Pakistani general: We will open fire on U.S. troops
Pakistan’s security establishment seemd a bit confused yesterday over whether troops had, in fact, fired on U.S. helicopters in South Waziristan. The Pakistani military had denied security officials’ reports that the event had taken place. In the future, however, there may be no such ambiguity: [A]rmy spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press ...
Pakistan's security establishment seemd a bit confused yesterday over whether troops had, in fact, fired on U.S. helicopters in South Waziristan. The Pakistani military had denied security officials' reports that the event had taken place. In the future, however, there may be no such ambiguity:
[A]rmy 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."
Pakistan’s security establishment seemd a bit confused yesterday over whether troops had, in fact, fired on U.S. helicopters in South Waziristan. The Pakistani military had denied security officials’ reports that the event had taken place. In the future, however, there may be no such ambiguity:
[A]rmy 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."
If Bush is actually serious about catching Osama bin Laden before he leaves office, he’s not going to do it without help from Pakistan. This is a situation that needs to be resolved immediately. Five Pakistani experts had some ideas for how to proceed in last week’s web-exclusive, "How to Catch Osama."
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy Twitter: @joshuakeating
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