Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Pakistan Taliban: Our fighters head to Afghan war
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Pakistan Taliban: Our fighters head to Afghan war
By ISHTIAQ MAHSUD,Associated Press Writer -
Thursday, December 24
Send
IM Story
Print
SHAKTOI, Pakistan – A top Pakistani Taliban commander told The Associated Press he has sent thousands of fighters to neighboring Afghanistan to counter the influx of new American troops.
The U.S. military on Wednesday dismissed the claim as mere rhetoric _ although there's no denying that militants from various jihadi groups are crossing the border. Analysts also expressed skepticism, saying the Pakistani Taliban remained focused on fighting at home, where they are under siege from the Pakistan army.
The claim from Pakistani Taliban deputy chief Waliur Rehman's could be an attempt to exacerbate tension between the U.S. and Pakistan, as President Barack Obama presses a reluctant Islamabad to prevent militants from staging cross-border attacks against coalition troops in Afghanistan.
"Since Obama is also sending additional forces to Afghanistan, we sent thousands of our men there to fight NATO and American forces," Rehman told AP in a face-to-face interview Monday night in Shaktoi, South Waziristan, part of Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal area near the Afghan border.
The Afghan "Taliban needed our help at this stage, and we are helping them," said Rehman, deputy to Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.
Pakistan's army invaded the Taliban's stronghold of South Waziristan in October. It claims to have killed hundreds of militants and pushed thousands more out of that lawless region. Most are believed to have moved to neighboring tribal regions in Pakistan's northwest.
The bearded Rehman, sitting on a carpet in a large mud-brick compound and surrounded by seven rifle-toting guards, said the Pakistani Taliban remained committed to battling the army in South Waziristan but was essentially waging a guerrilla war and didn't need that many fighters.
Yet the U.S. military said there was no evidence on the ground to support Rehman's claim that thousands of his fighters had gone to Afghanistan.
"We have not noticed any significant movement of insurgents in the border area," said Col. Wayne Shanks, a U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan.
The conflicting claims are nearly impossible to independently verify, and Pakistani army spokesmen could not be reached for comment.
Access to Pakistan's tribal area is severely restricted. To meet Rehman, the AP reporter traveled first to neighboring North Waziristan _ also a major militant hub _ and then was escorted by Taliban militants on a six-hour ride in a vehicle with tinted windows.
Turning its focus toward Afghanistan would be a major shift for the Pakistani Taliban, which has concentrated on battling the Pakistani government with scores of suicide bombings that have killed more than 500 people since the military launched its South Waziristan operation two months ago.
Ishtiaq Ahmad, a professor of international relations at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, expressed doubt that such a shift had occurred and instead speculated Rehman was trying to worsen the already tense relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan.
"When the United States expects Pakistan to synchronize its own counterterrorism policy with the troop surge ... the militants issue these statements in an attempt to create problems in this relationship," said Ahmad.
Obama announced earlier this month that the U.S. will send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan by fall of next year. The White House has also made a renewed push to get Pakistan to expand its military offensive beyond the Pakistani Taliban to target militants launching attacks on troops in Afghanistan, including fighters linked to longtime resistance fighter Jalaluddin Haqqani.
The Pakistani government has resisted, saying the military already has its hands full battling the Pakistani Taliban and can't afford to open up a second front.
Many analysts believe the Pakistani government's reluctance to target the Afghan Taliban is also driven by a view that the group, with which it has historical ties, could serve as a useful proxy if the U.S. and NATO fail in Afghanistan and eventually withdraw.
Mohammed Amir Rana, an expert on militant groups at the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, said Rehman's comments could also be an attempt to improve the image of the Pakistani Taliban at home, where many people have supported the military's operations because of growing violence in the country.
"The benefit he may hope to get is to transform public opinion ... by showing that we are not fighting here, we are fighting against NATO and the U.S," said Rana.
Although Rehman appeared relaxed, his militant movement is under unprecedented pressure.
The Pakistan army push into South Waziristan has involved some 30,000 troops, fighter planes and heavy weaponry.
Earlier this week, fliers signed by Mehsud appeared in North Waziristan, where some of his fighters have sought sanctuary, warning them not to cause problems. It appeared to be an attempt to keep peace with other militants in that region _ some of whom have truces with the government.
"The claims of sending thousands of warriors into Afghanistan and the circulation of such leaflets to appease the warriors in North Waziristan are basically a reflection of increasing desperation of the Pakistani Taliban as it comes under increasing pressure from our security forces," said Ahmad, the international relations professor.
