Pakistan Taleban settles in

Ray · 05-10-2006, 17:44 PM

Quote:

Pakistan Taleban settles in

By Aamer Ahmed Khan
BBC News, North Waziristan

The BBC News website gets behind the scenes in an area where the Pakistani Taleban are digging in, despite the efforts of thousands of Pakistani troops.

Taleban fighters battling Pakistani security forces declared a unilateral ceasefire last week to accommodate a religious gathering near Miranshah, the largest town in North Waziristan.

The ceasefire began on 2 May to allow tens of thousands of devotees from all over the region to attend the annual ritual organised by the Pakistan-based Tablighi Jamaat.

The ceasefire ends on 11 May. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

But a day-long trip to Miranshah enabled us to get a glimpse of how the protagonists, as well as ordinary locals, are using the 10-day respite to prepare for the days beyond the current ceasefire.

Along the road from Bannu, the last town before North Waziristan, to Miranshah, Pakistani security forces could be seen fortifying their bunkers.

Paramilitary troops that would ordinarily not step out of their bunkers for fear of attacks from Taleban fighters were filling fresh sandbags to shore up their defences.

Easy smiles

In Mirali, the first major town on the road inside North Waziristan, Taleban fighters can be seen patrolling the main bazaar.

Thanks to the ceasefire, they can walk past military checkpoints without triggering a confrontation.

The Taleban seem to be enjoying the ceasefire: the customary tension on their faces replaced with easy smiles.

The venue of the religious gathering, a place called Tablighi Markaz (preaching centre), is barely two kilometres past the main bazaar of Miranshah.

The last time outsiders had come into the area was a couple of weeks ago when the Pakistan army flew in a helicopter full of foreign journalists to demonstrate what it said was its control over the area.

Area commander Maj Gen Akram Sahi had told the foreign journalists that he was "hurt" to read in the media that the government had no writ over much of North Waziristan. He said his men were "everywhere".

It was difficult to spot Gen Sahi's men anywhere in or around the congregation near Miranshah but those who were "everywhere" were scores of Taleban fighters armed to their teeth.

Barely 200 metres from the venue of the gathering was a large blue tent where the main Taleban commanders were based.

Feared commander

I was allowed inside the tent where Taleban leader Haji Omar was sitting with several area commanders.

He was just settling down after bidding farewell to Maulvi Sadiq Noor, one of the most feared Taleban commanders in North Waziristan.

Taleban fighters guarding the tent seemed to be carrying more than their own weight in arms and ammunition.

A young boy who barely looked 15 had eight ammunition magazines and four grenades dangling from his camouflage vest.

Because of his relatively frail frame, the young man was probably carrying half the ammunition compared with his comrades.

Most were carrying short range wireless sets with clip-on antennas.

"No, no interviews and no photographs," another fighter told me sternly. "Not during the ceasefire."

Sitting in the tent and surrounded by Taleban fighters, I couldn't help dreading a possible missile strike from a US predator.

But no such fears seemed to bother the Taleban.

They were apparently too confident of their ideological affinity with the tens of thousands of devotees they were guarding.

The Tablighi Jamaat has historically discouraged any kind of political symbols at its gatherings - but not now in North Waziristan.

Resentment

As the congregation concluded with a collective prayer for a Muslim renaissance, hundreds of devotees could be seen buying posters of Afghan commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Mr Hekmatyar has [b]recently declared his intent to team up with al-Qaeda to fight the US forces in Afghanistan.

It was difficult to find a place anywhere in Miranshah where one would not come across some measure of resentment against Pakistan security forces.[/B]

The main bazaar was bustling - the ceasefire means a temporary end to the long hours of curfew imposed by the security forces.

But it was not just the debris left behind at various places in the bazaar by government bombing that spoke of local resentment against the Musharraf government.

Locals were open and vocal with their views.

"It is no fun living here any more," a shopkeeper said.

"This bazaar would open with sunrise and shut at sunset. Now, people trudge in at around noon and leave after doing a few hours of business."

But aren't the Taleban equally to be blamed for the war-like situation, I ask.

"No. They are mujahideen waging a jihad against the Americans. They have no reason to disturb the peace in Waziristan if left to themselves," was the reply.

There was not a single newspaper available anywhere in Miranshah.

Angry at being portrayed as "terrorists and miscreants", the Taleban had recently set newspapers on fire in Mirali.

After that, no transporter was willing to bring newspapers into the tribal territory.

Not only that, most local journalists have given up journalism after failing to convince their publishers based in Peshawar or Bannu not to call the Taleban terrorists or miscreants.

Such banning of newspapers would have led to a fierce debate anywhere in the world.

