Pakistan Marble Helps Taliban Stay in Business

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

The mountain of white marble shines with such brilliance in the sun it looks like snow. For four years, the quarry beneath it lay dormant, its riches captive to tribal squabbles and government ineptitude in this corner of Pakistan’s tribal areas.

But in April, the Taliban appeared and imposed a firm hand. They settled the feud between the tribes, demanded a fat fee up front and a tax on every truck that ferried the treasure from the quarry. Since then, Mir Zaman, a contractor from the Masaud subtribe, which was picked by the Taliban to run the quarry, has watched contentedly as his trucks roll out of the quarry with colossal boulders bound for refining in nearby towns.

“With the Taliban it is not a question of a request to us, but a question of force,” said Mr. Zaman, a bearded, middle-aged tribal leader who seemed philosophical about the reality of Taliban authority here. At least the quarry was now operating, he said.

The takeover of the Ziarat marble quarry, a coveted national asset, is one of the boldest examples of how the Taliban have made Pakistan’s tribal areas far more than a base for training camps or a launching pad for sending fighters into Afghanistan.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/asia/14taliban.html?hp

[Tutonic]

1. What? Bad crop of poppy?

[BadGimp]

2. those pesky Taliban sure are industrious

First they hide in the mountains. Then they take over the word heroin market to finance their operations. Now they seem to have expended into a legitimate business, Marble. Clever little fellers arn't they.

[High Plains]

3. Wow, the Taliban is diversifying.

Don't put all your popppies in one basket.