Date: November 3rd 2008

From: sridharswami@aol.com Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008


SOON after Partition, apart from irascible hostility of India, Pakistan had to contend with unfriendly Afghanistan. Besides being the only Muslim country to oppose Pakistan’s membership to the UN, it had demanded certain parts of Baluchistan and NWFP. It had repudiated all treaties signed between Afghanistan and the British Government before the birth of Pakistan and rejected Durand Line as an international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It maintained a consistent hostile policy towards Pakistan and subjected it to vile propaganda and urged the tribes residing on Pakistani side of the Divide to create independent Pakhtunistan. It always provided refuge to dissident and anti-Pakistan elements and supported 1973 insurgency in Baluchistan. Conversely, it always maintained friendly ties with India. It was only during the brief spell of Taliban rule that Pakistan enjoyed cordial relations and its western border became safe and Indian influence waned. The old animosity re
-appeared no sooner Taliban regime was replaced with Karzai led regime in Kabul in 2002 and the Indian influence re-emerged in a big way. The Afghan leadership has allowed its soil to be used by foreign agencies for destabilisation of Pakistan.

From 1947 till as late as 2004, Pakistan’s north-western tribal belt known as FATA inhabited by highly patriotic tribesmen remained peaceful. The entire length of over 1400 miles long porous and treacherous border was guarded by them and no regular soldier ever entered into this territory. Notwithstanding the unchecked trans-border movement of the ethnically linked tribes living both sides of the border, they never made any compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty. Their courageous role in the three wars with India and during the ten-year Afghan war needs no amplification. Unlike the ANP and certain regional political parties in Baluchistan who had maintained close ties with India and former Soviet Union, the FATA people never cultivated secret links with foreign powers and were ever ready to fight for the cause of Pakistan. They however consider it their moral obligation to come to the rescue of Afghan brethren whenever in distress. They had fought the Soviet forces alongside th
e Afghan Mujahideen and had given refuge to the displaced Afghans, Chechens, Arabs and other Muslim fighters who had participated in the Afghan war. They had also fought the invading forces at the side of the Taliban in October-November 2001. They had felt equally anguished on the reckless destruction of Afghanistan and had vowed to help the Taliban in pushing out the foreign forces.

When the US and its allies occupied Afghanistan in November 2001 after causing immense destruction and installed non-Pashtun regime led by American stooge Karzai, the Taliban and their leaders sought shelter in Pashtun dominated provinces of Afghanistan while some trickled into the Pashtun belt of Pakistan. They vowed to free their country from the clutches of USA and started to regroup. Once they began to strike back in 2002 it became obligatory for the Jihadis residing in FATA who had always fought side by side with the Afghans against the aggressors to support them. Once the balance of power started to shift in favour of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan and became difficult for the US-UK troops to contain them, NATO troops were inducted to beef their strength in 2003.

When the army was inducted into FATA in 2003 at the behest of USA to flush out foreigners from South Waziristan inhabited by Wazirs, the locals extended their support. It was when the army expanded its operations towards Mahsud dominated areas and then to North Waziristan and reneged on peace agreements and started to use gunship helicopters and jetfighters resulting in death of innocent civilians that the tribals began to confront the army. Handing over their guests and kinsfolk to USA and tales of torture of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and in Bagram Base further antagonised them. They became convinced that the army was fighting its own people at the behest of non-Muslim America to promote its interests. The flames of insurgency have now spread throughout the length and breadth of FATA and have engulfed settled areas of NWFP including its major cities. At present, warlike situation is prevalent in Swat and Bajaur, while Kurram Agency is in the grip of sectarian fire. Khyber
Agency is restive where several militant groups have cropped up creating serious law and order problems in the suburbs of Peshawar. Cases of kidnapping for ransom from the capital city are mounting. Kohat tunnel remained closed for over a month and operations in Darra are still continuing to subdue the militants. Mohmand Agency is turning into yet another battleground while Hangu and Aurakzai Agency are also simmering. Militaryʼs hands are full quelling disturbances in several trouble spots but because of foreign interference the fire of militancy is not getting controlled.

The people of FATA are caught up in a nut cracker situation wherein they are suffering at the hands of the army, the militants and US drones. At one time 700,000 people had been rendered homeless and even now over 300,000 residents are living in pathetic conditions in makeshift relief camps. They are pleading for peace but peace is nowhere in sight. Ongoing anarchic conditions have ruptured the already fragile economy of FATA. The administrative structure that worked under political agent together with the Jirga system that used to preserve law and order and deliver verdicts on all sorts of disputes has since been trampled after the army stepped in and assumed control. Over 600 pro-government Maliks who would help in maintaining semblance of order have mostly been wiped out. The elected FATA MNAs and MPAs do not pick up courage to visit their home towns.

The militants fighting the army are not prepared to ceasefire and surrender arms as demanded by the government. They are killing pro-government tribals and US spies and the army is not in a position to provide security to them. The cross fire between the militants and the military is resulting in killing and injuring of peaceful residents as well. Collateral damage has increased manifold ever since the army has begun to use jetfighters, choppers, artillery guns and heavy mortars more liberally. To top it all, missiles fired by US Predators are mostly killing innocent men, women and children. So far about 8000 militants have been killed. Another menace that has surfaced is the mushroom growth of criminal gangs over which the law enforcing agencies have no control. Besides, large numbers of militant groups have emerged in the tribal belt and these are sponsored by foreign agencies to serve their vested interests.