It is barely mentioned in Miranshah, where people just seem happy that they can roam around freely once more.

It doesn't seem to matter that this freedom is only assured until 11 May when the ceasefire announced by the Taleban comes to an end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4751499.stm

Indeed, this is alarming!

Pak Army's writ does not run here inspite of 80,000 plus troops being there! And they use helicopters, fighter planes and artillery and also get help from the US at regular intervals, when the PA appears to be flagging in effort!

Gautam · 05-10-2006, 17:46 PM

It all blends in.

First we have OBL praying for Musharaff's killing.

Now we have Taliban.

May god bless Pakistan with what they have bestowed upon their neighbours.

Tronic · 05-10-2006, 18:13 PM

actually, I would rather have Musharaff as the president of Pakistan then some Mullah... and Mullah's coming to power when Musharaff goes is a very very high possibility. So lets hope he sticks around longer in Pakistan and turns Pakistan from a military dictatorship to a secular economically stable country... That is in the best interests of the entire South Asian region...

Ray · 05-10-2006, 18:19 PM

Actually Pakistan will not be a democratic country.

It will remain the sham democracy that Musharraf said it was and is making it to be!

I hope the Army takes a greater grip of the civilians and stifles them real and proper!

The Pakistani civilians are used to feudalism and the ji huzzoori and therefore they must be kept in their place!

Tronic · 05-10-2006, 18:28 PM

thats quite true Ray... but who knows... Turkey was turned around by a dictator into a true secular state where even the women have to take off their "burkhas" in a muslim country... probably the only muslim country... maybe Musharaff can do the same???

"Burkhas, not the only thing... lol, i mean pull out a muslim country out of their feudalist ways..."

Ray · 05-11-2006, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tronic

thats quite true Ray... but who knows... Turkey was turned around by a dictator into a true secular state where even the women have to take off their "burkhas" in a muslim country... probably the only muslim country... maybe Musharaff can do the same???

"Burkhas, not the only thing... lol, i mean pull out a muslim country out of their feudalist ways..."

I sure hope that Mushrraff can pull off the real coup i.e. change the psyche in Pakistan of being Mullah and feudal controlled.

The malaise is too deep and I wonder if one man can do it.

I don't see any like minded individual in the wings in Pakistan to take on this onerous task.

If one observes the Parliament in Pakistan, there is a whole lot of Mullahs and landlords. They will never allow their grip over the country to fade, for obvious reasons!

They have to knock away diligently for quite sometimes before, as I think, these two inhibitors to Pakistan's progress can be rooted out.

Tronic · 05-11-2006, 07:44 AM

Then you use the military force at your disposal... smack around a couple of these Mullahs... I am seriously inspired by what Turkey has turned out to be today... probably one of the most modern muslim states in the world...

05-10-2006, 18:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tronic Navajo Code Talker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 12-27-04 Location: Patiala, India Posts: 5,433 Country:	actually, I would rather have Musharaff as the president of Pakistan then some Mullah... and Mullah's coming to power when Musharaff goes is a very very high possibility. So lets hope he sticks around longer in Pakistan and turns Pakistan from a military dictatorship to a secular economically stable country... That is in the best interests of the entire South Asian region... __________________ *Nabha Sparasham Deeptam* *-Touch The Sky With Glory*

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05-10-2006, 17:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gautam Banished Join Date: 08-28-05 Location: London Posts: 903	It all blends in. First we have OBL praying for Musharaff's killing. Now we have Taliban. May god bless Pakistan with what they have bestowed upon their neighbours.

05-10-2006, 18:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ray Postmaster General *Military Professional* Join Date: 08-20-03 Posts: 28,260 Country:	Actually Pakistan will not be a democratic country. It will remain the sham democracy that Musharraf said it was and is making it to be! I hope the Army takes a greater grip of the civilians and stifles them real and proper! The Pakistani civilians are used to feudalism and the ji huzzoori and therefore they must be kept in their place!

05-10-2006, 18:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tronic Navajo Code Talker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 12-27-04 Location: Patiala, India Posts: 5,433 Country:	thats quite true Ray... but who knows... Turkey was turned around by a dictator into a true secular state where even the women have to take off their "burkhas" in a muslim country... probably the only muslim country... maybe Musharaff can do the same??? "Burkhas, not the only thing... lol, i mean pull out a muslim country out of their feudalist ways..."

05-11-2006, 07:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tronic Navajo Code Talker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 12-27-04 Location: Patiala, India Posts: 5,433 Country:	Then you use the military force at your disposal... smack around a couple of these Mullahs... I am seriously inspired by what Turkey has turned out to be today... probably one of the most modern muslim states in the world...

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