North Waziristan: To Be or Not To Be?
Posted on 26. May, 2010 by Jeff in Letters to Editor
WAR ON TERROR HAS PRODUCED MORE TERRORISTS AND HATE
By Yasmeen Ali
A tribal Jirga in session North Waziristan
There is no question that terrorism must be curbed. A fact bought sharply in focus, by the Faisal Shahzad case. There is tremendous pressure on Pakistan by USA to have it’s army initiate a ground offensive against the terrorists in North Waziristan. The questions this demand raises are many. They must be weighed carefully before jumping head on in yet another front.
North Waziristan is a place where al-Qaida and its Afghan and Pakistani allies can train fighters, store explosives and rest from the strain of war. Much of North Waziristan is a wasteland dotted with small clusters of sun-baked mud houses that seem to blend into the dusty brown landscape. Outside the towns, there are few signs of modern life __ no power lines or telephone poles.
Pakistan’s forces are already overstretched, battling against Taliban against thousands of stretches of land. Can they afford to open a new front without first clearing out what they started earlier? Thousands of Pakistani soldiers have already been killed in this War against Terrorism. “Collateral damage” of civilians owing to drone strikes has anti American sentiments on the rise.
The second question that needs to be answered is, will the offensive ensure the curbing an end to terrorism? In the recent past, we have seen, the offensive in FATA and NWFP led to a spillover effect in South Waziristan and then Punjab. Now, it is North Waziristan. Will the terrorists sit like a lame duck to be shot at or will they seek refuge elsewhere and regroup? Will this be the end or the beginning to yet another spillover?
Another most crucial consideration must be the cost of the war. Can we afford the war in a case where the payments in terms of help under the Kerry Lugar Bill are delayed? Overdue payments amounting to millions of US dollars is expected to reach Pakistan in September.
And then there is the question of a minor thing known as “Principle”.
Do we attack when told to attack, by an alien power, or does the Pakistan Government has a right in terms of evaluating the ground realities and then taking a decision in light of this. It is a fact that we, know our geography and people better than do the Americans.
Yes the terrorists pose a threat to life, livelihood of the people of Pakistan, they do pose a threat to the integrity of Pakistan and the standing of the country in the international comity of nations. However, we cannot and must not ignore the ground realities. Without good intelligence on ground, an in-house offensive is bound to meet with less than success.
The West needs to get out of ad hominem that since Faisal Shahzad purportedly received training in North Waziristan to try carry out an attack at Times Square, the whole of North Waziristan is swarming with terrorists. The Muslim world is not attacking the USA. It’s the 400 years of West’s colonisations of the Muslim world and now the thrusting of foreign Jews on top of Palestinians and various invasion, occupations and threats invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan that are the causal factors.
Unfortunately, these situations have nonetheless unleashed a genie that threatens to devour all.
It took Sri Lanka 26 years to handle and curb terrorism. Nations must realize that Pakistan is not fighting a normal war. Pakistan is not fighting an alien aggressor. Pakistan is fighting pockets of people hidden within, a war thrust upon us with a brute force and cunning deceit. More or less Pakistan has a faceless enemy within it’s folds. It is this that makes the need for good intelligence great.
Wars like these are long drawn out wars. Events cannot be rushed through to suit some. Nations need to understand the nature of the conflict. Every step must be weighed carefully. Let us not forget, it is the Pakistani People who are paying the heaviest price.
The writer is a lawyer and teaches at Beacon House National University Lahore. She also owns and operates her own 
blogs. Yasmeen Ali is a regular contributor to Opinion Maker.
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51 Responses to “North Waziristan: To Be or Not To Be?”
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Ishrat
26. May, 2010
WELL WRITTEN
BUT DO WE HAVE A QUICK FIX
PAKISTAN SHOULD TAKE DECISION AS THEY KNOW GROUNG REALITIES AND NOT BECAUSE OF U.S.
