It was only three days ago that I posted all eyes should be on Bajaur Agency, in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan along the Afghan border. The push by Pakistani forces against the al-Qaeda remnants hiding out in that region has bagged another top al-Qaeda commander in Bajaur:

According to a Pakistani security official, fighting in the Bajaur region has resulted in the death of militant Abu Saeed al-Masri, identified in local media reports as Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, al-Qaida’s commander in Afghanistan. Yazid claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Danish embassy in Islamabad earlier this year, and he has also been linked to the assassination of the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December.

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Bajaur is a hotbed of militancy, run by the Pakistani Taliban number two, Faqir Mohammed. It is thought to be a possible hiding place for al-Qaida’s leaders, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden. Yazid was an Egyptian who served time in jail with Zawahri after the assassination of the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981. He has been referred to as al-Qaida’s third most senior figure, rising up the ranks as other leaders have been killed. He succeeded Abu Ubaida al-Masri, who died of hepatitis, about a year ago. The September 11 Commission described Yazid as the network’s “chief financial manager” and he may have wired money to the 9/11 hijackers.

So we got another of the 9-11 criminals – excellent news! The other good news is that Pakistan action has removed the al-Qaeda Afghan leader, which should be a blow to the insurgent activities across the border. Apparently the Taliban/al-Qaeda fighters launched an attack, which was repulsed and followed by a deadly counter strike:

The Taliban fighters apparently initiated the attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur tribal region, The Times of India reported. The Bajaur Scouts paramilitary troops repulsed the attack and then launched a counter attack, including aerial bombardments, that left about 50 Taliban militants dead, the Times said local media reported.

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The latest confrontations followed last week’s fighting that left more than 100 militants and nine security troops dead.

I get the feeling al-Qaeda and the Taliban are on their heels and surrounded, so we may be getting more good news like this in the coming weeks. And it is good to see the Pakistan forces taking the battle to the Islamo Fascists. Clearly it has dawned on the Pak’s their country (and therefore there lives) was at risk if the militants took hold.

Tags: Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Pakistan, Taliban