2000 villagers as human shields- Taliban in Pakistan

[pete2]

..militants who have seized swathes of North West Frontier Province in Pakistan have inflicted a reign of terror on villagers, landowners and the police, using kidnapping, looting, pillaging and murder to impose their will.

..as Pakistani forces stepped up their campaign to retake territory in the districts of Buner, Dir and Swat, it emerged that in one Taliban-controlled village, Pir Baba in Buner, the militants were holding 2,000 people as human shields in case the army attacked.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who will meet Barack Obama at the White House this week, launched Operation Black Thunder last Sunday with the aim of rolling back the Taliban advance. Many regard it as a last throw of the dice by a desperately weak president.



..origins of the crisis go back to February when local officials allowed the imposition of sharia, or Islamic law, in Swat in an effort to appease the Taliban, who had taken control.

The militants promised to disarm but instead moved their forces into neighbouring Dir and Buner, just 60 miles from Islamabad..

Taliban terror holds 2,000 villagers as human shields - Times Online


Personally I think the "human shields" gambit is well worn bull but we can only go on what the media says about it- embedded in the military as they are, media bias should be taken for granted of course.

[IrishTom]

Taliban terror holds 2,000 villagers as human shields - Times Online


Personally I think the "human shields" gambit is well worn bull but we can only go on what the media says about it- embedded in the military as they are, media bias should be taken for granted of course.

another fine example of the quran inspired spread of sharia Law

[pete2]

another fine example of the quran inspired spread of sharia Law

I don't think thats the issue, the issue is that the Pakistan government was so desperate for progress or some kind of peace they negotiated badly an got sucked in. Their army is making some progress now but they are not supposed to have the stomach for the fight in those areas. The Taliban have also announced that a 'counter surge' can be expected from them. I think Pakistan will fall, the world is about to get seriously screwed up

[IrishTom]

I don't think thats the issue, the issue is that the Pakistan government was so desperate for progress or some kind of peace they negotiated badly an got sucked in. Their army is making some progress now but they are not supposed to have the stomach for the fight in those areas. The Taliban have also announced that a 'counter surge' can be expected from them. I think Pakistan will fall, the world is about to get seriously screwed up

of course it is the issue, it is the fundamental goal of the taliban to enforce sharia law all over the world and to propagate islam at all costs.

[pete2]

of course it is the issue, it is the fundamental goal of the taliban to enforce sharia law all over the world and to propagate islam at all costs.

Are you sure? Must admit i've not idea what the Taliban want beyond their stated aim of overthrowing the government of Pakistan.

[Rocky]

Are you sure? Must admit i've not idea what the Taliban want beyond their stated aim of overthrowing the government of Pakistan.

Well it's obviously to enforce Sharia Law in Afghanistan and Pakistan at the very least.

The Pakistani government has made a mess of this. However I still don't think Pakistan will fall, the US will put too much effort into protecting it and will continue to do so and it’s not that easy to bring down a government and state. Rather I expect the continuation of a very long war for the foreseeable future.