Lashkar-e-Islam Attacked in Khyber Agency

[Always Neutral]

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in a suicide bomb attack on a militant gathering in north-western Pakistan, officials say.

The bomber had blown himself up among pro-Taliban militants meeting in a compound by a crowded market selling hashish, a witness told the BBC.

BBC News - Pakistan militant group attacked by suicide bomber

Please dont stoop to these TTP/ Good Taliban scum level and blow urself up. If this report is true,I dont believe it, there are better ways to do it.

After seeing the photos I think that the Taliban leader was leading the attack and the bomb exploded pre-maturely. Dabongs spin is to soothe the nerves.

Regards

 

[SMC]

It's a very good strategy to play these groups against TTP. They know the terrain and area very well.

 

[Vassnti]

This could be a retaliatory strike from one of those groups that claim the TTP to be a wing of the CIA. Or it could be the ISI fighting fire with fire, though considering the civilian casualties, that's unlikely.

Either way, it would be unwise to read too much into this.


I'm not so sure. Until about the late-90s, we controlled them alright. Then we united them under one flag, something we shouldn't have done. And then, in 2001, our leadership made a few ill-advised moves and imported your headaches to our land. But yes, we've had to learn on the fly what can happen when they grow out of control. Mistakes must not be repeated, but this strategic dimension to our national defence can not be entirely dismantled for momentary gains, it must be mastered like every other weapon. I can see why S-2, Solomon2 and EjazR would want otherwise, but that is exactly why it shouldn't be completely disposed of.

Its like watching a one armed man reaching through the bars of a tigers cage while saying "dont worry i know what i did wrong last time"

Pakistans defence is the brave men and women of its armed services, not scum that detonate bombs in market places because the feel slighted. I am stunned after the carnage the TTP has caused the many lives lost that a respected members theory would be dont worry we will get it right next time. I sincerley hope i have misunderstood your post.

 

[S-2]

"...this strategic dimension to our national defence can not be entirely dismantled for momentary gains, it must be mastered like every other weapon."

"strategic dimension"? Oh, you mean proxies. Yes that can be dismantled and is as we speak. You don't remove Baradar without consequence.

We'll see what your COAS has in mind. What's clear is you haven't a clue nor anybody else here. At least some of us knew bullsh!t though when we saw it.

"I can see why S-2, Solomon2 and EjazR would want otherwise, but that is exactly why it shouldn't be completely disposed of."

You're projecting your desires into places where you've no control nor knowledge. You've personally been proven a useful fool or a duplictious fellow-traveller of your military's use of the afghan taliban and their sanctuary upon your lands. That's now proven and I don't care which. Either is ignoble and dismissive. Most of all, it's now in the open and there's little hope of going back.

You appear to have not figured that out yet.

Thanks.

 

[fawwaxs]

Tirah blast claims 30 lives including seven militants


LANDI KOTAL: A militant commander and 29 people were killed and 80 others were injured when a bomb exploded in a cattle market in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on Thursday.

The commander was identified as Azam Khan of Lashkar-i-Islam. His six bodyguards also died.

According to sources, explosives packed in a rucksack went off near the Dars Jumaat mosque, which was used as base by Lashkar-i-Islam in the Akkakhel area adjacent to Orakzai Agency. The entire area is also considered to be a stronghold of Taliban.

The sources said Azan Khan might have been the target of the assailants seeking revenge for a suicide attack on a mosque in Maidan area of Tirah, which is a stronghold of Ansaarul Islam.

The Lashkar and Ansaar had been at loggerheads since 2006 and more then 200 activists of both the organisations are believed to have been killed in clashes between them.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Tirah blast claims 30 lives including seven militants

 

[karan.1970]

This could be a retaliatory strike from one of those groups that claim the TTP to be a wing of the CIA. Or it could be the ISI fighting fire with fire, though considering the civilian casualties, that's unlikely.

Either way, it would be unwise to read too much into this.


I'm not so sure. Until about the late-90s, we controlled them alright. Then we united them under one flag, something we shouldn't have done. And then, in 2001, our leadership made a few ill-advised moves and imported your headaches to our land. But yes, we've had to learn on the fly what can happen when they grow out of control. Mistakes must not be repeated, but this strategic dimension to our national defence can not be entirely dismantled for momentary gains, it must be mastered like every other weapon. I can see why S-2, Solomon2 and EjazR would want otherwise, but that is exactly why it shouldn't be completely disposed of.

This is a fallacy.. You did not control them till late 90s. Their fight against Soviet union kept them distracted. Post that you got them busy with Afghanistan. However after that you started getting talibanized in NWFP, FATA etc but chose to keep mum about it. The WoT did not create the issue for you, it just brought the problem to the foreground

 

[DaRk WaVe]

are there any virgins up there commander? I hope they ain't 'male virgins'

Dine in Hell, Idiots

 

[TaimiKhan]

It would be better that instead people start gossiping, the true nature of this conflict between Ansal Ul Islam & Lashkar e Islam be understood and the nature and history of these groups and their objectives be understood.

