Dreadful Terrorist Attack In Peshawar, Pakistan

[bobabode]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...y.html?hpid=z1

Taliban targets children and teachers at school.
141 dead, mostly kids.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...y.html?hpid=z1

Taliban targets children and teachers at school.
141 dead, mostly kids.

The army fostered these people. The Pakistani army has always been sympathetic to terrorists. Now the terrorists are out of their
control.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

The army fostered these people. The Pakistani army has always been sympathetic to terrorists. Now the terrorists are out of their
control.

Sounds familiar.

Dave

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

The army fostered these people. The Pakistani army has always been sympathetic to terrorists. Now the terrorists are out of their
control.

I don't think this is quite correct. Certainly there was and is support for the Taliban within the Pakistani government but not from the Army. Rather, the Taliban have been supported covertly by the ISI, Pakistan's intelligence service. In fact, the Taliban were essentially created by the ISI.

John

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

The army fostered these people. The Pakistani army has always been sympathetic to terrorists. Now the terrorists are out of their
control.

Over simple. Reality is very complex there.

The Pakistani definitely have had a relationship with the Afghan Taliban, messing up Afghanistan being seen as in their interest. The 'pakistani Taliban' is, however, a different bunch, and further, the 'Taliban' umbrella there covers a bunch of only-loosely affiliated groups with varying composition, goals, tactics, frineds, enemies, etc, etc etc.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Over simple. Reality is very complex there.

The Pakistani definitely have had a relationship with the Afghan Taliban, messing up Afghanistan being seen as in their interest. The 'pakistani Taliban' is, however, a different bunch, and further, the 'Taliban' umbrella there covers a bunch of only-loosely affiliated groups with varying composition, goals, tactics, frineds, enemies, etc, etc etc.

I have a psychiatrist friend from Karachi. We don't talk politics much but I remember a while back after lunch I mentioned the fact that the government of this country, regardless of which party holds the Oval Office has the same attitude about the PKK (Kurkistan Worker's Party). It's the group that Obama's people have been looking to for active support against ISIS. But it's a long and convenient history for this country. Kurds have problems both in Iraq and in Turkey and there is active PKK in both countries. However...because the Turks are our long term allies, the Turkish PKK were categorized as a terrorist group by the US government, while the Iraq PKK, who were enemies of Saddam, were considered to be "freedom fighters" by the US government. It's the same goddamn PKK, of course and that schiz designation continues with Obama.

Anyway, one day I mentioned my disgust at this country's convenient attitude toward the PKK one day...Shaukat listened quietly. And when I was done, his only comment was, "Doesn't matter if they're in Turkey or in Iraq, they're Taliban."

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

Anyway, one day I mentioned my disgust at this country's convenient attitude toward the PKK one day...Shaukat listened quietly. And when I was done, his only comment was, "Doesn't matter if they're in Turkey or in Iraq, they're Taliban."

But he's mistaken. The PKK are pretty much a secular and vaguely communist organization. They also have a strong feminist element in their ideology and even have women fighters in their ranks. (This scares the hell out of ISIS. The thought of being killed by a woman makes them wet their pants.)

Also, the PKK presence in Iraq has been sparse and contested until ISIS began knocking on the door of the Kurdish-controlled area of Iraq. There was open hostility, and occasional combat, between the PKK and the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Now the PKK and Peshmerga are conducting joint operations against ISIS. They are also an important force in the fight against ISIS in Syria, though the Turkish government has inexplicably taken steps to prevent PKK fighters from leaving Turkey to join the fight against ISIS.

John

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by Boreas

But he's mistaken. The PKK are pretty much a secular and vaguely communist organization. They also have a strong feminist element in their ideology and even have women fighters in their ranks. (This scares the hell out of ISIS. The thought of being killed by a woman makes them wet their pants.)

Also, the PKK presence in Iraq has been sparse and contested until ISIS began knocking on the door of the Kurdish-controlled area of Iraq. There was open hostility, and occasional combat, between the PKK and the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Now the PKK and Peshmerga are conducting joint operations against ISIS. They are also an important force in the fight against ISIS in Syria, though the Turkish government has inexplicably taken steps to prevent PKK fighters from leaving Turkey to join the fight against ISIS.

John

That's one story. You can look at my post above as well, if you're interested. PKK forces along the Syrian border have been shredded. There are many in the Kurdish community, perhaps the majority, who detest the PKK. There are many in the Kurdish community who would prefer being under the control of ISIS than under the control of the PKK. Nobody who knows the actual deal there wants the PKK in control of anything. They will kill anybody who opposes them, including their own Kurdish brethren who's freedom they are allegedly fighting for. Just as the Taliban will.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Over simple. Reality is very complex there.

The Pakistani definitely have had a relationship with the Afghan Taliban, messing up Afghanistan being seen as in their interest. The 'pakistani Taliban' is, however, a different bunch, and further, the 'Taliban' umbrella there covers a bunch of only-loosely affiliated groups with varying composition, goals, tactics, frineds, enemies, etc, etc etc.

In many areas the Pakistani/Afghanistan border is seamless.

[Rajoo]

Pakistani army probably created (or at least funded and armed) their home grown version of Taliban to fight against the western forces in Afghanistan. Now that very same force is coming home to haunt them.

This is the second high profile attack in Peshawar which is a garrison city. The earlier one was an attack on an air base in the same area.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19278302