In the Pakistani mountains of Waziristan, young jihadis wait for martyrdom

In the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, a massive battle looms.

By Arif Janjua in South Waziristan and Nick Meo
Published: 8:36AM BST 11 Oct 2009

In the Pakistani mountains of Waziristan, Pakistani Army patrols as young jihadis wait for martyrdom Photo: GETTY

In the Pakistani mountains of Waziristan, as young jihadis wait for martyrdom

Thousands of Pakistani soldiers are waiting for orders to launch an offensive that could change the course of their country’s bloody struggle against the Taliban.

The operation is an attempt to end Pakistan’s escalating terrorist violence, which last week alone saw 50 people killed in a carbomb that ripped through a marketplace. A brazen attack yesterday on the army’s headquarters also left six soldiers dead.

The army’s target is South Waziristan, a lawless tribal region. It is the headquarters of the jihad against Islamabad’s rulers and a key training ground for fighters in the war against British and American troops across the frontier.

Waiting to do battle with government soldiers is an army of 10,000 local fighters, along with thousands of foreign jihadists allied to al-Qaeda, for which the area has long been a refuge – possibly even for Osama bin Laden himself.

All summer American officials have urged the Pakistan to launch a knockout blow. US officials believe the Taliban has been on the ropes since they were driven out of the valley of Swat, further north, last May, and now is the time to strike.

The government offensive is not guaranteed success, however. Last week reporter Arif Janjua travelled into the heart of the Taliban stronghold to meet the jihadists who are keenly waiting to embrace martyrdom.

With his AK-47 and confident stare, Yousaf looked like just another of the tribal fighters in the abandoned villages of South Waziristan who are steeling themselves for battle.

He was one of a group of dozens of young men – many of them teenagers – that were lounging around after prayers, joking and relaxed. They looked more as if they were on a picnic than preparing for what may be the climatic battle in their war against Pakistan’s rulers, yet their resolve did not seem in doubt.

“There are thousands more like me who have come here to join our Muslim brothers,” he said. “We are ready to fight these Pakistani soldiers who are doing the work of the American unbelievers.”

Yousaf is a foreign jihadi from China, one of a small army who have flocked from across the Islamic world to the Taliban stronghold. They are here in search of martyrdom, and in the next few days they may achieve their dream; a few miles away, a massive force is assembled.

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And Odumbo stands around with his

being the undecider. WTF, he can make a quick judgement when it comes to a black college professor and a white police officer. He wastes no time when it comes to shoving cap and trade and his obamacare down our throats. He has no more business being CIC than the man in the moon.  He worries about closing GITMO and waterboarding these pieces of scum. He calls it torture. I say these jihadist pigs want to become martyrs and meet their Allah. It is torture and cruel to not grant them their wish by tying our troops hands behind their backs.