A difficult situation in the tribal areas. The Pakistani government really need to come up with better ideas to restore law and order and remove the Islamists.
Attacks in NWA result of collateral damage
Tahir Ali
MIRANSHAH: Using gunship helicopters, long-range artillery and occasionally the US intelligence backup as well, the security forces appear determined to flush out militants, both local and foreign, from the precipitous region of North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
The relentless offensive in certain cases seriously hurt the non-partisan residents, provoking them to join the swelling ranks of Taliban-like militants in sheer rage. After spending two days in the NWA last weekend, this correspondent heard many anecdotes establishing that some tribesmen who suffered human or property losses due to incessant clashes between the security forces and militants feel motivated to walk over to militants' camp. Some are even willing to avenge their fury by striking as suicide bombers.
Talking to this correspondent,
a frightening number of students of local schools and colleges sounded too willing to join militants for suicide missions than continuing their studies. The disgruntled lot considers it the best option to take revenge for human and physical losses their families have suffered so far as non-partisan victims of conflicts between the militants and security forces. Many locals claimed that several students from 'regular schools and colleges' were undergoing extensive training at undisclosed places in Waziristan as would-be 'Fidayeen (the suicide bombers).
Once picked up after proper verification of their identity as well as assessment of their suitability for suicide missions, these daredevils receive intense 'spiritual guidance' (read psychological manipulation) for 40 days from iconic 'religious scholars'. They spend most of their time in offering prayers and doing zikars (reciting aloud jihad related religious verses). Little food is offered to them during the training. Their trainers believe the lack of food prepare them for hardship and non-availability of meals and water during performing the missions assigned to them.
After completing the 40-day session, the sole objective of these trained suicide-bombers 'is to bring comfort to the l fellow Muslims'; no problems, if they lose their lives in the process.' What the trained 'Fidayeen' enthusiastically want is 'the eternal happiness promised to martyred Muslims by Almighty Allah in Holy Quran.'
The number of Taliban is increasing very rapidly in North Waziristan Agency and there are around 45 commanders representing various sections and factions. Gul Bahadar is acknowledged as the most powerful amongst them. He belongs to Maddahkhel tribe of Waziris and is considered to be the supreme commander of Taliban in the region. Originally from Lwara, a faraway hilly area in the north of Miranshah, Gul Bahadar had his religious education from a Deobandi madressah of Multan. A local tribesman told The Post that before the launch of clean-up operations by the security forces, he had been a virtual non-entity, but now he is almost a household name in the whole agency.
Sangeen Khan Zadran is another much talked about 'commander'. He is a
nephew of Jalaluddin Haqqani, a prominent figure in the Taliban regime of Mullah Omar. He is nearly 50 years old and had played a crucial role in cleansing the area from the hold of a gang of terror-inducing criminals. Associated with a hardened criminal, Hakim Khan, this group had virtually been ruling the area for many months. The administration never dared to act against this group that blatantly indulged in organised kidnappings for ransom and regular extraction of "protection money" from local businesspersons.
Zardan is given credit for finishing off by the said gang by inspiring and managing public hangings of some of its lead operators.
Most locals this correspondent talked to often ended up hesitantly admitting that 'some foreign militants might still be living in Waziristan,' but they also insisted to have never seen them. These locals were also vehement in refuting claims that most 'foreign militants' were killed in security operations.
In Miranshah, this correspondent also came to know that all the sixteen members of a delegation from NWA that met President Gen Pervez Musharraf of late were on the hit list of Taliban and most locals believed 'their days are numbered; for the Taliban are just waiting for the right moment to get them.'
Some Taliban have also conveyed to some members of the delegation that met General Musharraf that they can buy security for them by paying Rs 1.7 million to them. This is the amount, Taliban believe, was given to each member of the said delegation by the government for 'agreeing to have a meeting with President of Pakistan.'
Bomb explosions are almost taken as 'everyday activity' by the locals, these days. Shopkeepers in bazaars of Miranshah and Mir Ali instantly pull shutters down immediately after hearing the sound of an explosion in the vicinity.
On Saturday, this correspondent personally witnessed the same thing happening while passing through the bazaar of Mir Ali, a town near Miranshah. Bannu-Miranshah Road was also blocked by the security after the same explosion.
Of late, Taliban have developed the tactics of planting remote control bombs on routes security forces frequently patrol. The security forces instantly open fire after hearing the sound of a blast. The stray bullets sometime hit non-partisan residents and that enrage many eyewitnesses, besides the near and dears ones of victims.
Last Thursday, a convoy of security forces was passing through Muhammadkhel village, 18 kilometres from Miranshah on Dattakhel Road. Suddenly, a bomb planted on its route, went off and in retaliation, the security forces opened indiscriminate fire. The stray bullets hit some young boys playing cricket in nearby Muhammadkhel ground. Four young kids, Din Muhammad, Shahiden, Akhtar Jola and Chaudhry died on the spot while Fahimullah, Munawar and Janat Wali were wounded seriously. The injured were brought to Miranshah Central Hospital but later they were to be shifted to Peshawar due to their serious conditions.
Earlier on the same day, another convoy was passing near Miranshah Tablighee Markaz and a planted bomb blasted on its way. The security forces opened fire in retaliation. Some women came out of their homes in panic to take their kids to safe places and two of these women were hit with stray bullets. One died on the spot and the other was rushed to Peshawar due to severe injuries. The consequential rage of such incidents is surely swelling the ranks of Taliban. The security forces need to devise a new set of tactics to prevent it.
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