Pakistan orders troops to open fire if U.S. raids

Praxius

Mass'Debater
Dec 18, 2007
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Figured this would be happening within days..... and I was right.



^ Good thing those flags are made in China for quick and cheap production.

Pakistan orders troops to open fire if U.S. raids
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe.../pakistan_militants_080916/20080916?hub=World

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another air or ground raid across the Afghan border, an army spokesman said Tuesday.

The orders, which come in response to a highly unusual Sept. 3 ground attack by U.S. commandos, are certain to heighten tensions between Washington and a key ally against terrorism. Although the ground attack was rare, there have been repeated reports of U.S. drone aircraft striking militant targets, most recently on Sept. 12.

Pakistani officials warn that stepped-up cross-border raids will accomplish little while fueling violent religious extremism in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Some complain that the country is a scapegoat for the failure to stabilize Afghanistan.

Pakistan's civilian leaders, who have taken a hard line against Islamic militants since forcing Pervez Musharraf to resign as president last month, have insisted that Pakistan must resolve the dispute with Washington through diplomatic channels.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said Pakistan would "correct the record" on the latest statement.

Why are we hearing this from the Pentagon on what Pakistan would "Correct" or not, and not hearing it from Pakistan themselves?

"We enjoy good cooperation with Pakistan along the border," said the spokesman, Bryan Whitman. "Pakistan is an ally in the global war on terror."

Wow, great response to the issues and thanks for clearing that all up with us. :roll:

However, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press that after U.S. helicopters ferried troops into a militant stronghold in the South Waziristan tribal region, the military told field commanders to prevent any similar raids.

"The orders are clear," Abbas said in an interview. "In case it happens again in this form, that there is a very significant detection, which is very definite, no ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open fire."

Correct what again? Sounds like it'll be open season on US troops if they cross the borders again..... sounds pretty clear and crisp to me.

U.S. military commanders accuse Islamabad of doing too little to prevent the Taliban and other militant groups from recruiting, training and resupplying in Pakistan's wild tribal belt.

Yet everything was all peachy while Bush's buddy, Dictator Mushhead, was in power.... all the while filling his pockets with US taxpayer's dollars?

Pakistan acknowledges the presence of al-Qaida fugitives and its difficulties in preventing militants from seeping through the mountainous border into Afghanistan.

However, it insists it is doing what it can and paying a heavy price, pointing to its deployment of more then 100,000 troops in its increasingly restive northwest and a wave of suicide bombings across the country.

After talks Tuesday with British officials in London, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he did not "think there will be any more" cross-border raids by the U.S. He declined to comment on the order to use lethal force against American troops.

Instead, he and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a joint statement saying Afghanistan and Pakistan should lead the efforts to battle border militancy. The joint statement left out any mention of the United States.

American officials have confirmed their forces carried out the Sept. 3 raid near the town of Angoor Ada but given few details of what happened.

Abbas said that Pakistan's military had asked for an explanation but received only a "half-page" of "very vague" information that failed to identify the intended target.

Pakistani officials have said the raid killed about 15 people, and Abbas said they all appeared to be civilians.

"These were truck drivers, local traders and their families," he said.

How to reverse a surge in Taliban violence in Afghanistan has become a major issue in the U.S. presidential campaign and refocused attention on the porous border with Pakistan.

Pakistan's military has won American praise for a six-week offensive against militants in the Bajur tribal region that officials here say has killed 700 suspected insurgents and about 40 troops. Troops backed by warplanes killed eight more alleged militants Tuesday, officials said.

In the same timeframe, there has been a surge in missile strikes apparently carried out by unmanned U.S. drones. Such attacks killed at least two senior al-Qaida commanders earlier this year.

Abbas did not say when exactly the orders for Pakistani troops to open fire to prevent cross-border raids by U.S. troops were issued. He wouldn't discuss whether Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who replaced Musharraf as army chief last year, personally took the decision or if the orders had been discussed with American officials.

The spokesman also played down suggestions that the instructions had been put into practice before dawn on Monday, when U.S. helicopters reportedly landed near Angoor Ada only to fly away after troops fired warning shots.

Abbas insisted no foreign troops had crossed the border and that "trigger-happy tribesmen" had fired the shots. Pakistani troops based nearby fired flares to see what was going on, he said.

The U.S. military in Afghanistan said none of its troops were involved.

In a rare public statement last week, Kayani said Pakistan's sovereignty would be defended "at all cost." Abbas said Pakistani officials had to consider public opinion, which is skeptical of American goals in the region and harbors sympathy for rebels fighting in the name of Islam.

"Please look at the public reaction to this kind of adventure or incursion," Abbas said. "The army is also an extension of the public and you can only satisfy the public when you match your words with your actions."

There you have it..... don't screw with Pakistan or you'll end up with more people to fight.
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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Well the US should keep their nose and everything else out of an area that they have no business in....
 

mabudon

Metal King
Mar 15, 2006
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I sure as hell hope our politicians are smart enough to stand back and let the US do whatever they like in this situation- I would think that the US opening an unnecessary war against Pakistan should void our "obligations" to whatever BS we're supposedly trying to accomplish over there, we don't need to become global pariahs just cos it's popular south of the border, after all
 

Praxius

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Dec 18, 2007
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This is great... that means the Pakistan's military has to go to the border region of their own country.. and we all know how the Tailiban and these crazy clans love the Pakistan's military.