IT IS INFACT OUR WAR WHERE THE PAKISTANIS ARE SUFERING MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
TO ME THERE IS NO QUICK FIX AND THE GOVT SEEMS TO BE INVOLVED IN OTHER EXTRA CARRICULAR ACTIVIITIES AND THEIR FOCUS IS PRESENTLY ON THEIR OWN AGENDA
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG
IK
Ilyas
26. May, 2010
a realistic assessment! hope is is understood by the other party
Naeem
26. May, 2010
Excellent piece YAA.
Mr Bokharee
26. May, 2010
Dear Ms. Ali,
Excellent analysis.
I would just like to add that what we have started terming as “terrorists” are freedom fighters, living within peace loving, indeed peace yearning, communities. We have no moral right to deny them their rights by making them IDPs and corpses in their own country.
Most of the fighters are fighting the US led occupation. An immoral occupation aimed at expansion of empire. If the ISAF vacate the occupation most of these fighters will lay down their arms. They are fighting our Army and police because our government and political leadership are helping the occupation and expansion of empire, that is weakening Pakistan’s economy, citizen’s security, military power, and national cohesion.
We are THE regional power by any definition. We have nuclear, conventional, and sub-conventional forces that have taken decades to evolve to their current enviable standards.
Pitting our Army against the traditional guardians of our western borders is a suicidal strategy whose only beneficiary will be the US/India nexus.
The departure of the ISAF will see a drastic reduction in militants fighting against US led or Pakistani forces. The thugs who are taking advantage of the “TTP” label will not be difficult to control, after the real freedom fighters lay down their arms.
What are known as Al Quaeda were never anti Pakistan before the US attacked Afghanistan. The activities of CIA/RAW/Mossad inside Pakistan will also decrease with the end of occupation and coalition defeat.
A defeated and declining Superpower that is under voter and economic pressure at home should not be assisted in the occupation of Afghanistan and war against Pakistan. The Afghans have had enough and we have had enough.
Our political leadership must start behaving like the leadership of a regional, nuclear, and growing power (Within a decade we will have a population of 200 million mostly young willing workers; USA will have an aging population of 300 million).
When USA leaves this region we will have control of the economic cross-roads of the Eurasian landmass. That is the economic prize that we will have won and USA will have lost, after trying so hard! Does it surprise us when USA wants to weaken us?
We don’t need to prostitute ourselves for dollars that we don’t really need. Control of the cross- roads (pipelines, rail, roads, telecommunications etc) will generate far more than we have ever received in aid! Investment and job creation will no longer be a problem
If this government doesn’t stop it’s coalition support activities that are helping prolong occupation, it will be accused of working against the interests of Pakistan, and militancy against our forces will increase.
If it takes the war into NWA I fear that the federation will be ripped apart.
Shahid
26. May, 2010
Well written.Solution(s),have to be devised and marketed,specially amongst the terrorist cadres and their supporters.Social and economic solutions,focussing on health,education,housing,job-oppurtunity and recognition is the need for all affected areas.This has to be trans-national and a multi-national effort.
SR
Zafar
26. May, 2010
Yasmeen, you have very correctly highlighted the root cause of terrosim( in justices,occupation and colonization of muslims and their lands) .It should be for the western countries to assess and evaluate.Operation in North Waziristan would not bring any results,i am sure of this
Munir
26. May, 2010
Dear YAA,
Drone attacks must be totally disallowed. I do understand the conditions under which ISI and the army are operating, but Pakistan must remain the top priority and let us not forget that the Waziris are as much Pakistanis as any one of us. I do not want to discuss the details here.
Naveed
26. May, 2010
Good analysis. I agree that war against our home-grown terrorists is going to be a prolonged one. Srilanka took 25 years to subdue LTTE, Britain took 35 years to fight back IRA. With our approach, where there is no counter-terrorism strategy, it might take a decade or more to quell the dreaded TTP.
Nasim
26. May, 2010
Pakistan armed forces must look deep before they take any action. The Western societies leave and move on to new and better things while east and particularly Pashtun tribes keep memories for a long time.
When the American leave the AfPak region, they will close the door and never look back. This already happened after Soviet Union left the region. However the region continues to suffer the aftermath.
Pakistan cannot change the geography. They have to live there for ever. So they will suffer the consequences on a long term basis.
In my opinion there was no training. Look what they trained people do in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
shahid Zahur
26. May, 2010
AoA A realistic and well analyzed article on war on terror. I agree with the writer that we must considered all the options before taking any action in North Waziristan. US with its coalition partners have not succeeded in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam etc. Insurgency requires very special handling and pakistani forces have done well in Swat and South Waziristan. I think we must consolidate our gains, operation any where else must be debated because you can not fight on many fronts.
Minhaj
26. May, 2010
YAA,
Excellent Analysis. However, we have been plagued with our governments and some other sympathizers of foreign occupiers, which has brought Pakistan to this stage. And we are on a slippery slope. Only a miracle can save Pakistan (God Forbid) from disintegration.
The Proxy war initiated thru Afghanistan into Pakistan is a similar way where Kuwait was allowed to be occupied first by Iraq and then it was made a stage to wage war in Iraq and capture it. Similarly, occupation of Afghanistan is a prelude to occupation/disintegration of Pakistan and expansion into Iran. I may be wrong in my analysis. But, if we are not proactive even at this stage, we will be a history.
Zahid Nizam
26. May, 2010
Well written and very pertinent points raised. There is however a need to contain the rising tide of fundamentalism. Not for the sake of Americans or the British but for the sake of Pakistanis. No one should be allowed to take Pakistan back 1400 years or even more. Pakistan was a modern thriving country until the fall of Ayub Khan. Efforts should be made to take Pakistan back on the road to modernism and moderation.
Yasmeen Ali
27. May, 2010
I agree Zahid Sahib.
YAA@Zahid Nizam,
Raja Mujtaba
27. May, 2010
@Zahid Nizam, We can not be Muslims if we do not believe in the fundamentals of Islam, hence we all are fundamentalists.
Modernity,if you mean westernisation than that is out, but if you talk in the sense industrialand economic growth and allied structures then yes.
Syeddain
27. May, 2010
Well Yasmeen the article is good from the angle of its being descriptive in nature………
Javaid
27. May, 2010
I do not subscribe to this view at all like many, many others. Pakistan is paying the price of its own aggressive and colonial designs in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Its own negative and crafty use of religion as a state instrument of subversion. Outside forces are obviously exploiting this to their own advantage.
Zia
27. May, 2010
So true. It is troubling that there is hardly any political or media saint who is man (or woman) enough to articulate the truth. Out of ignorance or whatever, they continue to harp on myths spun out by the Bush era spin doctors that even the American officials no longer believe. General James Jones has recently admitted that the number of foreign fighters in Afghanistan is less than one hundred and not all of these are engaged in combat. The war is not against ?terrorism? but has a different aim.
What has been done to our country and our people in the name of fighting al-Quaida terrorism is criminal and heart rending (please see ‘Who are the Victors?’ by Rustam Shah Mohmand in The Daily News of 21st May). According to the govt.’s own estimates, more than fifty billion dollars, the equivalent of our total foreign debt, have so far been expended on this war and there is no end in sight. Only a fraction of this amount, if spent on uplift of the region, could have produced very different results.
The war has taken a terrible toll of discipline and morale in the armed forces and economic well being of the entire nation. No institution or country can sustain abuse of this nature for long. The question we have to ask is do we not know this and if we do, why are we continuing with it?
There is a very worrisome possibility that is rarely considered or discussed. If the Americans are no longer convinced or even interested in a military victory in Afghanistan, why are they still pursuing the war and calling for an increased effort within Pakistan? There can be no peace in Pakistan until there is peace in Afghanistan. Stoking the fires of war in Afghanistan gives rise to instability and divisions, wrecks Pakistan’s economy and weakens the army. If this be their objective, by design or otherwise, we have become willing participants of our own destruction.
Saeed
27. May, 2010
Dear Professor,
It’s an excellent effort to inform the uninformed; and the misinformed Pakistanis living in Pakistan and abroad, particularly in USA, where they face probing questions from other Pakistanis as well as Americans andPakistani-Americans settled here since long. I am currently on a visit to USA, meeting highly educated Pakistani Americans and “American-Americans” including university professors, administrators, engineers and technocrats. The question often comes up during coffee breaks and family functions.
