Pakistan counters Taleban advance?

[BanglaBhoot]

Taliban oust Pakistani authorities in Swat Valley sharia zone

Taliban fighters spilling out of the Swat Valley have swept across Buner, a district 60 miles from Islamabad, as Hillary Clinton warned the situation in Pakistan now poses a "mortal threat" to the security of the world.

The US secretary of state told Congress yesterday that Pakistan faced an "existential" threat from Islamist militants. "I think the Pakistani government is basically abdicating to the Taliban and the extremists," she said. Any further deterioration in the situation "poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world", she said.

In Buner, Taliban fighters occupied government buildings, ransacked the offices of aid agencies and ordered aid employees to leave. Fighters brandishing guns and rocket launchers patrolled villages, forcing beleaguered local police to retreat to their stations. Local courts have stopped functioning and judicial officials have gone on indefinite leave.

This morning the provincial government said it was deploying six platoons of paramilitaries – between 180 and 300 troops – to retrieve control of the government installations.

The turmoil in Buner, a district of about 1 million people, does not pose an immediate threat to Islamabad, which lies across a mountain range and the river Indus. But the speed and aggression of the militant advance has stoked a sense of alarm across the country, even among normally conservative forces.

"If Taliban continue to move at this pace they will soon be knocking at the doors of Islamabad," Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the pro-Taliban Jamiat Ulema e Islam party, told the national assembly yesterday.

The Taliban could soon seize control of Tarbela Dam, a strategic reservoir, Rehman warned.

Blame for the turmoil has focused on a controversial peace deal the provincial government signed with militants in February. Hoping to defuse the insurgency, the Awami National party-led government acceded to demands for sharia law in Swat and seven surrounding districts, known collectively as Malakand Division.

The changes were ratified by the national parliament last week with cross-party consensus. Since then, the Taliban have moved to establish much more than judicial control.

In Mingora, the commercial hub of Swat, the police retain a low-key presence, reduced to directing traffic. Most politicians have fled, many under death threats. Many residents said it was not clear who was in control of the town.

In Imam Dheri, the Taliban headquarters near Mingora, a Taliban spokesman, Muslim Khan, told the Guardian their goal was the establishment of an Islamic caliphate first in Pakistan and then across the Muslim world.

"Democracy is a system for European countries. It is not for Muslims," he said. "This is not just about justice. It should be in education, health, economics. Everything should be under sharia."

The drive into Buner signals the next step in that strategy. Khan said Taliban fighters were being deployed to ensure sharia law was implemented there too.

They are also muscling in on other areas. On Wednesday, militants kidnapped a senior government official in Upper Dir, west of Swat, for a few hours before releasing him.

Defending the government, Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, said Islamabad was pushing for a negotiated peace just as the US had done with Iraqi militants.

"To think that that strategy somehow represents an abdication of our responsibility towards our people and towards the security of our country and the region is incorrect," he told CNN.

Taliban oust Pakistani authorities in Swat Valley sharia zone | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[roadrunner]

Good grief, this is so dramatized. It's worse than Bollywood.

Yes, the Taliban do have control of Swat, various tribal agencies and so on.

But all these reports of Taliban "on the march to Islamabad" are hysterical and mentally defunct.

Mark my words, the Taliban isn't going anywhere near Islamabad. You can quote me on it.

 

[blain2]

Good grief, this is so dramatized. It's worse than Bollywood.

Yes, the Taliban do have control of Swat, various tribal agencies and so on.

But all these reports of Taliban "on the march to Islamabad" are hysterical and mentally defunct.

Mark my words, the Taliban isn't going anywhere near Islamabad. You can quote me on it.

I concur!

This whole "tamasha" will fizzle out shortly. Mark my words on this. There is nothing like Islamabad about to fall etc. etc.

The only issue is that the government is being too complacent and reactive, it should be more proactive.

Most of the cadres of the so-called Taliban are young men there for the show. A typical Pakistani past time of "join the bandwagon" is what is on show here.

