Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Multinational offensive against Taliban likely |
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| bhaloo |
| 11/24/00 at 23:14:51 |
| Multinational offensive against Taliban likely By Mahendra Ved Times of India 11-24-2000 NEW DELHI: With fighters of Ahmed Shah Masoud in the vanguard, a multinational counter-offensive is likely to be launched against Taliban troops in northern Afghanistan. The likely date is Saturday, diplomatic sources said on Thursday. The concerted operation is planned by the US, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbours, notably Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It may include the use of helicopter gunships to cut off the Taliban's supply lines. While Pakistani newspapers on Thursday carried reports suggesting a role for India, including the logistic support from its air bases, sources in the government were tight-lipped. However, they indicated that the action might have been been prompted by apprehensions that the Taliban offensive against Masoud's forces may spill over to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The US is so far believed not to be ready to get directly involved. It may leave it to Russia and the Central Asians. Yet, a direct US role is not being totally ruled out in the context of its resolve to get Osama bin Laden. In a report from Washington in Pakistani daily The Nation, journalist and Afghanistan watcher Ahmed Rashid said US action was "imminent", since the Clinton administration now believes that Laden or his men were involved in last month's attack on USS Cole. Rashid has said that unlike in 1998 when US ships in the Gulf fired missiles in a one-day action against Laden's hideouts, the US would coordinate action possibly using air bases in Tashkent and Tirmiz in Uzbekistan. The Taliban has amassed troops along the border close to Tirmiz. American officials told Rashid that the operations this time may go on for several days. There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in several world capitals. Pakistan, the Taliban's principal supporter, is being advised by other Islamic nations to avoid a confrontation. Sources in New Delhi said Pakistan may be forced to review its operations in northern Afghanistan, where its military officers are allegedly involved. Detailed discussions have taken place between the US and Russia, Russia and China and earlier this week, between Russia and India. At a recent secret meeting in Frankfurt, the Americans issued their last warning to the Taliban. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| NS |
| Re: Multinational offensive against Taliban likely |
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| Saleema |
| 11/25/00 at 00:38:30 |
| Pakistan, the Taliban's principal supporter, is being advised by other Islamic nations to avoid a confrontation. Assalamoalykum, I really hope that Pakistan doesn't sell out on Afghanistan no matter who's putting the pressure on them, other "Islamic" nations or the western nations. It's not fair. :( What can I do? I feel so bad and helpless. I hope Allah's help comes soon. There's too much of Muslim blood being spilled all over the world. When will our deliverance come? We need a leader to guide us out of the Pharaoh’s grip. :( wassalam |
| Re: Multinational offensive against Taliban likely |
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| Saleema |
| 11/25/00 at 03:12:36 |
| Assalamoalykum, You know, I have been thinking. The United States has been looking for ways to destroy Pakistan long before they made the atomic bomb, and perhaps this is the chance that they are hoping to seize if Pakistan sticks by the Taliban. That would mean war with the US. That would mean that the US would need India's bases to launch quicker and effective warfare against Pakistan. Which would mean that Pakistan would be fighting a war on three fronts:India, Kashmir, Afghanistan. What a perfect oppertunity (excuse) to destroy the nuclear base in Pakistan. Now that I think about it, how likely is it that the US would do this, (hunt Osama Bin Ladin down with bombs) if Pakistan *won't* support the Afghanis? Could it be that this is just a faceless threat that seems bigger than it is? I don't know. I am a little skeptical now. I will have to track this current affair in the next couple of days or weeks to make up my mind. Perhaps they will launch strikes against Afghanistan like they did last time, but I am not sure if they would go further than that. Can Russia really afford another war with Afghanistan? They can't even fight the Chechans who are less in numbers than the Taliban. Economically they aren't doing all that great either. In fact, the situation is so bad that the soldiers who die, (sometimes the Russian army kills them themselves!), their families are given only $10.??, (I don't know how many cents), per *month.* And a lot of them haven't even been getting that since 1995. May Allah give victory to the believers always. Ameen. wassalam |
| NS |
| Re: Multinational offensive against Taliban likely |
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| mispk |
| 11/25/00 at 03:40:19 |
| Assalam alaikum One thing that I know in this regard is that Pakistan said very cleary that its teritory will not be allowed to be used for bombing Afghanistan or Taliban, more accuratrely. I hope that Pakistan sticks to its stand. Misbah |
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