___
Associated Press writers Jim Heintz in Kabul and Nahal Toosi and Sebastian Abbot in Islamabad contributed to this report.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
North Korea turns to air smuggling AP - Thursday, December 24
Pakistan Taliban: Our fighters head to Afghan war AP - Thursday, December 24
Diplomats shut out of Chinese dissident's trial AP - Thursday, December 24
Taiwan policeman injured as protesters hound China envoy AFP - Thursday, December 24
Tibetan official Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme dies at 99 AP - Thursday, December 24
News Search
Top Stories
Parents in 'Balloon boy' hoax jailed
On the move: Species face race against climate change
Greek parliament to adopt 2010 crisis budget
Oil prices rise before US inventory data
OPEC warns of weak recovery for oil market
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Watchmaker 'stands with Tiger' amid new cheating reports
British priest defends urging people to shoplift
Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut
OPEC warns of weak recovery for oil market
Britain stuck in recession
More Most Viewed »
Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports
Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut
Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism
Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old
Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 24 December 2009 Captain of famed Exodus refugee ship dies at 86
Dutch teen sailor 'wanted to buy boat in Caribbean'
IMF approves $1.2 billion payment to Pakistan
|
Blackberry hit by another email disruption
Hamas leaders weigh Israeli draft on prisoner swap
Greek parliament to adopt 2010 crisis budget
Italy's Berlusconi 'pardons attacker'
UN extends mandate of Congo peacekeeping force
|
Colombia governor's murder draws wide condemnation
|
Police, protesters clash in southern Iran
Hamas to meet German mediator over prisoner swap
U.N. council sanctions Eritrea over Somali rebel aid
|
Turkish military breaks silence over new plot story
|
North Korea turns to air smuggling
Pakistan Taliban: Our fighters head to Afghan war
Mass. woman pleads not guilty in womb-cutting case
Diplomats shut out of Chinese dissident's trial
Taiwan policeman injured as protesters hound China envoy
Court orders Brazilian family to relinquish boy
Tibetan official Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme dies at 99
Warrant says NC woman's corpse hidden since June
Nepal's Maoists end protests at parliament
Japanese man charged with murdering British teacher
Balloon boy parents get jail time, tough probation
Karzai visits wounded Afghan policemen, soldiers
Philippine volcano rumbles, eruption seen soon
Major winter storm taking aim at West, Midwest
N.Korea's currency revaluation 'led by successor'
Judge rejects mandatory condoms on LA porn sets
AP NewsAlert
2 hurt in 3-alarm blaze at Las Vegas complex
Mother: Teen set on fire suffers from nightmares
Sandwich shop opens at tower rising at ground zero
Japanese whalers clash with militant activists
Pakistani o/n rates ease; rupee weaker, stocks down
China central bank says recovery still weak
James Cameron: China should let more movies in
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split: report
|
Susan Boyle blocks Alicia Keys from top of chart
|
Pakistan's Nishat to invest $60 mln in power plants
Report: China plans reserve for rare earths
Opera for the common man: La Boheme in a pub
|
Newcomer Ke$ha No. 1 on U.S. singles chart
|
British singer Winehouse charged with assault
|
Russian author Grigory Baklanov dies at 86
Cuba's Rolling Stones of salsa set for U.S. tour
|
British singer Winehouse charged with assault
Alicia Keys tops R&B chart with new album
|
French rocker Hallyday released from hospital
|
Bleak Christmas for many Samoans in tsunami's wake
Opera for the common man: "La Boheme" in a pub
Bollywood looks to Aamir Khan to end 2009 on a high
Taiwan's Chou, Lin enjoy action scenes
A sexy Dr. Watson? Jude Law says it's elementary
Torture is an internal problem for Afghanistan: Harper
British experts devise Christmas cracker formula
Iran's Ahmadinejad mocks Obama, TV series nuke talks
|
US-TECH Summary
Iran forces clash with cleric's mourners
European travellers battle new Christmas chaos
Apple to host product event in January: report
US court orders treasure returned to Spain: culture ministry
Iran's Ahmadinejad mocks Obama, "TV series" nuke talks
FTC looking into Google's AdMob acquisition
China sentences five more to death for Xinjiang riot
|
Bin Laden daughter hides in Saudi embassy in Iran
Spain's Telefonica buys Internet phone provider Jajah
Parents in 'Balloon boy' hoax jailed
Yemen says kills 30 al Qaeda militants in airstrike
|
U.S. criticizes Sudan referendum bill
On the move: Species face race against climate change
Blast in Pakistani city of Peshawar; 2 dead
|
Warner music videos, concerts coming to Hulu.com
Japan PM's ex-aide charged over funds scandal: report
|
Iran police clash with mourners, 50 arrested: reports
Facebook COO nominated to Disney board
Three dead, dozens missing in Philippine ferry collision
|
Israel not interested in peace: Syria's Assad
|