I would like to share with you two recent incidents.
At a hangout with senior professors of a highly reputed American University, where I was the only Pakistani, questions about the Times Square bomb scare came up. Some eyes turned to me. Before I could make any comment, a Palestinian-American professor, who has spent sixty years in U.S., lashed out at the American government for manipulating events in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. According to him, Times Square incident is also a brainchild of American strategists.
At a get-together of Pakistani Americans again a senior citizen mentioned about the embarrassment he faces when he is asked to comment on this incident. When asked how does he respond to this, he said, “I keep quiet. I tell them I have nothing to do with this; and I am not interested in it.” To my pleasant surprise a much younger Pakistani-American, who has just graduated from an American university, said: “You should speak out. You shoud not feel guilty or embarrassed by such questions.”
I hope your articles on this subject will reinforce the stand taken by younger Pakistani Americans and will provide some food for thought to others. My website (agsaeed.com) is under construction. I shall be more than happy to post such articles for the benefit of my readers in US, including my contemporaries from Harvard (1967) and Stanford (1968) and my recent contacts, including the President of Eastern Michigan University, Director, Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center, President, EMU Emeritus Faculty Association, and Fellows of the Bureau for Educational Research and Development. Some of these are also mentioned in my latest book, Six Lanes on the Superhighway to Success (2009), published by Time Management Club, Karachi, available in Lahore at Kitab Sirai; and in Rawalpindi at Kitab Ghar.
Attached to this note is a set of four short opinion research questionnaires (less than half-a-page each) for your comments and participation by your colleagues, friends and acquaintances, including parents of your students).
Sincerely,
Inam
27. May, 2010
Regret to inform u that unannounced Military Operation is already under way in North Wazirstan…………………
Laila
27. May, 2010
I hear unofficially the fight is raking place in Orakzai?
Anyone?
Raja Sahib?Comment please?
Raja Mujtaba
27. May, 2010
@Laila, The fact is that the army is deployed also they have a peace Gul Bahadar. Hakimullah’s men have offered to vacate. But, there are other actors too like Asian Tigers and RAW, Mossad and CIA sponsored elements, these are being tackled.
Laila
27. May, 2010
Thank you for replying.However, is that not equivalent to the much talked of offensive sir?
Laila@Raja Mujtaba,
naveed tajammal
27. May, 2010
well written yasmeen,but the americano’s must end their ,’do more’, chant and for a change help us in getting rid of the ‘other actors’ as well defined above by raja mutaba.and in the same drive help us in getting our kashmir back from the indians.
George
07. Oct, 2010
Your Kashmir ! and how did you get it ! Did your father leave it to you in his will!
What is happening in Pakistans is a backlash against their own nefarious deeds . Pakistan has created Frankensteins to export terror to the rest of the world. Now these Frankensteins are attacking the creator. No point in blaming anyone else for your own misdeeds. Open your eyes and wake up – it is reallly sad that Islam , a religion that espouses , love , brotherhood and peace , is used as a tool to produce terrorists/criminals. A word repeated quite often in the Quran is “rahmath” – and what do the so called Muslims in Pakistan do?
Your whole country is so obsessed with Kashmir that they forget the real issues. Its astonishing that 3 defeats in wars have not taught you anything.
And stop blaming others
Baqi
27. May, 2010
It is not a question of IF Pak Army undertakes the offensive,it is a question of WHEN.
Naqvi
27. May, 2010
Very well written ,Yasmeen and well articulated too.
I,ve always thought and believed that Al Qaida,like its
leader OBL is an illusion,a fake and imaginary outfit concieved
and propagated by America to meet their objectives.
No one has ever seen them or encountered them,yet they are
capable of reachig every corner of the world,breach the most
sophisticated securities and do whatever they want.
They are not only faceless,they are bodyless and dont
exist physically.After North Waziristan you,ll probably hear
about them somewhere close to the Chinese border.
The American political philophsy is,”we plan for years and then wait
for the right opportunity.If the opprtunity doesnt come our way,
WE CREATE ONE.”
So much for 9/11s,26/11s,Faisal Shahzads and shoe bombers et al.
