Khyber Agency : Talibans or Criminals?

By Rohail Butt • Jun 30th, 2008 • Category: Politics • (3,436 views) • No Responses

Various incursions recently by activists of the Bara-based and Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islam have compelled government to get active and start a massive operation. Though the government officials are terming this five day long operation as an effort to eliminate the criminals who have been operating under the disguise of Taliban, the truth is that this operation is against the Mangal Bagh led Laskhar-i-Islam organization.

This organization has become ultra-active in the area. Recently they kidnapped dozens of Christians from the Peshawar, and then an effort was made to kidnap the son of Ameer Moqam, a prominent companion of President General (r) Pervez Musharraf who is the top most target of the militants. Also, a 100-story hotel was burned down in Swat area and the chair lift was also torched. The militants of Lashkar-i-Islam were also seen in the Peshawar ,and that is why this operation was launched. The activities of militants were on the rise and many were alarmed at the prospect of advance of Taliban towards Peshawar city.

Though these militants are using the name of Islam, they are actually after creating their own government in the area. Also, these areas are a very ideal hideout of the criminals. The Khyber Agency is adjacent to the Peshawar city, and is between Mahmund and Oarakzai Agency. Criminals come from these area and kidnap people from NWFP and Punjab and then take them to these agencies and then demand ransom. Sometimes they release the abductee after taking ransom and sometime they just receive money and kill the hostage. This area is also notorious for illegal arm trade and opium cultivation.

Due to the absence of writ and authority of the government, this lawless area is now posing a grave threat to the security of the country, and it’s high time that government put all the efforts to ensure that they wipe out militants from this area.