What is cooking in South Waziristan?- Jan Assakzai
(The Frontier Post)
Since the army retook South Wazristan from TTP,there are reports that Pakistan’s friendly Taliban warlord Molavi Nazir is in the hot seat.
Molavi Nazir is linked with Al Qaeda and its other allies and is fighting across the border. He controls powerful Ahmedzai Wazir Tribe. There are also reports that following the the army‘s operation Molavi Nazir has given shelter to elements of the TTP. Most militants of the TTP belongs to Masud tribe.
Molavi Nazir’s spokesman few days ago complained that the army was conducting an operation against Ahmedzai Wazir tribe under the suspicion of harboring the TTP militants who fled the army operation.
He is also not happy for another reason: a US drone attack killed al Qaeda operative Osama bind Ali Abdullah bin Damjan Al-Dawsari on June 3 in South Wazirstan. The drone targeted the home of Omar Khaitab another al Qaeda operative and close friend of Molavi Nazir, and killed him as well.
Molavi Nazir may suspect Pakistan’s intelligence help in directing drone attack to Omar Khaitb ‘s home.
To underscore his concern, he held a jirga of Ahmedzai tribe protesting what he called the killing of innocent people in the drone attack.
Molavi Nazir being ally of Islamabad, expects to be left alone at least by Pakistan. However, he also must be closely watching the situation in North Waziristan which is also the strong hold of Hazfi Gul Bahadur another “friendly” Taliban warlord. Pakistan has in principal agreed to launch an operation in the North Waziristan but at time of its on choosing.
But if South Wazirstan is an example, the army if ever launches operation in North Wazristan, is unlikely to encroach on the turf of Hafiz Gul Bhadur who is the only militant warlord serves as a Lynch pin between Pakistan and the Shadowy network of Haqqani and other allies in the North Wazristan.
However, despite Molavi Nazir's posturings he knows that he can survive and keep his fiefdom only if he remains friendly to Islamabad. He has seen the army having reversed the fortunes of the TTP in areas like Swat and to a larger extent in South Waziristan and Lower Orakzai.
But he has also some appreciation of his worth for Islamabad. He is in a unique position: he is a local warlord and easily moves around within the network of foreign and other non local militants. By force or clannish ties, he has managed to keep a grip on his tribe.
He has also proved his utility for Pakistan to help deflect any criticism from Washington: being friendly to Islamabad, he would not be seen to be some ( a non- Pakistani militants i.e, the Haqqani network) to fight across the border and help advance Pakistan’s foreign policy goals in Afghanistan while residing in Pakistani territory.
Notwithstanding his fears and complains, for now Molavi Nazir seems safe as far as Islamabad is concerned, However, he can not bit on the US drones.
Pakistan’s November last year’s announcement to administratively divide Wazirstan into two agencies though apparently aimed at maintaining order. However, Wazirstan watchers believe that it is partly aimed at creating a leadership in Masud tribe while rewarding Molavi Nazir (whose area is in the west of South Waziristan along Afghanistan border) by leaving him alone.
Nonetheless, Pakistan can not continue to rule FATA along the British colonial experience. It needs to introduce reforms to FATA and open the area to the rest of the country by integrating with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The plea that once military operations are over then reforms will be considered is not tenable. The people of FATA will continue to be under the grip of “friendly”, “rogue” warlords and foreign militants if no political activity is allowed for nurturing a moderate democratic leadership within.
Recent report by the Amnesty International that FATA is human rights black hole of Pakistan has made the need for reforms more urgent than ever.
janassakzai200@gmail.com
Since the army retook South Wazristan from TTP,there are reports that Pakistan’s friendly Taliban warlord Molavi Nazir is in the hot seat.
Molavi Nazir is linked with Al Qaeda and its other allies and is fighting across the border. He controls powerful Ahmedzai Wazir Tribe. There are also reports that following the the army‘s operation Molavi Nazir has given shelter to elements of the TTP. Most militants of the TTP belongs to Masud tribe.
Molavi Nazir’s spokesman few days ago complained that the army was conducting an operation against Ahmedzai Wazir tribe under the suspicion of harboring the TTP militants who fled the army operation.
He is also not happy for another reason: a US drone attack killed al Qaeda operative Osama bind Ali Abdullah bin Damjan Al-Dawsari on June 3 in South Wazirstan. The drone targeted the home of Omar Khaitab another al Qaeda operative and close friend of Molavi Nazir, and killed him as well.
Molavi Nazir may suspect Pakistan’s intelligence help in directing drone attack to Omar Khaitb ‘s home.
To underscore his concern, he held a jirga of Ahmedzai tribe protesting what he called the killing of innocent people in the drone attack.
Molavi Nazir being ally of Islamabad, expects to be left alone at least by Pakistan. However, he also must be closely watching the situation in North Waziristan which is also the strong hold of Hazfi Gul Bahadur another “friendly” Taliban warlord. Pakistan has in principal agreed to launch an operation in the North Waziristan but at time of its on choosing.
But if South Wazirstan is an example, the army if ever launches operation in North Wazristan, is unlikely to encroach on the turf of Hafiz Gul Bhadur who is the only militant warlord serves as a Lynch pin between Pakistan and the Shadowy network of Haqqani and other allies in the North Wazristan.
However, despite Molavi Nazir's posturings he knows that he can survive and keep his fiefdom only if he remains friendly to Islamabad. He has seen the army having reversed the fortunes of the TTP in areas like Swat and to a larger extent in South Waziristan and Lower Orakzai.
But he has also some appreciation of his worth for Islamabad. He is in a unique position: he is a local warlord and easily moves around within the network of foreign and other non local militants. By force or clannish ties, he has managed to keep a grip on his tribe.
He has also proved his utility for Pakistan to help deflect any criticism from Washington: being friendly to Islamabad, he would not be seen to be some ( a non- Pakistani militants i.e, the Haqqani network) to fight across the border and help advance Pakistan’s foreign policy goals in Afghanistan while residing in Pakistani territory.
Notwithstanding his fears and complains, for now Molavi Nazir seems safe as far as Islamabad is concerned, However, he can not bit on the US drones.
Pakistan’s November last year’s announcement to administratively divide Wazirstan into two agencies though apparently aimed at maintaining order. However, Wazirstan watchers believe that it is partly aimed at creating a leadership in Masud tribe while rewarding Molavi Nazir (whose area is in the west of South Waziristan along Afghanistan border) by leaving him alone.
Nonetheless, Pakistan can not continue to rule FATA along the British colonial experience. It needs to introduce reforms to FATA and open the area to the rest of the country by integrating with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The plea that once military operations are over then reforms will be considered is not tenable. The people of FATA will continue to be under the grip of “friendly”, “rogue” warlords and foreign militants if no political activity is allowed for nurturing a moderate democratic leadership within.
Recent report by the Amnesty International that FATA is human rights black hole of Pakistan has made the need for reforms more urgent than ever.
janassakzai200@gmail.com
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