Pakistan War News Updates -- July 31, 2008

Taliban flags on Pakistan side of the border with Afghanistan:
Photo by Talk Radio News

What Pakistan's Intelligence Ties Say About Ending the
War on Terrorism -- Counter Terrorism Blog

The International Herald Tribune today reports on a recent CIA mission to Pakistan to confront leaders of the ISI there about the ties ISI members retain to the Taliban and al Qaeda.

The CIA assessment specifically points to links between members of the spy service, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, and the militant network led by Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani, which American officials believe maintains close ties to senior figures of Al Qaeda in Pakistan's tribal areas.

The CIA has depended heavily on the ISI for information about militants in Pakistan, despite longstanding concerns about divided loyalties within the Pakistani spy service, which had close relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan before the Sept. 11 attacks.

This is not new, but is useful when juxtaposed with the conclusions of the new and very useful Rand Corporation report on how to end terrorism.

Read more ....

MORE NEWS ON PAKISTAN

30 killed as fighting escalates in Pakistan valley -- Yahoo News
Pakistan: Taliban militants killed in fresh conflict -- ADNKronos
Jirga to mediate between govt and Taliban -- Daily Times
Taliban continue breaching Swat deal -- Daily Times
Swat operation re-launched -- Daily Times
Curfew declared in Pakistan's violence-hit Swat Valley -- Khaleej Times
TTP denies differences in Taliban ranks -- Daily Times
Taliban split into two factions in Bajaur Agency -- Daily Times
Shelling ends Taliban control of PTV booster in Bajaur -- Daily Times
CIA outlines Pakistan links with militants -- International Herald Tribune
US being impatient in war on terror: PM -- Daily Times
Pakistan's Accidental Prime Minister -- Time magazine
‘Gilani govt too weak to act’ -- Daily Times
U.S. Wary of Pakistani Appeal for More Cooperation -- Washington Post
US Senate body approves $15bn aid -- Daily Times
US wants Pakistan to also protect neighbours -- Dawn Internet

My Comment: Afghanistan and Pakistan is the front for the war on terrorism today.