Difficult task for Pakistani Army in Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan; US Drone attack kills 13 in South Waziristan; US Congress approves $1.4 billion for Pakistan with conditions attached; Hundreds of IDPs returning to Buner
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    • Reports noted that South Waziristan was presenting the toughest challenge for Pakistani forces in their fight against the growing insurgency. The region is home to Baitullah Mehsud, who heads the Taliban in Pakistan. Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani on June 15 called for the ‘elimination’ of Mehsud even as the Army launched a renewed offensive against his hideouts1. 13 people were also killed in an American drone attack against a local Taliban commander in South Waziristan on June 25. Reports noted that there have been 22 drone attacks in Pakistan so far, compared to 36 in the previous year2.

    Both the chambers of the US Congress meanwhile approved a supplemental budget which includes $1.4 billion in economic and security assistance for Pakistan. The Senate however added a condition requiring a close scrutiny of American policies in Pakistan and Afghanistan3.

    Reports noted that hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were uprooted by the fighting in Buner started returning to their homes after authorities urged them to return to secure areas. The government believes that the return of these refugees would help build confidence of the people in that area and contribute to the defeat of the Taliban4.

    Meanwhile, the UNHCR report ‘2008 Global Trends’, released on June 16 states that Pakistan is home to the largest number of refugees in the world. These include about 1.8 million Afghans. The report also notes that the number of IDPs in Pakistan had approached the two million mark as compared to 156,000 at the end of 20085.

    In other developments, the first-ever summit between Pakistan and the EU was held in Brussels on June 17. While the Pakistani delegation was led by President Asif Ali Zardari, the EU delegation included President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic, currently holding the presidency of the EU, Jose Manuel Barroso, head of the European Commission, and Javier Solana, High Representative for the EU’s foreign policy6. Among other issues, the two sides discussed measures to help promote democracy in Pakistan.

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