My heart goes out to the Pakistani people who are fighting to free their country of the Taliban.  

To Sirajuddin;
Peace and Gods love to you. The work you have taken on is evidence of your love of peace and your love of your family and people.

This is what its about, the freedom they need to fight for. They dont need our weapons, they dont need our troops. They only thing they need is the vision of what they want right in their own lives and learn how to bring that vision to their own eyes.

The government of Pakistan, the Pakistani Army, and the people who are now fighting back are all to be commended in their efforts to eliminate those who try to force their perverted form of religion on them.  When this current movement is successful, people will be more free and less fearful.  I must applaud loudly everyone who is fighting on the right side of this war, whether they fight the physical battle or fight through any other means.

finally, the people are joining the fight. Liberation of Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot happen without the help of the people. Unfortunatly, Al queda is now regrouping in other poor countries like, Somalia. Where is China in all this ?? They have plenty of men power, why are they not helping ?

all men of free and independent mind will reject disorganised dictators criminal minds like the taliban and other terrorists  

Its a paradise with beautiful people.
Long live the BRAVE & PROUD PASHTUNS!!
Bangash from Peshawar.
 

I admire Sirajuddin and his men for defending Islam, his family and friends.  While I don't understand Islam, I don't believe any religion or God teaches us to kill one another.  

The U.S. Government and the U.N. should be focused on suppying aid immediately to these wonderful Militia who are aiding in the destruction of the Taliban. They need medicine, food, shelter and economic stimulous to invigerate the suooprt and loyalty of these brave and courageous fighters who have lost their way of life in support of our common goal to kill extremist. Whre is the U.N. and the U.S. on this?

I say Thankyou !!  Go Get these taliban scums.  get rid of them at once.  Happy to see the people are finally seeing the evil, which has been in front of them for many years.  God Bless

Local lay people who have suffered attacks by the Taliban should be givven as much aid and suport as we can give them; their fight against the terrorists
give us a great advantage and help our troops who are fighting the same enemy.

This an awesome testament to what can happen when people stand up for what is right.

So, Sirajuddin, Niaz Wali, and 11-year-old Akhtar Khan are willing to die for their country.  But, are they willing to live for their country?  Are they willing to study and develop industry and build a government that allows individual freedom?  Democracy does not guarentee a good life; it can be misused like any other form of government.  But basic respect and allowing people to choose their own path even when you disagree with them goes a long way to building a solid foundation.  Are they willing to do the hard and frustrating work of building a way of life?

This type of story is exactly what Americans (and sane people everywhere) need to hear; to know there do exist rational, emotional human beings on the other side of the world that we are trying to help

I wonder if these people fighting for their right to be free and to live their lives in peace,will get a "bailout"?
Or is that just for the wealthy or irresponsible?

As cool as it is to have these indiginous allies, do remember that these are the same people that will kill a girl for dancing... or for looking at a boy from another village.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is only good while the fight is on. After it's over, they will go back to squabbling amongst themselves, and the Taliban will step right back in.

I feel sorry for the tribesmen's situation being caught up in this battle with the Taliban. It is good to hear though that Pakistan is still addressing there issues.

God is great in all languages and religions. It's too bad that the brutality if the Taliban shows their true face and it is not for the glory of God but for their own purposes.The Pakastani's are no longer being fooled by these thugs, lets give them all they need. If this goverment can bail out the rumps of the fools on wall street who should have fallen, then maybe it can redeem itself by helping those who truely need our assistence.

