Afghan Villagers Launch Own Offensives Against Taliban

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(KABUL, Afghanistan) — There are reports from Afghanistan of townspeople successfully taking on the Taliban when they see the government not taking action.

One such place is Ander in Ghazni province. The villagers recently fought militants who had closed down their schools, and after two weeks, most of the local children were able to head back to class.

Ghazni is not alone in these mini-revolts, says USA Today.  Communities within Paktia, Kunar, Nuristan and Laghman provinces have also experienced uprisings against the Taliban after being threatened or having certain institutions shuttered.

With the U.S. and its coalition allies preparing to exit Afghanistan by 2014 and national forces learning the ropes in order to take over full security responsibilities, people in town after town seem more willing to confront the Taliban rather than accept violence and their strict Islamic rules.

Afghan experts caution that the movement is not widespread yet but just the idea that children in the Barkali area of Waigal district used only sticks and stones against the Taliban to keep their schools from closing may be a portent of things to come.  The key to success is more support and assistance from the government in Kabul, which has been minimal up to now.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio