By Syed Arif Hussaini

April 20, 2007

Turmoil in the Tribal Belt of Pakistan?

A few days back, on April 12, 2007 to be exact, President Musharraf announced at a multinational counter-terrorism conference in Islamabad that the tribes of South Waziristan had picked up arms and killed some 300 militants, mainly Uzbeks, who were tied to Al Qaeda and Taliban.
What were the Uzbek doing in that remote, neglected and primitive region? They had escaped the massacre of hundreds of members of Uzbek Islamic Movement in May 2005 by the troops of the ruling strongman, Islam Karimov, and taken shelter in the mountainous region of South Waziristan. Being militants and radicals, they readily joined the ranks of Al Qaeda and Taliban. They were suspected of crossing the border into Afghanistan, attacking the coalition forces and going back to their shelters in Waziristan.
Pakistan army launched a 12-day operation in March 2004 to flush them out, but were not fully successful. It was discovered then that networks of tunnels connected their fort-like houses that served as hideouts and provided them with escape routes. Any massive crack down and aerial bombing would have killed innocent civilians too. Pakistan authorities then seriously undertook negotiations with the tribal elders and arrived at agreements laying down the gradual withdrawal of Pakistan troops in return for the assurance of local tribal chiefs that they would expel from their areas foreign militants.
The action taken by the tribes, with the help of the army, over the past few weeks has been presented by President Musharraf as a success of his policy. That the success in this operation could be achieved with the active participation of the army also vindicated the stand of the coalition commanders that the nature of the conflict necessitated the presence of the army and the draw down of troops from the area was not such a good move.
US pressure had been increasing on President Musharraf to show results in doing away with militants and radicals on his side of the border. Suspicions had also been expressed about his playing a double game, declaring support for the US war on terrorism while tacitly encouraging the militants to operate.
To a questioning mind such a conspiratorial theory holds little appeal. It merely betrays a lack of knowledge about the unique features of the mountainous region, the system of values in that tribal society. It is a wild region, “wilder than the wild west” in the words of President Bush himself. It is an artifact, a virtual museum of colonial times but without any foreign tourists as they wisely avoid the perilous area.
Famed as a mountainous haven for smugglers, drug dealers, gun runners, kidnappers and other fugitives from law, the area is inhabited mainly by Pakhtoon tribes living in a world that time has passed by and governed by their own code of conduct called Pakhtoonwali. Fiercely independent, over-zealous of their values of honor and revenge, these tribal people would rather die than surrender their guests to anyone. Failing to do so would put a tribe to shame for generations. That is the root cause of the trouble in apprehending the elements of Taliban and Al Qaeda who have sought and probably received the local chieftains’ hospitality.
Taking the above into account, Pakistan authorities launched a two-pronged strategy to deal with the situation. They would negotiate while they were not fighting, and would fight when negotiations broke down. The process led eventually to the agreement with the tribal chieftains. They did comply with the requirement to expel foreign fighters from their area but not without the help of the army.
This is perhaps one success of his policies that Musharraf can flaunt. He is otherwise engulfed in problems, some of which are of his own creation. The suspension of the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and the consequent demonstrations of lawyers buttressed by political parties, the disaffection in Balochistan following the elimination of Sardar Akbar Bugti, the judicial enquiry into the land allocations in Gawader particularly to senior officials –both military and civil- the continued defiance of government writ by the Imams of Islamabad, may be mentioned in this context.
He has also been negotiating with Benazir Bhutto, head of PPP, the terms of her return to the country and participation in the general election. According to an account of this given by Benazir to a private TV and reported widely by the media, an understanding has been reached about the suspension of the corruption cases at home and abroad against her and her husband. She would reciprocate by supporting Musharraf in his bid for election as President for another term of 5 years by the existing Assemblies.
One cannot help wondering whether these personal agendas of the two leaders constituted the chief problems of the nation. Any agreement on any national issue? No!
One may also be justified in wondering whether corruption is a crime against the society or of any particular individual. If it is a cognizable offence against the society, it would have to be adjudicated by a court of law. Similarly, it would be hoodwinking the electorate to have Musharraf elected for another term by the out-going Assemblies. Can Benazir and Musharraf be constitutionally justified to hold offices for a third term each?
Against this disturbing backdrop, the success of the tribal chiefs in expelling the radicals of Uzbekistan from South Waziristan is a welcome development. Concentration of government efforts should now be, in collaboration with the US, on projects leading to the socio-economic development of the region. It cannot be neglected further. Thousands of miles of roads have already been built, but thousands more have to be built and in a hurry. New schools, new means of livelihood have to be established. The system of self-governance granted to the tribes during the British period merits reconsideration and revision not only in the tribal belt but also in Balochistan where some progress in that direction is being reported. Issues like these merit debate and discussion among the leaders of opinion in the country.
Arifhussaini@hotmail.com

 

 

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