This is actually some pretty exciting word out of Pakistan. As I blogged here about last week, the Pakistani military has opened a new operation in Mohmand district of Bajaur province and almost in unison, nearly 200 tribesman in the area have decided to fight the Taliban. Here's some of the details from the article at Dawn:
Now, I don't expect the kind of wave of Awakening Councils to form in Pakistan that we saw in Iraq but it is very welcome to actually see the locals in Pakistan finally say "enough is enough." The Taliban have been wandering into that realm of abuse of locals that al Qaeda in Iraq resorted to which backfired on them.
If the Pakistani government would get its head out of its ass, they would jump at this opportunity to open up some funding for this group of tribesman and start trying to spread it across the volatile northwest provinces.
Hundreds of tribesmen in Mohmand area of Bajaur have vowed to resist the local Taliban as security forces continued their operation in the troubled region.Reports reaching here said that at least 20 militants had been killed in different areas of the agency on Saturday and Sunday.The militants, meanwhile, shot dead two tribesmen in Alizai area.
Local people said that armed volunteers were patrolling Lar Kali and Ber Kali round the clock to stop the Taliban entering the areas.They said that anti-Taliban sentiments were intensifying and the tribesmen decided not to allow militant activities in their area.
Now, I don't expect the kind of wave of Awakening Councils to form in Pakistan that we saw in Iraq but it is very welcome to actually see the locals in Pakistan finally say "enough is enough." The Taliban have been wandering into that realm of abuse of locals that al Qaeda in Iraq resorted to which backfired on them.
If the Pakistani government would get its head out of its ass, they would jump at this opportunity to open up some funding for this group of tribesman and start trying to spread it across the volatile northwest provinces.
Tribesmen decide to take on militants
KHAR, Aug 17: Hundreds of tribesmen in Mohmand area of Bajaur have vowed to resist the local Taliban as security forces continued their operation in the troubled region.Reports reaching here said that at least 20 militants had been killed in different areas of the agency on Saturday and Sunday.The militants, meanwhile, shot dead two tribesmen in Alizai area.Troops, backed by Cobra helicopters, have been using heavy artillery in the operation.Local people said that armed volunteers were patrolling Lar Kali and Ber Kali round the clock to stop the Taliban entering the areas.They said that anti-Taliban sentiments were intensifying and the tribesmen decided not to allow militant activities in their area.Groups of people in Khar, the regional headquarters of the agency, are patrolling the town to check movement of the militants.Displaced families, meanwhile, started returning to their homes after the political administration assured them that they would be provided protection.Assistant political agent Iqbal Khattak told Dawn that the government’s writ had been restored in Khar and security forces had started patrolling areas which had earlier been besieged by the local Taliban.The militants had also taken control of the main roads in the region and cut off the area from the rest of the country.“Situation is normal now and people should start routine activities,” said Mr Khattak.He said that about 130 displaced families had returned to the town on Sunday.Officials said that over 250,000 people had left Bajaur for other areas after security forces launched an operation.Sources said that troops attacked two vehicles in Mulla Syed area on Saturday evening and killed eight militants.Suspected strongholds of the militants came under fire in Inayet Kali, Mulla Kali, Jar, Haji Lawang, Jar and Damadola.According to sources, 12 militants were killed when some the positions held by them were heavily bombed.
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