Apple to host product event in January: report
|
AP NewsAlert
Police: Explosion heard in NW Pakistan city
2 vessels collide in Philippines; 27 missing
Report: Japanese man charged in slaying of Briton
Grand jury: Shooting of unarmed IL man justified
Malaysia jet engines traced to Argentina: police
Brazil's Chief Justice Rules In Favor Of NJ Dad In Custody Case, Brazilian Family Gives Up
Taiwan man cons many posing as Brunei royal: report
US Senate votes on final passage of landmark health bill
Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Tourism In Philippines
Australians evacuated as fires rage
Student Suspended For Dressing In Santa Suit
Daylong Va. post office standoff ends peacefully
Highly decorated Army colonel dies in Texas
China sentences five more to death for Xinjiang riot
Balloon Boy Dad Sentenced To 90 Days In Jail, Work Release
Irate Customer Destroys $1,000 In Perfume
NJ woman sentenced in Spanish child custody case
Philippine boat sinks, dozens missing: coastguard
Brookyln Girl Found Unconscious In Snow Likely Fell From Roof; Dead At Age 3
Colleague: Fla. pastor ignored advice on convert
One hurt, six detained in Taiwan scuffle over China
Former Soccer Coaches Enter Not Guilty Pleas To Charges Of Raping Players
Coroner: Sand Dunes death was from asphyxiation
Ford Announces Deal To Sell Volvo To China's Geely
U.S. Senate on verge of passing healthcare bill
President Obama And Family To Spend Christmas In Hawaii
15-month-old CA child OK after ingesting meth
Clergyman Cut Short Of Cash Prize
Wis. mother sentenced for helping dispose of body
Seoul shares end up 1.3 pct on techs, autos
Malaysia compromise on property gains tax: report
PAKISTAN
Hyundai marks strike-free year after union deal
Seoul shares end up 1.3 pct on techs, refiners
Gaza's Christians look to tunnels for scant holiday cheer
British skiers warned to go easy on Christmas cheer
Australian banks pay up in NZ tax avoidance cases
Redbox pulls grisly Brittany Murphy movie image
Fox to order more Idol -- with or without Cowell
|
Fox to order more "Idol" -- with or without Cowell
RPT-Korea Hot Stocks
Seoul shares rise; On Media jumps on CJ buyout news
NJ lawmakers ask MTV to cancel 'Jersey Shore'
Redbox pulls grisly Brittany Murphy movie image
|
US carriers, ANA seek approval for trans-Pacific venture
IMF approves $1.2 billion payment to Pakistan
Whiskey goes well with "Crazy Heart" Jeff Bridges
The secret comic-book origin of Sherlock Holmes
|
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split
Star Trek the most-pirated film of 2009
|
French rocker Hallyday released from hospital
Whiskey goes well with Crazy Heart Jeff Bridges
|
Newcomer Ke$ha No. 1 on U.S. singles chart
Cuba's Rolling Stones of salsa set for U.S. tour
|
Susan Boyle blocks Alicia Keys from top of chart
British singer Winehouse charged with assault
|
Iran police shoot dead 2 in melee during execution
Attacks kill at least 23 across Iraq
|
Memory chip shortage seen in H2 2010: DRAMeXchange
Bethlehem fetes Christmas in the shadow of a wall
Iran jails leading reformer for six years -report
Iran bans gatherings for dissident cleric: websites
|
Greek parliament adopts 2010 crisis budget
Threats, Ashoura bring blue Christmas in Iraq
Once at war, Russia and Georgia agree to open border
|
Israeli killed in West Bank shooting attack: report
|
Belgian-Israeli dual nationals sue Hamas
Kenya arrests two more for murder of Irish priest
|
China decries Western meddling in dissident trial
|
Turkish deputy PM airs doubt over assassination plot
|
Yemen says Fort Hood-linked imam may be dead
|
Turkish police round up Kurdish party members
|
Former Venezuelan president Caldera dies at age 94
|
Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan
Clashes in India over delay in creating new state
U.S. says concerned with Kyrgyz journalist attacks
Pakistan Christians celebrate Christmas in fear
The nation's weather
Obama prepares for family holiday
Blast in Pakistani city of Peshawar
3 dead after Philippine sea collision; 24 missing
Memory chip shortage seen in H2 2010: DRAMeXchange
|
Boy in Brazil custody battle to be handed to US dad
Little boy's big legacy teaches others how to live
Battle against al-Qaida stepped up in Yemen
Filipino troops rush to move holdouts from volcano
Senate OKs health care measure, reaching milestone
India moves to tighten visa rules, causes confusion
Four dead in Philippine boat collision: coastguard
Pakistani stocks, rupee firm after IMF approval
TIMELINE-Taiwan's interest rate changes since 2001
Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins split after 23 years
Taiwan cbank keeps rates steady, seen on hold
Taiwan's current liquidity enough for growth -c.bank
Taiwan leaves rates at record low
Taiwan mulls allowing more Chinese investment
China to impose tariffs on chemical imports: govt
S.Korean bonds slip in thin trade, foreigners sell
Arab-Americans tweak Mideast tension for laughs
The secret comic-book origin of "Sherlock Holmes"
Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins split after 23 years
In Poland, Santa works year-round
"Star Trek" the most-pirated film of 2009
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights