Over 10 militants were killed in North Waziristan as four drone aircraft assaulted multiple targets in the tribal agency. Dawn describes the area as a mountain hide-out and quotes unnamed Pakistani officials saying Arabs are amongst the dead. The News notes that the strike occurred in Hafiz Gul Bahadar's territory. Bahadar, who is NOT Mullah Baradar, is the commander of the Taliban in North Waziristan and rumored to have been killed by drones last week.
Also.
Also in Pakistan:
The younger brother of Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari's top rival, has done a great job at keeping President Zardari in power. There continues to be a lot of mockery and outrage over a controversial statement made by the younger Sharif.
38 Taliban, including a commander, surrendered in Bajaur tribal agency. The Pakistani army recently launched a second military offensive there that they feel has routed the militants. "Pakistan is our country and those carrying out attacks against Pakistan are its enemies," said the commander of the surrendering Taliban.(Daily Times)
10 Taliban and 3 members of a pro-government tribal militia were reported killed in central Kurram tribal agency. The Taliban were allegedly attacking the local militia, perhaps for ransom, but ended up surrounded.(Daily Times)
Several NATO tankers were attacked in Balochistan province. Again. Parts of Balochistan, including the region around Quetta, is more Pashtun than Baloch. Quetta was thought to have at one time been the command center for the Taliban.(Dawn)
In the city of Lahore, Punjab province, a huge cache of explosives and several suicide vests were discovered. 15 suspects were arrested.(Dawn) The city of Lahore was a recent target of suicide bombings.
Pakistan received 14 Cobra attack helicopters from the US.(Geo)
Afghanistan:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is dispatching 1,000 extra police to Kandahar in the wake of last week's suicide attacks. The quantity might sound okay but the quality of these police is unknown.(AP)
The structure of military command in Afghanistan changes- nearly all U.S. forces will be under NATO command. It is hoped that this will simplify the command structure of the NATO mission.(AP)
The structure of the U.S. military workout changes. From bayonets to ab busters? Might not be such a bad idea.(AP)
The structure of Afghanistan's Electoral Complains Commission changes again. Hamid Karzai backtracks from what was widely seen as another attempt at a power grab. The U.N. envoy is pleased. So am I until I'm not.(Reuters)
The Afghan government admits to a law they secretly passed which- no kidding- is a blanket pardon for all war crimes committed before 2001. Probably less about reconciliation towards the Taliban and more about covering the asses of warlords.(Reuters)
Marines in Helmand province shift their attention to the poppy industry. Helmand province is ground-zero for the opium trade.(McClatchy)
What might have made General McChrystal rein in special forces operations?(Times)
And while not directly related to the AfPak region,
General Petraeus thinks it's time for the military to rethink its policy towards gays.(AP) Hearing such things from the general doesn't surprise me anymore.
Did I miss anything?