Taliban Leaders Arrested in Pakistan

(Islamabad, Pakistan) According to Pakistani government official Rehman Malik, the Frontier Constabulary has arrested Taliban leader Amjad and four associates. Also a tipster led law enforcers to arrest Rafiuddin, the Taliban commander believed responsible for the siege of the police station in Hangu, southwest of Peshawar.

Interestingly, during the arrest of Rafiuddin, hand grenades and "poisonous injections" were found and seized. Malik said it was the first time that evidence has been found that the Taliban is armed with injectable poisons.

The recent government operation in the tribal areas of the Northwest Frontier Province was prompted by terrorist blasts in Islamabad and Karachi. No arrests have been made regarding the terrorist blasts but the operation has resulted in the arrest of 32 Taliban commanders and the destruction of 12 hideouts. Troops are now being pulled. Tribal leaders have promised to help maintain law and order.

Based on the reporting, it appears that the Pakistani government is being proactive with regard to the Taliban and achieving results. Frankly, though, I'm unconvinced that the government is doing anything more than a token effort.

The armed bad guys who are arrested typically don't serve harsh sentences since the court system is in chaos. High-profile bad guys are regularly set free in hostage-prisoner exchanges. And, frequently, prisoners are successful at escaping. Therefore, I'd suggest that the Pakistani government is merely nipping at the margins of the overall problem.


[Update]

From a later report:

PESHAWAR/HANGU: Amid a strict curfew clamped on Thursday, the security forces on Friday continued the search operation against the Taliban in Doaba region of the troubled Hangu district and rounded 19 suspected militants from various parts of the town.

On the other hand, militants led by Baitullah Mehsud claimed to have captured 29 security personnel from Hangu and threatened to start killing them one by one from today (Saturday) afternoon if the military operation was not stopped and the militants released.

"We will be left with no option but to start killing the captive soldiers if our people were not released by 2 pm Saturday," threatened Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Omar called The News from an undisclosed location and claimed they had captured 29 security personnel including, 12 Pakistan Army soldiers, eight paramilitary FC personnel and seven policemen, from Doaba and Thall areas after the local police arrested their peaceful Taliban colleagues from Doaba Bazaar.

Residents of Hangu are leaving their homes for safer places due to an understandable fear of bloodshed. The Taliban militants are currently in a standoff with Pakistani soldiers. Tribal officials are demanding a meeting tomorrow in Peshawar to find a peaceful solution.

In summary, the government better start removing its forces or the Taliban will start murdering hostages. Meanwhile, spokesman Maulvi Omar demanded restoration of communications in the area or cell phone towers would be toppled.

Also: Jawa Report