Taliban Siege of Pakistan Elders Leaves 7 Dead

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Taliban siege of Pakistan elders leaves 7 dead

By HABIB KHAN, Associated Press Writer – 2 mins ago

KHAR, Pakistan – Taliban militants attacked Pakistani tribal leaders near the Afghan border, triggering a gunbattle and an explosion that killed seven people, an official said Tuesday. The clash happened late Monday in Bajur, a lawless region in Pakistan's northwest where troops and tribal militias have been battling Taliban guerrillas for more than three months.

Israr Khan, a government representative in the semi-autonomous region, said Taliban gunmen surrounded a group of elders from the Mamund tribe in a fortress-like compound in the village of Inayat Kili.

An hourslong gunbattle between the two sides killed a commander of the Taliban fighters as well as two guards in the compound, Khan said. Four elders also died when an explosion hit the compound, he said. It was unclear what caused the blast.

Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar confirmed the death of a militant commander in Monday's clash. Pakistani and U.S. officials have applauded efforts by some tribal leaders to establish militias to fight Taliban and al-Qaida militants blamed for attacks on foreign troops in Afghanistan as well as targets in Pakistan. The militias' emergence in Bajur and other parts of Pakistan's northwest has drawn comparisons with so-called Awakening Councils that helped turned the tide against al-Qaida in Iraq.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081118/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

[underseasurveyor]

1. The taliban have really increased and intensified their attacks in recent months

The sooner they're wiped off the face of the earth the better.

[maxsolomon]

2. how will that be accomplished?

they're killing or intimidating everyone who could lead a resistance to their presence and power in the tribal regions. there are a LOT of taliban, and while the pakistani government may say they're going after them, i haven't seen anything that tells me the ISI are no longer allied with them.

who funds the taliban?

[underseasurveyor]

4. I know who funds the taliban.

[maxsolomon]

6. and i know where bin laden is!

wait... i meant john mccain knows.

[Barrett808]

3. Not gonna happen -- even Britain acknowledges that we'll have to negotiate with the Taliban

So sooner we get over it, the better.

[underseasurveyor]

5. Like I don't know that.

Wishful thinking on my part