US troops amass along the North Waziristan border region

US troops amass along the North Waziristan border region

In a bid to enforce strict regulations on movements, in and out of Pakistan into Afghanistan, the United States military, assisted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the local Afghan security forces, have amassed troops along the North Waziristan border. The news was reported in the early hours of Monday, October 17, and it brings a lot of speculation to the table. The sources reported the news development from Peshawar and Miramshah.

The report comes after US President Barrack Obama’s approved an escalation of the US Army’s operation in the Waziristan region. Since the Pakistan Army has refused to enter the area, citing operational difficulties, the American Security Forces have intensified their activities, instead. Though the White House has yet to term the ‘Haqqani Network’, a terrorist one, they are increasing their attacks against the militant group.

The US may be looking to force the violent group to the Negotiation table with Afghan regime for a peace deal but nothing has been declared openly. Tribesmen from the local border region reported recently that the Afghan and US forces had enforced a curfew in the Gurbaz region of the Khost province in Afghanistan. Traffic was blocked on the Ghulam Khan – Khost highway and there were reportedly 900 loaded trucks halted on the expressway.

Passenger vehicles and NATO Trucks were all indiscriminately stopped. One of the noticeable things in the region was observation posts erected on the Afghan side of the border. The US troops reportedly moved into the region during the early morning hours of Sunday.

The forces are said to include troops, gunship helicopters, long range artillery arms and high powered tanks. A base of operations has also been set up near the border region. The forces reportedly clamped down in the Gurbaz area, searching homes and families.

The local Gurbaz tribe that lives on both sides of the border were devastated. Their elders told reporters that many of their relatives, who were fleeing the area, were unable to do so due to fierce curfew obstructions.

Though there is no word from the Pakistan Army, there is reason to believe that the US, NATO and Afghan forces are trying hard to restrict movement from Waziristan into Afghanistan for militant groups like the Haqqani Network. Enforcing such a curfew would ensure that no militant leaves Waziristan, easily.

Posted by Zuhaib Gull on Oct 17 2011. Filed under Latest News, South Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry