A huge air offensive by the Pakistanis killed 27 Taliban today of which 12 of those were later discovered to be suicide bombers. And in another action 13 Taliban were killed in which one of the local lashkars (awakenings) was involved. Here's the details from the report at Daily Times:
What's interesting going on in this NW section of tribal Pakistan is the lines that are being drawn between tribes over their position for or against the Taliban. Look at this from the same report:
I have said it before that at some point in time, this area of NW Pakistan is going to see more and more of this uprising against the Taliban. The tribes here have a tradition of protecting "guests" to their area and villages and that has been the case with the Taliban there but we are now seeing how the Taliban are trying to control their hosts and any tribe resisting is being targeted and that approach will probably backfire, much as it did in Iraq when al Qaeda in Iraq spilled a lot of blood of their host Sunnis.
Security forces said they have killed 27 Taliban in an airstrike in Orakzai Agency on Sunday. “In a highly successful action in Orakzai Agency, a combat aviation strike killed 27 Taliban,” said a statement from the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters. The statement said those killed included two important Taliban commanders. Credible sources confirmed that 12 persons among those killed were would-be suicide bombers, said the statement.
What's interesting going on in this NW section of tribal Pakistan is the lines that are being drawn between tribes over their position for or against the Taliban. Look at this from the same report:
Meanwhile, relations between the Ali Khel and Mamuzai tribes have worsened following a suicide attack targeting an anti-Taliban jirga of the Ali Khel tribe on Friday.The Ali Khel tribe is against the Taliban, while the Mamuzai tribe does not openly oppose the Taliban in the area, local sources said.
I have said it before that at some point in time, this area of NW Pakistan is going to see more and more of this uprising against the Taliban. The tribes here have a tradition of protecting "guests" to their area and villages and that has been the case with the Taliban there but we are now seeing how the Taliban are trying to control their hosts and any tribe resisting is being targeted and that approach will probably backfire, much as it did in Iraq when al Qaeda in Iraq spilled a lot of blood of their host Sunnis.
12 bombers among 27 slain in Orakzai
PESHAWAR: Security forces said they have killed 27 Taliban in an airstrike in Orakzai Agency on Sunday. “In a highly successful action in Orakzai Agency, a combat aviation strike killed 27 Taliban,” said a statement from the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters. The statement said those killed included two important Taliban commanders. Credible sources confirmed that 12 persons among those killed were would-be suicide bombers, said the statement.Meanwhile, relations between the Ali Khel and Mamuzai tribes have worsened following a suicide attack targeting an anti-Taliban jirga of the Ali Khel tribe on Friday.The Ali Khel tribe is against the Taliban, while the Mamuzai tribe does not openly oppose the Taliban in the area, local sources said.
Bajaur: Thirteen Taliban and three members of a tribal lashkar were killed in fighting and bombing by aircraft in the restive Bajaur Agency on Sunday. Helicopter gunship and jet fighters targeted Taliban positions in Kotki, Charmang and Chinar areas of Nawagai tehsil, killing 13 Taliban and injuring several other, officials said. Three members of the lashkar were killed in clashes between the Taliban and volunteers of the Charmang tribes, locals said. Kanjoo: A peace jirga in Kanjoo area of Swat called for a grand jirga of elders and residents of the area, following negotiations with Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah on Sunday, locals said. The talks between representatives of the Kanjoo Peace Jirga and Fazlullah were held in Ghat Piochar area of Matta tehsil.
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