The Taliban take retribution against pro-American “spies” and “collaborators”
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The federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Frontier Province. Click to enlrage. |
The purge of anti-Taliban tribal elements has begun in the Islamic Emirate of Waziristan, formerly as the Pakistani tribal agency of North Waziristan. The “Waziristan accord” specifically prohibits the extra judicial killings of tribesman. “There will be no target[ed] killing and no parallel administration in the agency. The writ of the state will prevail in the area”, according to a copy of the truce obtained be Dawn.
The Taliban and al Qaeda have violated the agreement less than one week after signing it. Twice. Two tribal members have been murdered in North Waziristan over the weekend. “Malik Dalai was killed in a drive-by shooting near Wana” on Sunday, reports the Daily Times. Daili is described as a ” a tribesman suspected of collaboration with authorities in the hunt for insurgents.”
Another tribal was murdered on Saturday, with notes pinned to his body, “A paramilitary patrol found Rahim Jan’s bullet-ridden body with two letters on it near a tableeghi market west of Miranshah, the official said. One letters said Jan had ‘confessed to spying for the Americans.'”
The Washington Post illustrates the failure of Pakistani military campaign in the tribal agencies and the resultant purge of pro-government and American forces:
The [Pakistani] army lost its best source of intelligence in 2004, after it began raids inside the tribal areas. Scouts with blood ties to the tribes ceased sharing information for fear of retaliation.They had good reason. At least 23 senior anti-Taliban tribesmen have been assassinated in South and North Waziristan since May 2005. “Al-Qaeda footprints were found everywhere,” Interior Minister Sherpao said in a recent interview. “They kidnapped and chopped off heads of at least seven of these pro-government tribesmen.”
Over the course of a year, 23 anti-Taliban tribals were killed. Two were killed over the weekend. The Taliban is consolidating power by destroying the remnants of the government’s sources of intelligence.
7 Comments
“Anything that would work would be against international law.”
Lisa,
You might want to read “international law” before making such false statements. Most of what the wing-nuts call “international law” is nowhere to be found in the actual law books.
Good Old Fashioned Dawn Patrol
I miss the Dawn Patrol from the Mudville Gazette. How ’bout you? Hopefully the Greyhawks are adjusting to life in the US, getting over the stress of moving and maybe getting to the end of unpacking boxes (does that ever end?). In the meantime, I decide…
The Taliban breaks the “Waziristan Accord”
Glad to see you back. I enjoy the analysis and reporting. Very informative.
Bill, I saw a report (as MSNBC) that Lt. Gen. McCrystal is now heading up the hunt for Bin Ladin. He headed TF 145 when it hunted down and killed Zarqawi. I was very impressed by the tempo and effectiveness of that effort. I am optimistic that Binny and/or Zawahri might be sent to hell within the next 6 months.
Tin Foil Hat On.
Here is my conspiracy theory: Pakistan signs a truce and moves to defensible positions near the tribal territories. We strike and kill Binny in the tribal areas and the Pakistani government can “complain” about the violation of their sovereignty with their troops in reletive safety (from the expected backlash).
I have long wondered if we have had an idea where UBL is because we have has so much success taking out AQ senior operational commanders (Atef, Zubaidah, KSM, Al-libbi, Rubaie(Sp?)). Perhaps we have been watching UBL in order to identify operational commanders.
Ok, tin foil hat off.
Everyone who was surprised that the truce was broken: I have investment opportunities in trans-lunar real estate I’d like to tell you about.
Cruiser: Governments don’t do diabolically clever things. They do obvious things. Like retreat when they get beat.
BLOG: Quick Links 9/13/06
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