Lashkar-e-Islam Attacked in Khyber Agency

[Slides]

I think both suicide attacks against LI and AI are work of TTP to provoke fight between the two groups and finish them off while they take over.

 

[EjazR]

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.

Completely understandable sentiment but that doesn't make it right when you have a long term point of view and also the welfare of the locals there.

If the Americans had co-opted former Baathist / Sunni militants without inducting them in some formal organisations, then it was wrong. This is similar to the Bush era mistake where warlords in Afghanistan were supported instead of building ANA and ANP which are national bodies.

Moreover, none of these were American nationals or operating in the US, so the US may not really have to worry about what they do in the long term. But the LI and AI members are most likely Pakistani nationals after all operating in Pakistan.

Having autonomous bodies that have no govt. oversight will basically result in lawlessness in the future. You can't expect lashkars to always follow the law. They might not fight the govt., but what if they commit atrocities against the weaker tribes in that area under some pretext or another.

Maybe establishing a separate paramilitary outfit with govt. oversight either under the army or the interior ministry would be the best option if these laskars are really important. Afterall, the FC was to serve the same purpose under the British were tribals were hired by the British to maintain law and order under British suzerainty.

 

[Slides]

Completely understandable sentiment but that doesn't make it right when you have a long term point of view and also the welfare of the locals there.

If the Americans had co-opted former Baathist / Sunni militants without inducting them in some formal organisations, then it was wrong. This is similar to the Bush era mistake where warlords in Afghanistan were supported instead of building ANA and ANP which are national bodies.

Moreover, none of these were American nationals or operating in the US, so the US may not really have to worry about what they do in the long term. But the LI and AI members are most likely Pakistani nationals after all operating in Pakistan.

Having autonomous bodies that have no govt. oversight will basically result in lawlessness in the future. You can't expect lashkars to always follow the law. They might not fight the govt., but what if they commit atrocities against the weaker tribes in that area under some pretext or another.

Maybe establishing a separate paramilitary outfit with govt. oversight either under the army or the interior ministry would be the best option if these laskars are really important. Afterall, the FC was to serve the same purpose under the British were tribals were hired by the British to maintain law and order under British suzerainty.

You miss the main point - Americans with all their superior military power could not "win" in Iraq without co-opting certain elements like baathists, sunni and shia militias that were considered "evil" not too long ago.

No to deal with some less then wholesome elements is like saying we should forget the history of lashkars, tribal area, independent tribes or even taliban in the region. It can't happen like that.