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Pakistan bombers hit arms factory

At least 55 people have been killed in twin suicide bombings outside a munitions factory in the Pakistani town of Wah, police say.

The attack is the deadliest on a military site in Pakistan's history.

The bombs hit the city, 30km (18 miles) north of Islamabad, as workers left. Many people were injured.

A spokesman for the Pakistani Taleban said they had carried out the attacks, which he said were a response to army violence in the country's north-west.

Speaking to the BBC, Maulvi Umar of the Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan said the bombings in Wah were in retaliation for the deaths of "innocent women and children" in the tribal area of Bajaur.

He said more attacks would take place in Pakistan's major urban conurbations unless the army withdrew from the tribal areas.

Correspondents say Wah, in the province of Punjab, is a strategically important town normally under heavy security as it is home to a large industrial complex producing conventional arms and ammunition.

Local police chief Nasir Khan Durrani told the BBC: "Many others have been injured and we expect casualties to rise in the coming hours.

"At least 25 people have been critically injured."

Mr Durrani said none of the dead was military personnel.

Continue reading "Pakistan bombers hit arms factory" »

By Manzoor Ali Shah

PESHAWAR: The sales and prices of arms in Frontier Region (FR) of Darra Adam Khel, famous for its illegal arms market, have shot up as the Taliban insurgency is gaining momentum in the tribal areas and parts of NWFP, Daily Times learnt on Thursday.

Shopkeepers in Darra bazaar told Daily Times that the prices of weapons had soared because the “mujahideen” who used to sell weapons in the past now needed them.

A shopkeeper told Daily Times on condition of anonymity that the price of second-hand Kalashnikov rifles had reached Rs 35,000 apiece, and new ones were being sold for Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000.

Previously, the same rifle was available for Rs 20,000 to 25,000. Reportedly, prices of rounds have also risen. “The Egyptian variety of rifle rounds is available for Rs 14 per cartridge, and the Chinese variety is available for Rs 19 per cartridge,” he said. Previously, he said, Miranshah was the main supplier of arms and ammunition, but now the area had stopped the supply owing to local demand and the Taliban insurgency.

Taliban buying heavy weapons: According to tribal sources, the prices of heavy weapons such as rocket launchers have also increased and the Taliban are buying these weapons. “Authorities banned the display and sale of heavy weapons in Darra bazaar and the tribal areas in 1999, but the business is continuing in secret from a warehouse outside the bazaar. The Taliban themselves broke the ban by patrolling the area with heavy weapons,” he said.

Another source told Daily Times that the local Taliban had banned Shiites from Darra Adam Khel, a small town located in a narrow gorge between Kohat and Peshawar, around 35 kilometres south of the latter. It takes its name from the Adam Khel clan of the Afridi tribe. It is considered Asia’s largest centre for the manufacture of illegal small arms, where potential buyers testing weapons on the roadside is a common sight.

Military-style apparel vendors in Peshawar said that their sales had also increased in the wake of the wave of Talibanisation. However, they said they had not received orders for larger quantities of weapons, because the same facilities were available in the insurgency-plagued areas.

[dailytimes.com.pk]

By Jeff Golimowski
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
August 20, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - In 1999, a coup led by General Pervez Musharraf overthrew the democratically elected government in Pakistan. The move, coming soon after Pakistan had successfully detonated a nuclear weapon, led to condemnation and sanctions from the United States, where Congress banned military assistance to the country in 2000 and 2001.

Six years later, Pakistan is still a military dictatorship. Anti-American elements are gaining power in many provinces, and some experts believe Osama bin Laden is being aided by Muslim extremists operating in remote Pakistani provinces.

This year, the State Department is requesting $300 million in foreign military financing "to support the armed forces of Pakistan, to include equipment and training to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities and provide for its defense needs."

"The war on terror has been the lens through which decisions are being made," said Rachel Stohl, a senior analyst with the Center for Defense Information.

Prior to 2001, Pakistan was one of the few countries that recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government in Afghanistan. But the country abruptly changed course after September 11th and became an ally of the United States in the global war on terror.

Washington, July 29 (PTI): Amidst growing concern in Washington that Al Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, Congressional negotiators have agreed on a legislation that would tie US aid to the South Asian country's efforts to stop extremist organisations from operating in its territory.

The Senate passed the Bill on Thursday and The House of Representatives approved the measure Friday and sent to US President George W Bush for signature.

The restrictions on military aid were part of a bill implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

The bill prohibits military assistance or the licensing of arms sales to Pakistan during fiscal year 2008, unless the president determines and reports to Congress that Pakistan is committed to eliminating from its territory any organization such as the Taliban, Al Qaeda or successors; is undertaking a comprehensive campaign to achieve that end; and is currently making progress toward eliminating safe havens for terrorists inside Pakistan.

Talibanisation increases prices of weapons in Darra Adam Khel

By Manzoor Ali Shah

PESHAWAR: The sales and prices of arms in Frontier Region (FR) of Darra Adam Khel, famous for its illegal arms market, have shot up as the Taliban insurgency is gaining momentum in the tribal areas and parts of NWFP, Daily Times learnt on Thursday.

Shopkeepers in Darra bazaar told Daily Times that the prices of weapons had soared because the “mujahideen” who used to sell weapons in the past now needed them.

A shopkeeper told Daily Times on condition of anonymity that the price of second-hand Kalashnikov rifles had reached Rs 35,000 apiece, and new ones were being sold for Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000.

Previously, the same rifle was available for Rs 20,000 to 25,000. Reportedly, prices of rounds have also risen. “The Egyptian variety of rifle rounds is available for Rs 14 per cartridge, and the Chinese variety is available for Rs 19 per cartridge,” he said. Previously, he said, Miranshah was the main supplier of arms and ammunition, but now the area had stopped the supply owing to local demand and the Taliban insurgency.

Taliban buying heavy weapons: According to tribal sources, the prices of heavy weapons such as rocket launchers have also increased and the Taliban are buying these weapons. “Authorities banned the display and sale of heavy weapons in Darra bazaar and the tribal areas in 1999, but the business is continuing in secret from a warehouse outside the bazaar. The Taliban themselves broke the ban by patrolling the area with heavy weapons,” he said.

Another source told Daily Times that the local Taliban had banned Shiites from Darra Adam Khel, a small town located in a narrow gorge between Kohat and Peshawar, around 35 kilometres south of the latter. It takes its name from the Adam Khel clan of the Afridi tribe. It is considered Asia’s largest centre for the manufacture of illegal small arms, where potential buyers testing weapons on the roadside is a common sight.

Military-style apparel vendors in Peshawar said that their sales had also increased in the wake of the wave of Talibanisation. However, they said they had not received orders for larger quantities of weapons, because the same facilities were available in the insurgency-plagued areas.

[dailytimes.com.pk]

Oppressive Regimes Get Weapons in War on Terror

By Jeff Golimowski
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
August 20, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - In 1999, a coup led by General Pervez Musharraf overthrew the democratically elected government in Pakistan. The move, coming soon after Pakistan had successfully detonated a nuclear weapon, led to condemnation and sanctions from the United States, where Congress banned military assistance to the country in 2000 and 2001.

Six years later, Pakistan is still a military dictatorship. Anti-American elements are gaining power in many provinces, and some experts believe Osama bin Laden is being aided by Muslim extremists operating in remote Pakistani provinces.

This year, the State Department is requesting $300 million in foreign military financing "to support the armed forces of Pakistan, to include equipment and training to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities and provide for its defense needs."

"The war on terror has been the lens through which decisions are being made," said Rachel Stohl, a senior analyst with the Center for Defense Information.

Prior to 2001, Pakistan was one of the few countries that recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government in Afghanistan. But the country abruptly changed course after September 11th and became an ally of the United States in the global war on terror.

US aid to Pakistan linked to progress against Al Qaeda, Taliban

Washington, July 29 (PTI): Amidst growing concern in Washington that Al Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, Congressional negotiators have agreed on a legislation that would tie US aid to the South Asian country's efforts to stop extremist organisations from operating in its territory.

The Senate passed the Bill on Thursday and The House of Representatives approved the measure Friday and sent to US President George W Bush for signature.

The restrictions on military aid were part of a bill implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

The bill prohibits military assistance or the licensing of arms sales to Pakistan during fiscal year 2008, unless the president determines and reports to Congress that Pakistan is committed to eliminating from its territory any organization such as the Taliban, Al Qaeda or successors; is undertaking a comprehensive campaign to achieve that end; and is currently making progress toward eliminating safe havens for terrorists inside Pakistan.