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Pakistan vows to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries

By WTOP Staff

REBECCA SANTANA
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani military operation launched in the country’s northwest will clear the area of terrorists and keep it from being used as a safe haven by militant groups, officials said Tuesday.

Pakistani officials briefed foreign media about the operation started two weeks ago against militants in the North Waziristan tribal area, which is considered the stronghold of groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban. The long-awaited operation is being closely watched to see how aggressively Pakistan moves against the militants and whether the operation sparks a backlash of violence in the rest of the country.

“Once we are done with the operation in North Waziristan, there won’t be a single terrorist,” said military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa.

The U.S. has long urged Pakistan to send troops into North Waziristan because the region had become a safe haven for groups who attacked American and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. It’s also become a hub for militants intent on overthrowing the Pakistani government who have used it as a base from which they’ve launched attacks on civilian and military targets across the country.

The U.S. has been especially concerned about the Haqqani network, which has been accused of carrying out some of the most deadly attacks in Afghanistan. U.S. officials have accused Pakistan in the past of supporting the militant group and others as a way to maintain influence in Afghanistan.

Since the operation was launched in North Waziristan, one of the questions has been whether the Pakistani military would go after all militant groups equally. Officials Tuesday said they would not discriminate.

“We will not permit anybody to use the soil of Pakistan against another country — Haqqani or no Haqqani,” said the Minister of States and Frontier Regions, Abdul Qaudir Baloch.

Officials also called on neighboring Afghanistan to act against militants who attack Pakistan from Afghan soil, including the leader of the Pakistani Taliban. Both countries have accused the other of harboring militants, but in recent months cross-border tensions have flared over accusations that Pakistani Taliban militants, including the leader of the group, are in northeastern Afghanistan.

“This has been raised at every level, that the leader of the TTP, Mullah Fazlullah is sitting across the border,” said Bajwa, referring to the Pakistani Taliban’s formal name — Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. “Afghanistan needs to do something about it.”

The officials declined to give a timetable for how long the operation would last, but analysts have said it could be months.

Nearly half a million refugees fled North Waziristan in a mass exodus that has sparked accusations that the government was not prepared to deal with the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reported Monday that almost 100,000 people have also fled from North Waziristan to neighboring Afghanistan.

Officials Tuesday at the briefing disputed those figures and said the numbers were lower but declined to give any specific figures.

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Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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