Lashkar-e-Islam Attacked in Khyber Agency

[dabong1]

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.

Customers at the market were among those killed and injured in the blast.

It happened in the Khyber tribal region close to the Afghan border, where the Taliban have a strong presence.

Over the past year north-west Pakistan has been hit by numerous attacks.

The army recently finished an offensive in the area against the Taliban.

According to a witness, the bomber walked in among militants attending a lecture session of the pro-Taliban Lashkar-e-Islam group at their compound in the Tirah valley and blew himself up.

Local people say he was able to slip past the large number of guards undetected because of the crowds visiting the market set up next to the compound, the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says.

Reports from the area suggest the second-in-command of Lashkar-e-Islam, one of the biggest militant organisations in the Khyber, was killed in the blast, our correspondent says.

Although no-one has yet claimed responsibility, a rival militant group is believed to be behind the attack, our correspondent adds.

The injured have been taken to hospitals in the area. Officials say they expect the death toll to rise.

Hundreds of people have died in clashes between Lashkar-e-Islam and another armed Islamic group, Ansarul Islam, both of which are banned by the government, in the region in the past few years.

Locals say government helicopters have recently helped Ansarul Islam - now re-named the Peace Committee - during clashes with Lashkar-e-Islam.
BBC News - Pakistan militant group attacked by suicide bomber

 

[pak-yes]

Wooops terrorists getting the taste of their own medicine.

 

[karan.1970]

these terrorists seem to be going the mafia way.. Gang war and all

 

[Imran Khan]

let them cry they have to know what happen after sucide blast mother fuckers.

 

[Hammy007]

self deleted

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Pakhtunwali works both ways

 

[Ahmad]

That is great. The killers are now killing each other.

 

[Desert Fox]

never thought this day would come! very sad.

 

[Ahmad]

Inshallah we will one day see the end of dark days of taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

[EjazR]

Locals say government helicopters have recently helped Ansarul Islam - now re-named the Peace Committee - during clashes with Lashkar-e-Islam.

If true, that is not an appropriate tactic IMO. Either induct the Ansarul-Islam group into govt. agencies, FC or some paramilitary organization or stop them from taking the law into their own hands. This will only end up creating another militant group that will later on turn on against the govt. when it feels like. And also there is no way to monitor or keep the group members accountable for any atrocities they might commit.

Hopefully no regular civilian casualties in this one as this was only a hasish market.

 

[Slides]

Locals say government helicopters have recently helped Ansarul Islam - now re-named the Peace Committee - during clashes with Lashkar-e-Islam.

If true, that is not an appropriate tactic IMO. Either induct the Ansarul-Islam group into govt. agencies, FC or some paramilitary organization or stop them from taking the law into their own hands. This will only end up creating another militant group that will later on turn on against the govt. when it feels like. And also there is no way to monitor or keep the group members accountable for any atrocities they might commit.

Hopefully no regular civilian casualties in this one as this was only a hasish market.

We need all the help we can get. If American's can co-opt former Baathists and Sunni insurgents in Iraq, why can't we do the same with certain factions within Pakistan.

Obviously, there must be safeguards not to let any group become too powerful.

 

[Desert Fox]

Locals say government helicopters have recently helped Ansarul Islam - now re-named the Peace Committee - during clashes with Lashkar-e-Islam.

If true, that is not an appropriate tactic IMO. Either induct the Ansarul-Islam group into govt. agencies, FC or some paramilitary organization or stop them from taking the law into their own hands. This will only end up creating another militant group that will later on turn on against the govt. when it feels like. And also there is no way to monitor or keep the group members accountable for any atrocities they might commit.

Hopefully no regular civilian casualties in this one as this was only a hasish market.

Well, i hate to admit but EjazR does have a point here! We need to keep control over these groups otherwise we will face the consequences later on (Allah forbid)!

Arming all these groups can lead to a civil war, especially when they share animosity with each other! Best way is to disarm them and if we are going to arm them then we should keep them under strict control

 

[S-2]

"Obviously, there must be safeguards not to let any group become too powerful."

Pakistan has no demonstrated ability to control the actions of these groups. They morph too quickly and have their own agendas paramount. EjazR is correct that they must be integrated into your security forces as uniformed soldiers (if you'll have them-I wouldn't) or destroyed along with the rest.

You play with fire that's already burned you repeatedly otherwise. That lesson should be etched in granite by now.

Thanks.

 

[Solomon2]

I dunno, S-2. For a long time, the more they played with fire, the more uses they thought of for it.

 

[PAFAce]

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.

Pakistan has no demonstrated ability to control the actions of these groups.

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.