It is good to see Pakistanis battling the Taliban, and the media will certainly anoint them as “moderates,” but unfortunately it is by no means clear that that is what they are. After all, we have never seen similar outrage when non-Muslims have been victimized in Pakistan.
“Pakistan: Villagers take on Taliban, 14 militants killed,” from CNN, June 8 (thanks to all who sent this in):
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — Hundreds of Pakistani residents have taken up arms and are battling local Taliban militants in the wake of a deadly mosque attack last week.
It is the first major battle between the residents of northwest Pakistan and Taliban militants near the Afghanistan border.
The residents are outraged over a suicide attack on a local mosque during Friday prayers that killed at least 40 people and wounded some 80 others.
Starting on Saturday morning, some 400 villagers in the Upper Dir district formed a “lashkar” — or militia — to fight the Taliban, killing 14 of the militants as of Sunday evening, according to local administrator Atiq Ur Rehman. Four of the villagers have been injured in the battle, Rehman said.
The militia have burned a number of houses thought to be sheltering the militants, according to Upper Dir police chief Ijaz Kahn.
Both the residents and Taliban fighters are using heavy weapons, including rocket launchers and anti-aircraft weapons, Rehman said….