India-Pakistan: December 3, 2004

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Pakistani military operations  in South Waziristan has been successful in many areas. The operation has not caused a general uprising of the border tribes. Fear of an uprising has kept the army out of the tribal areas since Pakistani's founding over half a century ago. The army has captured and killed about a hundred foreign fighters in the area. These men, Uzbeks, Chechens, Tajiks and Afghans, were mainly Islamic terrorists on the run from police in their home country. Few of the foreigners were mixed up with current al Qaeda operations. The Pakistani police did not pick up any hot tips on where Osama bin Laden is, but they did get some solid information on where he was, and the state of al Qaeda operations in the region (not good.) Bin Laden is still out there, but there's no easy way to pin him down unless one of his inner circle will sell him out. Pakistani military operations continue in the tribal areas, but are slowed now because of Winter weather.

Indian state governments are reconsidering their recent decision to open negotiations with Maoist rebels. These talks have not worked, and the ceasefire used to make the talks possible, have also allowed the armed Maoists to operate more openly, and aggressively. India is also more aware of the connections between Maoist rebels in Nepal and India. Apparently the links are stronger than previously believed.

 

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