Ansar Ul Islam has never indulged in any anti-state activities, their sole purpose is to liberate their area from the lashkar e islam guys, better known as Mangal bagh group, who has a history of anti state activities and limited support to the TTP guys in the Orakzai Agency area.

So instead of looking like a ******'* **** better learn the history of this tribe related rivalry and the background of these organizations indulged in fighting.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

People appear to be combining traditional Tribal lashkars with militias such as those of the Taliban.

PAFAce is correct, historically Pakistan has not had major problems with controlling either the Tribes or Tribal lashkars, since the tribal hierarchy and their relationships and understanding with the State of Pakistan through the political agent and the Frontier Crimes Regulation ensured that red lines were communicated and mostly addressed, and financial/infrastructural benefits for the Tribes not endangered.

The lack of control came with the rise of the Pakistani Taliban militias, or more generally the 'Islamist militias', that shifted the center of power from the Tribal leadership to personalities and allegiance to extremist ideology took the place of allegiance to tribe and tribal leaders.

There is a reason the Taliban destroyed, and continue to attack, the traditional Tribal elders, since the Tribal elder system posed the major challenge to their attempt to assert complete control in their regions of operations, both in terms of claiming the loyalty of the locals that the Taliban wished to recruit and in terms of acting in support of the GoP to curtail activities the GoP would frown upon.

What form FATA will take in the years to come is uncertain still, despite the political parties making noises about extending political activities into FATA and integrating it into Pakistan proper. But till then, the militia/lashkar system, if controlled once again by Tribal elders, will likely not pose any major issues for Pakistan.

Long term though, whether FATA gets integrated into Pakistan proper as part of the NWFP or as a separate province or not, there is a need to bolster the locally recruited security forces such as the constabulary and scouts and engage in their capacity building so that they can handle increasingly complex law and order issues as a proper police force.

 

[DaRk WaVe]

Militants taste their own medicine

By Said Nazir Afridi

BARA: At least 35 people, including a deputy chief of the banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), were killed and 85 others injured in an explosion caused by a suicide bomber in the remote Tirah Valley of Bara subdivision in Khyber Agency. There are, however, conflicting reports about the event itself.

According to one version quoting eyewitnesses and tribal sources, people of Orakzai and Khyber agencies had gathered at a ‘Hashish fair’ near a mosque when a suicide bomber struck at 12:05pm while embracing LI deputy chief Azam Khan Afridi as he got off a vehicle. Azam Afridi and his seven guards were among the 30 people killed on the spot while 90 others sustained injuries.

The injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospitals located far away in Kohat and Hangu. Five of the wounded persons died on way to the hospitals. Some of the injured identified as Shakeel, Paiyo Khan, Muhammad Saeed, Qutbuddin, Muhammad Ashraf, Agha Khan, Noor Badshah, Muhammad Arif and a 24-year-old young man whose identity could not be ascertained, were taken to the DHQ Hospital Kohat.

The sources said security forces stopped six other victims from being shifted to Peshawar through Jamrud tehsil at Lala checkpost and arrested 12 of their attendants. The forces allowed six attendants to go with the remaining victims to public hospitals in Peshawar in soldiers’ custody.

Officials, however, claimed that explosion was triggered by devices planted by unidentified militants near the mosque. The security forces had been carrying out operation to hunt down militants of the banned LI and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Agency for the last few months. It was the first big blow to the LI since the start of the ongoing military operation.

According to another version of events belying the earlier given official version, tribal sources said the LI deputy chiefwas having lunch with his guards at a roadside hotel in Dars Jumaat at around 11am when a young boy aged 14 or 15 years entered the hotel and blew himself up near the militant commander.

LI sources said six killed belonged to the Akakhel and five from Zakhakhel Afridi sub-tribes. Besides Azam Afridi, some of the other militants, who were killed, were identified as Misri Khan, Khalid, Salamat and Amanat Khan. Except two, the identity of the civilians killed in the attack could not be ascertained. The two who were identified hailed from Orakzai Agency and had come to the local market for shopping.

Sources said the LI headquarters was located in the same area and a makeshift market of hashish, opium and arms is arranged every Thursday and Friday in the local bazaar near the hotel where the suicide bombing took place.

They added that Azam Afridi hailing from Akakhel tribe along with other commanders from different tribes used to visit the market and attend the Shura meeting in its headquarters every Thursday and Friday.

