Pakistan's western front

[fatman17]

Pakistan's western front

By Zeenia Satti

4/8/2008

Three factors jeopardized Pakistan's security on the western front. a) Musharraf allowed military action against Afghanistan from Pakistan's soil without first sealing its western border. b) NATO failed to reconstruct Afghanistan, which rendered its occupation illegitimate and produced an inevitable domestic insurgency for end to occupation. c) During the war that followed, the Taliban's vengeance, Washington's displeasure with Pakistan's nuclear weapons, Indo-Afghan irredentist claims over Pakistan's territory, each found FATA to be an easy conduit of furtherance of their respective designs. Furthermore, the Musharraf regime's domestic legitimacy gap rendered it vulnerable to a myriad of political and military onslaughts, producing an international uproar, often orchestrated, that Pakistan was a failed state and a dangerous nation.

The three factors cited above will overwhelm Islamabad unless it changes its western-front policy. Musharraf cites Washington's threat of bombing Pakistan into the stone age as the reason for his Afghan policy turnabout in 2001. Pakistan's participation in the post-9/11 Afghan war on Washington's terms has taken it close to the brink of disaster. Paradoxically, this very position has equipped Islamabad with the bargaining chips vis a vis the US that it did not possess soon after 9/11. The rapidly decreasing support in the US for Bush's war in Iraq would end entirely if Iraq's insurgents started launching terrorist attacks inside American cities. By the same token, due to countrywide terror attacks, Pakistan's capacity to win greater US acceptance for a more nationalist policy regarding the "war on terror" is now increased.

The strategic context of the Afghan insurgency has been misrepresented by Washington. It states that the Taliban are regrouping in FATA and launching attacks in Afghanistan, thus frustrating ISAF's reconstruction efforts. The western media's scrutiny of Afghan insurgent battles, on the other hand, reveals that the insurgency is spread all over Afghanistan and appears to be without a centralized head. It stems from local hatred due to high civilian casualty rate and disproportionate use of force by US troops in Afghanistan. The fact that acceptable levels of security, prosperity and political identity have not been provided to the Afghans during their six-year-long occupation has augmented local antagonism. This is the strategic context of the Afghan insurgency. It is not cross border terrorism. For as long as the strategic context remains, insurgency will dominate the Afghan scene regardless of FATA's assistance. Furthermore, it will be sustained by tactical, small unit leadership, even if Pak army decimates the Taliban altogether.

The US has chosen to call Afghan insurgency the "Taliban resurgence" in order to shift the blame to Pakistan. The only centralized feature of the insurgency is its target; i.e. NATO troops and the Karzai regime. The terror on Pakistani soil may be the centralized work of the Taliban. The same cannot be said of suicide attacks in Afghanistan. It can be concluded that warlord politics in Afghanistan has been replaced by widespread insurgency against western occupation. Because a unified Afghanistan exists as the final reference point of political identity, it could inspire networking amongst insurgents. In calling the insurgents "Taliban" the US is turning away from the agonizing truth. For strategic clarity, the Afghan insurgents have to be de linked from one particular entity and named what they were named during the Soviet Afghan war; i.e. Afghan Mujahideen. The argument that ISAF and Karzai are unable to provide prosperity because of the insurgency is mooted by the time line of the insurgency. It rose slowly as a response to occupied mismanagement. Up to 2004, there was no insurgency.

On Pakistan's front, Washington and Karzai have jeered at Musharraf's every offer of securing the border. Land mines were dismissed on grounds that they were immoral. Barbed wiring was opposed on grounds that it will divide the Pushtun nation! The second objection is tantamount to telling Pakistan "heads you lose, tales we win". The only option presented to Pakistan is internecine warfare on its Pushtun lands, which will turn Pakistan's first line of defence on its western border, the Pushtuns, squarely against Islamabad and render the eastern border insecure due to military's preoccupation with the west. Pakistan need not discuss its border security with Afghanistan or Washington. It needs to decide this matter in its own vital interest, which lies in halting border fluidity on the western front and changing FATA's administrative environment in which crime functions with impunity.

The roughly 800-mile extended Afghan-FATA border has become a conduit of destabilization of Pakistan. Washington's global war on terror should be a campaign against all terrorists, not just those actively targeting the US On this point, Pakistan should elicit Washington's cooperation for its nationalist policy on the "war on terror", which it must implement with the same firmness that Turkey has recently shown on its border with Iraq. This policy should rest on FATA's administrative amalgamation in to NWFP and the physical sealing of Pak-Afghan border, in that order.

