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| India-Pakistan |
| Taliban now rule over North Waziristan |
| 2005-12-30 |
| Pakistani followers of Afghanistan's Taliban have gained sway in a sensitive border area where they have been killing their opponents with impunity despite the heavy presence of government forces. The word of the militants, who call themselves Taliban, has virtually become law in parts of the semi-autonomous North Waziristan tribal area while the military appears loathe to intervene. "The situation is no longer under their control," Rahimullah Yusufzai, a prominent journalist and expert on the region, said of the Pakistani army. The government had "totally abdicated" its authority in North Waziristan, he said. "It seems it's Taliban raj (rule) there." Waziristan is part of Pakistan's tribal belt that stretches through rugged mountains and deserts along the Afghan border. The latest violence follows a Dec. 1 blast in a house near the region's main town, Miranshah, where officials said an al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, and four others were killed, Although Rabia's body was not found, authorities say he died when explosives at his hideout detonated accidentally. Villagers said the blast was caused by a missile from an aircraft, possibly a U.S. drone. While there does not appear to be a direct link between Rabia's reported death and subsequent violence, the widespread belief that U.S. forces attacked Rabia has added to the tension, residents say. Despite the militants' brazen killing of more than 20 rivals this month, the government says the situation is under control. Authorities were "fully cognisant" of the situation, said military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan. "But at this moment, rather than taking hard military action, political developments are being allowed to take precedence." The area's civil administrator, Zaheerul Islam, dismissed the violence as a tribal dispute. "The situation is under government control," he said. Despite such assurances, law and order seem a long way off. "Elements linked to al Qaeda rule the territory and not the Pakistan army," the Daily Times said in a recent editorial. British colonial rulers gave the fiercely independent Pashtun tribes a large degree of autonomy, and administered the region through officials known as political agents. Pakistan stuck with the system after independence. But the Sept. 11 attacks and Pakistan's support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism and invasion of Afghanistan threw the traditional system into question. Vowing to bring the area under the control of the government, the army sent in 70,000 troops but some analysts blame the violence on the army's intervention. "The military has mishandled the situation," said analyst Ayaz Amir, a former army officer, diplomat and politician. The army has made deals with some tribal leaders, while going after others seen as backing al Qaeda-linked militants. "The result has been a lack of trust and the situation has deteriorated instead of improving," Amir said. About 50 tribal leaders who supported the campaign against the militants have been killed, while the army seems no closer to imposing authority. "In effect, the army is confined to fortified bases while the Taliban are filling the vacuum outside," Amir said. The result has been brutal gun law. The latest violence began on Dec. 6 with a clash between the militants and rivals led by tribal leader Hakim Khan, whose men, residents said, had adopted the common practice of extorting "taxes" from motorists. Ten of Khan's men, branded bandits by the militants, were killed in the initial clash along with five militants whose comrades mutilated and strung up several bodies of their rivals, decapitating one and putting his head on a pole. For days the militants drove around Miranshah brandishing weapons and hunting, killing and beheading several more rivals. Emboldened, the militants have started appealing for funds they say they need to fight crime, a nervous resident said this week. Sneering at laws against displaying weapons, the militants have been accorded authority by some people who have turned to them with complaints that should be dealt with by the administration, residents say. Military spokesman Sultan said action would be taken if things got of hand but another officer said that wouldn't happen yet. "When two tribes are fighting we can't take sides," said the officer, who declined to be identified. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #9 Talk about a game of "Whack a Mole". |
| Posted by: newc 2005-12-30 16:39 |
| #8 The ISI and the Pak Army want this to be a nest of terrotists. Pakistan uses these people as agents of it's foreign and internal policies. Lots of lip service to being a supporter of the WoT but like Iran up to it's neck in involvement and support for terrorism and terrorist acts. As long as this is a fact India and Afganistan will pay the price. Iraq will too. |
| Posted by: Mahou Sensei Negi-bozu 2005-12-30 15:57 |
| #7 Call them all to Waziland. Let them think they can get their sanctuary there. As I understand it is not a very large area. Fire up the satellites and once they are nice and comfortable send in one ODA with a satphone and laser designator. |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-12-30 14:23 |
| #6 I agree with AP - it's time to take the fight to the Princelings who provide the support. Wetwork, one way trips for picnics in the desert, spontaneous combustion, alien abduction, I don't frigging care how. It's time to put fear in their little dishcloth and fanbelted heads that every time they ride in a car or walk on the street, it might be their last. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-30 14:12 |
| #5 Perhaps a matter of degrees, but the truth be told, the Taliban have basically owned NoWaz for over three years. It is believed that AQ is running training camps out of there. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-12-30 12:13 |
| #4 OldSpook---Your statement is right on. ANY sanctuary is a problem for us. It is just another Jihadi Petri Dish™ where this disease can incubate. We have had to play footsie with the Paks for our logistical issues in Afghanistan. We are sure as hell not going to do a bunch of nation building in Pakistan---they are too screwed up and we have limited resources. I do not have access to the necessary intel, but it seems to me that dealing with the funding sources quietly, up close and personal, would ease the pressure. The Saudi wahhabists finance madrassas and mosques all over the world. That is the training ground for future jihadis. The wahabbists also have their tentacles into every trouble spot with Muslims: Indonesia, the Phillipines, Thailand, Chechyna, Iraq, you get the picture. I would Iran has funds going into that kind of mischief, too, witness Hizb'Allah and now Hamas is trying to jump on the bandwagon. It would seem to me from my viewpoint down here in the dark with the mushrooms that we would get more bang for the buck if we just sit down and reason a bit with the financiers. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-12-30 12:10 |
| #3 Too bad the tribal leaders of these areas don't have internet (and could read)- otherwise they would realize that they had a pretty good gig going but those dag-burn Taliban are going to go and ruin it for them....just like they did in Afghanistan. Next thing you know - the "Tribal Leaders" are going to have to be pressing the flesh and the women are going to be winking at the cute boys. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-12-30 11:42 |
| #2 Make no bones about it: we will eventually have to go in and clean out thsi vipers nest, either directly or covertly. To fail to do so will leave a "sanctuary" for terrorists to operate from, into Afghanistan and other areas. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2005-12-30 11:32 |
| #1 Now that Uncle Sam has evicted the Taliban from Afghan soil, it's pretty funny that they have found a new home in Pakistan. Given that it was Pakistan's ISI that nurtured and nudged these guys to power in Afghanistan, I sure hope Pakistan's Taliban live long and prosper. (Of course, if they look like they might take power in Islamabad, Musharraf will just have to ask for either Indian or American assistance (probably American), and we will take care of his problem for him). |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-12-30 09:10 |