I know most here are hell bent to believe the words of Hillary Clinton, yet I think that some sort of push back is inevitable. Not suggesting the whole issue to go away, however there is no threat to settled Pakistan from such bands.

The funniest thing in the above article is Mullah Fazlur Rehman's sudden concern. Last I checked he was all pro-Taliban and suddenly he is ringing the alarm bells...got to commend him, ever the survivor to line himself up perfectly in any "bohraan" that Pakistan faces.

Taliban are not going anywhere close to Tarbela etc.

 

[Munir]

Well, giving them the right for Sharia is the first big mistake. Taleban in not intrested in Pakistan. It is acting like a virus and will either destroy it or Pakistan will get paria and in the end a dead nation thanks to western powers. Last thing I heard from Lieberman (pretty friendly about Pakistan in the past) is that Pakistan is worser then Iran for Israel... Good job... Give more bearded apes the lead and we will become a economic power...

 

[blain2]

Munir,

I concur that implementing your own way at gun point is not right, however some things should be clarified. Nizam-e-adl is not Sharia. This is something that everyone is spouting. There is a difference between the two.

Secondly, in my opinion, Sharia is not as big a deal as it is being made out to be. The West's most ardent supporter in the Middle East (KSA) have had it ever since their founding. This is something for the Pakistani nation as a whole to decide.

The main problem on hand is the way the TTP etc. are pushing it onto everyone and the threat of gun behind it. That needs to be checked and it will be (I have no doubt in my mind about that).

Despite all of the tales of Pakistan's upcoming demise at the hands of such people, you have to realize that Pakistanis do things according to their domestic sentiments. The recent elections showed that many who supported the Taliban got a resounding slap in terms of the votes. That shows one that there is no overwhelming support for the Taliban. There is support for Islam/sharia etc. but one that would be implemented at the pace that the people of Pakistan are comfortable with, not one that some village mullah wants to stuff down people's throat.

This in itself is the biggest obstacle in the way of the Taliban onslaught.

 

[All-Green]

I am a firm believer that our Army is more than capable of dealing with the threat...having said that i cannot ignore the meek stance of GOP regarding TTP.
Dealing with TTP without force is not something that shall favor GOP and the more time given to TTP to build a legend of their own invulnerability...the more it will make them stronger in the eyes of the common man who is of course afraid of them.

We have to take them on with overwhelming force even if they veer 0.01% of course from the peace agreement...that is what Peace agreement should have been for...to show their thirst for power and isolate them from all segments of society before moving in for the kill.

 

[roadrunner]

The only issue is that the government is being too complacent and reactive, it should be more proactive.

I don't know if you include the military in that.

But I do think the army have it just about right.

They cleared Swat out before, then signed a peace deal. They weren't fooled by the flogging tape or other derailment plans. Personally, I think the army have this spot on, and they're playing a waiting game. It's important to realize the vested interests that are going on in Pakistan at the moment.

I doubt Zardari has much to do with the game plan, as he's not this intelligent.

 

[pakomar]

Its time for our government to deal with the root of the problem. Taliban do not born in Pakistan they cross the Afghanistan border .mostly of them escape US booming and now are terrorizing Pakistani in the name of Islam. Governments of Pakistan strongly reject US pressure and tell them to secure their side of border and stop Taliban entering Pakistan.

 

[roadrunner]

Its time for our government to deal with the root of the problem. Taliban do not born in Pakistan they cross the Afghanistan border .mostly of them escape US booming and now are terrorizing Pakistani in the name of Islam. Governments of Pakistan strongly reject US pressure and tell them to secure their side of border and stop Taliban entering Pakistan.

The Taliban in Pakistan, are Pakistanis actually.

It's an ideology spread, not a demographic one.

