Taliban Posing Threats to Nato Supply Line in Pakistan

Khalid Kheshgi

PESHAWAR: Strengthening their presence and activities on Peshawar-Torkham Road in Jamrud and Landikotal tehsils of Khyber Agency, militants affiliated with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have been posing a serious threat to the ANP-led provincial government as well as supply line of the Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan.

After flushing out the local militants belonging to Haji Namdar group from strategic Peshawar-Torkham Road some two months back, the Taliban, who claimed to followers of TTP chief Baitullah Mahsud, have established about nine centres in Jamrud and Landikotal.

The Taliban, mostly Afghan nationals, have now extended their influence to Khyber Agency’s Bara tehsil where Mangal Bagh has resigned as ameer of the banned tribal militia, Lashkar-e-Islam, some two weeks ago.

Founding head of Amr Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar (Promotion of virtue and prevention of vice) Haji Namdar was shot dead by a young man at his Madrassa in Qambarkhel area of Bara on August 13, 2008. Namdar had reportedly expelled some foreign fighters from his area.

Frequent attacks and plundering of the Afghanistan-bound vehicles on Peshawar-Torkham Road and kidnapping of diplomats and the well-off from the Frontier metropolis Peshawar have exposed the writ of the government and boldness of the militants stationed in the vicinity of Peshawar in Khyber Agency and Darra Adamkhel.

More than 150 military vehicles parked in two terminals in Peshawar suburbs were reduced to ashes by armed militants in the small hours of Sunday after killing one of the security guards in exchange of firing. The vehicles and containers loaded with goods were destined for the Afghanistan-based Nato forces.

On December 5, an explosives-packed vehicle was detonated in the heart of Peshawar city, killing more than 33 people and injuring over 80 people. The target was worship place of Shiite Muslims and a hotel owned by an influential person belonging to Kurram Agency.

On December 1, armed militants raided Al-Faisal Terminal, destroying 21 vehicles including 18 navy star trucks, two Humvees and a crane. Two drivers were killed and two others injured in the midnight attack on last Monday.

On November 10, Baitullah Mehsud-led Taliban snatched and plundered 13 containers at three different places on Peshawar-Torkham Road in Jamrud, Khyber Agency. Besides goods meant for Nato troops, the militants also captured two Humvees, which were later exhibited by TTP commander Hakimullah Mahsud in Orakzai Agency to a group of Peshawar-based reporters.

Besides dozens of affluent people from Peshawar, Afghanistan’s ambassador designate to Islamabad Haji Abdul Khaliq Farahi and Iranian envoy had been kidnapped in broad daylight from a posh locality of Peshawar.

Mustafa Kamran Hijrat, a TTP commander in Jamrud tehsil, claimed that they had chased local militants out of the strategic Peshawar-Torkham Road, and established nine centres in Jamrud and Landikotal tehsils, in a bid to disrupt and destroy the Nato supply line to Afghanistan.

Sitting in one of the centres, located hardly 10 kilometres from Peshawar, the Taliban commander did not shy away from mentioning his attachment with the banned TTP and claimed that majority of the ‘Mujahideen’ (Taliban) based in Khyber Agency belonged to Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

An official admitted that due to intensity in the army operation against militants in Bajaur, Mohmand agencies, Shabqadar and Darra Adamkhel, a large number of TTP activists had taken refuge in Khyber Agency.

He added that Taliban were involved in most of the kidnapping cases. He said the militants were after high profile personalities and were kidnapping them to have their arrested colleagues released.

Referring to the torching of Afghanistan-bound vehicles, kidnapping of notables and frequent rocket attacks on Peshawar city, a source in the NWFP government said the ANP-led provincial government had informed the federal government about the latest situation in the province, particularly the strengthening of Taliban in Khyber and Mohmand agencies, bordering Afghanistan in the west and Peshawar in the northeast and southwest, respectively.