Taliban sources say the attacks have largely been the work of insurgents returning to Afghanistan after sheltering in Pakistan for the winter, but some militants seem to be digging in to stay. The sources say the buildup’s coordinator is Ustad Yasir, a Taliban commander who was released from an Afghan jail a year ago in exchange for an Italian journalist who was held hostage. Yasir’s lieutenants include Anwar ul-Haq Mujahid, whose guerrillas call themselves the Tora Bora Revenge Group. Baitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani tribal leader who has been blamed for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, has also sent an armed detachment of fighters into the area. According to Taliban sources, Mehsud’s men are equipped with 65 sets of night-vision goggles from an undisclosed supplier.
Islamabad won’t let U.S. forces guard the pass, but Pakistan’s own troops are taking a very low profile. Travelers are apt to see few Pakistani military patrols, especially compared with the heavy traffic of pickups full of fighters from Lashkar Islami (Islamic Army), a militant group not linked to the Taliban but sharing similar views. South of the pass, in tribal Waziristan, Taliban subcommander Abdul Hakim says Pakistani troops are honoring an effective ceasefire. As thousands of Taliban fighters in the area are heading back to Afghanistan for their spring offensive, Hakim says Pakistani military vehicles are flying white flags to show they aren’t looking for a fight. That’s OK with the Taliban.
