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Subscribe to RSSISLAMABAD -- One of the nearly 400 prisoners who escaped from a jail in Pakistan on Sunday after it was attacked by militants was on death row for involvement in an assassination attempt on former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, a police official said.
Islamist militants armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades attacked the jail, a senior police official said.
One of the escapees, Adnan Rashid, was arrested in 2004 for allegedly planning to assassinate Musharraf in 2003.
He was supposedly the main 'target' the militants aimed to free during the jailbreak, NBC News reported. He was sentenced to death by a military court and was awaiting execution.
According to jail officials the militants "forced other prisoners to escape from the jail to use them as cover to divert the police chase."
The militants "created a scare among prisoners by saying they had planted bombs to blow up the whole prison" said a police official.
Pakistan's al Qaida-linked Taliban movement, which has close links to al-Qaida, said its fighters mounted the assault, which triggered clashes. Several people were wounded.
"We have freed hundreds of our comrades in Bannu in this attack. Several of our people have reached their destinations, others are on their way," a Taliban spokesman told Reuters.
That claim could not be immediately verified.
Police and intelligence officials said only some of the prisoners who escaped were militants.
"Dozens of militants attacked Bannu's centraljail in the early hours of the morning, and over 300 prisoners have escaped," senior police official Mir Sahib Jan told Reuters.
"There was intense gunfire, and rocket-propelled grenades were also used."
Paramilitary troops and security forces surrounded Bannu Central Jail. Of a total944 prisoners in the jail, 384 escaped, said another police official.
Militants apparently targeted six jail blocks in the attack, he said.
The attack could deal a psychological blow to Pakistani security forces following government assertions that security crackdowns have weakened militants.
While the Taliban in neighboring Aghanistan have staged several jailbreaks, such operations are rare in Pakistan.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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If I ever end up in jail, I want to be jailed there. maybe the US prison empire could sub-contract with those guys, as well as with Irak and Afghanistan. Got to play to win..
They won't break you free unless you are a terrorist ofcourse.
Sounds like a script from a Mexican movie. The US trusts this country with nuclear weapons?
save the environment......
I do hope your comments are sarcastic, however that is extremely debatable.
For your info, these "prisoners" were in a Pakistani jail and had nothing to do with the U.S. As for sub-"contracting out" the prisoners, maybe you should provide posters with your assessment if the Pakistani military and intelligence officials were part of this breakout. "Play to win ?" I am so sure if you were in Pakistan you would want to "play" with the "Pakistan's al Qaida-linked Taliban movement". Ever had a bomb strapped to your waist ? Yeah, some game huh ?
It is high time we, the American taxpayers, terminated any and all support to Pakistan. Wait a minute, gotta talk to our "enemies" or "potential enemies".
If those "militants" are part of the Taliban and one tried to kill the president, I would say that the proper term is "terrorists."
Another example of a weak Pakistan, unable to control terrorists within its own borders. Most of Pakistan's territory is unmanaged. Talban, AQ, Lashkar Taiba, are all alive and well within the non threatening borders of Pakistan. It's scary they have nukes. While we focus on preventing Iran from creating nukes, which I agree we should do, we should be more concerned about nukes in a country that can't keep terrorists under control.
We should seal the border and keep an eye on air space over Pakistan. While Iran tells us they are developing nukes, Pakistan acts as though their nukes are safe.
I'm with you fellows.
maybe there would be less people in jail if there were jobs for some of the inmates, ever. we've exported our manufacturing jobs and many telecom services jobs. it's not too far fetched that prison sentences could be served abroad, were staff is much less expensive( I hope I don't give ideas to the wrong people). Did anyone foresee 20 years ago the situation we are in today?
maybe Pakistan has been a seriously iffy double faced player, with nukes. I don't exactly like it.
I think there is a worldwide day of reckoning coming. As difficult as it has been, we haven't seen anything yet. I'm afraid we ought to prepare for "that". and countries better play ball.
The army surrounded the prison AFTER THE escape... like closing the barn door after the horses are gone, for what purpose?
Shouldn't the army have followed them?
