Hit-and-run raids are more cost-effective than mass attacks on security forces. Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's reporter in Pakistan, is filing regular dispatches from the country as the army battles Taliban fighters in the North West Frontier Province.
This high profile raid suggests there has been a subtle shift in the Pakistani Taliban's tactics.
When this war began the Taliban stood their ground and the army had to fight them house-to-house, street-to-street.
Now though, it seems the Taliban have renewed an old tactic: hit-and-run raids.
These raids are incredibly difficult to deal with.
They aim to wear down troops' morale as constant vigil has to maintained.
The raids often hit low-level target, remote checkposts, supply lines, mobile patrols.
In the case of the Talib's raid on a prisoner convoy details are still emerging.
But it fits a pattern that has worked so successfully in Iraq, Afghanistan and here in Pakistan.
The raids are, to use a business term, cost-effective. All it takes is a few armed men and some fire power.
Once you have mounted the raids you simply disappear into the background, leaving behind destruction and mayhem.
Because the groups that mount the raids are so small, intelligence on them is difficult to come by. But the security apparatus can fight back.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, US military humvees have been uparmoured to protect against roadside bombs.
In Pakistan, the army must now decide how they will deal this renewed tactic.
But the army has the technology to protect itself.
Other institutions, however, like the police, are less well protected and are likely to be the Taliban's targets as this conflict drags on.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
DTN News: Pakistan - The Battle Within - Pakistan Diary: Taliban Tactics
DTN News: Pakistan - The Battle Within - Pakistan Diary: Taliban Tactics
(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD - June 6, 2009: Twisted hunks of metal lay strewn across the road.
It's the result of a brazen raid by the Taliban on a convoy ferrying prisoners into the North West Frontier Province's main city of Peshawar. Hit-and-run raids are more cost-effective than mass attacks on security forces. Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's reporter in Pakistan, is filing regular dispatches from the country as the army battles Taliban fighters in the North West Frontier Province.
This high profile raid suggests there has been a subtle shift in the Pakistani Taliban's tactics.
When this war began the Taliban stood their ground and the army had to fight them house-to-house, street-to-street.
Now though, it seems the Taliban have renewed an old tactic: hit-and-run raids.
These raids are incredibly difficult to deal with.
They aim to wear down troops' morale as constant vigil has to maintained.
The raids often hit low-level target, remote checkposts, supply lines, mobile patrols.
In the case of the Talib's raid on a prisoner convoy details are still emerging.
But it fits a pattern that has worked so successfully in Iraq, Afghanistan and here in Pakistan.
The raids are, to use a business term, cost-effective. All it takes is a few armed men and some fire power.
Once you have mounted the raids you simply disappear into the background, leaving behind destruction and mayhem.
Because the groups that mount the raids are so small, intelligence on them is difficult to come by. But the security apparatus can fight back.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, US military humvees have been uparmoured to protect against roadside bombs.
In Pakistan, the army must now decide how they will deal this renewed tactic.
But the army has the technology to protect itself.
Other institutions, however, like the police, are less well protected and are likely to be the Taliban's targets as this conflict drags on.
Hit-and-run raids are more cost-effective than mass attacks on security forces. Imran Khan, Al Jazeera's reporter in Pakistan, is filing regular dispatches from the country as the army battles Taliban fighters in the North West Frontier Province.
This high profile raid suggests there has been a subtle shift in the Pakistani Taliban's tactics.
When this war began the Taliban stood their ground and the army had to fight them house-to-house, street-to-street.
Now though, it seems the Taliban have renewed an old tactic: hit-and-run raids.
These raids are incredibly difficult to deal with.
They aim to wear down troops' morale as constant vigil has to maintained.
The raids often hit low-level target, remote checkposts, supply lines, mobile patrols.
In the case of the Talib's raid on a prisoner convoy details are still emerging.
But it fits a pattern that has worked so successfully in Iraq, Afghanistan and here in Pakistan.
The raids are, to use a business term, cost-effective. All it takes is a few armed men and some fire power.
Once you have mounted the raids you simply disappear into the background, leaving behind destruction and mayhem.
Because the groups that mount the raids are so small, intelligence on them is difficult to come by. But the security apparatus can fight back.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, US military humvees have been uparmoured to protect against roadside bombs.
In Pakistan, the army must now decide how they will deal this renewed tactic.
But the army has the technology to protect itself.
Other institutions, however, like the police, are less well protected and are likely to be the Taliban's targets as this conflict drags on.
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