 

[HAIDER]

Is it strange why Maulana Diesel gave wake up call of sudden. I think one of the reason is taliban telling people to take over land from landlords and no more peasants. That would slowly kill all the landlords and feudals. So, Maluana next thousands of acre land is going to be in hand of taliban.
Otherwise i ask question many time why Mushi let Mulla Fazullah let go when army was inside in his notorious madrassa and his radio station will shutdown.

 

[sergente rehan]

The Taliban in Pakistan, are Pakistanis actually.

It's an ideology spread, not a demographic one.

you are right about TTp which are 90% Pakistani but they are used by anti-Pakistan forces.

The weapons and fundings are coming from Afghanistan and anti-Pakistan forces are still sending brainwashed sucide bombers and terrorist to destabilize Pakistan fom Afghanistan.Infact recently pakistan security forces capture several terrorist from Karachi, Lahore and other cities and most of them are Afghani.....

 

[roadrunner]

you are right about TTp which are 90% Pakistani but they are used by anti-Pakistan forces.

The weapons and fundings are coming from Afghanistan and anti-Pakistan forces are still sending brainwashed sucide bombers and terrorist to destabilize Pakistan fom Afghanistan.Infact recently pakistan security forces capture several terrorist from Karachi, Lahore and other cities and most of them are Afghani.....

There might be some Afghani suicide bombers or whatever, but the fact remains many of those fighting the government and committing acts of violence are Pakistanis themselves. Instead of saying Afghanistan did this or that, a little more introspection is required here. These are Pakistanis fighting the state. Once it's accepted that they're Pakistanis (and not Afghanis), you can then ask why are they so susceptible to foreign intelligence services. There's not one answer. The main things: Poverty, lack of development, lack of education, "the wrong type" of education, and perhaps more importantly, drone strikes. Those are the things Pakistan needs to remedy. Cutting deals is the correct way for temporary containment.

 

[SSGPA1]

We need Musharraf and Kiani combo to battle internal and external threats.

 

[S-2]

"Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, said Islamabad was pushing for a negotiated peace just as the US had done with Iraqi militants."

We didn't push from weakness. The "surge" was actually an evolved strategy that rode the back of H.R. McMaster's efforts with the 3rd Armored Cav Regt. in Tal Afar.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS A HIGHLY KINETIC AFFAIR. McMaster held no chit-chats before he'd dramatically cleared the streets and had the attention of everybody concerned.

Then "carrot and stick". With an easily identified and cowed/compliant local gov't, he began to re-establish their legitimacy in the eyes of the community by empowering them with the civil reconstruction-on the face. Until trust was built, we ran it behind the scenes.

We stayed on top of the bad guys once we jumped their bones. We didn't let up and began working with the local tribes only after they knew we'd kill AQI where they were found...

...and their warriors too if interfering. We had the attention of the sunni tribes and now began expanding the writ by working with them into the surrounding countryside.

We've tried to remove the personalities and isolate best practices to merge with the doctrine that Petraeus, et al were writing then at Leavenworth. This was refined and worked with the troops through 2005 and 2006. We had an emerging methodology that promised results but we couldn't extend them without more troops.

Finally came the troops. This from Tal Afar until late last summer when the numbers began to uniformly show positives on our "success indicators" was a three year process and remains utterly misunderstood by military hacks like your ambassador.

Tell him to shut his mouth or ask for a briefing. You've done nothing similar in the slightest and your reluctance to drop the hammer is where it starts.

Then we'll see if you've field commanders who know when they've captured the community's attention and can be exploited. Takes skill and a force motivated to establish primacy over all.

I don't think your army is psychologically prepared for such and believe your commanders fear the confrontations between your troops and these men. Religion will be used with skill against your troops. The arguments will come from taliban but also from those who simply are prepared to live with this condition rather than face war. The militants have proved very, very adept information warriors.

It will be faced over and over again, village by village, as each is in turn presented with their moments of truth. Most will fold as things now stand, given the examples left in Buner and SWAT. What precedent do these citizens see?

What recourse do they have but to stay above the flood and ride the sweeping current?

