India-Pakistan: October 1, 2004

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Pakistan is winning against the Islamic radicals and al Qaeda partly because of a growing economy. Partly as a result of economic aid from the U.S., in the past year, the poverty rate in Pakistan has gone from 32 to 23 percent. People with jobs are more likely to turn in terrorists, than join them. 

In western Pakistan, along the Afghan border, al Qaeda forces are laying landmines to try and discourage government patrols. But most of the victims are local civilians, including three 11 year old boys on their way to school today. The "foreigners" who provide most of the inner security for al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, were never very popular with the tribal people they lived among. But al Qaeda has money, and the approval of religious leaders. But now the Pakistani army is, for the first time in memory, operating in the tribal areas, and the tribes are well aware that this is all because of the "foreigners." It is hoped that this growing resentment will result in one of the tribes deciding to go for the rewards offered by the United States and Pakistan for turning in al Qaeda leaders.

Pakistani police arrested a Libyan man, suspected of being an al Qaeda member, in the northwestern city of  Peshawar. Pakistan believes they have crippled al Qaeda operations in the country, because dozens of key al Qaeda operatives in the past year. 

The violence continues in Kashmir, with over a dozen dying each week. The separatist rebels are increasing their attacks on moderate separatists, who are seen as traitors. Indeed, most of the rebel activity appears to be directed as Moslems in Kashmir, to either keep them loyal to the rebels, or to prevent them working with the police. 

 

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