[DAWN] F there was ever an example of losing at the negotiating table what couldn't have been lost in battle, we needn't look far. The government's acceptance of the talks offered by the TTP was seen by many as an attempt to win back the public case before the state moved to restore its writ.
What is happening now? Just see the faces adorning our TV screens and the messages being beamed 24x7. Maulana Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... and Maulana Abdul Aziz are channel-hopping at a pace so ferocious that it could only be the gift of someone who believes they are on a divine mission. They have a healthy following in their areas of influence mainly in their seminaries and related constituency.
Many simple folk see them as men of God. One shouldn't underestimate the lure and toxic powers of their oratory. After all Maulana Aziz and his brother's Al Qaeda-inspired words were enough to motivate many to fight the forces in Islamabad to the end. Now Aziz and Samiul Haq have a daily audience of millions as they aggressively dominate the discussion. Inexplicably meek anchors and news hounds don't challenge them.
That's why Abdul Aziz is able to make statements such as saying the Pakistain Army was no match for the TTP's fighting prowess and faith and would be best advised not to confront it. And nobody questions him. The third member of the TTP committee, the soft-spoken emir of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... , Prof Ibrahim may not be a firebrand ...firebrands are noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments... orator but many in his party are and they are making hay while the sun shines.
Having failed to earn a big win in any of the elections in the country's history, the Jamaat seems to be getting an opportunity to try and usher in its brand of Sharia through the back door. It's a sight to see those who have always avowedly stood for Sharia 'via peaceful means' ie through the ballot box now wanting to ride to succession on the coattails of the terrorists.
God knows how I wish I am wrong and the talks deliver peace to Paks, including the oft-targeted and tormented minority Moslem sects and minority communities. But what the process has delivered so far is to effectively ensure that Sami's and Abdul Aziz's obscurantist views get the maximum audience. If these gain traction among large chunks of the population already confused by all the obfuscation on the causes of terrorism, so be it, it seems.
Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... may idealise the Saudi system and the billionaire royal Prince Al Waleed may call him 'our man in Pakistain'. But the prime minister will have to reflect if he wants Maryam -- clearly his pride and beloved daughter, who often gives evidence of having more brains, beans and sense than the combined wisdom of his party's central committee -- confined to her home, never to have a public role again.
Whether we are prepared to acknowledge it at this stage, the choices we make over the coming weeks can, in actual effect, have such stark consequences. What's in the public domain so far doesn't inspire confidence. For far too long we have forsaken millions of our tribal brethren and left them to their fate.
We haven't treated them equally in development, in grant of facilities such as hospitals and schools but more significantly in the grant of fundamental rights. All Paks enjoy one set of laws while the people of Fata are still governed by the draconian colonial era Frontier Crimes Regulation which, among other abominations, calls for collective punishment for any crime committed in the territory.
Yes, for years we have justified this and the stripping of women's rights in the name of respect for tribal culture and traditions. Hope we aren't planning to hand over these wonderful tribal Pakhtuns who have been Pakistain's loyal citizens to a bunch of murderous goons because we wish to buy peace for our urban centres and settled areas. Whatever is necessary for peace should be done but lasting peace is never built on the foundation of injustice.
The fight against this bigotry, murder and mayhem will need to be fought across the length and breadth of the country well beyond any military operation. The state will need to ensure the poor toiling masses can also dream realisable dreams for their children's future; a future beyond enrolling them in local, dubiously-funded madressahs in the hope of a lifelong meal ticket; first as a student, then perhaps as a prayer leader. And a prayer leader, experience tells us, is only equipped to spread darkness.
Maulana Aziz says dance, music and other 'obscene' forms of entertainment should be banned from the media and society as these arouse men and propel them to commit rape. Maulana Samiul Haq says democracy has failed. Therefore, Sharia is the only way forward and we should be grateful to the TTP for striving for it. In fact, Samiul Haq says TTP is fighting to uphold our Constitution.
Does our leadership (civil and military) have what it takes to build a Pakistain that can stand tall in the comity of nations in the 21st century? One that respects others' illusory sovereignty with as much zeal as it guards its own? A truly modern state which prides itself on its education and healthcare systems for the poor as much as it celebrates its metro buses, motorways and its diverse and rich culture? We have a good sense of the Pakistain we'll have if they fail us again.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] PLENTY, if it happens to be 'Taliban Khan'. The wit who bestowed the nickname on Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... probably had no idea how lethally accurate this label would prove to be. He may have intended to be ironic, but turned out to be prescient.