State's writ must prevail in FATA. We no longer live in the strategic environment that necessitates parity of force. Terror strikes all over Pakistan and 9/11 testify to the fact that a state's conventional power and its nuclear weapons are of no consequence in dealing with manoeuvre warfare. In such a milieu, an accessory of the nature of FATA and an open border with a restive state under occupation are strategic blunders Pakistan can ill afford. Not only is latest weaponry in abundant supply in FATA, the resurgence of Afghan drug trade under U.S occupation means lethal drugs and black money too is in abundant supply. Pakistani society, including FATA's population, should not be left exposed to this sinister combination. Incremental administrative changes in FATA will not solve the problem. Fundamental reorientation in the nation's best interest is required.

 

[JK!]

I thought security had improved a little with more check points constructed.

No offence Fatman but what you post is generally old news or what is already known. There has yet to be decisive or meaningful action taken.

 

[fatman17]

I thought security had improved a little with more check points constructed.

No offence Fatman but what you post is generally old news or what is already known. There has yet to be decisive or meaningful action taken.

JK- i have a suggestion for you - pls dont waste your time on my posts - no offence taken.

 

[JK!]

JK- i have a suggestion for you - pls dont waste your time on my posts - no offence taken.

No worries fatman but some posts regarding a bit of action would be welcome.

Besides I enjoy wasting my time on your posts.

 

[fatman17]

No worries fatman but some posts regarding a bit of action would be welcome.

Besides I enjoy wasting my time on your posts.

Roger Sir!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

This policy should rest on FATA's administrative amalgamation in to NWFP and the physical sealing of Pak-Afghan border, in that order.

Completely agree - but the NWFP government (ANP) needs to subscribe to this as well, and push it. On the former suggestion they are agreed, on the latter (sealing of border) I am not aware of what the ANP leadership thinks, and whether it will be capable of selling the suggestion to the Tribes.

The ANP has made a positive move on the refugee issue.

Repatriation at all costs, ANP tells Afghan refugees

 

[muse]

Politically motivated opinion pieces serve to mask the reality of what is taking place all over Pakistan, not just its Western borders. Islamists and other radicals have decided that the Pakistani state is a push over. The Pakistani people, as usual, are divided over just about every issue.

The "Hate America" and "Hate Musharraf" crew miss no opportunity to mask their effort at destroying Pakistan, by making the suggestion that Pakistan's problem are because Pakistan has decided to resist being part of the dust heap of history and that Pakistan and the Pakistani people ought to go to the slaughter houses prepared for them by Islamists and God forsaken Sardars.

Pakistanis need once again, the plain speaking Musharraf, however; Pakistanis do not need the Musharraf who needs to be loved. What we want is resolve and action. Some to affirm that Pakistanis will pay any price bear any burden, to prevail against the Islamists. jihadist or whatever you may wish to call them and will finish off Sardars forever.

If today a non-state such as Afghanistan is taken seriously in Pakistan, it is because we are constantly being fed a diet of misinformation and defeat by certain elements in the press and in national politics. Instead of the constant drum beat of the vengeance of the Afghan, we ought to be making sure that the Afghan and any other tremble in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones when they conspire against the Pakistani nation.

Truth about FATA or Balochistan for that matter is that a small elite is now committed to the destruction of Pakistan and to it's replacement by their tribal barbarity.

If the American in the guise of the "international community" from time to time chooses to trot out the bogey of "dangerous country armed with nuclear weapons", it is because Pakistan has been irresolute. Pakistan cannot seem to decide if it will go quietly or it will have its backbone fortified by the West. He who hesitates is lost??

Provinces of Pakistan represent nations other than Pakistan and this is most unfortunate and regrettable. What may be best is to have smaller, more numerous provinces. The provinces are administrative units, assigning to them ethnic and linguistic character and affinity is to create long term problems for the nation state Pakistan.

Pakistan is an idea; it is best served by having that idea explained to large numbers of persons, and to persuade them that their interests are located in the propagation of that idea among even larger numbers of persons, that includes persons in the land mass known as Afghanistan and beyond.

 

[kidwaibhai]

i think not mining the border was a big mistake on our part. i think the government should mine it completely and also build a fence.
that is the only way that we will end this problem.

 

[mujahideen]

i think not mining the border was a big mistake on our part. i think the government should mine it completely and also build a fence.
that is the only way that we will end this problem.

All this is easier said then done. The landscape is so bad that these things are really diffcult to do. Now I am not saying this is wrong, it should work but wont really be too effective.
In my opinion two things need to happen. First kick out all Afghans. The second make a deal with the tribals, in which they pledge not to host any foreigners or terrorists. The tribals will listen, they are people of their words, but unfortunately they will be forces against this deal.

 

[fatman17]

Politically motivated opinion pieces serve to mask the reality of what is taking place all over Pakistan, not just its Western borders. Islamists and other radicals have decided that the Pakistani state is a push over. The Pakistani people, as usual, are divided over just about every issue.

