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Insurgent Attack Kills Senior Pakistani General Senior Pakistani General Is Killed in Insurgent Attack
(about 4 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A senior Pakistani general was killed in an insurgent bombing in the northwest of the country on Sunday, bringing into sharp focus the government’s recent overtures toward the Taliban for peace talks.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A senior Pakistani general was killed in an insurgent bombing in the northwest of the country on Sunday, bringing into sharp focus the government’s recent overtures toward the Taliban for peace talks.
The roadside bomb explosion struck a vehicle carrying Maj. Gen. Sanaullah Khan Niazi in Upper Dir district as he returned from a visit to troops posted on the border with Afghanistan, a military statement said. Another officer and a soldier also died in the attack, for which the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility. The roadside bomb explosion struck a vehicle carrying Maj. Gen. Sanaullah Khan Niazi in the Upper Dir district as he returned from a visit to troops posted on the border with Afghanistan, a military statement said. Another officer and a soldier also died in the attack, for which the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.
General Niazi was the commander for the nearby Swat Valley, a mountainous district where the army mounted a major anti-Taliban operation in 2009, and where the schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by militants last year.General Niazi was the commander for the nearby Swat Valley, a mountainous district where the army mounted a major anti-Taliban operation in 2009, and where the schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by militants last year.
News of the killing, one day after the provincial government announced a phased withdrawal of army troops from Swat, met with widespread condemnation.News of the killing, one day after the provincial government announced a phased withdrawal of army troops from Swat, met with widespread condemnation.
The army had made “substantial sacrifices” to protect the country against terrorism, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement, adding, “Such cowardly acts by terrorists cannot deter the morale of our armed forces.”The army had made “substantial sacrifices” to protect the country against terrorism, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement, adding, “Such cowardly acts by terrorists cannot deter the morale of our armed forces.”
On Saturday, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, which is controlled by Mr. Sharif’s political rival, Imran Khan, announced that the withdrawal of army troops from Swat would start in mid-October. In the first phase, soldiers would pull out of Buner and Shangla districts, the government said. On Saturday, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, which is controlled by Mr. Sharif’s political rival, Imran Khan, announced that the withdrawal of army troops from Swat would start in mid-October. In the first phase, soldiers would pull out of the Buner and Shangla districts, the government said.
Mr. Khan has for years advocated talking to the Taliban instead of fighting them, a position that has now become the national government’s policy. A meeting of all the major parties on Sept. 9, which was convened by Mr. Sharif and included the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, authorized the government to initiate a peace process.Mr. Khan has for years advocated talking to the Taliban instead of fighting them, a position that has now become the national government’s policy. A meeting of all the major parties on Sept. 9, which was convened by Mr. Sharif and included the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, authorized the government to initiate a peace process.
But the killing of such a senior officer on Sunday could cast doubt over any talks, analysts said.But the killing of such a senior officer on Sunday could cast doubt over any talks, analysts said.
“The government’s difficulties have increased,” said Rustam Shah Mohmand, a retired diplomat, while talking to Capital TV, a private news network. “Today’s incident seems aimed at sabotaging the peace talks. It remains to be seen whether the Taliban faction that is opposed to talks can influence senior Taliban leaders.”“The government’s difficulties have increased,” said Rustam Shah Mohmand, a retired diplomat, while talking to Capital TV, a private news network. “Today’s incident seems aimed at sabotaging the peace talks. It remains to be seen whether the Taliban faction that is opposed to talks can influence senior Taliban leaders.”
An apparent Taliban statement, also reported in the Pakistani news media, echoed the view that peace talks could be distant. “We are at war with the Pakistan government, and we are assessing their sincerity about peace talks,” Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman, was quoted as saying. “If we find that the government is serious, we can talk. Otherwise, we will continue our attacks.”An apparent Taliban statement, also reported in the Pakistani news media, echoed the view that peace talks could be distant. “We are at war with the Pakistan government, and we are assessing their sincerity about peace talks,” Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman, was quoted as saying. “If we find that the government is serious, we can talk. Otherwise, we will continue our attacks.”
But Mr. Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party runs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, insisted that peace talks were the only way forward.But Mr. Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party runs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, insisted that peace talks were the only way forward.
“I have said from Day 1 that dialogue should take place with Taliban,” he said during a rally in Dera Ismail Khan, a town on the edges of the restive tribal regions of the country where the Taliban staged a brazen prison break in July.“I have said from Day 1 that dialogue should take place with Taliban,” he said during a rally in Dera Ismail Khan, a town on the edges of the restive tribal regions of the country where the Taliban staged a brazen prison break in July.