 

[Hasnain2009]

Army alarmed as Taliban eying on Mardan, Swabi

NEW YORK: After the Taliban take over Buner and roll into Mardan, it will be the end of the game, a senior Pakistani law enforcement official in NWFP told The New York Times On Wednesday.

The report claimed that when the Taliban entered Buner, the Pakistan army did not put up a defence, apparently abiding by the agreement signed by the Zardari government in Swat.

A local politician, Jamsher Khan, told NYT that people were initially determined to resist the Taliban in Buner, but that they were discouraged by the deal the government struck with the Taliban in Swat.

‘We felt stronger as long we thought the government was with us,’ he said by telephone, ‘but when the government showed weakness, we too stopped offering resistance to the Taliban.’

The newspaper said the takeover of Buner was particularly significant because the people there have tried last year to stand up to the Taliban by establishing small private armies to fight the militants. Last year when the militants encroached into Buner, killing policemen, the local people fought back and forced the militants out.

Buner, home to about one million people, is a gateway to Mardan, the second largest in NWFP, after Peshawar.

Similarly, the Wall Street Journal reported that ‘militants have been moving into Buner since the Swat peace deal was signed with the government in February. But starting Tuesday night they seized control of the entire district, which has a population of more than one million people. Heavily armed militants streaming in from Swat, occupied government offices and set up their own check posts. Terrified residents fled their homes.’

Dozens of hooded fighters carrying rocket launchers and machine guns ransacked the offices of international aid and development agencies working in the district and took away their vehicles. Some employees of the agencies were also briefly taken hostage. The militants set up their headquarters in the town of Buner after driving out government officials, the WSJ report said.

American officials led by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton sounded ominous alarm bells Wednesday. Mrs Clinton said she was concerned that Pakistan’s government was making too many concessions to the Taliban, emboldening the militants and allowing them to spread by giving in to their demands.

A senior American official said Mrs. Clinton’s remarks were prompted in part by news of the Taliban takeover in Buner.

The officials said that the further erosion of government authority in an area so close to the capital ought to stir concern not only in Pakistan but also among influential Pakistanis abroad.

The NYT reported that staff members of local nongovernmental organisations have been ordered to leave, and their offices have been looted. Pakistani television news channels showed Taliban fighters triumphantly carrying office equipment out of the offices of the organisations.

The Taliban advance had been building for weeks, with the assistance of sympathisers and even a local government official who was appointed on the recommendation of the Taliban, the report said.

The US media noted that the Taliban incursion comes after the government of President Asif Ali Zardari agreed to the imposition of religious laws in Swat, as part of a deal with the Taliban.

But with a beachhead in neighboring Swat, and a number of training camps for fresh recruits, the Taliban were able to carry out what amounted to an invasion of Buner, the media reported.

The Taliban expansion into Buner has begun to raise alarm among the senior ranks of the Pakistani Army, said a Western official who was familiar with the Pakistani military.

On Wednesday, one of the highest-ranking army officers traveled from Islamabad to Peshawar and met the officers of the 11th Corps, the army division based in Peshawar, to discuss the ‘overall situation in Buner’, the media reported.

One of the major concerns is that from the hills of Buner the Taliban have access to the flatlands of the district of Swabi, which lead directly to the four-lane motorway that runs from Islamabad to Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province.

The Pakistani military does not have a presence in Buner, Pakistani and Western officials told Times. The main government authority in Buner is the police, who have become demoralised by their low pay and lack of equipment in the face of the Taliban, Pakistani police officials say.

The Taliban have set up checkpoints in a number of villages in Buner, intimidating policemen and forcing them into their police stations, residents told reporters.

The militants were patrolling the bazaar in Daggar, residents said. Women, who used to move freely around the bazaars, were scarcely to be seen, they said. Those who did venture out were totally covered.

The militants were helped by the actions of the commissioner of Malakand, Javed Mohammad, who is also the senior official in Swat and who was appointed on the recommendation of the Taliban, the US media reported said.