Is an Allied invasion of Pakistan imminent?

The US military is preparing for a new offensive against terrorists operating in the tribal regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The nature of the build up on the Pakistani border has many worried that the United States is about to invade at least a part of Pakistan.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (Catholic Online) - Nobody believes that the United States intends to make war on Pakistan or to occupy the country, or even parts of it. However, many believe that a US invasion of Pakistan and a temporary occupation is imminent.

US forces have built up substantially, and the amount of firepower reported on or near the border is tremendous. Helicopter gunships, heavy artillery, and hundreds of US and Afghan troops have concentrated in the region.

Meanwhile, across the border in Pakistan, tribal leaders who are afraid they are about to be targeted, held an urgent meeting in the regional capital of Miranshah to determine what their response should be when an invasion comes.

Analysts believe the US is targeting the Haqqani Network, a consortium of terrorist that enjoys broad support in Waziristan region of Pakistan.

Local officials in the targeted regions of Pakistan warned that Pakistan's armed forces would fight back against any US and Afghan incursion, however officials in Islamabad are reporting that the operation is being coordinated between the three countries.

Islamabad has made clear that their priority is to dismantle the Taliban in Pakistan. They have emphasized they do not have the resources to fight both the Taliban and the Haqqanis. Unlike the Taliban, Haqqani terrorists have not focused attacks on the Pakistani government, but rather they cross the Afghan-Pakistan border with the intent of attacking NATO forces there.

In prior months, US officials have gone so far as to blame the Pakistani government of supporting the Haqqani Network. However, the development of a joint operation by both US and Pakistani officials, suggests that those charges may be false.

While the start date of the operation is unknown, the Pakistani army has told reporters the operation is intended to surround the Haqqani Network and to kill or capture their leaders. They have also reiterated that any US incursions into Pakistan are expected to be temporary.

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