Our leader,unfortunately,dont realize that North Waziristan is ONLY
chapter no 2.They are too happy and always in a hurry to lick
the boots of Amricans and act holier than the Pope.
Jamal
27. May, 2010
An extremly articulate and well thought out article. our planners have
to take stock of prevailaint environments and take remedial measures
in the BEST INTEREST of the country.Just to quote that how deep this
terrorism or WAR ON TERROR has inflicted our society AND NOW OUR
DEFENCE FORCES is an SMS message circulating amongst YOUNG OFFICERS of
our Army…. just read and analyze the psychological warfare going on
and poulloting the young officers mind……….”KIA ZARURI THA K MAIN
FAUJ MEIN ATA. MERI UMER K BHT SE LARKE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES MEIN
PARH RHE HONGE OR MEIN 22 SAL KI UMER MEIN AGLAY KUCH DINO MEIN APNA
HATH KATVA KAR TARRAQI KI DORH SE BAHAR HO JAON GA. KIS K LYE? …UN
LOGON K LIYE JO GHAAZION KI BAJAYSINGERS KO AHMIAT DETE HAIN, JO YE
TAK SUN NAHE SAKTE K HUM NEY MAUT KO KAHAN JA KER DEKHA… SIRF IS
LIYE KE IN LOGON KE AISH O ARAAM PAR KOI HARF NA AYE”…. LINES FROM
CAPT ALI AHMED SHAHEED’S DIARY…..LET’S NOT JUST READ, FORWARD AND
SUPPORT. HIGH TIME FOR REALIZATION….”PAK ARMY ZINDABAD”( all in Caps
is actual text of the SMS)
Read this SMS again and you will realize how damaging it …. an eye
opener to our Sipah Salars.
Ayaz
27. May, 2010
Brilliant.
That was a very realistic appraisal. And so – - – ?
I think one of the main reasons why the fuelling of terrorist activities inside Pakistan is so aggressive, is that Pakistan is so much under the influence of America, and doing its bidding, at times against the obvious interests of Pakista. If we re-orientate our foreign policy and distance ouirselves from dictates of America, a large amount of the Pakistani Terrorists will be deflated or pacified.
The activities of the American Talibn will continue to the furtherence of the long term American agenda. Thos we can handle if we have the stoutness of heart.
A
KUM
27. May, 2010
America is busy radicalising the young people of the Muslim world and its about time it accepts its responsibility.
And the same is true for Israel.
A bit of education for the Americans who have lost their way:
The more America attacks the Pashtuns of the Frontier Province the more severe their reaction will be to such attacks. Remember 99% of the people killed by American drones are innocent women and children. And also remember that Pashtuns have an honour code that predates the advent of Islam, it is called Pashtunwali and note that badal or revenge is one of its elements.
Multigenerational tit for tat revenge killings go on for generations and now America has stepped in the midst of it. Now badal/revenge has come to America.
You can educate a Pashtuns or even kill him but you can’t take the Pashtunwali honour code out of him.
Thus the more America attacks the Pashtuns of the Frontier Province or Afghanistan the more severe their reaction will be to such attacks with guaranteed loss of American lives as part of badal/revenge.
Ibrahim
27. May, 2010
It is by no means clear that the Pakistan Army will be rushed into launching a big offensive in North Waziristan. It is already stretched fighting in other parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), including in South Waziristan, where it embarked on a major operation last year. Before starting any new offensive, it needs to be sure it is not going to be attacked from the rear, or become so thinly stretched that it loses hard-fought gains elsewhere. As one senior military official told me, you have to be very sure-footed, consolidate your gains, and make sure your bases are secure.
That said, even before the failed Times Square attack, the New York Times suggested Pakistan was beginning to weigh the possibility of tackling militants in North Waziristan. But its decision on timing is unlikely to be dictated by one incident, however dramatic. The Pakistan Army has put considerable energy into improving its image after the tarnishing of the Musharraf years, and is determined to show that when it does launch military offensives, it does so to win. And if there is one thing worse than not going into North Waziristan, it is going in there and losing.