Velandy Manohar, MD, FAPA
strongly support local leaders such as Siraj-ud-din forming well disciplined armed defense forces to protect their places of worship which the foundation and focal point of their community and ensure that children are protected , girl children as well as boy children can go in safety to pursue literacy, knowledge, competencies and skills that can do more than bring home a working, wage, protect business enterprise and support the orderly processing of legal matters by the council of elders or other legitimate group that adjudicates legal issues. The Sunni leaders worked with the US Marines in Al Anbar province to stamp out Al Qaeda and various cartels engaged criminal activities including smuggling since the days of the Oil for food and medications programs. Gen Gerald Templar used the protected hamlet strategy that the Pakistani troops could adapt for their current operations in NWFProvinces. The work of the Central Asian Institute of Mr. Greg Mortenson who wrote three cups of tea is ample proof that local sheikhs and regular men, women and children and religious leaders can make a difference and stand up for civil and peaceful life in their communities and defeat their more aggressive and uncivil fellow Muslims who have given Islam a bad name. Inshallah the work of Siraj-ud-din and others like him will endure and overcome the forces of darkness and evil. May God protect him and others like him to make sure civilized societies can emerge and become free from fear, healthy and prosperous. I would like to see the U5MR( under age 5 mortality rate to drop substantially, and there is supporting community for education of girl children to high school at least) These changes will have really salutary effects on the community as a whole. Naturally arable land and portable water, immunization programs will be necessary and will require substantial local sweat equity and major contributions from the G-20 nations. As the U5MR drops and girls education rises the TFR (fertility rate per lifetime of a woman will drop preferably closer to 2-3 9 this would be close to the NRR of 2.2- natural replacement rate) over time which will in turn reduce the youth bulge-percentage of youth below 25 especially the ratio of this group to the above 50 population. Unless the TFR drops closer to 3 or 2.5 the risk of the youth bulge exploding into anomic anarchy will remain endemic in a community. Access to schools that are not Madrassas will be major factor in the stabilization of a community and its future economic viability and social harmony.

The work of Sir Michael Marmot( Social Determinants of Health) Prof. Jeffrey Sacks ( Columbia University) Ms. Jacqueline Novogratz-Acumen and the Groups that enunciated the Millennium promises and goals have detailed plans on how the processes conducive to development of self-sustaining civil society can be developed and sustained by the local leaders and general public. These Millennium promises and goals have been in the test mode in 12 countries on the African Continent with very heartening results in the positive side of the ledger.

I salute leaders such Siraj-ud-din and pray for their success. Asalaam ale kum Siraj bhai! Khuda Hafiz May the Peace of Allah be upon your good self and your people.

NB. If there are health care or disaster specialists among NGO's in the area, I can supply important information from the Red Cross on managing disasters such as the humanitarian tragedies caused by masses of humanity who are scattered by the winds of war. I can also make available the material from the Am. Psychiatry Association( APA) about managing disasters. I have made some of this material available to Prof Haroon Rashid Chaudary of Lahore, Pakistan. He is President of the Pakistani Psychiatry society.I met him in San Francisco at APA convention in May 09

Stand up and fight for your rights.  Crust the Taliban.  Our Marcus Garvey said, "Up Up You Mighty Race".  Fight for your rights, even if you die trying.  I am on your side.  Pakistan is a sovereigh nation.  Never, never negotiate with the heartless Taliban again.  

One can draw parallels between the Taliban gangs and bandit gangs in the old West of the US. They steal, they kill, they terrorize, and they generally make a deadly nuisance of themselves. When the locals get angry enough, then they stand up and kill or drive out the bandits. I applaud ustez (teacher, elder) Sirajuddin and call him sadiq - friend. This American wishes him the greatest of luck and courage in his fight, and I hope Akhtar Khan stays safe and returns to school!

My heart cries for the little ones in these troubled areas. They are growing up in so much violence and hatred, and learning to hate us. Please pray that we find a way to coexist and learn to love one another.

This may be the best news I've heard from this area of the world.  I am not really that informed, but it seems to me the only way peace will be achieved in this region, is by the will of the people living there.  Not by our country going over there and imposing it.  I'm all for us helping, but only if it is wanted, and only if the residents of the Middle East are willing to do just as these tribesmen are doing and run the Taliban out of their villages.  Hooray for them!

I hear a lot of talk about peaceful life and harmony after the taliban, but will this include the Christians in your country?

