Here are two stories that reveal how “fighting insurgents” while ignoring Islamization is a losing strategy, even in Pakistan. The first story, “Up to 30 Islamist rebels killed in Pakistan” is from Reuters.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Up to 30 foreign militants and their local supporters were killed in an air and ground attack by Pakistani security forces in a tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said on Saturday.
Military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said the overnight attack in the North Waziristan tribal region was ordered after intelligence reports suggested that militants were gathered in a compound along with a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives…
More than 120 pro-Taliban militants have been killed in North Waziristan since guerillas attacked government forces and buildings last week in revenge for a March 1 attack that killed 45 of their comrades. Five troops were killed in those clashes…
Meanwhile down in South Waziristan, the Pakistan Daily Times trumpets, “Clerics announce Sharia in S Waziristan,” .
WANA: Tribal clerics announced the enforcement of Sharia (Islamic law) in South Waziristan on Friday, saying that feuds and tribal enmities would now be resolved through Islamic laws instead of the tribal jirga.
Eyewitnesses and tribal elders told Daily Times that the announcement was made during Friday prayer sermons in Wana and other towns of South Waziristan. “We are glad to announce that an Islamic judge will decide cases from now on and not the jirga,” a cleric in Wana was quoted as announcing. The announcement was made following letters from local Taliban commanders to all prayer leaders asking them to enforce Sharia here, a tribal cleric said. “We were under great pressure from the commanders to announce the enforcement of Sharia in Waziristan,” he said.
He said that the announcement effectively “buried” the role of tribal elders, vesting “hand-picked clerics” with absolute power. This will “strengthen the Taliban’s influence in the area”, the cleric said…