Lashkars on outskirts of Peshawar fighting fire with fire

PESHAWAR: Local lashkars, brandishing cudgels and other weapons and patrolling the outskirts of the city, have been quite successful in restricting Taliban raids in rural areas – demonstrating considerable vitality and tact in successfully dealing with onslaughts.Unlike other parts of the NWFP and the Tribal Areas – where lashkars have crumbled under the pressure of suicide attacks and killings of members – lashkars in Peshawar are braving the storm: two militias from the Khalil Mohmand tribe – headed by Adezai Nazim Abdul Malik and Bazidkhel Nazim Fahimur Rehman – are engaging Taliban from Darra Adamkhel and Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.Abdul Malik is fighting Taliban from Darra Adamkhel as well as the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), while Fahim has locked horns with the LI.“They have been attacking us with bombs, rockets,” Abdul Malik told Daily Times. On August 10, suspected Taliban attacked a vehicle owned by Abdul Malik, but the nazim was not in the vehicle. Talks were previously launched with the Taliban, but the idea was dropped when Taliban destroyed a school, said Abdul Malik, adding that if Taliban wanted to reconcile with his lashkar, they would have to end their activities in Mattani and Badabher. Malik is all praise for Peshawar police, but laments the provincial government has done nothing. “We are also cooperating with the other lashkar being headed by Fahimur Rehman,” he said. This cooperation is vital for the city as it protects the southwestern flank from the Taliban encroachments. Police demolished Abdul Malik’s house in August 2008 and arrested him on charges of militancy. On his release, he sided with the government, but his house was then destroyed by the Taliban.