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President Obama, addressing a press conference on completing 100 days in office, stated that Pakistan’s civilian government “is very fragile.” He added that the “obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest threat right now comes internally1.” However, later in the week, Richard Holbrooke, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, clarified that the US administration had full faith in Pakistan’s civilian government and its ability to fight militancy effectively2.
The Pakistan army meanwhile along with the Frontier Corps launched a joint operation in Dir and Buner to stop the Taliban advance. At least 70 militants were killed in Dir whereas around 60 were reported killed in the Buner operation3. Sufi Muhammed, the chief of TNSM, opposing the security operations in Dir, called off talks with the civilian government and demanded that the action be stopped with immediate effect4.
Meanwhile, sectarian violence erupted in Karachi after 5 people including 2 MQM activists were reportedly killed by Pashtuns in the northern part of the city. The violence subsequently spread to central and eastern parts of the city leaving at least 34 dead and several injured5.
- 1. “President Obama’s 100th-Day Press Briefing,” (Transcript) New York Times, April 29, 2009, at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/us/politics/29text-obama.html
- 2. "Civilian institutions, not civil govt weak,” Daily Times, May 3, 2009, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\03\story_3-5-2009_pg1_1
- 3. Muhammad Anis, “70 militants dead as Dir operation ends,” The News, April 29, 2009, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp; “60 Taliban killed in Buner offensive,” Daily Times, May 2, 2009, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\02\story_2-5-2009_pg1_1
- 4. Usman Yousafzai, “TNSM suspends talks with govt,” The News, April 28, 2009, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp
- 5. Tahir Siddiqui, “Death toll of Karachi violence climbs to 34,” Dawn, April 30, 2009, at http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-slibrary/dawn/news/paki...