Posted on 03/11/2010 10:19:09 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Unconfirmed reports from Pakistan indicate that the top Taliban commander in North Waziristan may have been among those killed in yesterday's swarm attack by unmanned US aircraft in the lawless tribal agency.
US intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal said that Hafiz Gul Bahadar, the powerful Taliban chieftain in North Waziristan, was the target of yesterday's airstrike in the Datta Khel region.
Bahadar is rumored to be among those killed in the strike, according to reports in The New York Times and ANI, but his death has not been confirmed. US intelligence officials are "investigating the possibility that he was killed" but could not confirm the reports.
The strike was carried out by five unmanned US aircraft, likely the Predators or their deadly older brothers, the Reapers. The aircraft launched the attack in two waves. First a volley of four missiles hit a compound in the village of Mizar Madakhel. After Taliban fighters cordoned the area and began to recover bodies, a second volley was fired. Initial reports indicated that 12 Taliban fighters were killed; the The New York Times later claimed a total of 21 killed.
Bahadar is the senior Taliban leader in North Waziristan and one of the most prominent commanders in Pakistan. He is a direct descendant of Mirza Ali Khan, the tribal leader who fought the British and the Indians in the early 20th century. Bahadar chairs the North Waziristan Shura, or executive council. His forces defeated the Pakistani Army in 2006 and 2007; nonetheless, Bahadar is considered by the Pakistani establishment a "pro-government Taliban" leader.
Al Qaeda and allied Pakistani and Central Asian jihadi groups shelter in Bahadar's tribal areas, and run training camps and safe houses in the region.
(Excerpt) Read more at longwarjournal.org ...
fyi
I heard a report yesterday that the Taliban leaders that the Pakistanis have rounded up may actually be the more moderate ones that we may have been trying to win over. The fear was expressed that in fact there will be a major power struggle with a much more vicious and militant bunch taking over the reins. Is this likely, and is it an example of the law of unintended consequences, or is the Paki Intelligence service deliberately capturing the milder ones to keep the turmoil and their jobs or schemes going.
I have no idea on that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.