Beyond Pakistan?s tribal areas is a nexus of militant groups and militant sympathisers, any one of whom could have helped Faisal Shahzad find his way to Waziristan. And that too is unlikely to change soon.
What does seem unlikely is that a country which has been wrestling with many contradictory currents for more than 60 years will change overnight in a way which will make the people of the United States less jumpy whenever they see an SUV parked in a crowded place without a driver.
Sqn Ldr S.Ausaf Husain (Retd)
27. May, 2010
YAA, has touched a very burning issue. My hats off to her. I fully agree with her that war on terror has produced more terrorists and hate. But the question is who should be held responsible to create such situationin Waziristan?
The Bush administration which cooked up fake evidence to
justify launching war on Iraq, have not been able to find a single weapon of mass destruction (WMD) till todate. Then they launched missiles attack on Afganistan from Arabian Sea again on fake evidence that Osama Bin Ladden is hiding there. But despite having most sophisticated surveillance satellite radars which can read even the number plates of vehicles on the ground has not been able to spot Osama Bin Ladden as yet. But Pakistan is pushed deeper and deeper into the so-called war on terror and asked again and again ‘ to do more’.
Currently, America?s most immediate challenges are Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the background, in Washington?s power corridors, it is oil and not al Qaeda. Oil is running out fast, it is threatening to knock America off the global leadership. The remaining oil, including new reserves, lie in other people?s lands, closure to China, Russia, Europe and other powers. America?s global supremacy rests on easy access to oil. If someone else gets that oil, America loses.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan was not an enemy of America. Its removal from Afghanistan was decided much before 9/11. But Taliban fell out of favour because they put terms and conditions on the pipelines that America oil giants planned to construct on Afghan territory. Pakistan was and continued to be the next target. Pakistan has to be subdued in order for America to secure Pakistani land route from the sea to Afghan border. US military intervention in the so-called war on terror inside Pakistan is softening up the country through regular drone attacks. Similarly, destabilizing Balochistan disturbs Iran?s plan to lay down pipelines to Pakistan and beyond. The instability in Balochistan also helps destroy China?s chances of using Gwadar port overlooking oil-rich Gulf, to dock its merchant and naval ships.
For this purpose, with the blessings of the US and Kabul, the Indian intelligence agency RAW and recently-formed Afghan intelligence agency RAAM, which has been established with the help of RAW, are actively involved in fuelling unrest in Balochistan and tribal areas of NWFP. This is also a fact that Afghanistan—which is not part of South Asia—has been included in the SAARC, justifies the Indian designs to extend Akhand Bharat?s domain beyond Afghanistan.
(Reply)
Yasmeen Ali
27. May, 2010
Dear Sqn Leader Ausaf,I would largely apree with a lot of what you state,however,we need to focus,on how to extricate ourselves from the situation as a nation. This may take time but above all, it needs a clear cut strategy and will to follow through. It needs guts!
YAA@Sqn Ldr S.Ausaf Husain (Retd),
Laila
28. May, 2010
@Yasmeen Ali,
Laila
28. May, 2010
EXCELLENT EVALUATION AUSAF JI
@Laila,
Badar
28. May, 2010
interesting article They points which come to mind are Are we united on the issue of fighting this long and difficult war There appear to be divisions in every section of the society including the rulers and arms forces.Is our soldier being pushed into a type of combat for which he is not trained?The crucial element of dealing with the source of funding of the enemy has not found a place in your article.This factor is crucial link in this conflict which threatens the very fabric of the country.Best wishes
Naseem
28. May, 2010
Some one e-mailed me you excellent article.
1. One thing we must understand is that NWP or Fata is a part of Pakistan and the inhabitants are Pakistan citizens and our brothers and sisters. They protected our western boardes for the last 60 years without any reminurations and without any questions asked.
2. We should be looking after our own safety and interests rather than dictations from USA. 911 was a false flag operation and had nothing to do Afghanistan or Pakistan. The War on Terror is in FACT a war on ISLAM whether one likes it or not. Mr Obama may call it by any name but the facts remain the same. A WAR ON ISLAM.
3. Pakistan Army is supposed to protect Pakistan boarders and Pakistani citizens. Since Pakistan Army is sold out to USA, the protection of its citizens falls on the shoulders of the Mujahideens or you may call them Taliban or what ever. Mark my words sooner or late Pakistan will be invaded by USA and it will be the Majahideen who will rise to protect Pakistan and the the mercenary Pak army.
4. Pak army commanders are so very incompetent that they have to consult their US counterparts even to go to the loo?
Why spend so much money on maintaining the Pak army? If killing of Pakistani citizens is the only purpose of the Pak army, then the job can be outsourced to USA or India who will do the killing almost without any cost to Pak army.
5. What can you expect from the Pak Elite who rule the country. They are the descendents of the Traitors who sold their nation to the Birish Raj during the War of Independance in 1857. These elite have neither the qualifications nor experience to run the country. They have no interests of the common man at heart.
6. Wake up Islam before it is too late. Quran is our constitution and it tells us how to live and whome to trust. Read it. It’s all there.
Yasmeen Ali
28. May, 2010
Though there may be a lot of truth in what you state,it is also a fact that the militants include Afghan Taliban,among others. Much is being planned from our soil,though it may be funded by vested interests.This must be dealt with. I am glad you enjoyed the article.Thank you for responding.
Yasmeen Ali @Naseem,
Wajahat
29. May, 2010
The article on Waziristan got me thinking. Why are these people laying their lives fearlessly on a daily basis.
Is there some thing strange happening on this planet.
It all seemed to have started with 9/11/2001 attack on New York city. Since then a series of disasters,
man made or natural, have interrupted peaceful existence in various parts of the planet.
Stock Market Crash that took away 40% of the wealth of the middle class.
Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
The Indonesian Tsunami
The Housing crisis.
Financial institutions Crisis
Haitian Earthquake
Chilean Earthquake
Economic Crisis in Greece
The BP oil spill in the Gulf once again.
Now the threat of Spain possible going under.
On an aggregate all of the above disasters have not really
brought down the wealth of the world but moved wealth from
the middle class to the top 8% of the population.
Can any middle class person blame their loss on terrorism in Waziristan?
Perhaps the terrorism is a message that should be read in a different
context. It is merely saying the middle class, have been preempted of their
wealth, security and dignity. There is nothing left to defend. Thus
becomes aggressive in the hope, perhaps the aggression will work.
The target of the mission to eliminate terrorism should be the sources
that make terrorism possible, in addition to the consumers (the terrorists).
Specifically asking questions like;
- Where are the explosives coming from .
- Where are the weapons coming from
- Who is supplying the strategic information
- Who is assisting on global operations which
require intense communication network and
intelligence. Which also requires breach of super
sophisticated and guarded spy networks
All of the above activities involve profiteering.
Elimination of these actions of profiteering is
the only way to success in stopping terrorism.
The latter action requires far more sacrificing by the
middle class consumers than a mere terrorist’s life.
I do not see any movement towards stopping profiteering, just more expenditures
by Governments of the world, preempting the citizen’s bank accounts and moving
the wealth from the middle class to the corporations and their owners.
Syed Wajahat Hussain
Ijaz
29. May, 2010
Well said Naseem Sahib.Straught from the heart!
@Wajahat,
Haidre
29. May, 2010
‘Good Taliban’ and ‘Freedom Fighters’ I’m afraid, are story of the past now, as far as happenings in Pakistan are concerned. What is happening in this country is TERRORISM simple and pure, being perpetrated by our enemies, whom we know very well. Motive of the handlers of brain-washed 16-year-olds is money being supplied in abundance by, all of us know, whom.
Thinking that they will suddenly become good, peaceful Pakistani citizens the moment USA leaves Afghanistan, is like living in fool’s paradise. We’ll have to, therefore, fight them out; and on our own it is going to take many many years. It has taken these elements over 30 years to train, mature and establish their network with enemies of Pakistan world wide. They simpy will NOT melt away over night and become our friends irrespective of what USA does or does not. If USA leaves Afghanistan, that country under the influence of India, will become a safe haven for them and they will invent some other excuse to terrorise us.
It is no more American war. It has now become our own war. We have to fight it out in the best interest of our children. American presence in Afghanistan till final solution of this problem ( thrust upon us by American themselves) is very important for us. It is very funny that in the past we have been complaining to Americans about leaving us in the middle of a problem and today we ourselves want them to do exactly the same once again.
Yasmeen Ali
30. May, 2010
Agreed Sir.That is not argued.The timing for N Waziristan op is.Plus related questions need attention.
YAA
@Haidre,
maryam hassan
29. Jun, 2010
We are always making excuses for ourselves.Perhaps if we hadn’t allowed foreign fighters in our lands to train, protected our villages who were killed by many of these foreign fighters, my own young cousins were forced to fight with them. Some of them went to other countries to wage wars.Then these aq groups joined with talibans.So, whose job is it to rid our country of these and who allowed them here in the first place? We did. So why wouldnt you expect a country to ask us to go after them..whil e we allowed them to attack from our homelands for years..and if we dont go after them, we shouldnt expect another country to grow weary of it? We allowed them to kill our own then proceed on to other countries…yet we only want to see it one sided..perhaps if they werent here, we wouldnt be waging these wars to move them out? they shouldnt have been here in the first place.
Haidre
29. Jun, 2010
@maryam hassan
No doubt we r paying for our own follies. When we were fighting American war against Russia in Afghanistan, the right thinking people used to say that we were sowing thorns for our many future generations. That prophesy has become true. We trained these saleable people for Americans and did not realize that after Americans leave, they will start getting money from our enemies and turn on to us.
Adnan
30. May, 2010
“The entire essence of the US Policy is to goad the Pashtuns into a frenzy of discontent, resentment and guerilla warfare. Drive the Taliban Pashtun fighters out of Afghanistan. Drive them into Pakistan so that they can wage war against the central government, leading to a national uprising of Pashtuns saying we are sick of Afghanistan, we are sick of Pakistan, lets have our own Pashtunistan. Balochis are sure to imitate Pashtuns.” — Webster Tarpley
Please follow the link belowGeopolitical Goals of the Anglo-American Empire in Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iran
Rizwan
30. May, 2010
Thank you Yasmin,
I see no reason for the Army to go forward in N Waziristan unless it is properly and abundantly supplied by the U.S. Our conventional tactics are still quite far behind.
Ata
03. Jun, 2010
Yasmeen, this is a very well written article and politely takes care of all aspects of the pressure exerted on us to launch an offensive, now in N Waziristan. When we were launching our offensive in South Waziristan our Army Chief had clearly said that we could not launch another offensive because we did not have the resources. Now after only a few months the Americans want us to launch the offensive or suffer their wrath. All that we have done in the past goes to waste. Is this a ploy to destabilize this country to finish our army and then reach for our nuclear assets? So the doomsday theorists are right, are they not?
This government, a spineless government, a government out only to appease their masters, have nothing to say? Are we such a gutless and week kneed nation that not even once can stand up for our interests? Do we have no shame, no self respect? Well if they cannot stand up then we should have a government that can. It will not be the end of the world. I am sure we also have our clout in many areas. We should now stand up and show our courage and dignity.
Regards
hardtalk
08. Sep, 2010
Are all these names Muslims?
Radical Islam puts a havoc displacement of native Muslims in Pakistan. Islam against Muslims !! « #Alertpak#
13. Mar, 2011
[...] North Waziristan: To Be or Not To Be an Islamic Terrorist? [...]
Waziristan Photos | Pafos Photos
17. Apr, 2011
[...] North Waziristan: To Be or Not opinion-maker.org [...]
CodeRed
05. May, 2011
Most of you are foolish and giving proof that Pakistanis are always blaming others for their own problems. The terrorists in Waziristan are killing and maiming hundreds of civilian Pakistanis. This is not the actions of peace loving "freedom fighters". There are many within the Pakistani government who are comlicit bed fellows with the terrorists.
Name (required)
24. Aug, 2011
PLEASE WE REQUSET THE WORLD THAT LEAVE THE PEOPLE WAZIRSTN FREELY WE ARE NOT TERRORISET WE ARE PEACEFULL PEOPLE BUT ……………………………………………………………..