At least 20 people were killed early March 30 as gunmen stormed a Pakistani police training school near Lahore. The attackers remain in control of the complex, and are exchanging fire with security forces. The assailants apparently entered the complex dressed in police uniforms. (AFP [2], BBC World Service, March 30)
The crisis comes the day after comments by President Barack Obama [3] were broadcast, saying the US will consult with Pakistan before raiding militant bases on Pakistani territory. "If we have a high-value target within our sights, after consulting with Pakistan, we're going after them," Obama said in an interview on CBS TV's "Face the Nation" program. "But our main thrust has to be to help Pakistan defeat these extremists."
"Our plan does not change the recognition of Pakistan as a sovereign government," Obama said in the interview taped on March 27. "We need to work with them and through them to deal with al-Qaeda. But we have to hold them much more accountable." (Bloomberg [4], March 30)
It is uncertain if Obama's comments referred to the ongoing US drone strikes [5] on Pakistan.
See our last post on Pakistan [6].
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