unflinching idealism ... since 1997 archivessitemapabouthelpfeedback
all are welcome to read, write and think
  • Home
  • InFocus
  • Themes
  • Columns
  • Articles
  • Fiction
  • iLogs
  • Gallery
  • Unplugged
  • Writers
  • Interactors
  • Tags
Sign in | Join Chowk
web chowk
  • Article
  • Interact
  • read writer comments
  • add to favorites
  • get rss feeds
  • print
  • email this link

Waziristan Operation is a Faux Pas

Agha Amin June 16, 2009

Latest comments   flat   threaded   latest   oldest   all
listing 1-16   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

#170 Posted by Nooni on October 20, 2009 10:55:33 am
Rationale behind Waziristan Operation
Sajjad Shaukat

After taking cognizance of the deteriorating security situation, emanating from the recent terror-attacks inside the country, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani briefed the political leadership on October 16 in connection with the military operation against the militants of South Waziristan.

Next day, the ground operation, “Rah-i-Nijat” (Path to Deliverance) was launched after weeks of heavy aerial bombardments to weaken militant fortifications. Some 28,000 soldiers moved into a remote corner of the mountainous region, in a three-pronged attack, intended to trap 10,000 insurgents of South Waziristan including some 1 500 Uzbeks and foreign fighters. In this regard, on October 18, the Chief of the Inter-Services Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Athar Abbas said: “The army has launched an operation after receiving orders from the government.”

However, there is an appropriate rationale behind the military operation in Waziristan. Apart from the previous suicide attacks and bomb blasts, terrorists based in South Waziristan, intensified their subversive attacks in the major cities of Pakistan by acting upon the tactics of guerilla warfare in order to create lawlessness in the country.
In this respect, on October 15, five civilians and 12 personnel of the security forces have been martyred in three separate terrorist attacks by killing 9 terrorists at FIA Building, Manawan Police Training Centre and Bedian Elite Police Training Centre in Lahore. On the same day, eleven persons were killed in a car suicide attack at a police station in Kohat, while several persons were killed in similar type of blasts in Peshawar intermittently. On October 12, a suicide bomber killed 41 people in Shangla. In their most challenging subversive act, on October 10, nine militants targeted the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi where Pak Army foiled a major tragedy by killing eight terrorists and rescuing 39 hostages. In the event, 12 soldiers, a Brigadier and a Lt. Colonel had also been martyred, but militants’ ringleader Aqeel alias Dr Osman was captured alive whose links to South Waziristan were proved after initial investigation.
Waziristan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has connections in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attacks, occurred in Pakistan within ten days. The group had also claimed responsibility for the last year’s terror-attacks on several key installations of Lahore like the Pakistan Navy War College, FIA building, the Manawan Police Training Center and Rescue 15 building of the police including assault on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

It was due to the panic and sense of insecurity caused by the merciless insurgents that emotions have been running high against the Taliban militants from all segments of society. Each assault has been strengthening public opposition to militancy and religious extremism. In this context, Pakistan’s political commentators and the general masses strongly condemned the recent terror-acts, while expressing their views through electronic and printed media.

Regarding the new wave of terrorism, which killed dozens of persons, the leading newspapers printed the views of people saying: “The militants are not what they claim to be…the enemies of the United States…in fact, they are the enemies of Pakistan and they want to impose their version of Islam on us but they will never succeed.” The papers further wrote: “People of Pakistan were not only unanimous on the military operation against militants in Swat and other areas of Malakand Agency, but they also wanted a quick yet effective strike against those hiding in South Waziristan.” Similar thoughts were expressed by the people through TV channels.

However, just like the previous military operations which had broken the backbone of the insurgents in Swat, Dir and Buner, Pakistan’s major political parties and civil societies of every province have been greatly backing the ongoing offensive in South Waziristan.

Besides, the latest wave of terror-attacks and public support to the operation, Rah-i-Nijat, there is other logic behind military action in South Waziristan. Notably, the militants enter Pakistan from Afghanistan where tentacles of terrorism exist. In this respect, India has set up secret training centres in Afghanistan where its military personnel in collaboration with its secret agency, RAW have been imparting training of guerilla warfare to the youngsters, having connections with South Waziristan where some other such training centres are also working. By setting aside the atrocities of the Taliban insurgents such as hostage-takings, beheadings, and torture, Indian officials incite the local tribesmen by propagating that Pakistan’s armed forces are killing its own people. The main aim behind is to attract the innocent people, and to produce suicide bombers after brainwashing.

In this respect, an online website reported, “The new hatchery of producing female suicides bombers is being headed by Commander Maulvi Shamim at his Muddrassah in Laddha, located in South Wazirsitan. The Uzbak and Afghani women instructors are imparting Jehadi and suicide training to the innocent girls and women. Trainees include Mehsud, Punjabis and Sindhi women and girls.” They were being funded by foreign agency too. Apart from this nursery of suicide female bombers, houses in Sam Sarai, Baderzai and other places of South Waziristan Agency are also training girls and boys on similar lines. Reports suggest that the female suicide bomber who attacked the police station in Peshawar on October 16 was from the Muddrassah of Maulvi Shamim.

On October 13, 2009 a private TV channel also released a video in which the terrorists including the captured ringleader, Aqeel have been shown getting training in guerrilla warfare. He is close fellow of the late Baitullah Mehsood, the former Chief of the TTP.

In the recent past, some of our high officials repeatedly pointed out that the late Baitullah Mehsud who was killed in a US drone attack on August 5, had been backed by the foreign powers. He was having a number of secrets regarding foreign intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, like Baitullah, his successor, Hakimullah Mehsud who has threatened more suicide attacks in our country is also collective agent of RAW and CIA. While playing a double game like his paymasters, his real aim is to incite the innocent Pakhtoons in order to further destabilise Pakistan.

Now, this fact is known to everyone that Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic world. Hence, US, Israel and India are in collusion to weaken it by creating anarchy for achieving their secret strategic interests. Covert support to the insurgents of the Frontier Province and separatists of Balochistan are part of the unfinished agenda of these foreign elements. Besides NWFP, sporadic ambush attacks on the security forces, government installations and ministers in Balochistan might be cited as example.

It is of particular attention that location of South Waziristan makes it most conducive place for the anti-Pakistan plotters and fighters. In this regard, Time magazine reported on October 18, 2009: “South Waziristan is close to outsiders…which comprises harsher terrain, made it the ideal hiding place for foreign militants…over the years, various groups of militants fortified their bases…Pakistan’s military moved on South Waziristan stronghold of the TTP, an umbrella group of militants…have been behind some 80% of terrorist attacks in the country including the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.”

Nonetheless, the South Waziristan Agency which shares a common border with Afghanistan is the epicenter of all the terrorist activities in Pakistan. Subversion in country’s major cities including Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai and Mohmand agencies are plotted there with the support of Indian RAW which itself is being backed by the tactical help of US and Israel.

Regarding the recent terror-attacks, ISPR Spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and other TV commentators have indicated Indian involvement behind the attack, remarking: “Hakimullah Mehsud and other terrorists are “the enemies of the state” and “are mercenaries who receive arms from Afghanistan to destabilize the country.”

Now, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s armed forces which have strong rationale behind the military operation must check all these activities of the Waziristan-based militants once for all.

Writer and author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#169 Posted by kuppuswamy on June 24, 2009 5:57:17 am
wasn`t someone in pakistani military who called baitullah a patriot(the news, hamid mir, 1st dec 2008)! patriots seems to have a limitted shelf life in pakistan perhaps.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#168 Posted by kuppuswamy on June 24, 2009 5:57:16 am
wasn`t someone in pakistani military who called baitullah a patriot(the news, hamid mir, 1st dec 2008)! patriots seems to have a limitted shelf life in pakistan perhaps.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#167 Posted by akcheema on June 23, 2009 5:05:33 am
Re: # 165; tahmed sahib

[[it doesnt matter if your wildest dreams come true and the taliban take over Pakistan - they will still be a bunch of rats destined for hell.]]

well said ... people seem to equate a 'success' by some thugs in these matters as being equal to them being on the right side ... by the same token, would they also concede that the 'west' with all its successes in the last (at least) 600 years was 'on the right side'? .... (only counting from the rennaissance)

... goes witout saying that an apparent success in political matters does not confer a moral high ground ... to anyone

.. on the other hand, anyone with half an un-biased brain can work out what's good from a human perspective and what's not
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#166 Posted by tahmed32 on June 23, 2009 4:34:29 am
where was "qari" zainuddin when helpless prisoners were being butchered by the taliban? part of the taliban, i bet!! his new found understanding of the true meaning of islam seems to be based not on his reading the Quran, but rather from his reading recent newspaper headlines concerning the beating the taliban are getting from the Pakistan fauj.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#165 Posted by tahmed32 on June 23, 2009 4:27:07 am
#161 urstruly: i am not talking about the "inevitability" of taliban takeover. i am talking about good vs criminal, just vs unjust. it doesnt matter if your wildest dreams come true and the taliban take over Pakistan - they will still be a bunch of rats destined for hell.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#164 Posted by banjara286 on June 23, 2009 12:13:13 am
"A gunman shot dead Qari Zainuddin, a rival commander of Baitullah Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday morning".

majumdar sb,
bad news for chachoo, i guess ...
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#163 Posted by majumdar on June 22, 2009 11:08:11 pm
http://www.geo.tv/6-23-2009/44653.htm

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A gunman shot dead Qari Zainuddin, a rival commander of Baitullah Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday morning.

A close aide of Qari Zainuddin while confirming the killing of Qari Zainuddin claimed that he was shot dead by Gulbadeen Mehsud who was managed to flee from the scene. Gulbadeen is a resident of Makeen area. Another associate of Qari Zainuddin sustained injuries in the incident.

Qari Zainuddin had recently given statements to the media opposing Mehsud.


Wonder what Amin sahib will make of this incident.

Regards
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#162 Posted by nkg on June 22, 2009 10:16:25 pm
Re: # 123
cool..
Many of IA64 technology is sourced from Compaq/Digital's Alpha design Lab...
You can search for a bengalee guy called Subhendu Mukherjee....He was part of the team, who introduced couple of technologies,with Alpha processor,which is now part of Intel....
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#161 Posted by Urstruly on June 22, 2009 9:25:59 pm
Re: # 159

Getting upset with me is not going to avert the impending inevitability.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#160 Posted by majumdar on June 22, 2009 9:24:47 pm
Chachoo,

I understand your ire against the Taliboon but that is no reason to eulogise the Pak Fouj. The latter has done far more damage to Pakistan than the Taliboon have- Bdesh was the Fouj's doing, not the Talibs. Besides, the Talibs too are a creation of the Pak Fouj, they were not born out of nothing.

Regards
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#159 Posted by tahmed32 on June 22, 2009 9:17:29 pm
#157 and try telling one of our jawans that they are "napak fauj" of Pakistan - and he will give you the thrashing that lackeys of taliban rats richly deserve.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#158 Posted by tahmed32 on June 22, 2009 9:16:30 pm
#157 you will get your shock and awe in hell. unless God reserves hell only for the taliban rats, and lets their lackeys rot in their graves.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#157 Posted by Urstruly on June 22, 2009 8:16:56 pm

If history has any lesson for us, it is that that the Shock and Awe always starts after Shock and Awe. No doubt should remain in anyones mind that even Tora Bora and Daisy Cutters could not stop what is going on for the past 8 years. It is a usless debate to speculate whether Baitullah or Fazlullah are American agents or not. Their strategic attacks on pakistani security infrastructure (like ISI detention and torture centers, FIA torture centers, polioce copmmand and control centers; elimination of whole unit of commandos in Tarbela who took part in Islamabad school girl masacre) tells that they are very calculating and precise.

The making of 3 million IDPs and complete destruction of villages and towns in Swat - razing them to ground - so that Americans could verify through their satellites before issuing their next installment of blood money has not earned napak fouj any friends.

It was repoted in a Pakistani newspaper in the early days of "operation scortched earth" around May 8 that when a colonol and his escort brought the body of soldier who got killed in action to his village in Chakwal, the father of the poor fukk took out his khussa and started hitting colonol on his head. The fouji on-behalf-of-grateful-nation party ran to save their lives. From that time whenever fouj brings the corpse of a killed soldier they leave the corpse outside the villages in the area.

The recent doubling of the salaries of foujis tells a lot as to how popular this war is within fouj. Who will pay for the expenses of one million fouj in future is still not clear. Is fouj going to go back to their original salaries after "shock and Awe" is over and American blood money dries up? And like I said, the shock and Awe always starts after shock and awe.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#156 Posted by bulleya on June 22, 2009 9:51:46 am
dost-mittar #:....the story on baitullah mehsud has to be one of the most confusing events of this whole affair.....i cannot figure out whom he is representing.....he seems to be causing all the trouble, yet no one is willing to kill him......

.......the recent quick operation by the army indicates that if it wanted to, it could kick out the taliban very quickly.....they may come back in small pieces, but their bulk has been destroyed without much problem......

the simple reason being that they don't represent the local population, and hence have no support.......they are not a freedom movement or a resistance movement...........the main infrastructure of the taliban will be wiped out soon.....they will be limited to hit and run type attacks......

.......the usa doesn't fire drones on baitullah.....and the pakistan army never targeted him......doesn't make sense......in fact, the pakistan army never targeted the radio stations used by fazlullah......

.......and where do the taliban get their money from.....one theory is that it is from middle eastern sources.....another is that it is from drugs......third is that it is from india.....fourth is that it is from the usa to cause trouble in pakistan to destabalize its nuclear control.....

.........why didn't the army and usa target taliban, earlire....the theory that is becoming the strongest is, since the army and usa are now after the taliban, that india is the main source of funding.....

i.e. india is funding mehsud and various other entities, and it is infiltrating afghans into pakistan to cause trouble.......however, if that is the case, then pakistan would have gone after mehsud a long time ago....

perhaps, pakisatn army wanted to keep mehsud to influence events in afghanistan, once the usa left.......however, he got out of control.....and started taking over regions of pakistan....at which point, india jumped in and started funding him....
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
#155 Posted by dude40000 on June 22, 2009 9:51:30 am
Re: # 154

Bulleya - I ran into this blog by Kaiser Tufail (Director of Operations - Pak Air Force):

http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2009/01/kargil-conflict-and-pakis tan-air-force.html

This in detail confirms what you are saying - Pak Air Fore refused to participate because they did not have spare parts. That's quite shocking and surprising indeed.
reply to this interact write a new interact add to favorites flag objectionable content
listing 1-16   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Interact Index

    #170 Nooni
    #169 kuppuswamy
    #168 kuppuswamy
    #167 akcheema
    #166 tahmed32
    #165 tahmed32
    #164 banjara286
    #163 majumdar
    #162 nkg
    #161 Urstruly
    #160 majumdar
    #159 tahmed32
    #158 tahmed32
    #157 Urstruly
    #156 bulleya
    #155 dude40000
    #154 bulleya
    #153 Goldfinger
    #152 pavocavalry
    #151 pavocavalry
    #150 pavocavalry
    #149 dost_mittar
    #148 pavocavalry
    #147 TrichMir
    #146 pavocavalry
    #145 pavocavalry
    #144 pavocavalry
    #143 pavocavalry
    #142 pavocavalry
    #141 pavocavalry
    #140 TrichMir
    #139 pavocavalry
    #138 Goldfinger
    #137 pavocavalry
    #136 bulleya
    #135 CoolAL
    #134 RiazHaq
    #133 CoolAL
    #132 RiazHaq
    #131 RiazHaq
    #130 Goldfinger
    #129 pavocavalry
    #128 pavocavalry
    #127 Goldfinger
    #126 Goldfinger
    #125 pavocavalry
    #124 pavocavalry
    #123 CoolAL
    #122 CoolAL
    #121 CoolAL
    #120 RiazHaq
    #119 Goldfinger
    #118 CoolAL
    #117 Goldfinger
    #116 CoolAL
    #115 Goldfinger
    #114 RiazHaq
    #113 pavocavalry
    #112 pavocavalry
    #111 Goldfinger
    #110 Urstruly
    #109 seekers14
    #108 RiazHaq
    #107 pavocavalry
    #106 Diesel
    #105 Goldfinger
    #104 RiazHaq
    #103 Pew_Research
    #102 Pew_Research
    #101 RiazHaq
    #100 RiazHaq
    #99 Pardesi
    #98 Goldfinger
    #97 KHYBER
    #96 TrichMir
    #95 TrichMir
    #94 Pew_Research
    #93 kaurasach
    #92 blumfeld
    #91 malikrashid
    #90 Pew_Research
    #89 dude40000
    #88 pavocavalry
    #87 pavocavalry
    #86 swapnavasavdutta
    #85 pavocavalry
    #84 pavocavalry
    #83 pavocavalry
    #82 majumdar
    #81 pavocavalry
    #80 KHYBER
    #79 pavocavalry
    #78 pavocavalry
    #77 dude40000
    #76 dude40000
    #75 dude40000
    #74 majumdar
    #73 dude40000
    #72 majumdar
    #71 KHYBER
    #70 tahmed32
    #69 Pew_Research
    #68 Pew_Research
    #67 Pew_Research
    #66 KHYBER
    #65 tahmed32
    #64 tahmed32
    #63 KHYBER
    #62 tahmed32
    #61 FakirIppi
    #60 tahmed32
    #59 FakirIppi
    #58 FakirIppi
    #57 tahmed32
    #56 tahmed32
    #55 pavocavalry
    #54 tahmed32
    #53 tahmed32
    #52 pavocavalry
    #51 tahmed32
    #50 tahmed32
    #49 dude40000
    #48 Diesel
    #47 tahmed32
    #46 pavocavalry
    #45 nkg
    #44 pavocavalry
    #43 pavocavalry
    #42 nkg
    #41 adamkhan
    #40 swapnavasavdutta
    #39 adamkhan
    #38 pavocavalry
    #37 Urstruly
    #36 adamkhan
    #35 pavocavalry
    #34 Goldfinger
    #33 KHYBER
    #32 KHYBER
    #31 KHYBER
    #30 adamkhan
    #29 KHYBER
    #28 pavocavalry
    #27 KHYBER
    #26 KHYBER
    #25 KHYBER
    #24 KHYBER
    #23 adamkhan
    #22 dost_mittar
    #21 sunil7090
    #20 krbhatti
    #19 majumdar
    #18 krbhatti
    #17 Goldfinger
    #16 Goldfinger
    #15 adamkhan
    #14 pavocavalry
    #13 pavocavalry
    #12 Matrix
    #11 Matrix
    #10 RiazHaq
    #9 ahmedmadani
    #8 malikrashid
    #7 malikrashid
    #6 pavocavalry
    #5 ahmedmadani
    #4 malikrashid
    #3 malikrashid
    #2 pavocavalry
    #1 ahmedmadani

Latest Interacts

  • Rahbar: Re: # 30 Tahmed sb yet... I Want Jinnah's Pakistan
  • ChaangaMaangaXpress: How reliable is an... Why MQM Wants To
  • Mr.India: Re: # 89
    Obama is Better for
  • Mr.India: Re: # Cheeni: " Aaj... Uneven Democracy : The
  • RiazHaq: Re: # 13 DM... Uneven Democracy : The
  • ahmedmadani: EAST OR WEST PAKISTAN IS... I Want Jinnah's Pakistan
  • ahmedmadani: EAST OR WEST PAKISTAN IS... I Want Jinnah's Pakistan
  • Mr.India: THE TRIBALS ARE FUGHTUNG... Uneven Democracy : The

THEMES

  • Pakistan's Struggle for Democracy
  • The Indian Story
  • Indo-Pak Relations
  • Personal Narratives
  • Religion Today
  • War on Terror
  • Role of Media
  • Call for Social Change
  • Hold Them Accountable
  • Environment and Us
  • Way of Life
more »

Top 5 Articles This Week

  • Popular
  • The Strange Case of the Indian Channels That Did Not Air the 26/11 Documentary
  • Why MQM Wants To Enter Punjab?
  • I Want Jinnah's Pakistan
  • Forgive n Forget
  • Three Poems by Allama Iqbal
  • Featured
  • There are a Lot of Monkeys
  • White Charade
  • Words of a Woman
  • FOX News and the Smelly Shoes
  • Dilemmas of Creative Children
  • 10 Years Ago
  • Autobiography of a Forgotten Indian
  • Reshma: Voice of Mother Earth
  • The Coca-Cola Cup Final at Sharjah
  • An MD’s Version of Faiz
  • After the defeat

Write on Chowk Interact Guidelines Privacy policy Terms Contact

Copyright © 1997 - 2009 chowk.com. All Rights Reserved
Reproduction of material on any www.chowk.com pages without prior written permissions is strictly prohibited