A recent report in a leading Pakistani newspaper warned that the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan have trained a new generation of suicide bombers to fight against the U.S. and NATO troops in the region.
The report noted that most of the new generation of the fighters consists of family members of the Taliban fighters who have been killed or otherwise affected during the past nine years of war in the region.
According to the report, the new generation of the Taliban resides both in Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan along the Afghan border.
Following are some excerpts from the report:[1]
"The Sons of the Taliban Fighters, Who Were 10 or 12 Years of Age At the Time of the U.S.-Led Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Are Now 20 or 22"
"As the endgame begins in Afghanistan, a new generation of militants has joined the Taliban insurgency on both sides of the Durand Line, The Express Tribune has learned from police and intelligence officials. All the officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the issue.
"'The sons of the Taliban fighters, who were 10 or 12 years of age at the time of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, are now 20 or 22 years old,' an intelligence official said. 'They are a product of war and ultimately they have to follow their elders,' he added.
"These teenaged insurgents in Pakistan and Afghanistan are being groomed and trained for suicide missions. Police admit that...
