Members of a "peace committee" in the Charsadda district of the North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan. (Abdul Majeed for The New York Times )Pakistan Plans To Arm Militias In Tribal Lands -- Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistan is planning to supply assault rifles to thousands of tribesmen willing to take up arms against Islamist militants in its northwestern tribal region, officials said on Thursday.
Pakistani officials in Washington said the plan to arm militias known as lashkars would involve supplying AK-47 rifles and other small arms, some purchased from China, to tribesmen in the Bajaur region and other areas of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA.
One Pakistani official estimated that there are about 25,000 militiamen in FATA. Some have already joined the Pakistani military in operations against militant targets.
Pakistan has been under U.S. pressure to expand military operations in the lawless tribal region that contains safe havens for al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups.
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Update #1: Pakistan asks tribes to take on Taliban -- International Herald Tribune
Update #2: Pakistani tribal militias walk tightrope in Taliban fight -- International Herald Tribune
My Comment: If this campaign is successful, one can expect a repeat of this strategy in other regions of the country.