After an attack on an a well-regarded Islamic university yesterday, Pakistan has chosen to leave schools and colleges nationwide closed. Just in case.
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I thought of my wife and family and was overcome with shame. An interview that seemed crucial hours earlier now seemed absurd and reckless.
New York Times reporter David S. Rohde • Describing the situation that led to his capture by the Taliban in Afghanistan last year. Rohde, investigative journalist he is, is writing in-depth about his experience this week for the Times. You might remember the incident as the one Wikipedia hid on purpose to avoid it leaking to the mainstream media. Rohde’s story will be spilling onto the site all week. Block off some time to read it – it’s not often a reporter returns from such circumstances largely unharmed. • source
It is a tragedy for WFP and for the whole humanitarian community in Pakistan. These people were working to help vulnerable people.
World Food Program deputy director Amir Abdulla • On the deaths of at least four (and the injuries of at least six) in a suicide bombing centered on the WFP and United Nations offices in Islamabad, Pakistan today. While the attack has noone claiming responsibility as of yet, the most likely candidate is a reformulated Taliban in the region. • source
His translator didn’t make it though. Stephen Farrell is a lucky man. Farrell, a reporter for the New York Times since 2007, is now the second reporter in three months to have been rescued after being kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He didn’t have to wait as long as David Rohde for a rescue (Rohde was in Taliban captivity for seven months; Farrell was kidnapped four days ago), but his rescue was far more violent. Sultan Munadi, his interpreter, was killed in the crossfire. source
It’s a real hard thing to prove. Who is going to survive to testify about that? That is our challenge. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. We want to get to the bottom of it.
USAID Office of Inspector General representative Dona Dinkler • Regarding reports that some taxpayer money meant to go to rebuilding infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, in Afghanistan (currently at $7.5 billion between 2002 and now) has instead been funneled to the Taliban. Which should probably make a lot of taxpayers angry if it’s true. • source
I believe that what we have heard by media sources during the past few days on the killing of Mehsud is incorrect. My sources from local citizens in Waziristan confirm that Mehsud is alive and doing well.
Maulana Merajuddin • The leader of a delegation in Islamabad that includes Baitullah Mehsud’s tribe, on the living status of the Taliban leader. Despite claims yesterday that Mehsud had died, the Pakistan Taliban clams that he’s still alive but in hiding. • source
This is a major setback for the Taliban in Pakistan. He was the leader. The successors are all non-entities.
Former Pakistani security leader Mahmood Shah • Discussing the ramifications of the death of Baitullah Mehsud, who was reported killed in a bombing on Wednesday. Friday, two Taliban fighters said he was killed but the U.S. and Pakistan could not confirm this. Mehsud is blamed for much of the instability in the region and Pakistan has been targeting him for months. • source
