Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistani commandos broke into Islamabad’s largest mosque compound this week, killing dozens of militants, including radical cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi. The pro-Taliban cleric led a huge madrasa whose students had been terrorizing the community, kidnapping women who weren’t wearing burqas, and bombing music stores. The military surrounded the compound last week but didn’t go in at first because Ghazi was holding more than 100 women and children hostage. When government forces did attack, the battle raged for more than a day. “The militants were fully prepared,” said Gen. Waheed Arshad. “They were well armed and well trained.” Ghazi’s brother, co-leader of the compound, was arrested last week fleeing the mosque disguised in a burqa.
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