NWFP Burns: Musharraf Resorts to ‘Primitive’ Methods

In the medieval era the whole population could face the prospect of starvation when foreign kings/rulers invaded their land and cut off food supplies. This is happening in the 21st century with Pakistani troops cutting off food supplies in the areas where pro-Taliban militants are mounting an uprising in a North-Western Frontier Pakistan (NWFP) valley.

“Pakistani troops have clashed with fighters led by radical Islamist cleric Maulana Fazlullah in the scenic Swat valley of North West Frontier Province for weeks. (Photo above – courtesy Stutz family - shows Swat valley children.) More than 300 people have been killed since October, nearly half of them in the last week. ‘All the checkposts set up on routes leading to militant (controlled) areas have been ordered not to allow any food items,’ said Major Amjad Iqbal, a military spokesman.

“The food blockade comes as militants continued to put up fierce resistance with rockets and mortars against a fresh military push in the adjoining districts of Swat and Shangla.”

Agreed that the situation is grim in NWFP, but to starve the entire population is a violation of human rights and against the UN and Geneva conventions. It is becoming clear that Musharraf is going to hand over (whenever he does that) a burning Pakistan to the civilian leadership.

Here’s an interesting post “Musharraf’s ‘Leap Into the Dark May Be Just That”…Read on…