They will get it from both sides.

They love Pakistan's military a hell of a lot more then they do of Western forces stepping accross.

They might end up getting shot at by the Taliban, but the US will face getting shot at by both..... I think they have the least of the worries.
 

lone wolf

Grossly Underrated
Nov 25, 2006
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They love Pakistan's military a hell of a lot more then they do of Western forces stepping accross.

They might end up getting shot at by the Taliban, but the US will face getting shot at by both..... I think they have the least of the worries.

Some of them don't really give a damn as long as they're killing....
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
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I sure as hell hope our politicians are smart enough to stand back and let the US do whatever they like in this situation- I would think that the US opening an unnecessary war against Pakistan should void our "obligations" to whatever BS we're supposedly trying to accomplish over there, we don't need to become global pariahs just cos it's popular south of the border, after all

Hey what's that beach in France we tested for the Yanks and Limeys in WW11? Here's our chance to test the border of Pakistan for world peace.
 

Just the Facts

House Member
Oct 15, 2004
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In a rare public statement last week, Kayani said Pakistan's sovereignty would be defended "at all cost." Abbas said Pakistani officials had to consider public opinion, which is skeptical of American goals in the region and harbors sympathy for rebels fighting in the name of Islam.

"Please look at the public reaction to this kind of adventure or incursion," Abbas said. "The army is also an extension of the public and you can only satisfy the public when you match your words with your actions."

In other words, thanks for the billions of dollars, but screw you, we're with the terrorists! :cool:
 

Praxius

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Dec 18, 2007
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In other words, thanks for the billions of dollars, but screw you, we're with the terrorists! :cool:

Nice unfounded blanket statement.

So because they don't want the US to step foot in their country and cause the same level of sh*t as they have in Iraq and Afghanistan, they must be with the terrorists?

Ok then..... then how come the Taliban and such were still at a strong position since Bush has been sending that money to Pakistan and into the hands of Mushbrains? How come the Taliban were getting stronger and stronger, and now that Mushbrains has been kicked out of power and resigned before they could impeach him, that the Taliban have stepped up attacks within Pakistan?

If they were with the Taliban and the "Terrorists" then why would the Terrorists be attacking them?

How come they wern't attacking them before when Mushbrains was in power?

Do the math.
 

Just the Facts

House Member
Oct 15, 2004
4,162
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SW Ontario
Nice unfounded blanket statement.

<shrug>. So how would you interpret that statement?

In a rare public statement last week, Kayani said Pakistan's sovereignty would be defended "at all cost." Abbas said Pakistani officials had to consider public opinion, which is skeptical of American goals in the region and harbors sympathy for rebels fighting in the name of Islam.

"Please look at the public reaction to this kind of adventure or incursion," Abbas said. "The army is also an extension of the public and you can only satisfy the public when you match your words with your actions."


Seems pretty clear to me. "The public supports the rebels fighting in the name of Islam (Taliban) and we're out to satisfy the public. Ergo, we support the Taliban."

I don't know where you see controversy in my translation. I'm interested.
 
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Just the Facts

House Member
Oct 15, 2004
4,162
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How come the Taliban were getting stronger and stronger, and now that Mushbrains has been kicked out of power and resigned before they could impeach him, that the Taliban have stepped up attacks within Pakistan?

Because Mushy negotiated with them and made a deal, leaving them alone in the tribal areas. As soon as they were strong enough they broke the deal and attacked.

Remember that when you hear suggestions that we should just negotiate a peace with the Taliban.

Surely those sweet boys would never reneg on a deal.
 

Zzarchov

House Member
Aug 28, 2006
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Good for pakistan. Ally means (or should) equal.

The US wouldn't tolerate a Pakistani airstrike on New York to root out suspected terrorists.
 

tracy

House Member
Nov 10, 2005
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The Taliban came to power partly because of the support they got from Pakistan. I don't feel sorry for them if it came back to bite them in the butt a little bit.
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
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In other words, thanks for the billions of dollars, but screw you, we're with the terrorists! :cool:

I know you're not simple minded JTF but some of the new people may be convinced mistakinly that you are in fact a retard. Those billions were invested in skullduggery with skullduggerests and not with the people of Pakistan who are finally tired of being blown up at weddings and graduation parties.
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
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This is great... that means the Pakistan's military has to go to the border region of their own country.. and we all know how the Tailiban and these crazy clans love the Pakistan's military.

They will get it from both sides.

I do not think we will see much of the Pakistani army at the border. They aren't well liked by the clans either.
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
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Dieppe? Yow...what a butt kicking.

It's what we Canadians do for our friends Smack, we die in the hundreds of thousands in imperial wars because we are plainly too stupid to start one of our own. If you'all want us to attack in a full frontal charge with bagpipes and banners into blazing machine guns and artillary barrage no problem, you just have to tell us that the Paki's are bayonetting babies and rapeing nuns and fill us with cheap liqour and point us in the general direction and we're off like a herd of turtles. If you want dumber than that you'll have to go to Austrailia.