60 die as Pakistanis hit foreign militants

The Washington Times ^ | April 4, 2007 | NA

[neverdem]

    DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) -- Heavy fighting between Pakistani tribesmen and foreign militants reportedly linked to al Qaeda has killed 60 persons near the Afghan border, security officials said today.

    Local tribes turned viciously against foreigners living in the lawless South Waziristan region on March 19. The government says the violence shows Pakistan is winning its fight against international terrorism.

    About 50 of those killed in the past 24 hours in the South Waziristan region were Uzbeks, three security officials told the Associated Press. About 10 local tribesmen and one Pakistani soldier also died, they said.

    The officials asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to make media statements.

    The latest casualties bring the overall toll reported by various government and security officials to more than 250, the vast majority of them Uzbeks, Chechens and Tajiks and their local allies.

    Poor security in the region, where the government has minimal control, puts it largely off-limits to reporters, making it hard to verify what little information emerges.

    Hundreds of Central Asian militants settled in Pakistan's remote border zone in the past two decades, where they have formed alliances with some of the tribes and married into local clans.

    Some came to fight in the Afghan war against Soviet forces in the 1980s, others to escape U.S. forces that drove the Taliban and al Qaeda from Afghanistan in 2001, or repression in their home countries.

    Pakistan has failed to prevent Taliban militants from finding sanctuary and support in the same region for their insurgency in Afghanistan.

[Billthedrill]

Somebody wore out their welcome. Bound to happen - when you’re a murdering religious fanatic anyone who crosses you is fair game and sometimes that game has friends who shoot back.

[PajamaTruthMafia]

Ping

Seems like they are doing pretty well to me.

[Southack]

Progress.

[Chgogal]

Interesting development. Here is another post almost as interesting. Wonder if this a the beginning of the end? I guess I'm always hopeful.

Testy Tribes Trash Taliban Tactics
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1811225/posts

[misterrob]

I don’t know about that. They are killing foreigners today but they will be back to committing honor killings, rapes and beheadings of girls tomorrow.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[Walvoord]

This is just a large live fire training exercise in preparation for their massive spring offensive. The MSM told me so.

[Dumpster Baby]

Should we call this Red On Red or Brown On Brown?

[popdonnelly]

It’s a quagmire!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Which side is the al-Queda side?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

” The latest casualties bring the overall toll reported by various government and security officials to more than 250, the vast majority of them Uzbeks, Chechens and Tajiks and their local allies. “

Looks like they were cleaning up the foreigners, not the local Pashtoons.

[brooklyn dave]

I love it—let them kill each other.

[blam]

"Should we call this Red On Red or Brown On Brown?"

Sh*t on Sh*t.

[SunkenCiv]

The latest casualties bring the overall toll reported by various government and security officials to more than 250, the vast majority of them Uzbeks, Chechens and Tajiks and their local allies.

Chechens... imagine that...

[neverdem]

The Dalai Lama’s Army ......(al Qaeda organization is attempting to assassinate the Dalai Lama)

Wash Post nails Pelosi: Pratfall in Damascus

Smackdown by WaPo? At least she's not wearing a scarf!


Why is Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista, CA) giving Pelosi cover?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65wE6yFYgP8

It's an interesting compilation of facts and figures that is accompanied by one of my favorite soundtracks, "The Last of the Mohicans," courtesy of GummyIII. It's only 7 minutes.

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[metmom]

I don’t know about that. They are killing foreigners today but they will be back to committing honor killings, rapes and beheadings of girls tomorrow.

In the meantime, let them stay busy doing this. It'll save us the trouble and some females will have some peace for a while.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Marine_Uncle]

"Which side is the al-Queda side?"
Not sure how to answer that. In this case, it appears some branded as Taliban are actually starting to fight al Qaeda members. At the same time some Pakis that live in this area, (Wazristan) of a given tribe are fighting Taliban because of how they treat them, and at the same time we are reading about different tribal groups as well as al Qaeda and Taliban fighting the Paki army troops.
So it doesn't appear there is a clear defined answer to your question.

[Valin]

He’s my favorite Freeper! :-)