Monday, February 23, 2015

Pakistan Resigns Itself To A Long War In The Tribal Areas On The Afghan Border



Washington Post: Pakistan braces for a long and deadly war in tribal areas on Afghan border

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — When 10 Pakistani soldiers tried to dislodge Taliban militants from a madrassa near the Afghan border this summer, their advance was crippled by relentless gunfire. Within minutes, two soldiers were dead, and Imran Ali had so many bullets in his legs he couldn’t tell whether they were still attached.

For 22 agonizing hours, Ali said, he curled up on the floor waiting for other soldiers to fight their way in to rescue him. After he was finally flown to safety, his left leg was amputated at the knee, and he became another victim of the Pakistani army’s latest offensive against Islamist militants in the restive tribal area of North Waziristan.

WNU Editor: This paragraph sums up Pakistan past and what some analysts believe are Pakistan's prospects in this conflict ....

.... Some analysts and U.S. officials are skeptical, however, that the Pakistani army can stomach a prolonged fight against Islamist militants, some of whom were nurtured by Pakistani defense and intelligence agencies as bulwarks against India and might still be viewed as assets. Other analysts say that even if the military fights stoutly, it is unclear whether it can win.

At least (according to the above Washington post video) they are now starting to take care of their wounded soldiers.

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