Aimless talk-and-talk strategy
Asif Haroon Raja
Some of the glaring reasons that have
given rise to religious extremism in Pakistan are as follows: Early demise of
Quaid-e-Azam resulted in leadership crisis, which persists to this day. Growth
of regionalism gave rise to fissiparous tendencies. Antagonism between seculars
and Islamists impeded constitution making for nine years. Widening gulf between
rich and poor and callous attitude of the elites towards the deprived class
bred discontentment. Selective accountability and pro-rich judicial system
added to the frustration of the deprived class. Corruption in all government,
judicial and police departments eroded moral turpitude and scruples. Unresolved
Kashmir dispute and State terrorism of India against Kashmiris heightened
Jihadi tendencies. Western hatred towards Muslims and hounding and persecution
of religious elements dubbed as terrorists intensified anti-US feelings.
Pakistan rulers got out of sync with the ruled when the people viewed them as
puppets of USA serving US agenda. Propagation of modernism and liberalism under
the garb of enlightened moderation resulted in spread of obscenity and
vulgarity and corresponding increase in religious extremism.
Notwithstanding
the centuries old Shia-Sunni divide, sectarian tensions grew in Pakistan after
Iranian revolution in March 1979 as a result of Iran and Saudi Arabia funding
Shiite and Sunni extremist groups respectively. Violent religious extremism
sprouted in Pakistan as a result of Afghan Jihad against Soviet forces in 1980s
and the US led western world, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan government and religious
right as well as the military establishment supporting the Jihadis. Jihadism
received a fillip after the brilliant success achieved by the Mujahideen in
Afghanistan and commencement of armed uprising in Kashmir in 1989. When the
Jihadis eulogized as holy warriors were dumped by USA in 1989, Osama bin Laden
led fighters in reaction formed Al-Qaeda and started attacking American
targets.
After 9/11,
while the US declared al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban as terrorists because of
their suspected role in terrorist attacks, Pakistan not only ditched Taliban
and aligned itself with USA; it changed the status of tribesmen of FATA from
defenders of western border and strategic assets into terrorists. Once the
security forces entered into South Waziristan (SW) in 2002 to flush out
al-Qaeda operatives, the tribesmen under Nek Muhammad turned their guns against
them. This change in posture of the militants of tribal belt led to a prolonged
war which is still continuing and has resulted in deaths of well over 40,000
people as well as colossal destruction of property. While the Afghan Taliban
under Mullah Omar are waging a Jihad against occupation forces to free their
country and recapture power, Pakistani Taliban claim to be fighting a Jihad
against Pak security forces by terming Pak Army as a mercenary army of the US.
They want to make the Muslims better Muslims by preaching its brand of
extremist Islam and to impose Shariah in the country. They do not recognize
Pakistan’s constitution, democracy and judicial system.
For the
achievement of their goal of making Pakistan an Islamic Emirate, they have been
resorting to extreme brutalities like assassinations, terror attacks on
military and civilian targets, worship places, shrines, funerals and markets.
Schools in Swat, FATA and settled areas of KP including Peshawar have been
destroyed in large numbers. Kidnapping for ransom, forced recruitment and
marriages, beheading of captives and brainwashing teenagers as suicide bombers
are their methods to strike terror. IEDs, explosive laden vehicles and suicide
bombing are their preferred weapons of destruction. Worst is that unlike in the
past when they were supported by Pakistan to wage Jihad outside the borders of
Pakistan, now they are aided by non-Muslim powers and Karzai led regime in
Kabul to wage war against own people. All these acts are against the principles
of Islam.
During Gen Musharraf rule, war on terror
was governed by the strategy of ‘fight and sign peace deals with the
militants’. The TTP signed peace agreements to gain time, get their prisoners
released, regroup and then strike back. This strategy caused little damage to
the burgeoning strength of militants. Rather it
enabled late Baitullah Mehsud in SW to form Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) in
December 2007, which has been relentlessly fighting the security forces and
expanding its area of influence from seven agencies of tribal belt to settled
areas of KP including suburbs of Peshawar and has established strong linkage
with Punjabi Taliban.
During the
five-year PPP led regime when Gen Kayani was made responsible for external and
internal security of the country, barring one peace agreement signed with
Maulana Sufi and Fazlullah in Swat in February 2009, no other peace deal was
signed. The strategy was changed to fight and fight. This offensive strategy
although resulted in heavy casualties of security forces, however, it helped in
recapturing all the 17 administrative units less North Waziristan (NW) from the
militants in 2009, breaking their back and snatching the initiative from them.
The disarrayed militants under Fazlullah took refuge in Kunar and Nuristan.
About 3000 militants were captured alive and handed over to the police for
trials. It was unfortunate that the judicial prong couldn’t keep in step with
the military prong and not a single terrorist was convicted and punished. All
were released who later on recommenced their militant activities with a renewed
vengeance.
Once TTP’s main
HQ in SW was uprooted in November 2009 because of resolute three-pronged
offensive, Hakeemullah Mehsud tried to convert upper Orakzai into his next
command centre, but couldn’t and then decided to make NW as TTP’s main base of
operation. He chose Mir Ali and Miranshah, the two major towns of NW and the
suburbs around as sanctuaries for his fighters. Dawar tribe helped them in
settling down in Mir Ali. Hafiz Gul Bahadar heading largest tribe of Othmanzai
Wazir tribe in NW didn’t object to TTP’s settlement, although he was tied to
peace agreement with Pak Army since August 2008 and was obligated to keep his
area peaceful and free of anti-military elements. It was like allowing the
camel to rest its head inside the tent. With the passage of team, a large no of
terrorist groups including foreign groups moved into NW and got affiliated with
TTP. These included Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jaish-e-Muhammad,
Hizbul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Janoon-e-Hafsa, Jundullah, Asian Tigers,
Ilyas Kashmiri outfit.
Funded and
equipped by foreign agencies based in Afghanistan, the TTP was able to muster
the support of over 50 groups of different hues and all decided to collectively
wage an ideological war. Most of the Punjab based banned groups had sleeping
cells in all major cities and towns which enabled TTP Shura to plan and execute
deadly attacks on chosen targets anywhere in Pakistan with ease. Their task was
made easier by CIA by providing ground intelligence and satellite communication
to home on to the desired targets stealthily howsoever well fortified. High
profile attacks in Punjab were mostly carried out by Punjabi Taliban. LeJ got
active in Quetta where it targeted Shia Hazaras with impunity. TTP and LeJ also
joined the turf war of three political parties in Karachi to partake in the
loot. Simultaneously, Fazlullah helped by his hosts regrouped his fighters and
heated up western border by launching cross border attacks in Mehmand, Bajaur,
Dir and Chitral.
Pakistan refrained from launching a major
military operation in NW to nip the evil in the bud despite extensive pressure
from the US because of its multiple compelling constraints. These included
paucity of troops since the Army had already deployed about 150,000 troops in
the northwest. Pulling out additional troops would have been at the cost of
weakening the critical eastern front and losing strategic balance. With
displaced persons from SW, Kurram Agency and Tirah Valley not having returned
to their homes, it would result in further displacement from NW. An operation
would annoy the only three friendly groups of Hafiz Gul Bahadar, Haqqani
network and late Maulvi Nazeer as well as Afghan Taliban, with the possibility
of all the groups getting united on a single platform and confronting the Army
in a treacherous terrain. With untrustworthy Indo-US-Afghan nexus playing a
double game and wanting Corps plus size force to get bogged down in NW, such a
course would prove disastrous. However, inaction in NW has given a free hand to
TTP affiliated groups to continue striking targets at will.
With the change of government in June
2013, the situation has undergone a change. The PML-N government in the centre
and in Punjab, the PTI government in KP and religious political parties/groups
are all soft towards the TTP and are keen to hold talks to end the futile war.
All parties’ conference was held in last September and a consensus resolution
was passed authorizing the government to hold talks with militants
unconditionally and to condemn drone attacks which were fuelling terrorism.
Since then the government has replaced the fight-fight strategy with talk-talk
strategy. This strategy although seemingly wise is devoid of reciprocity from
the other side.
Pro-peace lobbies strongly feel that killing of
Hakeemullah Mehsud by a drone on November 1, 2013 and drone war have vitiated
the atmosphere for talks. Anti-peace lobbies argue that drones didn’t trigger
terrorism. They are criticizing the government and Imran Khan for adopting a
confused policy of talks when the new chief of TTP Fazlullah has categorically
rejected the offer and has further stepped up terror attacks. They say that
closure of NATO supply routes in KP by PTI has antagonized the US but failed to
appease the TTP. They are pressing the government to either hold talks
expeditiously or else deliver the hammer since this policy of dithering is not
only undermining the morale of KP Police in particular which is receiving the
major brunt of TTP attacks, but is also encouraging the militants to maximize
attacks and recapture their lost bases.
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