The Nation, Pakistan

U.S. Policy of Force Sure to 'Put Tribes on the Warpath'

The government mustn't blindly obey American directives. Due to the way it has pursued its strategic aims in the region, Washington bears responsibility for unleashing the genie of militancy

EDITORIAL

July 26, 2007

Pakistan - Original Article (English)

Peace in the tribal areas has again become hostage to American interests. U.S. demands for military action have led the army to reestablish check-points despite local opposition, and the Grand Tribal Jirga has been forced to abandon its attempts at reconciliation.

Last year after military operations killed hundreds of civilians and troops, the people of Pakistan heaved a sigh of relief at the signing of the North Waziristan peace accord . But by that time the confrontation had spread elsewhere. In Bajour Agency, Abdullah Mehsud organized the kidnapping of a group of Chinese engineers, one of whom died the when Mehsud blew himself up during the rescue operation on Tuesday.

[Editor's Note: Bajaur is an Agency [district] of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas [FATA] of Pakistan. It is the smallest agency in the FATA, it is also largely inaccessible due to its hilly terrain, and hence, it is a very good place to hide ].

Because of the [NATO] bombing of a madrassa in Bajaur Agency in which over 80 people lost their lives, a peace accord similar to the one in North Waziristan was unable to mature. This in turn led to a most devastating suicide attack on army trainees in Dargai .

The State Department and Pentagon had opposed the deal in North Waziristan on the grounds that it provided breathing space for al-Qaeda elements which had allegedly re-established safe havens in the region and were crossing into Afghanistan to launch attacks. And since the U.S. led coalition was reluctant to station more troops to seal the border on the Afghan side for fear of casualties, American officials wanted Pakistan to bombard its own citizens instead.

Pursuing the policy being dictated by Washington would once again put the tribes on the warpath. Operations conducted by the army would lead to reprisals not only in the tribal region but also the rest of the country. In North Waziristan, ambushes and suicide bombings already take a heavy toll on the troops, where six soldiers were killed on Tuesday. There were also rocket attacks on Bannu City that left 12 dead. In Bajaur, two paramilitary troops were abducted and subsequently beheaded. Incidents like this never happened before.

The government mustn't blindly obey American directives. Due to the way it has pursued its strategic aims in the region, Washington bears responsibility unleashing the genie of militancy, foremost of these strategic aims being the defeat of Soviet forces that once occupied Afghanistan. The extremist tendencies let loose in the process can only be realistically contained over time and with a multi-pronged strategy involving the economic and social integration of the region with the rest of the country.

Resorting to quick-fix military action would cause more bloodshed, destabilize the entire region and have highly negative consequences for the rest of the country.