Kohat Blast and Shift in Taliban Strategy

[Bill Longley]

http://mbik14.blogspot.com/2009/09/kohat-blast-and-shift-in-taliban.html

Today around 11 o clock, a suicide bomber, striked Asterzai area in Khacha Pakha bazaar, some 17 miles away from Kohat ,on the border of district Hangu, killing at least 25 and injuring more then 64 people and destroying more then 30 shops completely
This was a second attack in Kohat in two days. Two days earlier, three persons were injured in a blast that ripped through a shop of electronic appliances.

Attack was targeted at a crowded location to do maximum damage .The stop of Khacha Pakha is used by passengers as change over to their journey to next destination and this road also linked to Aurak zai Agency.
The area where the attack took place is mixed area but dominated by Shia, most of the injured are and dead are Shia’s. According to analysts this attack was directed towards Ahle Tashie with aim of triggering Shia Sunni clash.

According to BBC Lashker Jhungvi, main ally of TTP and Al Qaeda in Pakistan has taken the responsibility of the suicide attack. According to BBC Urdu LJ spokesman Usman Haider claimed the responsibility and revealed that the attack was revenge of killing of Mollana Amin.

TTP has announced ceasefire with Security forces during holy month of Ramadan but today’s attack proves how un-reliable and liars Taliban are. Recently a shift in Taliban strategy is being felt by some analysts. In this new strategy Taliban are trying to instigate sectarian clash in Pakistani society. They are more interested in killing Shias and other minorities then fighting Security forces.

In Gojra Hangu, DI khan, and Kurram, Aurak Zai agencies , TTP and its Al Qaeda allies were involve in sectarian killings of minorities.
An important source has told me that this attack was a retaliatory attack by Terrorists who blame Shia population supporting Security forces and helping them by providing information and intelligence.

According to a reliable source, sectarian terror group LJ has a very strong base in Aurak Zai agency. Late Hakeem Ullah Mahsud who was operational commander of Baitullah Mahsud had his entire support base in Aurak zai agency. It is believed that Hakeem ullah at some time was member of Lashker e Jhungvi. His hand in killings of Shia’s in Kurram, Aurak zai and Hangu area proves this suspicion.
Aurak zai has a very important strategic Value for Taliban. It joins Dara Adam Khel, an important Arm Market to rest of Tribal Areas and acts as a jugular vain for Taliban movement in Pakistan.

Aurak Zai agency traditionally is a conflict area between Shia and Sunnies. Interestingly in Aurak zai three Shia tribes namely Maani Khel, Baramad Khel and Atman Khel have joined forces and have created Qaumi Lashker and kicking out Taliban from their area. Few days ago Taliban attacked school going children in Atman Khel area killing two children in revenge.


After death of Hakeem ullah Mahsud, Commander Tariq and Saif Khan has Taken Charge of sectarian Operations. According to a source, Aurak zai agency is a place where suicide bomber bazaar takes place. Two suicide bombers were purchased by Lashker Islam Mangal Bagh group from here in 2 million rupees who detonated in Khyber.

Suicide bombers coming from Afghanistan, South Punjab and Tribal Areas are trained and indoctrinated here under commander Tariq. Before operation Rah e Nijaat in SWA, Baitullah’s Area was Main training area where Qari Hussein used to train bombers. But after death of Baitullah Mahsud he and other big names are hiding in caves to escape US drone or Pakistan Air Force air attacks.

PAF and Pakistan Army are hitting TTP positions in the agency. TTP is under pressure and according to report on media in few weeks ago, two TTP groups clashed in Kalaya district of Aurak Zai due to frustration.

Analyst believe instead of SWA or NWA, operation in Aurak Zai is required more. People of Pakistan are with government and the way Pakistani forces have gained in past two three months , if forces starts operation on ground against TTP whole Pakistan will be behind its forces and it will be matter of days to finish them from Aurak Zai and destroying their Sectarian base.

http://mbik14.blogspot.com/2009/09/kohat-blast-and-shift-in-taliban.html

 

[Cheetah786]

Few days ago Taliban attacked school going children in Atman Khel area killing two children in revenge.

Wow Brave wahabi soldiers

TTP has announced ceasefire with Security forces

We are not playing you guys are fighting back.

They are more interested in killing Shias and other minorities then fighting Security forces.

Well dahhhhhhhhhh one fights back other is defenceless Brave wahabis a moment to be proud they belive in there Religion so much that God will give them heaven they sell them self for 2 million rupees yet the one telling them all this

are hiding in caves to escape US drone or Pakistan Air Force air attacks.

i guess heaven doors are closed if u get killed fighting for your religion but they are open if u kill children or shoppers or namzai

 

[Patriot]

Regardless of their strategy the security forces won't stop until the last taliban is killed.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Al qaeda's influence - they tried the same sectarian tactic with rather brutal success and results (for a few years at least) in Iraq.

Of course in Iraq the lack of a strong central government and sectarian militias compounded the issue, and to some degree that dynamic exists in some parts of Pakistan as well.

 

[Hulk]

I wish Pakistan all the best in their fight against TTP. I have a feeling they are close to end.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I wish Pakistan all the best in their fight against TTP. I have a feeling they are close to end.

I hope so - bombings have reduced both in frequency and in terms of how they were expanding further and further away from the TTP home base of FATA.

But with the LeJ claiming responsibility for this attack, there is still danger that the sectarian organizations like it in the rest of Pakistan may receive explosives and training to carry out such attacks against soft targets in the hopes of creating anarchy and a sectarian backlash ala Iraq.

Hopefully local law enforcement and the domestic Intelligence agencies are taking this extremely seriously.

 

[dabong1]

The day we start treating an attack on a masjid-minority ect the same way we would an attack on a army-govt building ,then we might make some headway in the problem.

 

[seekers]

Some members here haven't accept my definition of "Terrorist".
Every terrorist is enemy of Shias even in Iraq,Afghanistan ,Pakistan or any part of the world.This is very authentic identification of terrorist.
After the collapse of Mashud headquarter of suicide attacks,now Taliban's sister organization Lashkar jhangvi in Punjab take a position of organizing suicide attacks.
Their source of man power are wahabi madersas and funding from saudi and gulf states.
Authorities are still closing eyes over these activities and their sources like they did in Sawat.
Mianchunnu blast has still not awaken the authority about alarming situation in Punjab.

 

[Comet]

The day we start treating an attack on a masjid-minority ect the same way we would an attack on a army-govt building ,then we might make some headway in the problem.

Precisely, we should take every attack with same seriousness.