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Analyst: ‘Bloody urban battle’ looms between Taliban, Pakistan

The Taliban are digging in for a "bloody urban battle" against the Pakistani army in a hotly disputed city in the western part of the country, a strategic expert warned Thursday. “The Taliban are concentrating forces in Mingora — digging trenches, laying mines, taking positions on rooftops,” said Reva Bhalla, the director of strategic analysis at Stratfor, a private firm that describes itself as a global intelligence company. “It is not clear if the Pakistani military is trained and even equipped to go into a situation like that,” she said, adding that even the United States military “would have to think twice” about such an offensive.

Terrorism-Linked Charity Finds New Life Amid Pakistan Refugee Crisis

Just five months after Pakistan banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa over its links to the terrorist organization blamed for last November’s Mumbai massacre, the Islamist charity group’s flags are flying high over a relief effort for refugees fleeing the fighting in the Swat Valley. The banned group’s signature black-and-white banner bearing a scimitar flew in the heart of Mardan as tens of thousands of refugees poured into the northwest garrison town, fleeing the military campaign to oust the Taliban from Swat and its surroundings.

Pakistani girl loses most of her family in one explosion

Inside a hospital ward in northwest Pakistan, I found myself surrounded by sobs and screams. One scream was so high-pitched that I didn’t think it was human.

Taliban: All local leaders must quit

A Taliban spokesman has issued a series of threats and ultimatums against Pakistan’s ruling political class as that country’s artillery and helicopters continue to pound the Islamic militant group in the Swat Valley. Speaking on the telephone with CNN, Muslim Khan announced that all national and provincial parliament members from the Malakand Division, the northwestern region where the Swat Valley is located, must resign within three days.

Pakistan military faces up to humanitarian crisis

Pakistan’s military is dealing with more than a million Pakistanis who have been displaced by fighting since last year, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Taliban storm strategic Afghan city

Taliban militants attacked a municipal building in the city of Khost in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday, fighting pitched battles with U.S. forces and taking hostages, U.S.

Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan to be replaced

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to announce Monday afternoon that he is replacing Gen. David McKiernan as the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan with Lt

U.N.: 360,000 escape war-torn Pakistani region

Civilians continued to flee Pakistan’s northwest in droves Monday as government troops prepared to engage Taliban militants in the crisis-hit Swat Valley. More than 360,000 Pakistanis have fled their homes since May 2, the United Nations has reported. “Obviously more people are on the move,” said Ariane Rummery, a spokeswoman for the U.N.

Is a Better Government Possible in Pakistan?

Although President Barack Obama on Wednesday pledged unwavering backing for Pakistan’s government in its battle with extremists, his Administration has recognized the potentially crippling political weakness of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistani hospitals overwhelmed by wounded

Pakistan’s offensive against Taliban militants in the country’s northwest is overwhelming medical resources in the Swat Valley, hospital officials said Friday. Staff members from Mardan Medical Center have treated 2,124 patients from clashes between the Pakistani military and Taliban fighters in more than two weeks of fighting, according to Dr. Arshad Ahmed