Pakistan Misleads Media On Taliban Operations

Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, wants you to believe there is nothing to worry about in Pakistan and his country is taking the fight to the Taliban. And everything would be fine if the U.S. would just give Pakistan more money and weapons and stop being so critical of his countries efforts fighting the Taliban. And how dare we question his country's resolve?

Meanwhile, the Pakistani military and the interior minister boasted on April 27 that its operation in Dir was a wild success and the Taliban was dislodged from the district.

But, as mentioned the other day, when observing military operations, it is critical to take Pakistani government and military official's statements with buckets filled with salt.

Today, three days after Pakistani officials lauded the success in Dir, the BBC reports that much of Dir is still under Taliban control. Even the locals know their government isn't being straight with them:

The government's writ seems non-existent for nearly 20km from the southern tip of the district. Between the southern town of Chakdara and the village of Talash, we encountered very little traffic, most of which was outbound, carrying displaced families.

At a couple of points we negotiated road blocks apparently set up by the police during the preceding weeks, but there were no policemen to be seen. And no army or paramilitary troops.

A senior official in Timergara, requesting anonymity, said the area east of Chakdara-Talash sector, which links up with the Kabal sub-district of Swat, is controlled by the Taliban.

"They also sometimes set up checkpoints on the main road to check vehicles," he said. Many people are afraid that a Swat-like situation may emerge in Lower Dir, involving fighting without end.

"When the government announced the end of operations yesterday, we were hopeful that things will get back to normal," says Haji Anwaruddin. "But now we know they are bluffing. They want the world to know that fighting has ended when it hasn't. I think we are in for a long haul."