Bannu: Hundreds of Taliban fighters
have dissipated in the Pakistani population and their leaders may have flown
over to
Azam Khan was a barber in Miranshah but
now he is part of the Internally-Displaced persons sheltered outside Bannu. Over
half a million fled North Waziristan when it came under an aerial and then ground offensive by the Pakistani
military beginning June 15.
Azam Khan told AFP his business boomed
in the month leading up to the army assault as the militants queued up to have their hair cut and their beards shaved. "I have trimmed the hair
and beards of more than 700 local and Uzbek militants ahead of the security
forces´ operation," says Azam Khan.
For years he cut Taliban commanders' hair to match the flowing locks of former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan US
"The same leaders came asking for shaving
their beards off and cutting their hair short,” Khan said. Most commanders told
Mr Khan they were off to the Gulf and did not want to attract attention of
security men at Pakistani airports. Uzbek and Tajik militants spoke few words
of Pushto like malgari (friend) machine zero joray…Islamabad
Unconfirmed reports say top Taliban
leaders may have taken refuge in Gulf countries and even India
Leony Li
By
Published: 2014-07-07T06:46:00-07:00
Militants left Waziristan before Operation
By
Published: 2014-07-07T06:46:00-07:00
Militants left Waziristan before Operation