Another source said a meeting of the LI Shura headed by Mangal Bagh was also held prior to the incident. However, some other sources said no such meeting was held on Thursday. So far no individual or organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, LI sources believed that the Ansurul Islam (AI), a Tirah-based militant organisation in Bara Subdivision, was behind the attack as it was their only rival in the area.

About two months ago, a suicide bomber attacked the AI headquarters in Maidan area of Tirah Valley where more than seven people were killed and as many were injured. The AI had blamed the Mangal Bagh-led LI for the attack while the latter had denied its involvement in the bombing.

Talking to this scribe from Maidan in the Tirah Valley, AI spokesman Qari Minhaj said they were not involved in the suicide attack, adding that the bomber was prepared by the LI for attack on AI, but he blew himself up and killed his own handlers.

Some sources close to Azam Afridi said he had differences with some local TTP commanders like Adnan Afridi and Nazir Afridi operating in Orakzai Agency due to their activities in Bara Subdivision. These sources held the two TTP commanders responsible for the attack.

BARA TRADERS: Meanwhile, at the request of the Bara Traders Union, the political administration allowed the shopkeepers of Bara Bazaar to shift goods from their shops within three days as curfew had been imposed in the bazaar for last six months.

Militants taste their own medicine

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The sources said security forces stopped six other victims from being shifted to Peshawar through Jamrud tehsil at Lala checkpost and arrested 12 of their attendants. The forces allowed six attendants to go with the remaining victims to public hospitals in Peshawar in soldiers’ custody.

Looks like we got a few more after the bombing.

 

[S-2]

Great find.

Mr. Afridi should be complimented. This is a very complex story. I loved this part-

"AI spokesman Qari Minhaj said they were not involved in the suicide attack, adding that the bomber was prepared by the LI for attack on AI, but he blew himself up and killed his own handlers."

Seems there are at least four different versions of the attack-1.) suicide bomber embraced LI leader and blew up, 2.) bombs planted in the market, 3.) suicide bomber enters hotel after his target, and 4.) LI's own suicide bomber did them in.

Thanks.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Great find.

Mr. Afridi should be complimented. This is a very complex story. I loved this part-

"AI spokesman Qari Minhaj said they were not involved in the suicide attack, adding that the bomber was prepared by the LI for attack on AI, but he blew himself up and killed his own handlers."

Seems there are at least four different versions of the attack-1.) suicide bomber embraced LI leader and blew up, 2.) bombs planted in the market, 3.) suicide bomber enters hotel after his target, and 4.) LI's own suicide bomber did them in.

Thanks.

He may be telling the truth, as suicide bombing is not the trait of Ansar Ul Islam guys, neither have they done it in the past.

This organization has no TTP or AQ kind of aims or objectives, all they want is to protect their area from the Lashkar e Islam guys and i believe this group even had some skirmishes with the TTP based militants trying to enter their area.

The attack may even be from the TTP as in of the reports it said the lashr e Islam commanders had some differences with the TTP, even when the LI was in Bara tehsil, they did not let the TTP guys roam freely and do things from their area of domain, so AI may not even be involved in anyway in this attack.

 

[Sinnerman108]

He may be telling the truth, as suicide bombing is not the trait of Ansar Ul Islam guys, neither have they done it in the past.

This organization has no TTP or AQ kind of aims or objectives, all they want is to protect their area from the Lashkar e Islam guys and i believe this group even had some skirmishes with the TTP based militants trying to enter their area.

The attack may even be from the TTP as in of the reports it said the lashr e Islam commanders had some differences with the TTP, even when the LI was in Bara tehsil, they did not let the TTP guys roam freely and do things from their area of domain, so AI may not even be involved in anyway in this attack.

Boss,
Educate me on this,
but for all I know there was animosity between the two since long,
as one of them promotes the Saudi / Salafi brand, and the other one
promotes the Baralvi brand.

Both consider each other legitimate targets.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Boss,
Educate me on this,
but for all I know there was animosity between the two since long,
as one of them promotes the Saudi / Salafi brand, and the other one
promotes the Baralvi brand.

Both consider each other legitimate targets.

Basically, AI came into being in the years 2006, when one of the areas religious leader was abducted and was taken into the private jails of Lashkar e Islam, but was later freed by the LI guys. So when this religious figure came back to his area, he told about these private jails and the conditions being in those jails, the local tribals decided to counter the brutality of the LI guys, thus this group or in other words a lashkar was raised to get the LI guys out.

As far as i know the AI guys are linked to Deobandi school of thought, and LI guys tried to impose the much harsher code just like the TTP guys. So basically both are from the deobandi school of thought.

The Barelvi sect guys are other ones, but on no significance, they are led by Pir Saif-ur Rehman, group named Tanzeem Ahl-e Sunat Wal-Jamat.