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Pakistanis Finally Turning Against the Taliban

Swat Valley battles push citizens away from Islamic extremism

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 5, 2009 6:58 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Only a year ago the Taliban had growing support in Pakistan, and many citizens regarded them as fellow Muslims opposed to the American government and military. But as the New York Times reports, public sentiment has shifted in recent months. Following violence in the Swat Valley and months of televised suicide attacks, Pakistanis are increasingly turning against the Taliban and offering the government a new chance to rout the extremist movement.

"It’s the Taliban that’s responsible for our misery," said one Swat refugee, who said he supported the military campaign against the insurgency. Anti-Americanism still runs high in Pakistan, and the poverty and corruption that allowed the Taliban to flourish have not gone away. But the Taliban's brutality in Swat seem to have cost them support. One man was eager for Taliban rule but is now disgusted: "It was not sharia, it was something else. It was scoundrel behavior."

Displaced men struggle to get their daily ration during a food distribution at the Chota Lahore refugee camp, at Swabi, in northwest Pakistan, Saturday, May 30, 2009.
Displaced men struggle to get their daily ration during a food distribution at the Chota Lahore refugee camp, at Swabi, in northwest Pakistan, Saturday, May 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A Pakistani police officer flees sandy dust as a helicopter carrying Richard Holbrooke, the top US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan lands near a refugee camp.
A Pakistani police officer flees sandy dust as a helicopter carrying Richard Holbrooke, the top US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan lands near a refugee camp.   (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Richard Holbrooke visited Pakistani refugees from Taliban guerrillas and told them Thursday that the United States can't offer them security, but it can offer them aid.
Richard Holbrooke visited Pakistani refugees from Taliban guerrillas and told them Thursday that the United States can't offer them security, but it can offer them aid.   (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
Richard Holbrooke, right, shakes hands with a displaced man during his visit at the Chota Lahore refugee camp, at Swabi, in northwest Pakistan, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
Richard Holbrooke, right, shakes hands with a displaced man during his visit at the Chota Lahore refugee camp, at Swabi, in northwest Pakistan, Thursday, June 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
A supporter of Pakistan's religious party Jamaat-i-Islami prays during a rally against the US and Pakistani military operation against the Taliban in the Swat and Buner, in Karachi.
A supporter of Pakistan's religious party Jamaat-i-Islami prays during a rally against the US and Pakistani military operation against the Taliban in the Swat and Buner, in Karachi.   (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)
Pakistani troops patrol a street in Mingora, the main town in Swat valley, on Wednesday June 3, 2009.
Pakistani troops patrol a street in Mingora, the main town in Swat valley, on Wednesday June 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Aamir Qureshi, Pool)
Displaced children from Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley wait to receive food at Shiekh Yasin camp in Mardan, Pakistan on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
Displaced children from Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley wait to receive food at Shiekh Yasin camp in Mardan, Pakistan on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Robert_Dada
Jun 5, 2009 11:17 AM CDT
So then what was the Patriot Act (advocated by Bush) all about then? No other approved act has done more to restrict personal freedoms and liberties than the Patriot Act has done.
Corona_Kinq
Jun 5, 2009 8:53 AM CDT
HAHAHHAHAHA
wwwonderer
Jun 5, 2009 3:30 AM CDT
Maybe a better question is, where do the generals GET their support?

Army makes further advances in Pakistan
BBC

High-profile Taliban members arrested
CNN

 
Taliban • Pakistan • Islamic Sharia law • Islamic extremism • Swat • Swat Valley • insurgency

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