The Pakistani Spectator

Maulana Fazlullah, the head of the The Tehrik Taliban, Swat chapter has said that they are about to resume their attacks because of ‘hostile acts’ like construction of bunkers, raising checkpoints, and pounding of the Taliban hideouts by the security forces. Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh has linked holding talks with the government to withdrawal aof security forces from Bara tehsil, release of all its detained associates and opening of bazaars and roads in the area.

If one is thinking that Mangal Bagh, Baitullah Mehsud or Maulana Fazlullah would give up their militant activities and surrender, then they are in for big and huge disappointments as they would not do that, because they don’t have any other option. They know that they are finished once they surrender, and even the people of their local tribes would not protect them.

Baitullah Mehsud is the king of Waziristan Agency without any question. South Waziristan is controlled by Baitullah Mehsud himslef whereas his deputy Hafiz Gul Bahadur is the Taliban supreme commander in North Waziristan. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad controls Bajaur Agency. Mangal Bagh and Haji Namdar reign over Khyber Agency with some other warlords. Commander Umar Khalid is the chief in MohmandAgency. That’s some 20,000 sq-km of physical Pakistan terrain.

How could such small time bursting operations and drone attacks from across the border end the reign of these militant leaders. That’s, sir, simply is impossible. The other way which is suggested by the Western media is equally preposterous and unimplementable. Western media stresses for a full blown attack by US and NATO forces across the FATA area. That would achieve nothing, but a mass genocide of the local population, because Taliban would be long gone deep inside the Afghanistan from the porous border.

Pakistan cannot afford the option presented by the West, as it would be an irreparable blow to its sovereignty and the backlash would be unbearable.  The only way to ensure the peace and rest in the FATA and Swat is to shower unlimited modernity in the area.

Last 5 posts by Brig. (r) Junaid Zaman

• Winding Up Iraq : Coming In to FATA - August 28th, 2008
• Democracy Not Dynasty or Dictatorship - August 23rd, 2008
• Max Exodus From FATA - August 17th, 2008
• Costly Parting Shot - August 16th, 2008
• Resign Mr. Commander-in-chief - August 12th, 2008