100,000 troops deployed along Afghan border

"* Terrorists on the run from tribal areas due to Army operations

By Khalid Hassan

WASHINgTON: For the first time, it has been officially stated that there are “over 100,000” Pakistani troops on the country’s border with Afghanistan.

The surprise admission from Mohammad Sadiq, acting Pakistani ambassador to the Untied States, was made during a panel discussion on Fox television regarding an earlier report by the right-wing cable channel that a “terrorist summit” had taken place in the area.

(snip)

In the past, the figure for Pakistani troops deployed in the area has been placed at a maximum of 70,000. If the number is now as high as stated by the Pakistani diplomat, then it can be assumed that the number of troops holding defensive positions along the Line of Control is thinner. What implications that has from the point of view of the country’s defence against sudden or possible attack will appear to be in need of careful analysis..."

(more)

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-8-2004_pg1_1

Sounds to me like the pressure for an election year present for the boy-king is really starting to mount. Pulling troops from the Line of Control could be very destabilizing, depending on India's reaction to the news.

I guess you could say the heat is definitely on to get OBL in time for the convention and/or November elections!

What a piece of stupid propaganda!

Bush told me so.

beat the dog shit out of him? I got five others that are willing and able.

Very dangerous to have so much of your army deployed away from the border with your primary enemy.

are even more dangerous.

The Americans want to go into Pakistan and get Osama themselves. The Pakistanis are there to prevent that - not to assist the US in capturing him...

that's the only thing i can think of.
of course bush will get some of the credit -- but if you ask me -- someone should point out that pakistan is fighting the right war.
instead of the crock of murderous mayhem that was opened in iraq..
with bush in charge -- leave it to another country to do the real work.
bush doesn't know HOW to work.

"The surprise admission from Mohammad Sadiq, acting Pakistani ambassador to the Untied States, was made during a panel discussion on Fox television regarding an earlier report by the right-wing cable channel that a “terrorist summit” had taken place in the area."

I would love to see that in print in the US media.

for the head of Osama. But from whom could it be? Hmmmm......