The Taliban kill all those that don't support them. How twisted these Taliban thugs are killing people at prayers in a holy place I am not Islamic but I am certain that Allah does not sanction the killing of people in the middle of prayers.  The tribal member will banish and exterminate these thugs just and they tribal members did in Iraq with Al Queda.  This tribal leader better watch is back the Taliban will have a target on him.  I gives me hope that not all Muslims are sheep to the extreme views of these fringe groups like the Taliban. May they be victorious.

Proud of what these innocent men and women are doing. This goes to prove that Islam and Muslims are not bad but some people like Taliban give it a horrible name.
These people (Muslims) believe in Taliban free peaceful world where their boys AND girls can go to school and where all mankind can love and cherish.
Us Americans, Canadians and British need to support and acknowledge Pakistan and Pakistanis as our friends and allies.
These people have had terrorism at their doorsteps for a lot longer and a lot worse.
Good job and a good story!

Thank you MSNBC for finally allowing a critical report on radical Islam. Instead of the usual knee jerk glorification of Moslem terrorists, you actually let us see the truth. MSNBC permitted a focused look at the death and destruction Islamic terrorists, in this case the Taliban, cruelly spread wherever they invade. Hopefully this change for the better will last.

It is about time they stood up to these nut cases.

"They dont need our weapons, they dont need our troops."

Well they still got outside weapons and support from the Pakistani military. "Heart" alone has never won a war in world history and never will. They need weapoons and resources.

I'm very happy to hear more tribes are fighting back. The Taliban and Al Qaeda seem to create enemies everywhere they go because of their ruthless barbarity. That it why as long as we are vigilant and support local anti-Jihadist forces we absolutely can win this war.

Violence begets violence, begets violence, begets violence.  Retaliation brings more retaliation......when will it ever end?  

Taliban are the extra weight on the face on this planet SIRAJ-JU-DIN AND 11 year old Akhtar khan my prayers are with you kill all those kafirs those who are killing kids and attacking places of worships and giving bad name to Islam.lets kill all those are called Talibans.You are the real MUJAHIDS of Islam and real people of Pakistan.May Allah save you from all kind of bad things. We all love you(Siraj-u-din and Akhrar khan) Allah Bless You and your faimly..........................Maqbool Parlin N.J.

Solon Of Earth writes, "As cool as it is to have these indiginous allies, do remember that these are the same people that will kill a girl for dancing... or for looking at a boy from another village. "

Dear Solon,
Pakistan and Afganistan both are and used to be quite conservative societies. Girls did not willy nilly go and do things that are taken forgranted in the west or in non islamic countries but they were also not killed willy nilly for dancing or singing or going to school until these dour bastards from Taliban started enforcing a joyless version of islam in these lands.

There is a very poignent scene in a movie called "The Kite Runner". One of the protagonits says - The Taliban don't let humans be humans.

That is the tragedy. Because even conservative societies have their own way of celebrating and expressing joy. Women in those conservative societies may not have all the freedoms women have elsewhere but they are not always treated like animals either. Both Pakistan and Afganistan used to have societies, atleast in the urban centers where women were substantially more freer than women in, say, Saudi Arabia. That is, until the Wahabbis and then the Taliban rolled into these lands like black plague.

Even in tribal pakistan/afganistan, killing of a girl for alleged impropriety is still an exception rather than a norm.

Sirajuddin, can you bring yourself to praise America? Our building was also attacked by Taliban - over 3000 innocent people of ours were murdered.  We have the right, too, to rid the earth of these Islamic terrorists.  So does Israel.  You are not the only good guy.  So is America and so is Israel.  We can help you, but you hate us for it.  Good luck to you.  You are right in fighting Islamo-fascist scum, but so are we and Israel.  I hope you agree.

Yeah yeah, this is all fine and good...but remember that the Taliban was also once a simple militia whose mission was to defend Afghanistan from the invading Soviets.

do any of you big shots wander why the taliban are doing this?Are all of you so mangled by western media that you do not understand the taliban are trying to keep their traditions of all the ages alive.

Finally, Pakistan now is on the right path and the people are joining them. That is a good sign that the Taliban's days are numbered. With the Allies in Afganistan and the Pakistani and angry villagers pushing them into areas were they can be captured or killed maybe now, God Willing, the world can be rid of these men who hijacked Islam and killed innocents in God's name.

Its always been like this.The common people of Pakistan were never extremist . They have always been moderate and progressive. I love Pak army and the brave people of the affected area. We all need to help them in any way we can.I see the little children's faces and it just breaks my heart. But I must say that American Media mainly the TV media is not doing enough to bring about the situation in Pakistan to the American people. If people didnt know as to what is the plight of the camps in Pakistan , how will they help them. People have left everything in Swat and other areas to run from taliban, they have nothing. God bless them all

Unlike the situation in Iraq, this is a worthy fight; we  must secure the nuclear weapons or we will rue the day the opportunity passed.

Comments from uneducated liberals here almost make me laugh.  However, it really is just sad that people are so stupid.

They act as if fighting the Taliban is something they wanted to do all along and that we have no role in this when exactly the opposite is true.

Pakistan SUPPORTED the Taliban until just recently. Only now they are realizing how dangerous that previous support has become.  

Because the USA chased the Taliban out of Afghanistan, they are now not wanted in Pakistan.

Eventually the world will see Islamic fanaticism as the true scourge upon this planet.

hello to you people on pakistan from sons and daughtcommit the usaers like me[son in this case]that represent ww1,ww2,veterans-we in canada did fight in iraq in 1991-however the commanders of the coalition did not have the conviction,intelligence,teamwork,resolve,to continue on to bagdad-look what mr.george bush had to do-carry out a cover-up to commit the usa military to invade iraq ad clean it out-look at the massive improvement-you people are carrying out the moppinh up of extreemists-keep at it-seek backing from pakistan-then start getting educated-seek financial support from the universities of the world-the U directors and management have thousands of people available to support you-they also have thousands of people lecturing who have accomplished nothing in actual project development-only seek people who have accomplished on-site success/jdenishuggard-located in west vancouver/bc/canada-good luck

Perhaps the corner to be turned will come up shortly. There are still thousands of Afghanis who must rally to the support of the brave few.

When the general populace turns against the invading threat, then, and only then, does the grass root insurgence have a chance.

Power to the people!

The US and the UN are not quick to help people who do not have money- or whose country is not valuable....unless you count heroin-- there is no money there-- so the people have to suffer-- the UN should step up to the plate....

It is about time that tribal people and true Muslims  everywhere see that Al Qaeda and the Taliban are all about power and totalitaranism and not about the Koran or Justice.

It is really good to see that the people that have been the most hurt are standing upfor them selfs. That is where the real thrust for freedom must come from, not having someone else provid it for you.

Bravo! brave citizens!

The book "Three Cups of Tea" gives a vivid view of the real Pakistani local tribes.  And how the American value in education has the same value to many of those local tribes' people. There is no love lost for the Taliban, and its important we Americans understand the difference...

I salute the brave people of Dir to stand up to fight and evict the evil sorry devils Talibans from there homeland. This is a eye opening operation that will follow suit in other areas of Dir, Swat & FATA where similar Laskhars (militia armies) can be raised to defeat and expel the evils provided the govt and the army strongly backs them. These people are poor. While such operations are very costly the need of govt and army backing is a must for the Laskhars to suceed.

Allah bless; I hope only safety to those brave people who refuse to roll over for unjust invaders, of any kind.

May God be with this brave men.  The Taliban is a curse. May them and their ideology be banned from the face of the planet.

First of all, what is an 11 year old doing with a Kalashnikov...you'll shoot your eye out kid?  Secondly, what is up with the Pakistani Military providing arms to these tribal leaders?  Now you have an inexperienced kid with a weapon and ammo.  Who do you think will win when the Taliban decides to pay another visit for supplies.  The Pakistani military should be doing the fighting, while the villagers provide intelligence.

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