Though the government and international forces against Taliban are closing in on the militants, it appears that the local resistance groups are coming as the stronger cry of defiance to Taliban groups. Known as Laskhars (literally ‘swarms’), these groups of armed tribesmen have fought Taliban daringly in different restive areas of the country including Swat, Dir, and Mohmand agency. One of the indicators of their effectiveness is the fact that Taliban are more anxious to destroy the lashkars than they are worried about the government and other military forces.

In a recent newspaper story, NWFP’s ex-minister and convener of the Pakhtun Amn Lashkar (Pakhtun Peace Group), Syed Kamal Shah, was quoted as stressing on the need of protecting the heads/leaders of the local Lashkar groups and declaring these lashkars as part of the overall strategy against the Taliban insurgency. Mr. Shah has pointed out that the lashkars only need encouragement from the government and the public in order to root out Talibanization in Malakand and other troubled parts of the province.

One way of strengthening the sense of unity against Taliban is by officially acknowledging the death of a lashkar leader and rewarding his family with a generous amount plus other benefits. This will pose an example of countering the Taliban’s strategy of recruiting young fighters on a regularly paid basis. Taliban are also known to support the bereaved families of their fighters. So it comes quite logical that the government support laskhar leaders and fighters against the Taliban.

It was in the recent past that an armed group of Mohmand tribesmen delved into gunfight face-to-face with the Taliban and wreaked havoc on the Taliban insurgents, killing over two dozen of them in a jiffy. Mr. Shah makes his point when he says that the apathy of government toward these laskhars is a disappointment and needs revision. To fight the Taliban effectively, Shah wants the government to fortify the lashkars. This strategy is expected to work more satisfactorily than something previously has worked so far.