Military flags all-out onslaught in 'badlands'

The US is also preparing to involve more special operations units in Pakistan. Musharraf or the new military commander is changing policy. This policy change could bring even more unrest and suicide bombings throughout Pakistan. Perhaps it is a bit surprising that thrusts into the territories should occur before the elections. It could very well bring so much violence that elections might not be possible even in February. Maybe that is the idea but it seems a very risky proposition. The Pakistani forces have already suffered considerable casualties attempting to subdue the tribal areas.

Military flags all-out onslaught in 'badlands' Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent | January 07, 2008
PAKISTAN yesterday signalled it would launch a "massive military operation" into the al-Qa'ida- and Taliban-infested "badlands" of its North West Frontier Province, aimed at killing the jihadi militant leader blamed for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

In preparation for the offensive, Lieutenant General Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai, Governor of NWFP and architect of Islamabad's repeated attempts over the past year to reach peace agreements with the militants, was removed from his job and replaced by the hardline Governor of restive Balochistan, Awais Ahmad Ghani.

Pakistani commentators said the move was the forerunner to the biggest military offensive launched in North and South Waziristan, where militant leader Baitullah Mehsud has his stronghold.

North Waziristan is also where Osama bin Laden and the al-Qa'ida leadership is believed to be located, and sources said the removal of General Aurakzai was likely to signal a new offensive against the terror group.

General Aurakzai was bitterly opposed to any large-scale military onslaught against Mehsud, whom the Government holds responsible for the Bhutto assassination. The militant leader is believed to be protected by an army of at least 20,000 highly trained and heavily armed tribesmen, as well as hundreds of suicide bombers prepared to unleash a wave of terror across Pakistan if any new military operation were to be launched.

Mehsud was blamed for the 19 major suicide bomb attacks that have taken place across Pakistan in the past three months, including the attack on Bhutto. More than 500 people have been killed and many more wounded in the attacks.

A close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, General Aurakzai has doggedly maintained that peace deals with the jihadi militants and compromise with them is the only viable policy for Pakistan.

His removal, given his long-standing closeness to Mr Musharraf, is seen as representing a cosmic shift in Islamabad's strategy, moving it from a controversial policy of "live and let live" with the jihadi militants to one of "offensive engagement".

A senior analyst in Islamabad said: "Aurakzai's departure is the biggest change in Pakistan's policy towards the jihadi militants in years. It means they're going into full-scale offensive mode following Ms Bhutto's assassination."

Mr Musharraf has told reporters that tackling Mehsud would require a military operation "of division strength". Stung by criticism from around the world of its handling of Bhutto's assassination, the military-dominated Government now appears prepared to deploy a large force in the "badlands" along the border with Afghanistan. Reports spoke of a co-ordinated offensive that would involved Pakistan as well as Afghan forces.

Reports of the offensive came as US journalist Gail Sheehy disclosed that shortly before Bhutto died, she asked the leader of the Pakistan People's Party what she would like to tell US President George W.Bush. Bhutto replied that she would warn him that his support for Mr Musharraf would see al-Qa'ida "marching on Islamabad in two to four years".

Bhutto was murdered as she left a campaign rally on December 27 ahead of elections that were to have been held tomorrow.

British anti-terrorism police from Scotland Yard began examining evidence in Bhutto's assassination yesterday after being asked by Mr Musharraf to assist in the probe and help dispel criticism of the Government. Mr Musharraf admitted at the weekend that Bhutto may have been shot by a gunman, but said she bore responsibility for her death.

The Government had insisted she died smashing her head on the lever of the car sunroof when a suicide bomber blew himself up nearby, killing about 20 people - an explanation that has been widely ridiculed.

Facing intense criticism over the Government's explanation, Mr Musharraf said yesterday the former prime minister should not have stood up in her car