a police training centre <b>near the Wagah border </b>and took an unspecified number of hostages.
<b>Donning police uniforms, the assailants believed to be around 10-14 in number stormed the complex around 7 am, opening indiscriminate fire and lobbing grenades when about 800 trainee policemen were present in the premises</b>.
The attack comes barely a month after the audacious strike on Sri Lankan cricketers on March 3 in Lahore [Images] that left eight persons dead and 20 injured.
Witnesses and TV channels said that a series of at least five blasts were heard at the training centre at Manawan, located near the Wagah border, and the explosions were followed by an exchange of fire between the attackers and policemen that was continuing even after three hours.
Bodies of policemen were strewn on the ground and more casualties were feared. Dozens of police were also seen scaling a wall to escape from within the centre.
Most of the casualties occurred near the gate of the centre.
<b>At least eight police officers were among those killed in the attack</b>, which took place when the trainees were carrying out their morning drills, police official Mohd Afzal said.
Lahore police chief Haji Habibur Rehman told a television channel that six to seven attackers were believed to be involved in the shooting at the centre.
Another police official said, "Elite squads have arrived. They have surrounded the premises and we are planning to storm inside soon."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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Looks like ISI trained squad, same Khlalistani terrorist style shoot out and disappear.
Tribal pure Islamist only attack Army pure force, attacking Police is something else.
Looks like ISI trained squad, same Khlalistani terrorist style shoot out and disappear.
Tribal pure Islamist only attack Army pure force, attacking Police is something else.
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  In recent days three top American generals have turned their guns on Pakistan, accusing elements of its main intelligence agency, the ISI, of supporting Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.
This probably explains why even NYT & Co are publishing some articles critical of Pak. It's being done at the behest of the US govt. It seems to indicate a change in strategy.
Posted by san at 3/29/2009 05:32:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: isi, jihad, pakistan, terrorism, usa <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Tomorrow's news: US donates another handful of billions to Pak as "military aid".
Geo-TV
At least three bearded men in vests put their hands in the air and surrendered to the small group of armed security forces and commandos on the rooftop of the main academy building just outside the city of Lahore.
By BABAR DOGAR, Associated Press Writer Babar Dogar, Associated Press Writer â 10 mins ago
LAHORE, Pakistan â Pakistani security forces overpowered a group of gunmen who staged a deadly assault on a police academy Monday, <b>capturing six of the militants while eight others died </b>during an hours-long battle in the country's east.
Iftikhar confirmed that six of the militants were arrested. <b>Of the eight dead, two blew themselves up</b>, he said.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>High Alert on Indo-Pak border after Lahore attack</b>
Updated at: 2240 PST, Monday, March 30, 2009
NEW DELHI: A high alert has been sounded along at the Indo-Pak Attari border immediate after the terrorist attack at police training academy in Lahore Monday morning.
An official of Indian Border security Force (BSF) says that a high alert has been sounded on Indo Pak Attari border and its surrounding areas immediate after the attack at Lahore.
He said that security has also been enhanced at Indo Pak Joint Check Post (JCP) the only land transit route in Punjab to Pakistan particularly at the time of evening âBeating Retreat Ceremony when thousands of people assemble there to watch the flag lower ceremony during sunset.
<b>BSF troops posted on Indo Pak border were delivered special kind of instructions to remain extra vigil for morning and night patrolling duty, since Lahore has very close proximity to Indian border just 20 to 25 kilometers, he said.</b>
All necessary measures were strictly adopted by the BSF patrolling troops whereupon all the pickets along the Indo-Pak border falling in the rural area around Attari border were directed to keep hawk eye towards Pakistan to avert any kind of infiltration, he informed. http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=73187
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<!--QuoteBegin-ramana+Mar 31 2009, 04:03 AM-->QUOTE(ramana @ Mar 31 2009, 04:03 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Is the concern that TSP might use this as an excuse to attack India?
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I think these pious attackers may try some adventure on Indans on border just to create war like situation. If this happen, Indian will expect reaction from impotent appointed Prime Minister of India to react.
Wagh border post is occupied by BSF with light arms and they can't protect huge crowd during morning or evening ceremony.
