Pakistan suspends NATO supplies to tackle militants

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Reuters

JAMRUD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan suspended supplies going to foreign forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday as security forces launched an operation against militants in the Khyber Pass region, a government official said.

Militants have launched a string of attacks in recent months aimed at choking off supplies trucked to foreign forces in landlocked Afghanistan through northwest Pakistan from the port city of Karachi.

Khyber's top administrator, Tariq Hayat, told reporters that a curfew had been imposed and the main road leading to the Afghan border had been sealed.

"Supplies to NATO forces will remain suspended until we clear the area of militants and outlaws who have gone out of control," he said.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BT14320081230?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[EFerrari]

1. What does this mean? Is this a stick up?

Holy cow.

I heard today that Pakistan moved a bunch of guys over to mind their border with India. So, are they doing that AND going after "militants"?

[Adsos Letter]

2. apparently they are going after whoever is attacking the US supply convoys...

it sounds like they don't want any convoy traffic in the way when they mount this operation.

[EFerrari]

3. How would that work, though?

They're going after the perps but won't those melt into the background if there's no traffic? It's not as though the attackers will continue to attack an empty road.

Something else afoot, too, imho.

[bemildred]

5. I was thinking it might be a bit of blackmail.

It's the one big lever that Pakistan holds.

[EFerrari]

6. Blackmail, encouragement, something? n/t

[bemildred]

7. Well, the US/NATO would be the blackmailee.

I don't expect things will go well in Afghanistan if the interruption goes on very long. I will be surprised if the Pakistani army gets in a serious fight with the people in the tribal areas, but you never know.

[EFerrari]

9. Taking off after the attackers reminds me of the scene in

Milagro Bean Field War where the posse is supposed to find one of their friends. "This posse couldn't find itself if it wanted to."

ETA: Another possibility is that ahead of the build up, Pakistan is trying to show the US what a bad position they are being put into, having to guard this road from their own people.

[bemildred]

11. Yes. See varun's post.

We seem to have a negotiation going on.

[varun]

8. U.S. Plans Alternate Supply Route to Afghanistan

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/world/asia/31military.html?_r=1&hp

WASHINGTON — The United States and NATO are planning to open and expand supply lines through Central Asia to deliver fuel, food and other goods to a military mission in Afghanistan that is expected to grow by tens of thousands of troops in the months ahead, according to American and alliance diplomats and military officials.

The plan to open new paths through Central Asia reflects an American-led effort to seek out a more reliable alternative to the route from Pakistan through the strategic Khyber Pass, which was closed by Pakistani security forces on Tuesday as they launched an offensive against militants in the region....

[bemildred]

10. This could get interesting. nt

[ohio2007]

13. Haliburten foreign offices open and ready for buisness in central asia already ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia

[tclambert]

4. And what's our plan B for re-supply? Airlift?

Expensive.

Classic military strategy is to attack supply lines. It may force the enemy to pull back, if only to re-secure the route.

Afghanistan is starting to sound like a real war. Which means the Taliban have made tremendous progress.

[ohio2007]

12. This is the first time a war is fought were one sides line of supply runs through the other sides

homeland stronghold.

?

Has there ever been a war where supply's ran through enemy territory ? Lucky things are winding down in Iraq as Barack can't rely on Pakistan's daily reductions in lines of control.

[bemildred]

14. The British gave it a shot at Kut. And don't forget Custer. nt