Pakistani troops capture militant stronghold

**Culpeper** · 10-25-2008

http://apnews.myway.com//article/200...D941LQ580.html

"Now we have complete control in this area from where miscreants used to go to Afghanistan, Mohmand, Dir and Swat," army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told reporters flown in to Bajur by military helicopter. "Miscreants have been expelled or killed."

Anybody got a map of the region? Is this important?

**Schmedlap** · 10-25-2008

See map here: http://www.longwarjournal.org/maps/pakistan-fata-15.php

Two of the three regions mentioned, Dir and Swat, are the top-most red-colored regions on the map. Mohmand is SW of those regions, but does not appear to border them. That makes some of the statements a little confusing.

**Danny** · 10-25-2008

This Kabuki dance before, where Pakistan claims massive, magnificent gains, negotiates and makes "peace" with the Taliban, agrees to withdraw as long as the Taliban renounce violence, and so on the wheel goes. It's part of a show to keep U.S. dollars rolling in.

They 'control' this area. Sure. That's why tribal elders who oppose the Taliban keep getting blown up.

**davidbfpo** · 10-26-2008

I am sure a few weeks ago there was a report that several hundred thousand refugees had fled the fighting in the Bajur Agency. That could explain how the Pakistani military have "won", most of the people had fled?

davidbfpo

**Ken White** · 10-26-2008

fortified cave complex in Bajur that floated around several weeks ago. Note the lead sentence in the linked article says the offensive has been going for two months; Culpepper and Danny may have missed that. Clearing bad guys out of difficult terrain is not easy, more people should try it...

I suspect they're doing the best they can with what they have.

We could all wish they had more of many things -- they don't.

**Culpeper** · 10-27-2008

Originally Posted by Ken White

fortified cave complex in Bajur that floated around several weeks ago. Note the lead sentence in the linked article says the offensive has been going for two months; Culpepper and Danny may have missed that. Clearing bad guys out of difficult terrain is not easy, more people should try it...

I suspect they're doing the best they can with what they have.

We could all wish they had more of many things -- they don't.

I didn't miss the two month campaign part I don't doubt the story. Just wondering of its importance as claimed later in the story. I'm not familiar with the region. Just sounded like some good news to me. Speaking of clearing out bad guys in tough terrain. I couldn't even get to a covey of quail out of an area of thick salt cedar brush today. I can't imagine the endurance it takes up in those mountains and valleys with the enemy behaving like a covey.