North Waziristan - Gateway to Hell

For some time now, there have been reports and rumors of a spring offensive against Afghanistan by a reconstituted Taliban working out of the wild tribal land of west Pakistan. This Asia Times report from Feb 8 sheds more light on the hellish activities that accompany the Taliban resurgence.

The BBC reported that just prior to President Bush's visit to Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf launched an offensive against the fundamentalists in North Waziristan but the reporter was unable to verify a Pakistani government's spokesman statements aasessment that the Pakistanis had inflicted heavy casulties on the tribesmen. Bill Roggio reports that, to impress President Bush, the Pakistanis stirred up a hornet's nest and came away embarassed after the Taliban pounded them and killed a US Diplomat in reprisal.

The BBC describes how Pakistan had mishandled the area, appeasing the fundamentalists and setting the stage for a major offensive in the GWOT.

Afghanistan has been complaining about the incursions from the Pakistani tribal areas, President Bush took those complaints to Musharraf and asked him to do something about it. The BBC reported that Pakistan is blaming the Afghanis for not controlling their side of the border.

Der Speigel's headline reads "Bush Brings Roses for India, Thorns for Pakistan." I think the President worried about the stability of Afghanistan and the security of nukes in Pakistan, had a serious sit-down with Musharraf and laid out the facts. I look for a big, two-front offensive against the tribal lands in North Waziristan.