Article

2007-03-21 India-Pakistan

42 Uzbeks among 58 dead: Fierce clashes in S. Waziristan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve 2007-03-21 07:40|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Is there any reason i should care? Are there any implications in this for overall stability in Afghanistan or is this just another story of neanderthals killing each other?

Posted by Geoffro 2007-03-21 09:06|| 2007-03-21 09:06|| Front Page Top

#2 ah, very good story, as it seems to reconcile the two competing lines in the western press, which, to review are
1. Pro-govt tribals are taking on AQ Uzbeks as the behest of the Paki govt, in line with recent agreements
or
2 Its a pure Jihadi civil war, Pashtun Taliban (Angry over the death of their Arab friend) vs Uzbek AQ

In fact, per this article, it IS the second, BUT the Paki govt is quietly encouraging the taliban/tribals, and choosing to read it as fulfillment of the agreement against foreigners, but carefully NOT getting involved or taking credit for it. The Paki govt is also making popcorn, as Steve says, but unlike most of us, they think they have a dog in this fight.

Strikingly similar to the events of the last few months in Gaza, with Nazir taking the role of Dahlan, and Perv as Olmert. Of course this is on territory in which Pakistan is nominally soveriegn. OTOH, the fighters here are rather more effective at actually killing in an open fight than the Gazans are. Pashtuns can at least shoot straight.

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-03-21 09:14|| 2007-03-21 09:14|| Front Page Top

#3 "were evacuated by helicopter". They have helicoptors in the Koran? They hunger for the life they had 700 years ago, then start living like it.

Posted by plainslow 2007-03-21 09:31|| 2007-03-21 09:31|| Front Page Top

#4 I suspect it is a fairly simple situation. The Uzbeks moved in and treated the locals like chattel they could kill, rape, steal from, etc., with impunity, because they were "holy warriors".

The locals have other ideas.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-03-21 09:56|| 2007-03-21 09:56|| Front Page Top

#5 Red on Red.

Always good.

Posted by OldSpook 2007-03-21 11:42|| 2007-03-21 11:42|| Front Page Top

#6 The government, it appears, has chosen to take a back seat and allow tribal dynamics to play out to deal with the situation...

I hope they at least keep score...

Posted by tu3031 2007-03-21 11:45|| 2007-03-21 11:45|| Front Page Top

#7 Or run up the score...

Posted by Barry Switzer 2007-03-21 12:48|| 2007-03-21 12:48|| Front Page Top

#8 Ok, so soon the Uzbeks will be gone, along with their expertise. The next target is obviously the Arab elements more loyal to bin Laden than Wana. With a little bit of judicious gossip, this could be a VERY welcome relief for Afghanistan as their enemies tear into one another. Bless the holey ones, on both sides.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2007-03-21 13:31|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2007-03-21 13:31|| Front Page Top

#9 Careful coach, Ima finding out people remember when you run up the score.

Posted by JC Watts">JC Watts 2007-03-21 13:46|| 2007-03-21 13:46|| Front Page Top

23:50 Shipman
23:43 Shipman
23:38 Kofi Fleager2979
23:35 Kofi Fleager2979
23:31 Old Patriot
23:30 Zenster
23:29 Old Patriot
23:22 RD
23:14 Zenster
23:09 Hank
23:00 RD
22:39 Zenster
22:23 trailing wife
22:22 Eric Jablow
22:14 trailing wife
22:13 trailing wife
22:10 trailing wife
21:53 Xenophon
21:46 RD
21:37 xbalanke
21:35 Xenophon
21:32 Jackal
21:30 Frank G
21:29 Procopius2k