Foreign militants jeopardise Pakistan's peace
Terrorists from several countries, whom Pakistan hosted and used first, against the Soviets and, later US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, have turned against their host and are compounding the security problem facing the country. The latest air strikes in Swat and Waziristan by the Pakistan Army were directed mostly against them in retaliation for their attacks on military posts and convoys at several places causing casualties. With the operations in Afghanistan drawing to a close as foreign forces are due to leave by the end of this year, these foreigners are turning their attention increasingly towards the Pakistan State and its Army, demanding immediate imposition of Sharia rule.
In utter desperation, the Nawaz Sharif Government had opened Taliban factions, involving to strike a deal on ending terrorist activity. It thought Tehrik-e-Taliban and the foreign terrorists would be isolated and it would be easy for the Army to deal with them. But, considering the atmosphere prevailing in the country, the chances of such talks succeeding were dim and military operations have become necessary. But, spokes in the wheel are put by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, which rules the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in coalition with Islamists and other religious parties, and feels military operations will worsen the situation and make a solution all the more difficult to find. Others feel that a cease-fire will give the militants a chance to regroup and rearm and prepare for bigger battles in future. Therefore, the time to take them on was now.
In Pakistan's National Assembly, which had earlier endorsed the Government's move to begin negotiations with the Taliban, calls for military operations have again been made after Tehrik-e-Taliban attack in Karachi and MOHMAND in which 36 policemen and soldiers were killed. Remarks by PTI chairman Imran Khan that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had told him that the chances of operations succeeding were only "40 per cent", and therefore launching them was not the answer were denied. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan accused Imran of misquoting Nawaz Sharif and asserted that there should be no misconception in anybody's mind about the capability and strength of the Armed Forces, which had been proved several times, particularly during operations in Swat and Waziristan. But the head of the Taliban dialogue committee Maulana Sami-ul-Haq warned that military operations would cause destruction and put national security at risk and called upon his fighters to cease fire, but they refused.
The deal between the Taliban and former President Gen Pervez Musharraf several year ago has not brought peace to Waziristan because the foreign militants were not a party to it and newer and more radical Taliban factions have appeared on the scene who oppose any compromise on matter of religion and are fiercely opposed to Pakistan's Government and the Army, as well as, the ruling dispensation in Afghanistan which uses foreign forces to fight Taliban.
The Musharraf deal did not prove effective in curbing the activities of foreign fighters which have proliferated, despite some of their leaders having been killed by US Drone strikes. Countries harassed by terrorists and secessionists have been concerned at their taking shelter in Pakistan on a permanent basis, with no effort to dislodge them and send them out of the country. The militants are mainly Chechens, Uighurs, Tajiks, Arabs and Uzbeks belonging mainly to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). After earlier operations, the Army had claimed that most of the foreign terrorists had been chased out of Pakistan. But such estimates contradicted the real situation which points to a proliferation of their ranks, with increased capability to attack Army posts, convoys and installations. They have been taking advantage of the prevailing anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, mainly against Drone strikes, and have been acting in cohorts with the Taliban, particularly the fierce Haqqani network.
Repeated complaints made by Uzbekistan, Russia and China against Pakistani Taliban and Government agencies providing shelter to terrorists who mount attacks on them, have had little effect on the Pakistani establishment, which has failed to eliminate them from its soil. The Uzbekistan Government launched large-scale military operations on terrorist hideouts and concentration in the country, including Andijan and largely neutralised them. The Uighurs remain a problem for the Chinese Government because they have intensified terrorist strikes inside its Xijiang Autonomous Region. In the latest such strike on Feb 14, Chinese forces killed as many as 14 Uighur terrorists in an encounter. The Pakistan Government keeps assuring China of its sincerity in targeting Uighur terrorists, but Beijing is not impressed because it sees no improvement in the situation on the ground.
Russia has suffered several major terror attacks in Chechnya by rebels who have taken refuge inside Pakistan. Though it conducted several military operations against them and crippled their infrastructure, it does not consider itself safe. It took extraordinary precautions against terrorists striking the Winter Olympics held in Sochi in February. The matter has also been raised at the meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which Russia and China are members and Pakistan an observer country but, despite Islamabad's repeated assurances, it has failed to act and show results. The Arab militants are mainly aligned to Al Qaeda and perform the role of financiers by raising funds in Arab Countries through charities and other sources under the pretext of propagating pure Islam.