Heavy displacement of the people causing countless hardships together with the loss of lives of the innocent at the hands of security forces and US drones has resulted in the intensification of hatred against the army and USA. They have now realised that the Musharraf regime and the present one under Zardari are two sides of the same coin and that the latter is going one step ahead of the former to please the Americans. Feeling left out and isolated, more and more volunteers are joining the militants to seek revenge from the ones who have caused them distress. Since the Taliban have made inroads in Punjab as well where most of the banned Jihadi outfits are based, there is a regular flow of volunteers from Punjab particularly from southern Punjab. Some are joining the Taliban from Sindh as well.

Major reasons for the common people gravitating towards the Taliban and growth of terrorism are: One. The rulers are seen as the lackeys of USA, who instead of caring for the people are pleasing USA to safeguard their interests. Two. The Indo-US-Israeli nexus has made up its mind to destroy Islam and replace it with secularism and the secular leaders are helping them in attaining their objective. Three. The trio is the real axis of evil that has destroyed peace of the world. Four. The West minister system of democracy and governance is inept and Anglo-Saxon system of judiciary corrupt and both are pro-rich. Four. Pak army is on the payroll of USA. Five. The Taliban are simple and God fearing soldiers of Islam and they do not demand material benefits but imposition of Sharia. Six. Justice based on Islam offered by the Taliban is cheap and speedy. Seven. The rulers and the elite class are leading life of opulence and immorality and are insensitive towards the poor. Eight. Osama
bin Laden is not a terrorist but a hero since he had sacrificed everything to defend the cause of Islam. Nine. The root cause of terrorism within the Muslim world is unsolved problem of Palestine and Kashmir, America’s anti-Islamic and unjust polices and illegal occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.

These perceptions injected into the minds of the have-nots have helped the Taliban in earning their goodwill and in swelling their strength. Their motivational nodes based on ideological indoctrination and spirit of Jihad turn each member into a diehard Islamist ready to sacrifice his life for the cause of Islam. Devoid of worldly comforts and living under adverse conditions they become hardy, well trained and enthused. It is quite apparent that outside forces are replenishing the militants with arms and ammunition as well as cryptic means of communication enabling them to keep the 150,000 strong military force at bay for the last five years.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombers are the main weapons in the armoury of militants to cause maximum damage to military targets. Security troops operating in FATA and Swat have suffered maximum casualties because of IEDs. Greater the loss incurred greater will be the impact made. They have succeeded in motivating and training sizeable number of suicide bombers to attack the chosen targets within high security zones. Reportedly, women have also been trained as in the case of Iraq. Factors of poverty, religion, honour and revenge have enabled the masterminds to enrol suicide bombers. Lal Masjid massacre propelled the suicide attackers to launch series of attacks against the perpetrators of crime. Some of the important targets hit by them were Tarbela SSG Mess, ISI Hamza Camp, ISI bus, CJCSC House and AMC Lt Gen in Rawalpindi, FIA and Naval College Lahore buildings, air force buses in Sargodha and Badhaber, two attacks on Benazir Bhutto on 18 October and 27
December, and recently POF Wah and Marriott Hotel Islamabad located within Red Zone. Besides, attempts were made on former President Musharraf, PM Shaukat, interior minister Sherpao and present PM. Having put top PPP legislators on the hit list, ANP elected members have also been added in the list and some have already been slain. Hujra of ANP leader Asfandyar in Charsadda was hit on 3 October in which he had a narrow escape. These attacks are other than routine attacks on military convoys, check posts and police stations. Kidnapping of security persons, foreigners and diplomats are other means employed to get their demands met and prisoners released or to compel the security forces to wrap up certain check posts causing hindrance to their movement.

While the foreign hands are definitely involved in destabilising Pakistan, however, they are not the sole cause of prevailing chaos. This can be seen from the fact that after the election campaign picked up momentum in January 2008, cycle of suicide attacks ceased. The cycle recommenced once the PPP and ANP betrayed the trust of the people and showed their true colours. Had the new civilian government lived up to its commitment of restoring deposed judges, made the corrupt and criminals accountable, revised the faulty policy of war on terror and abided by the agreements signed with the militants in Swat, Bajaur, Mohmand and South Waziristan Agencies in May 2008, and taken meaningful steps to redress their grievances by introducing the promised Shariah in Malakand Division and undertaken development works, the menace of militancy could have got controlled to quite an extent.

Now that militancy is almost getting out of control, it is becoming that much easier for foreign agents to get submerged in the melee and add fuel to fire. Instead of taking corrective measures to cleanse the muck left behind by Musharraf led regime, our myopic leaders are following old policies in letter and spirit. They are reinforcing failures by stating that it is our war and more force will be applied. Rehman Malik instead of resigning after the Marriott intelligence failure has gone bonkers and is roaring like a wounded tiger that he will not rest till each and every militant is put to sword. Daily killings of militants in Bajaur, Swat and Darra are being triumphantly announced with a measure of exultation and achievement, hoping against hope that killing of few thousands would curb militancy. In Iraq, massacre of over one million has increased and not lessened militancy. Unless our rulers change their lifestyle, ensure good governance, impose effective system of accoun
tability, deliver cheap justice to all, promote people friendly policies and win their hearts and minds, whatever force applied to eliminate extremism and militancy would prove counter productive.


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