[A-List] US imperialism: Pakistan

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Deathly silence descends on South Waziristan
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
Asia Times, March 18 2004

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.

-----

How the US set Pakistan aflame
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
Asia Times, March 18 2004

KARACHI - The flames of war have spread into Pakistan, with fierce fighting
between government forces and tribespeople in volatile South Waziristan
agency near the Afghanistan border, and the fire threatens to engulf
neighboring areas. The spark was provided by United States pressure on the
government of President General Pervez Musharraf to help in Washington's
"war on terror", but ironically, the only gainer will be the anti-US Afghan
resistance.

The fighting erupted as US-led forces began a spring offensive to eradicate
Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants in Afganistan. The US plan depends on crucial
support from Pakistan to keep a lid on its border region which is notorious
for supporting and sheltering the Afghan resistance. Now the Pakistani
military is fighting its own citizens there, and US Secretary of State Colin
Powell, who timed a visit to Pakistan to coincide with the launch of the
offensive and shore up support, will return home with the news that the
situation is getting ever more out of hand.

The latest and most serious clash between tribals and Pakistani forces
occurred Tuesday. At least 10 military personnel and 24 "suspects" were
reported killed, most of the latter said to be tribespeople suspected of
sheltering the militants. The day-long battle marked the eruption of tension
which had been nearing boiling point for some time, as reported by Asia
Times Online (Pakistan stirs a tribal war, Mar 3).

According to a prominent tribesperson in the town of Wana, South Waziristan,
Pakistani authorities had made every effort to prevent armed conflict with
locals in the tribal areas. A few days before the fighting broke out, the
authorities levied penalties on the tribal leaders for their opposition to
the presence of government forces. The tribal leaders in turn rebelled, but
the authorities handled the situation prudently. They secretly gave money to
the tribals and asked them to return the same money in a ceremony. The
face-saving drama was publicized to give the US the impression that
Pakistani forces were doing their best to smoke out terror suspects.

However, US pressure on Pakistan remained relentless, so much so that
Musharraf himself visited the North West Frontier Province to address the
tribal leaders and request their cooperation in the battles against al-Qaeda
and the Taliban.

Well-placed sources have told Asia Times Online that the Taliban is
regrouping in preparation for attacks on Afghan cities, and this is hot news
among Pakistan's jihadis. The jihadis have been looking for new battles
since the Kashmir front was totally shut down - they were informed in a
recent meeting presided over by a senior army officer that the Kashmir "game
is over" and that they should shut up shop. Many of those jihadis have now
made their way to Afghanistan. And according to reliable sources in Karachi,
which is a hub for dedicated jihadis, several groups of fighters made the
journey to South and North Waziristan to take part in the decisive battle
between the Afghan resistance and US and Pakistani troops. Similar groups
from Lahore, Quetta and the countryside of Punjab are also joining the
struggle.

Before Tuesday's battle, all seven tribal agency leaders had warned
Pakistani authorities to withdraw troops from tribal areas or face
resistance. Despite the warning, US pressure via American officials situated
in Wana alongside the Pakistani military upset the delicate situation.
Earlier this month, Pakistani soldiers killed at least 11 people in a
shooting incident in Wana - a direct precursor of the violence now taking
place. Had Pakistani authorities been left alone to deal with the situation,
the outcome might have been very different.

For instance, the tribes had refused to allow any further operations in
South Waziristan and had drawn a line, warning that if any Pakistani soldier
crossed it , he would be targeted. Pakistan's political agent in South
Waziristan called a meeting to which all tribal elders were invited, to ease
the tension. However, on the directive of US officials present, the tribal
leaders were arrested - and the door to dialogue slammed shut.

There are three interested parties keeping keen eyes on the deteriorating
situation:

The anti-Musharraf segment within the army, which will now likely exploit
the situation as they feel Pakistani soldiers have been misused in a war
which is not theirs .

The US-led coalition, which was keen to conduct operations in Pakistani
territory. Now that the tribespeople have also been branded by Pakistani
authorities as "terrorists", the US military has a golden opportunity to
enter Pakistan to crush the "terror networks".

The jihadis in Pakistan who are keen to participate in the Afghan
resistance. Previously, it was difficult for Pakistanis to take part because
controls in the border areas made entry into Afghanistan a challenge. Now,
with clashes on the Pakistan side of the border, the fighters will find
their way to the battlefields.

The most immediate threat to Pakistan's stability is within the Pakistani
army, where a strong contingency rejects Musharraf and his accommodation of
the US. This may push political parties like Jamaat-i-Islami to stage strong
demonstrations of power in an effort to force Musharraf to step down.