Hallelujah ! The Pakistani military has finally unleashed its air power upon the Taliban and in one day, in one mission, killed 60 Taliban! Wonderful news. Here's some of the details from Breitbart:
I have to say I have been impressed with the new Pakistani government for the staying power they have had with this latest offensive, and now, with the Pakistani air power coming into the picture, this could mean huge bad news for the Taliban.
It's always been my hope that the Taliban would find themselves literally hung out to dry right on top of the Pakistani/Afghan border - with NATO troops and air power on one side of them and the Pakistani fire power on the other and then just let those two forces squeeeeeeze. If this air attack plan holds for the Pakistanis, it will probably cut down on the offensive attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan as they are going to be unsure of that safe exit plan back into Pakistan. One can only hope more missiles will rain down on the Taliban tomorrow.
Airstrikes by Pakistani jets killed 60 pro-Taliban fighters in the restive northwest while a Chinese engineer seized seven weeks ago escaped from his kidnappers, security officials said Friday.
"Security forces destroyed a training camp and hideouts of militants in Peochar in Swat valley, killing 60 of them and injuring scores of others," a senior security official told AFP.
Another security official said fighter jets bombed a big training camp and cave hideouts of Taliban militants deep in the mountains, inflicting heavy casualties.
He said sources from the area confirmed that 60 militants were killed in the air strikes and the number could climb once bodies were retrieved from the caves.
I have to say I have been impressed with the new Pakistani government for the staying power they have had with this latest offensive, and now, with the Pakistani air power coming into the picture, this could mean huge bad news for the Taliban.
It's always been my hope that the Taliban would find themselves literally hung out to dry right on top of the Pakistani/Afghan border - with NATO troops and air power on one side of them and the Pakistani fire power on the other and then just let those two forces squeeeeeeze. If this air attack plan holds for the Pakistanis, it will probably cut down on the offensive attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan as they are going to be unsure of that safe exit plan back into Pakistan. One can only hope more missiles will rain down on the Taliban tomorrow.
Pakistan airstrikes kill 60 militants, hostage escapes: officials
Airstrikes by Pakistani jets killed 60 pro-Taliban fighters in the restive northwest while a Chinese engineer seized seven weeks ago escaped from his kidnappers, security officials said Friday.
"Security forces destroyed a training camp and hideouts of militants in Peochar in Swat valley, killing 60 of them and injuring scores of others," a senior security official told AFP.
Another security official said fighter jets bombed a big training camp and cave hideouts of Taliban militants deep in the mountains, inflicting heavy casualties.
He said sources from the area confirmed that 60 militants were killed in the air strikes and the number could climb once bodies were retrieved from the caves.
Earlier Friday the military said a Chinese engineer had escaped his Taliban kidnappers and found his way to an army post.
The Taliban said one of two Chinese hostages they were holding had gone missing, while the other had been severely injured in the escape bid.
The men went missing along with their local driver and a security guard on August 29 in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border where they had been checking an installation.
Pakistan has been under severe pressure from the Chinese government over the hostages, with Beijing publicly requesting that Islamabad rescue them.
"One Chinese engineer has been recovered," army spokesman Colonel Nadeem Ahmed said, without giving further details.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told AFP the second hostage was injured before he was re-captured.
"Last night an incident happened after which one Chinese engineer was hurt and the other went missing," Khan said.
A separate Taliban source said the hostages were being moved from one location to another when they tried to escape.
He said the re-captured man had severely injured his leg falling down a steep mountain slope.
"They were near the town of Matta in the Swat valley when they made a run for it," he said.
Army officials who declined to be named said the man who escaped had come into contact with local anti-Taliban tribesmen who guided him to a nearby army post.
Security forces in mountainous Swat, a former tourist region dubbed the "Switzerland of Pakistan," have been battling pro-Taliban militants who tried to enforce harsh Islamic Sharia law a year ago.
The Taliban have demanded the government release 122 fighters captured in the area during the ongoing military operation.
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