Power Base
The Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan is drawn almost exclusively from the rural Pashtun tribes along the southeast border and into Pakistan. Guerrilla recruits are drawn from among the Pashtun Afghan refugees who live in the camps inside Pakistan and number close to 3 million. Pakistan remains a reliable safe haven for the Taliban, which is believed to be headquartered in Quetta.
- 15,000 U.S. troops operating under NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
- 12,000 More U.S. troops are independent of NATO command, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, primarily tasked with eliminating Taliban and al Qaeda remnants in Afghanistan.
NEXT STORY: Power Base