Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Pakistani Tribal Lashkars Continue Operations On The Taliban, Over 20 Taliban Killed


I'm really starting to believe that the lashkar movement among the tribes in Pakistan's NW Provinces is catching fire. Just a few days ago, I blogged about a lashkar militia of Pakistani tribesman taking up arms against the Taliban and killing several of the jihadis. And today, somewhat buried in this report from Daily Times, you will see two separate reports of lashkar operations in the area - in one, the Pakistani tribesmen kill 21 Taliban and in the other 2 Taliban are killed and 14 are taken prisoner. I will continue to hold that this lashkar movement is not going to be as well-coordinated as the Awakening movement was in Iraq but we are seeing that the tribal fighters ARE effective against the Taliban and what this means to the Taliban is they literally need their heads on a swivel - they have U.S. predators overhead, they have Pakistani artillery and aircraft pounding them and now, from the villages they have these lashkar fighters pouring ouf of homes with small arms.

Here's the article with the reference to the lashkar operations in bold:


45 Taliban killed in airstrikes, clashes

ISLAMABAD: At least 45 Taliban were killed as jet aircraft bombed suspected Taliban hideouts in Waziristan and in clashes with the security forces and pro-government tribal militias in Swat and Kurram on Monday.The airstrikes hit a guesthouse used by Taliban in the village of Kani Guram in South Waziristan Agency, killing four Taliban, according to intelligence officials.Twenty-one Taliban were killed in overnight clashes with an anti-Taliban militia in Kurram Agency, tribal elder Ali Akbar Toori and lawmaker Sajid Toori said. Four militiamen were also killed.
Security forces launched an early morning raid on a suspected Taliban hideout in Tank, killing two suspected Taliban and arresting nine others, senior police officer Abdul Rasheed said.Chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said security forces raided a compound in Khawazakhela area of Swat on a tip-off, killing eight Taliban and seizing weapons and explosives.
A lashkar in Upper Dir closed in on the Taliban trapped in the Shortkas Dogdarra village. Citing a private TV channel, APP said the lashkar killed two Taliban and arrested another 14 from the area and demolished their five houses.In Swat, the Taliban “command structure has been totally dismantled, their training centres discovered and destroyed, their recruits either killed or driven away, their ammunition dumps destroyed and their headquarters ... destroyed,” the military spokesman said. sajjad malik/agencies

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