The TTP, in nominating the PTI chief to their negotiating team, recognised his services to their cause, and were clearly hurt when the politician declined the honour. A Taliban front man voiced his regret, saying that Imran Khan had been nominated for his good deeds.
Now what would be those be? His consistent refusal to condemn the terrorist groups for their long campaign of slaughter and mayhem? His condemnation of the American drones that have been the only weapons the Taliban fear? Or his blockade of NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all.... containers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... , the province his party governs?
The confusion at the heart of Imran Khan's worldview was exposed when the KP government refused permission to the well-intentioned folk who wanted to launch Malala Yousafzai's autobiography at Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire. University recently. Although his party runs the province, all the PTI chief could say was that he could not understand why the launch had been stopped. He could have overruled his ministers, but preferred to bleat a tweet. Considering that the PTI purports to be a party for all Paks, including women and the minorities, its ambiguous stance towards the Taliban contradicts its own manifesto. Given that the jihadis want to lock women up; kill Shias and treat the minorities as second-class citizens, why should any of these unfortunate people wish to support Imran Khan?
For years, the PTI chief has been demanding talks with the Taliban. In this, he is not alone. Politicians across the right wing have echoed this mantra. Thus far, the TTP has refused talks, or it has used negotiated local truces as tactical pauses in which they have regrouped. Time and again, they have broken their pledges and launched fresh attacks when it suited them.
This time, too, members of the TTP have set off bombs in Peshawar in which many were killed and maimed. This has happened as negotiating teams from both sides gathered in the city for 'peace talks'.
Two members of the TTP team, Maulana Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... ('father of the Taliban') and Maulana Abdul Aziz (of the Red Mosque burqa fame), have declared that the Taliban will accept nothing short of the imposition of the Sharia. Obviously, this cannot be conceded without scrapping the Constitution.
So what will the talks be about? Even though Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... has declared that the government negotiating team will have 'full authority', I doubt if this extends to handing over the state to the Taliban. The ruling party is far short of the two-thirds parliamentary majority it would need to make any significant constitutional amendments.
Other TTP demands include the release of its prisoners and the withdrawal of the army from the tribal areas. Conceding either or both would not sit well with our security forces who have shed a great deal of blood in this war. While they have been restrained in their response by the government, the sight of hundreds of hardened killers walking free will be salt on the many wounds they have suffered.
And a military pullout from Fata will be akin to surrendering the state's shredded illusory sovereignty to a bunch of mediaeval holy warriors. Although public memory is short, it wasn't that long ago when the Afghan Taliban were flogging women for showing an inch of skin, and stopping their treatment by male doctors. Music and sports were banned, and education was limited to the scriptures. Girls could not go to school.
Is this the kind of Pakistain we want? Over the years, the TTP has systematically destroyed schools and colleges, specially those institutions girls attended. They have attacked video shops and barbers who dared to shave men. Thus, they have made no secret of what they would do when they come to power.
In fact, we have a Taliban blueprint for governance before us in the form of Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... Valley when it was briefly under their rule. Blood flowed in public squares, and people escaped if they could, or lived under a reign of terror. Mullah Fazlullah ...son-in-law of holy man Sufi Mohammad. Known as Mullah FM, Fazlullah had the habit of grabbing his FM mike when the mood struck him and bellowing forth sermons. Sufi suckered the Pak govt into imposing Shariah on the Swat Valley and then stepped aside whilst Fazlullah and his Talibs imposed a reign of terror on the populace like they hadn't seen before, at least not for a thousand years or so. For some reason the Pak intel services were never able to locate his transmitter, much less bomb it. After ruling the place like a conquered province for a year or so, Fazlullah's Talibs began gobbling up more territory as they pushed toward Islamabad, at which point as a matter of self-preservation the Mighty Pak Army threw them out and chased them into Afghanistan... , better known as Mullah Radio in those days, was local commander of the Taliban then; since then, he has been elevated to the position of emir of the TTP.
These, then, are the people Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif and far too many others would have us negotiate with. Thus far, none of this talk-talk brigade has clearly said what these talks would be about.
Until our leaders see the magnitude and true nature of the threat, I fear Pakistain is doomed to continue its slide into darkness.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2014 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[DAWN] F there was ever an example of losing at the negotiating table what couldn't have been lost in battle, we needn't look far. The government's acceptance of the talks offered by the TTP was seen by many as an attempt to win back the public case before the state moved to restore its writ.
Nawaz Sharif
