Pakistan imposes Waziristan curfew

by stevesmys | June 9, 2009 at 10:45 am

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Pakistan has imposed a curfew on the tumultuous Waziristan region, hours before the a powerful blast ripped through Pakistan's Continental Hotelin Peshawar.

The curfew came just ahead of a military operation that will "target" the Taliban-controlled Waziristan, a rural and remote region that may be hiding al-Qaeda leaders.

Waziristan is controlled by Taliban militants and is said to be where al-Qaeda leaders have found safe haven.

The tribal region has been described by US officials as "the most dangerous place on earth".

The "indefinite curfew" has been imposed in the semi-tribal region between the northern Bannu district and Waziristan, at six of the 12 police stations in Bannu.

All six police stations border the areas of Bakakhel and Janikhel – site of Pakistan's military operation and well-know hide-out for militants.

The authorities say the tribes in the area have aided Taliban militants in their fight against security forces.

The army's move comes days after dozens of college students and teachers on their way to Bannu were kidnapped in North Waziristan.

The mass kidnapping took place in Janikhel and is said to have been carried out by local Taliban militants loyal to Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) head Baitullah Mehsud. The kidnapped students have all been released.

The entire refion has been "sealed off from all sides," Adbul Razzaq, a local administration official in the Janikhel area, told the BBC. Most of the locals have already fled the area after authorities announced a general evacuation. Those who haven't have told the British news service that Pakistan's army operation will be "have no effect," as they fled the area when the evacuation was announced.

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