It seems to be very easy to bribe ones way out of anything in that country. someone got paid. what a desgusting lott.
Someone always gets paid, that happens here too, we just don't always see it on the news here.
Radical Islamic terrorists are waging wars of aggression on many fronts. Their goal is world domination and to put an end to all religions other than their perverted version of Islamic. The good people and the decent nations must defeat Islamic extremism or civilization is in peril.
Defence is a odd word, I think it is safe to assume your meaning of defence is an attack in Pakistan. I am with you on the attack part on our fr-enemies but it must be done the same way they did this attack, covertly by CIA, NSA etc not by our military.
I agree!
But our losses should be minimum.
I would suggest that they fight among themselves. I would have been happy if that backstabbing criminal, Gen Mush was killed by the assassin.
As Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are the root causes (80 percent) of Islamic terrorism, I would suggest that we keep away from Shiites vs Sunni wars.
NO INTERVENTION IN SYRIA OR IRAN.
In Pakistan, just keep miles away. They will kill each other.
Let us cheer Iran to attack Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE.
Carpet bomb whoever is left. No soldiers on the ground!!!!
Amen Doug, well stated, the scourge of the world is islam, every civilized person in our world must unite to stamp out this hate filled, cruel, corrupt culture that disguises itself as a religion...
An Embassy attacked and a jail full of terrorists free, now we see the true colors of Pakistan.
so true...never, ever trust any of those lazy, ignorant corrupt pakis,not a single one!
where was the police, and army? a sleep again, comunication breakdown again, what a farce!!!! here we go again more nato people getting killed again. take no prisoners, do what they do to you, and trust your own people.
I think Pakistan's own government helped (at least) to break 'em out. Their current President is of a different party to Musharraf, the current gov doesn't want us on their soil (see post-bin Laden), and a great way to scare helicopter pilots, CIA agents, and Musharraf is to release 400 terrorist hounds that can kill at any time.
Of course, it's also good target practice for Navy SEALs...
Their current President is a wimp with no balls. His wife took them with her to her grave and may she rest in peace.
Most Pakis imagine that they are too smart.
Islamic clerics, military and politicians imagine that they are born to rule!
Add murderous and barbaric religion, Islam and feudal attitudes to the mix!
Agree Jonathan...totally true. I think one solution is to support India, and let India deal with the pakis and take over this worthless, ignorant, failed country. India does demonstrate some intelligence and leadership and is not under the rule of the hate filled muslim imans. That alone would be a benefit to the entire world.
"What were they doing?" They were helping with the break out.
Jack: Even India should not take a single Paki.
Already India has enough of Paki supporters like all non-Muslim nations.
Most of the Muslims in non-Muslim nations are so fanatics that take Islam's name, they will jump!
If something happens to Saddam and some mullah screams: Islam in danger, see the riots and processions!
All over the world, non-Muslim nations should kick out the liabilities, Muslims and let them go back to five times praying their Muslim nations!
Someone, anyone had to have seen this comming! Al-quida, and the stupid talliwhackers are alive and well! All of the fighting we have done in Iraq, and Assghanistan, all for what? Nothing but a loss of American lives! America and her allies, went about this all wrong! We should have bombed em back to the stone-age! Then sort them out.
The war on terror was fought all wrong. War has become too civilized! If you want to win a war, in todays world, you cant! If you cant handle some civilian casualties, dont bother to start the damned war! We should have been in and out of both those wars in months, rather than years! Pussyfootin around, will not win wars!
The mentality of bombing people back into the times of the caveman will not make us any better than the terrorists we are fighting. Because that would include bombing innocent lives who happen to be caught up in the crossfire, and as a result fueling their causes. The easiest solution would be to sever all economic ties from nations supporting terrorism on any level, this would\should include all forms of aid all the way to halting any and all import\exports of fossil fuels of both raw and refined. If these people hate the US and our allies so much then why do we keep supporting them by giving them rewards for continuing their behavior? But with the current administration in the White House, it is clear that there is no interest in cutting off the life lines of which keeps these nations flush full of our hard earned cash, while strangling out the middle class of this nation in the process.