03-31-2009, 01:16 PM (This post was last modified: 03-31-2009, 01:17 PM by Naresh.)
<!--QuoteBegin-shamu+Mar 31 2009, 10:55 AM-->QUOTE(shamu @ Mar 31 2009, 10:55 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Use border skirmish to create a pseudo-nationalism drive and people will vote for Kangress
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<b>shamu Ji :</b>
It does not matter whether it is the Kriminal Kaangress Kammunist Klan or the Scoundrels of any other variety are in Power.
Pakistan now will attack India so as to divert the Attention of the Hundreds of Millions (nearly as Pakistanâs real Population has crossed the 180 Million Mark) of Abdul the Bulbuls and Burqa Bilkisses from the Prevailing Internal Situation.
Thus whatever the prevailing situation in India and whichever Bunch of Scoundrels have their Snouts in the Troughs it is imperative that India must immediately â if not earlier â shore up and strengthen not only its Border Defences with Terroristan West but also with Terroristan East as well as with China.
In addition the Indian Navy and Coast Guard along with the Indian Air Force must also be put on High Alert to ensure that the Nation is secure from the Islamic Adventurist.
<b>WASHINGTON : The U.S. military will reserve the "right of last resort" to take out threats inside Pakistan, but it would prefer to enable the Pakistani military to do the job itself, Gen. David Petraeus said Monday in an exclusive interview with a US television channel.</b>
The commander of U.S. Central Command was interviewed as the Obama administration prepares to step up the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
<b>Asked about lingering concerns that Pakistan is not fully on board, Petraeus told media that the U.S. military is putting "additional focus" on rooting out ties between Pakistan's intelligence service and the Taliban.</b>
One incident of obvious cooperation between the Pakistani intelligence community and extremists has already been uncovered, he said. "There is a case in the past year or so that we think was unambiguous. There appears to have been a warning prior to a Pakistani operation," Petraeus said.
But he said trust between the two countries will be key as President Obama seeks more Pakistani cooperation and calls for billions in aid to the country.
"I think we are building that kind of trust. And that's the way I think is the best description for that. And it's hugely important that that trust be built," Petraeus said, pointing to "gradually increasing intelligence sharing" among Afghan, Pakistani and U.S. forces along the border.
Obama, in unveiling his regional plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday, said the U.S. will "insist that action be taken, one way or another, when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets."
He added on Sunday that "we're going after" such targets, though the U.S. will need to work with Pakistan's government to do so. He did not specifically say U.S. troops could be sent into the country.
Asked about the president's comments, Petraeus signaled that all options would be on the table.
"I think we would never give up, if you will, the right of last resort if we assess something as a threat to us, noting that what we want to do is enable the Pakistanis, help them, assist them to deal with the problem that we now think, and their leaders certainly now think, represents the most important existential threat to their country, not just to the rest of the world," he said.
The Pakistanis have expressed frustration over unmanned U.S. drone strikes to take out terrorist targets inside their border.
But Petraeus said the U.S. is mindful of perceptions in the region.
"It's hugely important that we be seen as good neighbors, as friends, certainly fierce warriors who will go after the enemy and stay after them -- but also as individuals who try to avoid civilian casualties whenever possible and are seen again as supporting the people and trying to help them achieve a better life," Petraeus said, specifically referring to the fight on the Afghan side of the border.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There is one piece missing, and that involves the Pakistani mindset toward India. There are a number of analysts (include me on that list) who believe that until the India-centricity of Pakistani foreign and security policy is substantially modified, the country will find it very difficult to adjust its sights to the real danger the state of Pakistan faces from the West. <b>This adjustment not only involves the army, though it is a critical actor in this drama, but the whole of civil society itself.
The India-centric focus of much of society and the military is, arguably, responsible for much of Pakistanâs deficiencies as a state, a nation, and a society.</b> That is a subject that I may take up in some future column. This one is about President Obamaâs strategy to help Pakistan overcome the existential challenge it faces.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<i>William B Milam is a senior policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington and a former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh</i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The India-centric focus of much of society and the military is, arguably, responsible for much of Pakistanâs deficiencies as a state, a nation, and a society<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He missed couple of other reason, they are -
Hindus , Bania
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