4 Threat Matrix: Taliban 'defeated' in South Waziristan: Pakistani Army spokesman

Written by Bill Roggio on November 18, 2009 10:08 AM to 4 Threat Matrix

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2009/11/taliban_defeated_in_south_wazi.php

Major General Athar Abbas, the Director General of Inter Services Public Relations.

Here is a very bad sign that the Pakistani Army views the very narrow offensive against the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan in South Waziristan as sufficient to defeat the Taliban. Major General Athar Abbas, the top military spokesman, in Reuters:

'You have defeated the main, strongest terrorist organisation of the area and it will create effects all around.

It creates voids all around and will open more options for the state and military,' Abbas said.

'Maybe you don't have to conduct more operations. By those effects you can achieve those objectives,' he said.

As I've explained, Hakeemullah Mehsud's forces have regrouped outside of South Waziristan (they were always well established in the tribal areas and the great northwest). They are sheltering in areas where the military cut peace agreements with "good" Taliban leaders. Without taking on the Taliban in these regions, they will not be defeated, but merely displaced.

Also see Syed Saleem Shahzad's excellent piece in the Asia Times on this subject.