Still some don't learn. Some war mongers want to arm al-Qaida rebels fighting Syrian Assad and war on Iran.
Iraq was not our wars, but Saudi Arabia, oil companies and their lobbies and Jewish lobby, Israel's wars!
If Saddam was there nothing would have happened much.
If there was no Iraq war (1991), most probably there would not have been 9/11!
Anyone want to start a pool for when the terrorists take control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal? I'll take July 30th.
I would check on the Pakistan intelligent agency, you know who they are, the ones that hid Osama Bin Laden all those years. They are good at keeping militants safe.
Anyone ever stopped to think those terrorists need a common enemy. Our foreign policy, our corporations sure gave them a common enemy. Yep, that's us Americans. There is more than one way to fight these people. Why give them foreign aid when they hate us? Stop paying them to be friends, they never will be friends. Stop purchasing their products (oil mostly), and quit sending them any of our products.
There are plenty of nations that do not harbour, or support these terrorists. Start exporting our products to them, and purchase some of their products. Cut off their money, let them fight amongst themselves. Sooner or later, (most likely later) they will wake up and realize that they took the wrong road.
Another way is to get Russia to agree, which shouldn't be hard, as they also have terrorists in their country, to join up and give the Arab Nations a deal. You have 60 days to quit funding, training, etc the terrorists. You will round them up, and give them their day in your courts.
Any attack on innocent people, or against either Russia or American interests, we will bomb one city, and one religious site, if a second attack occurs, two cities and 2 religious sites will be competely wiped off the face of the map. If a third, then 3 cities and 3 religious sites are wiped out.
Yes, innocent people will be killed, but brute force is all they know and respect, and we should, if they don't clean their mess up, use it on them. At least they would realize that everyone is tired of their BS. I prefer doing an embargo on all of their products first, to see if they get the message, and if that doesn't work, then use brute force.
this is a disgrace to islam.
no real god worshiping muslim would do such a thing.
it only proves to the world that these people are using religion, mainly islam, as a cloak or excuse to attempt to justify the things they do, but are actually going against the religion they pretend to be a part of.
and
it proves that anyone that claims to be with them or on their side is also a hypocrite and going against their religion and makes the world think all muslims are criminals and murderers.
Give the taliban the north end of afganistan to control. As soon as they all move in, bomb the hek out of them.
As you can see the only purpose of Pakistan is fertilizer, even fish does not eat the garabage that comes out of that God forsaken place. To hell with them all!
inside help, for sure!
These guy's who escaped will probably come here and get a nice NO interest loan from our Government and open a motel or gas station, or maybe a convineance store.
It's not a big deal. Afterall Pakistan allows the terrorist villages for safe haven with family. Telling Americian military hands off in this area. We harp on Iran and Syria, while Pakistan is #1 on protecting the terrorist. We could of ended the Afghastan war in one year, if we went into Pakistan and demolished this safe haven for the terrorist. The only way you can defeat thugs, is have them fear you. Not by handing out candy and water as goody-goody guys. As you can see why the Taiban is still winning as thugs, the Afghastan people support them out of "Fear", that's why you don't see protest when they kill innocent kids and women. Winning wars is not for goody-goody people, they are never "Feared." We never learned a thing from the Vietnam war.
Where will the Pakistani refugees go to escape the Taliban when they take control and start executing them? Just saying you are anti-American won't save your life. Cowards are despised by the radicals.
We need to do that in America, break out thousands of criminals. The ones that kept their heads down and didn't cause any more trouble would be productive citizens again and those that couldn't stay out of trouble would be rounded up again over time.
Thank you, now I have a reason to break the seal on a new jug.
Well, if there was ever any doubt that Pakistan is a failed state, this certainly sealed the deal...
In May last year US Navy SEALS flew in the country, eliminated OBL , now Talibans attacked a prison and managed to release 400 prisoners. Clear evidence that Talibans can pick the target any time any where with impunity. A country that is not only threat to itself but to entire world. No one knows for sure who is ruling the country, top echlon of the government is constantly involved in scandals , corruption is rampant, country's president & prime minister are facing serious charges in the court. How can world deal with this country where religious fanatics are out of control ?