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Kathianne
10-19-2009, 08:53 PM
Very.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091020/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan


Pakistan cuts deal with anti-American militants

By ISHTIAQ MAHSUD and NAHAL TOOSI, Associated Press Writers
20 mins ago

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – Pakistan's army, in the midst of a major new offensive against Taliban militants, has struck deals to keep two powerful, anti-U.S. tribal chiefs from joining the battle against the government, officials said Monday.

The deals increase the chances of an army victory against Pakistan's enemy No. 1, but indicate that the 3-day-old assault into the Taliban's strongholds in South Waziristan may have less effect than the U.S. wants on a spreading insurgency across the border in Afghanistan.

Under the terms agreed to about three weeks ago, Taliban renegades Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur will stay out of the current fight in parts of South Waziristan controlled by the Pakistani Taliban. They will also allow the army to move through their own lands unimpeded, giving the military additional fronts from which to attack the Taliban.

In exchange, the army will ease patrols and bombings in the lands controlled by Nazir and Bahadur, two Pakistani intelligence officials based in the region told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because revealing their identities would compromise their work....

NightTrain
10-19-2009, 09:15 PM
From the stories I've read, it sounds like Pakistan is stretched to the limit so this may be a good move on their part - kind of a temporary truce so they can focus better on the more radical element.

Or perhaps someone got paid. :D