When the shoe is on the other foot and jihadists are coming over the border into Pakistan, it’s an outrage. We have wondered before how many involved in past raids of this nature were Pakistani Taliban. This time, Pakistan itself believes the organizers of the raid did originate on the Pakistani side, but the Pakistani […]
Afghanistan: Third Taliban suicide bomber opts for turban bomb
Life imitates naughty infidel art, but you’re not supposed to notice. Not surprisingly, the Taliban have ignored Karzai’s protests. “3rd ‘Turban bomb’ attack rocks southern Helmand province,” by Matt Dupee for the Long War Journal, August 20: For the third time this summer, a Taliban suicide bomber with an explosive device hidden within his traditional […]
Afghanistan: Team of 6 suicide bombers kills 22 in raid on governor’s compound
Allah promises paradise to those who “slay and are slain” in his cause (Qur’an 9:111). These six probably thought this act of slaughter was the pinnacle of their worldly and spiritual achievement, and the best was yet to come. “Suicide bombers attack Afghan governor; 22 dead,” by Amir Shah and Rahim Faiez and for the […]
Afghanistan: £70 million of British aid money lost to bribes, protection money, and the Taliban
The £5 million of British money paid to suicide bombers’ families by the Palestinian Authority seemed staggering. Here is another fun fact all of Britain will be thrilled to hear in a global fiscal crisis, talk of “austerity,” and so forth. “£70m of British aid ‘paid to the Taliban’: Cash wasted on bribes and protection […]
Pakistan’s Red Mosque imam wants to “Talibanize” the country
You may remember Maulana Abdul Aziz as the cleric who tried to escape in a burqa when Pakistan moved to put the Red Mosque out of business in 2007. Despite the lengthy battle it took to retake the mosque complex from the jihadists holed up inside (the ones who didn’t flee in burqas), the Pakistani […]
What negotiations? British army official warns Taliban planning “spectacular” attack
With attempts at negotiations ongoing, troops have seized 2.5 tons of explosives, enough material for 300 bombs. They just might begin to suspect a lack of sincerity in negotiations on the Taliban’s part. “Taliban is planning ‘spectacular’ terrorism attack warns British Army chief in Afghanistan,” from the Daily Mail, August 11: The Taliban is planning […]
Report: Afghanistan torpedoes negotiations between U.S. and Taliban by deliberately leaking information
The negotiations are not a surprise. The secretary of defense had confirmed earlier this summer that the U.S. was engaging in “outreach” to Taliban members, and Secretary of State Clinton had expressed hope for splitting off Taliban who were thought to be in it only for the paycheck. The idea of negotiating with the Taliban […]
Four misunderstanders of Islam accused of plotting to sell heroin in U.S. to fund Hizballah and Taliban
US Attorney Preet Bharara announced at an afternoon news conference, “Today we unseal two indictments that provide fresh evidence of what many of us have been seeing for some time, the growing nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism.” Indeed, we have been seeing it for some time. In my 2002 book Islam Unveiled I discussed […]
“They are enemies of the religion of God. They are apostates”: Pakistani Taliban line up and execute security forces
The Taliban’s video of the soldiers’ execution by gunfire at close range can be found at Liveleak. Obviously, it is graphic and profoundly disturbing — watch at your own risk. The reasons given for the execution are telling: the Taliban accuse the troops of killing children, and for good measure, they also declare them apostates […]
Afghanistan: Jihadists murder close Karzai aide in his home
First his brother. Next, his close aide. The Taliban are flexing their muscles and showing how much they can accomplish. Will Karzai be next, or will he head that off by making good on his threat to join the Taliban? “Karzai Adviser Is Killed at Kabul Home,” by Jack Healy and Abdul Waheed Wafa in […]