Home > Deathly Silence Descends on Pakistan’s South Waziristan
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South Asia
Deathly silence descends on South Waziristan
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
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.
(Copyright 2004 Asia Times Online Ltd.