KARACHI - Villagers in
Pakistan's South Waziristan agency have left their
homes, fearing the United States will soon begin
dropping bombs, while aircraft from the Afghan side of
the border fly overhead. On the ground, burnt-out
military vehicles litter the landscape. The fighting has
stopped and an eerie silence prevails over the area,
said Zafar, a resident of Wana who gave an eyewitness
account to Asia Times Online from Watchadana, which
borders Afghanistan.
But the present calm is
just the beginning of a new storm. Tuesday's deadly
clash between Pakistani forces and local tribespeople
marks the first time in the last several operations,
when Pakistani troops came down forcefully in South
Waziristan, that they have been humiliated by the
tribals - along with the Islamic militants who have
already converged in the area and view the situation as
a holy war. South Waziristan is one of seven federally
administered tribal areas where fiercely independent
tribes have been allowed to govern their own affairs.
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban enjoy widespread popular
support in the mountainous and isolated border areas,
the poorest and most religiously conservative parts of
Pakistan.
Well-informed sources tell Asia Times
Online that about 250 people, including a member of the
North West Frontier Province (NWFP) constabulary, the
staff of a local political agent and members of the
Khasa Dar force have been taken hostage by the
tribespeople. Aside from the 10 soldiers killed in
Tuesday's encounter, the bodies of 10 more people,
including a confirmed soldier of the Pakistan Army, have
been sent to a camp in Wana by the tribals. These were
said to have been hostages who were killed in captivity.
At present, the area from Zarian Noor to Azam
Warsak is in complete control of the tribals and Islamic
militants. Sources confirmed that US aircraft near Azam
Warsak can be heard flying in the distance and there is
also a mobilization of US troops in Afghanistan near the
Pakistan-Afghan border.
Though not confirmed,
there are strong theories that US forces are taking
position to strike inside Pakistani areas bordering
Afghanistan. As a result, the hundreds of tribals and
Islamic militants have also taken position and have
arranged suicide squads in case US troops make a move.
Informed sources in the NFPT tell Asia Times Online that
in the neighboring tribal towns of the Bajur, North
Waziristan and Mohammand agencies, tribals are getting
their act together.
In South Waziristan, funeral
prayers are going on in army camps as the tribespeople
again draw their line with a warning that whoever
crosses it will face certain death. Both sides of the
conflict are now in position. While all is quiet at the
moment, it is likely that a further push from the
Pakistani Army will set off more fireworks in the tribal
areas.
Pakistani President General Pervez
Musharraf a few days ago visited NWFP where he addressed
tribal elders and warned them that if any operation is
prevented in tribal areas against al-Qaeda, Pakistan
would face dire consequences from the wrath of the
United States. But the dire consequences of Tuesday's
operation left the Pakistani forces with no face-saving
option - except denial. Despite the obvious fact that
the Pakistani Army is stationed in tribal areas and has
launched an operation, the Pakistan Army as an
institution is still denying its involvement.
Speaking to Asia Times Online Wednesday morning
from Rawalpindi by telephone, the director general of
Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) public relations,
Major General Shaukat Sultan, refused to admit that the
Pakistan army had anything to do with Tuesday's
operation.
"No Pakistani troops are involved in
South Waziristan now and the whole operation carried out
[Tuesday] was done by Frontier Constabulary, a
para-military force, and the secretary of the federally
administered tribal areas is the right person to ask
about the operation,~{!1~} said Shaukat Sultan.
The
manner in which Pakistan's armed forces disowned both
the operation and the level of the insurgency shows the
military is fully aware that the situation is out of
control. But at the same time , these denials also
reflect that the armed forces do not want to take the
blame for a clash between Pakistani forces and Pakistani
citizens in which both sustained casualties - especially
when they are fighting a war for somebody else on
Pakistani soil. The situation clearly hints the future
course of action - and who is now really dominating the
Pakistani Army: the US.
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Mar 18, 2004
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