As civil war looms in Pakistan, the Taliban prepares to march on Islamabad.

[Turborama]

Run time: 01:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uInztTEcJew   Posted on YouTube: April 09, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 10, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 743

 
Signs of upcoming civil war in Pakistan. Taliban leaders claim to have enough forces to march on Islamabad.

Swat valley peace talks break down

A religious leader who negotiated an agreement that ended fighting between the Taliban and security forces in Pakistan's Swat valley says he is pulling out of peace talks.

Sufi Muhammad said on Thursday that the reason for his withdrawal was that the government had been too slow to introduce sharia (Islamic law) in the region. He has left the Swat valley to set up a protest camp at his old headquarters in Malakand province. His statement calls into question the durability of a controversial peace effort in the valley, where fighting has forced thousands of residents to flee.

Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president, has said he will sign an order introducing sharia in the region only once peace has been fully restored.

Government blamed

Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said: "Sufi Mohammed, who was the key factor in brokering a peace deal in the Swat valley ... has blamed the central government directly for dragging their feet on the accord. All this is happening at a time when the Swat Taliban has moved into an adjoining district and are saying that they cannot be stopped from going into other areas. That is going to be a very serious development and, if that peace accord does break down, it will have serious repercussions for the adjoining districts as well."

Also on Thursday, Mullah Nezaar, a Pakistani Taliban leader, released an audio message on the internet, claiming that his group is just days away from marching on the capital. "Pakistan Taliban factions have united ... The day is not far when Islamabad will be in the hands of the mujahidin." He also accused the Pakistan army of using spies to help the US carry out unmanned drone attacks on rural areas of Pakistan.

More: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3823433

[tclambert]

1. Does this mean the Taliban has a realistic shot at taking over Pakistan?

Taliban has Pakistan + Pakistan has nuclear weapons = Taliban has nuclear weapons.

Well, that would be interesting.

[Democracyinkind]

2. No! Granted they are strong but they are not yet in the position to take over the country.

Far from it. Allthough I am kind of worried because this kind of bigtalking usually means they have found a new mighty ally in the military or ISI . If they'll march on Islamabad soon, and win, be sure to take a careful look, for in that cause it won't be Taleban leading the march, but the army, which has a large, dangerous, mighty islamistic wing.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

3. Hey Islamabad

Incoming :nuke: