600 Taliban Attack Pakistani Troops, 40 Taliban Are Wormfood

A little change in scenario here folks....as we had 600 Taliban, who had entered FROM AFGHANISTAN, attack a forward base of the Pakistani Frontier Corps and when the dust settled, 40 Taliban were dead as well as 6 of the government forces. But, again, this was Taliban coming from Afghanistan into Pakistan to attack instead of the reverse that had been the norm for the past couple of years where the Taliban would regroup and rearm in Pakistan and then cross into Afghanistan for attacks. Here's some of the details of the attack from Breitbart:

Security forces repulsed an attack Sunday by 600 fighters in northwestern Pakistan, most of whom had crossed the border from Afghanistan, leaving at least 40 militants dead and scores of others wounded, a military official said.
Six security forces were also killed and seven wounded in the pre-dawn attack in Mohmand agency, which lies along the volatile Afghan border.
Insurgents attacked the Pakistani Frontier Corps' Mohammad Ghat camp at about 2 a.m. with mortars and rockets, then used small arms to fire on a checkpoint near the camp, said a military official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment to the media.
The bulk of the militants had earlier crossed over from Afghanistan and later joined with Pakistani allies, the official said. At least 40 militants were killed, he said.

The other thing to note in all of this is the Taliban's willingness to be conducting attacks in the middle of the winter - this is typically the time of year when they are holed up in the mountains licking their wounds, trying to find enough food to last out the winter. But this winter, they have been much more actice - I'm not positive if it is because their wintering lands are partially occupied by Pakistani forces and hovering drones or if it is actually a planned offensive.

I will say this though...I am eager to see the 20,000 new American troops arrive in Afghanistan in the next few months, because I am expecting a HUGE spring offensive in Afghanistan this year. I know that has been said of years past and it all fizzled but I am willing to bet it is a sure thing this year.

Pakistan: 6 troops, 40 militants killed in attack

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - Security forces repulsed an attack Sunday by 600 fighters in northwestern Pakistan, most of whom had crossed the border from Afghanistan, leaving at least 40 militants dead and scores of others wounded, a military official said.
Six security forces were also killed and seven wounded in the pre-dawn attack in Mohmand agency, which lies along the volatile Afghan border.
Insurgents attacked the Pakistani Frontier Corps' Mohammad Ghat camp at about 2 a.m. with mortars and rockets, then used small arms to fire on a checkpoint near the camp, said a military official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment to the media.
The bulk of the militants had earlier crossed over from Afghanistan and later joined with Pakistani allies, the official said. At least 40 militants were killed, he said.
The attackers were eventually driven off, but scattered skirmishes continued, he said.
The lawless and remote mountain region is believed to be used by pro-Taliban militants as a launching pad for attacks into Afghanistan, and is difficult for reporters to access.
Pakistan has deployed tens of thousands of troops to police its tribal regions, but Western and Afghan officials say that has not deterred militants. A major military offensive against militants in Bajur to the north has spilled over into Mohmand.
Militants frequently target tribe members in the area whom they suspect of backing government peace efforts.
Also Sunday, purported Taliban militants abducted five members of an anti-militant tribal committee in Bajur and sliced an ear off each, said local government official Israr Khan.
One of the victims told police at a hospital that their abductors warned they would slash off their other ears and their tongues if they maintained their anti-militant activities, Khan said.
Saleem Khan, a relative of one of the victims, told The Associated Press that the men had merely been manning a local guard post.
"They did not commit any crime, but the way they were "punished" is horrible and inhuman. This is very disturbing," he said.