The Pakistani Administration takes control over FATA step by step. Will it be a normal part of Pakistan in 5-10 years?
http://www.paknews.com/main.php?id=1&date1=2004-08-26
Tribe Assures Support In Fight Against Terror
Muhammad Khurshid Updated on 2004-08-26 17:12:04
PESHAWAR, Pakistan : Aug 26 (PNS) - Yet another sizeable tribe;
Utman Khel Wazir of South Waziristan Agency has signed an agreement with the Political Administration to the effect to self-secure their area of the unwanted alien elements and hand-over the wanted individuals to the administration. The tribe, as a security has also furnished a guarantee of Rs. 10 million; one fourth of which has since been deposited in cash.
It merits mentioning here that that one Javed Khan, a wanted facilitator of foreign elements also belongs to this tribe.
A jirga, comprising elders of Karmaz Khel, Karay Khel, Khanday Khel, Desi Khel and Ada Khel clans of the tribe called on the NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. (R) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah here at Governor's House on Wednesday and assured him to abide by the agreement and purge their area of the anti-state activities and unwanted elements. Secretary to Governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad, Secretary FATA Security Brig. (R) Mahmood Shah and Political Agent South Waziristan Agency Mr.
Asmat Ullah Gandapur were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the jirga, the governor said, we have no grudge with the tribesmen. What we want, he added is that the tribesmen should ensure self-security of their respective areas and avoid giving shelter to unwanted foreign elements who are creating troublesfor Pakistan. The governor expressed satisfaction over the resolve expressed by the tribesmen in the form of written agreement and said, "the agreement could prove purpose if it is implemented in the letter and spirit". He in this connection referred to
the Shakai Agreement and said that it failed because the other side did not fulfilled its pledges. Now the tribesmen should practically prove that they are implementing the agreement by producing tangible results. The Governor said that the services, sacrifices and love for Pakistan by the tribesmen are above board and we too do not consider the tribesmen alien but an integral part of our body. He expects that the tribesmen will also cooperate with the government to punish those who are out to defame and destabilize Pakistan.
Referring to the presence of foreign elements in FATA, the governor recalled that since December last we had been persistently offering these elements a sort of amnesty with commitment to allow them a honourable and respectable stay subject to the fulfillment of the immigration equirements. The Governor said that simultaneously we have also been advising the tribesmen not to give shelter to unwanted people because we cannot allow our territory to be used against our neighbours. "Afghanistan is our close neighbour and we have to uphold the principles of peaceful co-existence in dealing with all the times close neighbour", he remarked The governor said that in fact despite our persuasion the tribes of South Waziristan Agency had failed to come to the expectations according to the law of the land and consequently the government was compelled to invoke economic sanctions against the respective tribes.
However, he said we did not want to harm the patriotic tribesmen, but there was no way out. The governor said that we admit that 90% of the tribesmen are with the government but we cannot ignore the other10%. We are to face them and the tribesmen have to cooperate with the administration in this regard, he added.
"The tribesmen should facilitate the government and in return the government would facilitate the tribesmen", he remarked and expressed the confidence that the Utman Khel Wazir tribe would stand by its commitment and secure their area to the maximum extent. The governor said that the government was interested to develop the area but the process was subject to the maintenance of peace and tranquility. He said, the government has planed three small dams for South Waziristan Agency and asked the tribesmen that how these projects could be materialized when there is no peace and security. "The tribesmen should guarantee peaceful atmosphere, the government would ensure development", he remarked.
Earlier, talking on behalf of the jirga the tribal elders including Malik Iqbal Karmaz Khel, Malik Gul Munair Khanday Khel, Malik Noor Ali Karmaz Khel, Malik Iqbal Ada Khel, Malik Allah Khan Karay Khel and Malik Pir Khan Karay Khel in their brief speeches said that they have in fact accepted the responsibility to fully protect their area and do not allow the soil to be used for anti-state and terrorists activities. They said that the tribesmen affiliated to their respective clans would fight against all those elements who are against Islam and Pakistan and also damaging the soil of the tribes.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-8-2004_pg7_7
Militants fire nine missiles in Razmak and Wana Military convoy heads towards Shakai
By Mujeebur Rehman
WANA: Militants attacked Frontier Corps base and a scouts camp in the North and South Waziristan agencies, officials told Daily Times on Saturday. No one was reported injured.
Six missiles were fired at the Frontier Corps troops base in Razmak town in North Waziristan Agency while three in Wana in South Waziristan Agency late on Friday night. Residents in Razmak said five missiles missed their target but one hit a shop, destroying it completely.
The second attack took place in Wana where three rockets were fired at the Wana Scouts Camp near Dhog village. Witnesses said one missile hit a nearby mountain, while a second landed inside the camp which houses top administration officials and military commanders. Security forces retaliated with mortar, hitting three houses in Dhog village. But no loss of life was reported.
Residents of Dhog village were angered at the security forces’ firing saying the missiles were not fired from their area and the security forces’ firing was unprovoked.
They called a meeting to warn the administration that the firing on their village would not be tolerated, adding that they would disband the night patrol committees if their area were targeted.
AP reported on Saturday that residents in Wana spotted a convoy of dozens of military jeeps and trucks — some towing artillery — heading toward Shakai, a rugged region north of Wana where the security forces have battled militant holdouts. In another incident, unidentified attackers kidnapped a tribesman after killing his driver near Sarnarai in Ludha in Southern Waziristan Agency early on Saturday, Online reported.
The attackers asked driver Yasin Khan to stop the vehicle on the Sarnarai main road, but he did not. The attackers fired at the vehicle killing the driver immediately. They later kidnapped Pao Jan, the vehicle owner and escaped. Police registered a case.
Sur Sarai can be located west of Ramzak on the SE Quadrant map."
How many trucks does it take to move a battery of towed artillery, with personnel and support?
How long does it take to unlimber the tubes, dig in the bunkers and perimeter ditches and get the guns registered? From arrival in column to accepting fire missions?