The Semi-autonomous tribal agency of South Waziristan is home to some 600,000 lawless Pushtun tribesmen who traditionally support the Mujahideen and practice centuries-old tribal traditions. South and North Waziristan are two of the seven Pushtun regions known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and no government has been able to establish its old on it. For a long time Pakistan adopted a "hands-off" policy, but did not hesitate to use Waziristan tribals to invade Kashmir in 1947, or help in the anti-USSR jihad in the 1980s. The tribal DNA is the same as that the Pashtuns in Afghanistan, so they became as radicalised as the Taliban. When the US invaded Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, Waziristan became an easy refuge for the Islamists. Under US pressure, the Pakistan Army conducted several operations in Waziristan since 2002, each growing in lethality and achieving nothing more than driving the local population deeper into the Taliban embrace.
Although Pakistan deployed forces in the area, there have been no visible gains for it. That was partly due to the approach adopted by Pakistan to the US "hammer and envil" strategy, wherein Islamabad was supposed to push Taliban-Jihadists across the border for the US and Afghan troops on the other side to neutralise them. But such coordination did not materialise on the ground due to Pakistan's reluctance to act. Islamabad has used the Taliban to attain certain objectives. Its Army is comfortable in the main towns of Waziristan and rarely ventures into the rural and mountainous areas unless attacked, and that too briefly. The jihadists moved to North Waziristan and major Army thrusts in 2004 around Azam Warsak and Shakai made heroes out of tribals like Baitullah Mehsud. The operation, which was meant to be a quick surgical strike stretched far beyond the anticipated time-frame and territorial limits. Pressures started to build from Taliban and other jihadi groups patronised by the Army to call off the operation and the wound was left to fester and has now turned septic. Later the US-Musharraf nexus helped Islamists to gain ground and impose Sharia law in the region. The fact that in Waziristan's history the legends have always been clerics provides clue as to how the locals feel about-radicalisation.
The foreign militants have created problems for the local tribals as well, although they hosted them in the beginning at the behest of the Pakistan Army. They have repeatedly clashed with the local tribes and the Army has had to intervene to prevent bloodshed, though they created several problems. Sporadic military operations have damaged traditional institutions, increased radicalism in the region and met with opposition from a broader section of Pakistan's population, including political parties, such as PTI, PML(N) and JEI.
Washington provided ample funds to Pakistan to bring more government services to the region, improve infrastructure and social services, spread education and create employment to lure the youth away from radicalism. The money provided so far is in excess of $ 22 billion, which has been used for budgetary support and debt relief instead and very little on the tribal areas. Parliament now demands action to deal with the hostile Taliban, who refuse to talk peace and give up. It is time that the Army and Government give up their collaborative attitude towards militants and demolish the nest that nurtures hornets. Using some Taliban to achieve certain policy and strategic objectives is suicidal and people want action.
Source http://www.kashmirtimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=29527
In utter desperation, the Nawaz Sharif Government had opened Taliban factions, involving to strike a deal on ending terrorist activity. It thought Tehrik-e-Taliban and the foreign terrorists would be isolated and it would be easy for the Army to deal with them. But, considering the atmosphere prevailing in the country, the chances of such talks succeeding were dim and military operations have become necessary. But, spokes in the wheel are put by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, which rules the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in coalition with Islamists and other religious parties, and feels military operations will worsen the situation and make a solution all the more difficult to find. Others feel that a cease-fire will give the militants a chance to regroup and rearm and prepare for bigger battles in future. Therefore, the time to take them on was now.
In Pakistan's National Assembly, which had earlier endorsed the Government's move to begin negotiations with the Taliban, calls for military operations have again been made after Tehrik-e-Taliban attack in Karachi and MOHMAND in which 36 policemen and soldiers were killed. Remarks by PTI chairman Imran Khan that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had told him that the chances of operations succeeding were only "40 per cent", and therefore launching them was not the answer were denied. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan accused Imran of misquoting Nawaz Sharif and asserted that there should be no misconception in anybody's mind about the capability and strength of the Armed Forces, which had been proved several times, particularly during operations in Swat and Waziristan. But the head of the Taliban dialogue committee Maulana Sami-ul-Haq warned that military operations would cause destruction and put national security at risk and called upon his fighters to cease fire, but they refused.
The deal between the Taliban and former President Gen Pervez Musharraf several year ago has not brought peace to Waziristan because the foreign militants were not a party to it and newer and more radical Taliban factions have appeared on the scene who oppose any compromise on matter of religion and are fiercely opposed to Pakistan's Government and the Army, as well as, the ruling dispensation in Afghanistan which uses foreign forces to fight Taliban.
The Musharraf deal did not prove effective in curbing the activities of foreign fighters which have proliferated, despite some of their leaders having been killed by US Drone strikes. Countries harassed by terrorists and secessionists have been concerned at their taking shelter in Pakistan on a permanent basis, with no effort to dislodge them and send them out of the country. The militants are mainly Chechens, Uighurs, Tajiks, Arabs and Uzbeks belonging mainly to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). After earlier operations, the Army had claimed that most of the foreign terrorists had been chased out of Pakistan. But such estimates contradicted the real situation which points to a proliferation of their ranks, with increased capability to attack Army posts, convoys and installations. They have been taking advantage of the prevailing anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, mainly against Drone strikes, and have been acting in cohorts with the Taliban, particularly the fierce Haqqani network.
Repeated complaints made by Uzbekistan, Russia and China against Pakistani Taliban and Government agencies providing shelter to terrorists who mount attacks on them, have had little effect on the Pakistani establishment, which has failed to eliminate them from its soil. The Uzbekistan Government launched large-scale military operations on terrorist hideouts and concentration in the country, including Andijan and largely neutralised them. The Uighurs remain a problem for the Chinese Government because they have intensified terrorist strikes inside its Xijiang Autonomous Region. In the latest such strike on Feb 14, Chinese forces killed as many as 14 Uighur terrorists in an encounter. The Pakistan Government keeps assuring China of its sincerity in targeting Uighur terrorists, but Beijing is not impressed because it sees no improvement in the situation on the ground.
Russia has suffered several major terror attacks in Chechnya by rebels who have taken refuge inside Pakistan. Though it conducted several military operations against them and crippled their infrastructure, it does not consider itself safe. It took extraordinary precautions against terrorists striking the Winter Olympics held in Sochi in February. The matter has also been raised at the meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which Russia and China are members and Pakistan an observer country but, despite Islamabad's repeated assurances, it has failed to act and show results. The Arab militants are mainly aligned to Al Qaeda and perform the role of financiers by raising funds in Arab Countries through charities and other sources under the pretext of propagating pure Islam.
The Semi-autonomous tribal agency of South Waziristan is home to some 600,000 lawless Pushtun tribesmen who traditionally support the Mujahideen and practice centuries-old tribal traditions. South and North Waziristan are two of the seven Pushtun regions known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and no government has been able to establish its old on it. For a long time Pakistan adopted a "hands-off" policy, but did not hesitate to use Waziristan tribals to invade Kashmir in 1947, or help in the anti-USSR jihad in the 1980s. The tribal DNA is the same as that the Pashtuns in Afghanistan, so they became as radicalised as the Taliban. When the US invaded Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, Waziristan became an easy refuge for the Islamists. Under US pressure, the Pakistan Army conducted several operations in Waziristan since 2002, each growing in lethality and achieving nothing more than driving the local population deeper into the Taliban embrace.
Although Pakistan deployed forces in the area, there have been no visible gains for it. That was partly due to the approach adopted by Pakistan to the US "hammer and envil" strategy, wherein Islamabad was supposed to push Taliban-Jihadists across the border for the US and Afghan troops on the other side to neutralise them. But such coordination did not materialise on the ground due to Pakistan's reluctance to act. Islamabad has used the Taliban to attain certain objectives. Its Army is comfortable in the main towns of Waziristan and rarely ventures into the rural and mountainous areas unless attacked, and that too briefly. The jihadists moved to North Waziristan and major Army thrusts in 2004 around Azam Warsak and Shakai made heroes out of tribals like Baitullah Mehsud. The operation, which was meant to be a quick surgical strike stretched far beyond the anticipated time-frame and territorial limits. Pressures started to build from Taliban and other jihadi groups patronised by the Army to call off the operation and the wound was left to fester and has now turned septic. Later the US-Musharraf nexus helped Islamists to gain ground and impose Sharia law in the region. The fact that in Waziristan's history the legends have always been clerics provides clue as to how the locals feel about-radicalisation.
The foreign militants have created problems for the local tribals as well, although they hosted them in the beginning at the behest of the Pakistan Army. They have repeatedly clashed with the local tribes and the Army has had to intervene to prevent bloodshed, though they created several problems. Sporadic military operations have damaged traditional institutions, increased radicalism in the region and met with opposition from a broader section of Pakistan's population, including political parties, such as PTI, PML(N) and JEI.
Washington provided ample funds to Pakistan to bring more government services to the region, improve infrastructure and social services, spread education and create employment to lure the youth away from radicalism. The money provided so far is in excess of $ 22 billion, which has been used for budgetary support and debt relief instead and very little on the tribal areas. Parliament now demands action to deal with the hostile Taliban, who refuse to talk peace and give up. It is time that the Army and Government give up their collaborative attitude towards militants and demolish the nest that nurtures hornets. Using some Taliban to achieve certain policy and strategic objectives is suicidal and people want action.
Source http://www.kashmirtimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=29527
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