Extremist Tide Rises In Pakistan

From Washington Post:

After Reaching Deal in North, Islamists Aim to Install Religious Law Nationwide

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 19 -- A potentially troubling era dawned Sunday in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where a top Islamist militant leader, emboldened by a peace agreement with the federal government, laid out an ambitious plan to bring a "complete Islamic system" to the surrounding northwest region and the entire country.

Speaking to thousands of followers in an address aired live from Swat on national news channels, cleric Sufi Mohammed bluntly defied the constitution and federal judiciary, saying he would not allow any appeals to state courts under the system of sharia, or Islamic law, that will prevail there as a result of the peace accord signed by the president Tuesday.

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More News On The Turmoil In Pakistan

Missiles demolish Taliban compound -- Washington Times/AP
US airstrike targets Taliban training camp in South Waziristan -- Long War Journal
Pakistan targets dangerous Taliban commander -- Long War Journal
Senior Taliban commander escapes Pakistan airstrike -- CNN
Pakistan air raids kill 20 militants: military -- AFP
Airstrikes kill 16-20 Taliban fighters -- UPI
Pakistan Dismisses U.S. Concern Over Sharia Accord With Taliban -- Bloomberg

Afghanistan, Pakistan Agree 'To Re-Engage' To Fight Extremism

This hand out picture shows Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) embracing Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Sharm el-Sheikh on May 18, 2008.

From The Daily Star:

The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed yesterday to "re-engage" in the fight against Islamic extremism, a joint statement said, after ties had soured following an attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani met in Colombo on the sidelines of a South Asian summit, according to a joint statement released here.

"The two sides agreed to coordinate their efforts to stop cross-border terrorism," the statement said.

"At the suggestion of Pakistan, the Afghan side agreed to re-engage on all bilateral and multilateral forums," it added.

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My Comment: Pakistan has always promised a lot .... but delivered very little. We shall see what happens in the next few months.