Pakistani Government Suspends Military Action Against Taliban - For Ramadan

Good grief. These guys truly ARE slow learners, aren't they? Why didn't the government of Pakistan call up Maliki over in Iraq and ask, "Yo Dude, do these terrorist types pack things up during Ramadan?" Hahaha. Anyway, here's part of the report out of Zee News:

The Pakistan government on Saturday announced that it would suspend military operations against the Taliban in the country's northwestern tribal areas in view of the holy Islamic month of Ramzan but warned that any action by the militants would meet with a firm response. Rehman Malik, who functions as the Interior Minister, said operations against militants by the army and law enforcement agencies would be suspended between August 31 and the second day of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of Ramzan."This move should not be considered as a sign of weakness on the part of the governmentIf there is any action (by the militants) against the security forces, a firm response will be made," he told reporters.

Now, Ramadan apparently starts on September 2nd and so perhaps I should start a pool here at Holger Awakens where readers can put in their guess as to how long it will be before the Taliban take out about 30 Paki soldiers or bomb a girl's school DURING Ramadan!

It just amazes me how people in that part of the world just can't put a face of evil on these Taliban minions. I guess a few more hundred deaths might get the Pakistani government a little closer to understanding what we already know.

Pak Govt suspends military operations against Taliban

Lahore, Aug 30: The Pakistan government on Saturday announced that it would suspend military operations against the Taliban in the country's northwestern tribal areas in view of the holy Islamic month of Ramzan but warned that any action by the militants would meet with a firm response. Rehman Malik, who functions as the Interior Minister, said operations against militants by the army and law enforcement agencies would be suspended between August 31 and the second day of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of Ramzan."This move should not be considered as a sign of weakness on the part of the governmentIf there is any action (by the militants) against the security forces, a firm response will be made," he told reporters.The holy month of Ramzan is expected to begin in Pakistan on September two or three after the sighting of the moon.The Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces are currently engaged in operations against Taliban fighters in the tribal Bajaur Agency and the scenic Swat valley in the North West Frontier Province. A total of 562 militants had been killed in the operations so far, Malik said.He made it clear that there would be no ceasefire and that the security forces would only suspend their operations against the militants.The suspension was being done only for the month of Ramzan, he said.The government "reserves the right to reinitiate law enforcement actions and military operations" if the militants begin regrouping or carry out any attacks on the security forces, he said.