Punjabi Taliban Rise in Waziristan

With behind-the-curtain help from intelligence agencies, thousands of people moved to the region over the past years and successfully established themselves in the restive border region, sources told IslamOnline.net on condition of anonymity.

Most of these migrants came from Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Multan, Sadiqabad, Bahawalpur and other parts of Punjab.

Intelligence sources estimate that around 2000 people from southern and northern Punjab province moved to South Waziristan since March 2005.

The Punjabi Taliban as they are called paid much higher rents to the locals for their houses and shops, and started different business, mostly food and pharmacy-related.

Wana, the main town of the South Waziristan, is the distribution point of medicines for the entire tribal region of South and North Waziristan, and even southeastern Afghan provinces of Paktia and Paktika.

"Some local Taliban commanders, particularly Mullah Nazir, were their reference here," a local reporter told IOL, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

"They helped them rent houses, buy shops, and establish their businesses."

He noted that 95 percent of the newcomers spoke fluent Pushtu - the local language – though it was not their native language.

Flexing Muscles

The local reporter said the "well-trained" Punjabi Taliban soon started flexing some muscles.

"Within a span of two years, these newcomers strengthened their grip in the region," he added.

"They started confronting the foreign militants on different issues some six months back, which led to various armed clashes between the two sides."

The reporter said the Punjabi Taliban challenged the domination of Uzbek militants "with the help of pro-government Taliban and tribesmen, who were unhappy and scared of the increasing influence of foreign militants in the region."


More