The "Hate America" and "Hate Musharraf" crew miss no opportunity to mask their effort at destroying Pakistan, by making the suggestion that Pakistan's problem are because Pakistan has decided to resist being part of the dust heap of history and that Pakistan and the Pakistani people ought to go to the slaughter houses prepared for them by Islamists and God forsaken Sardars.

Pakistanis need once again, the plain speaking Musharraf, however; Pakistanis do not need the Musharraf who needs to be loved. What we want is resolve and action. Some to affirm that Pakistanis will pay any price bear any burden, to prevail against the Islamists. jihadist or whatever you may wish to call them and will finish off Sardars forever.

If today a non-state such as Afghanistan is taken seriously in Pakistan, it is because we are constantly being fed a diet of misinformation and defeat by certain elements in the press and in national politics. Instead of the constant drum beat of the vengeance of the Afghan, we ought to be making sure that the Afghan and any other tremble in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones when they conspire against the Pakistani nation.

Truth about FATA or Balochistan for that matter is that a small elite is now committed to the destruction of Pakistan and to it's replacement by their tribal barbarity.

If the American in the guise of the "international community" from time to time chooses to trot out the bogey of "dangerous country armed with nuclear weapons", it is because Pakistan has been irresolute. Pakistan cannot seem to decide if it will go quietly or it will have its backbone fortified by the West. He who hesitates is lost??

Provinces of Pakistan represent nations other than Pakistan and this is most unfortunate and regrettable. What may be best is to have smaller, more numerous provinces. The provinces are administrative units, assigning to them ethnic and linguistic character and affinity is to create long term problems for the nation state Pakistan.

Pakistan is an idea; it is best served by having that idea explained to large numbers of persons, and to persuade them that their interests are located in the propagation of that idea among even larger numbers of persons, that includes persons in the land mass known as Afghanistan and beyond.

well said!
but dont u think creating more provinces will create more chaos then there already is. sardarism or feudalism must be ended so the masses can take control of their destiny.

 

[mujahideen]

but dont u think creating more provinces will create more chaos then there already is. sardarism or feudalism must be ended so the masses can take control of their destiny.

I think this would be a good thing to do. But creat many provinces. I mean cut every province into 4 piece or more. I think this will help to bring down prvincialism. It would also be more organzied because te administration would have a smaller area to watch over, which would be more organized.

 

[muse]

Creating greater number of smaller provinces is an imperative. Let’s be clear, the entire purpose is efficient administration, effective delivery of services and genuinely democratic governance.

Getting back to the problem on the Western border and it’s relation to the kind of nonsense that is masquerading as “political solution”, I would refer interested readers to the statements as printed today in the “Dawn” newspaper:
April 10, 2008 Thursday Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1429

Mountain fighters not terrorists, says Raisani
By Amanullah Kasi
QUETTA, April 9: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has said that dialogue with militants is necessary for restoring peace.

Addressing the provincial assembly after taking a vote of confidence on Wednesday, he rejected a perception that people fighting in the mountains were terrorists or saboteurs.

He said that people would invest in the province and government officials would perform their duty without any fear if peace prevailed and national assets were protected.

He said the political movements of the Baloch people, Pukhtuns or Sindhis could not be suppressed by force. “The fighters in the mountains are our brothers and they have taken up weapons for the rights of the people,” he said.

“If Gwadar is a gateway for Central Asian states then it also is a mega problem for the Baloch because settlement of outsiders will deprive the natives of their right to sit in this house. The settlement of outsiders will be conditional and they will have no right to vote or contest elections,” he said.

Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani announced in the morning session that Aslam Raisani had returned unopposed as the Leader of the House.

In the evening session, all 57 members present in the house supported him as the new chief minister.

Mr Raisani said: “If we can talk with Indians or Jews then why should we hesitate to initiate negotiations with militants in Balochistan. We don’t agree with the elements who call fighters struggling for their rights in other areas mujahideen or hurriyat pasand but dub the fighters in Balochistan as traitors or terrorists.”

He said national reconciliation meant sitting with the forces with whom one disagreed. “I want to talk with the militants to persuade them to come down from the mountains to resolve the contentious issues on the negotiating table,” he said.

He called for an end to the military operation so that displaced people could be rehabilitated and compensated.

He demanded that the federal government should release former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal and trace the missing people.

The chief minister said that no development activity could be started amid internal strife. “We must accept the ground reality that we cannot proceed to tackle the problems faced by the people of Balochistan without harmony and love.”

He said that members of the house belonging to different schools of thought had elected him unopposed which reflected their aspirations to struggle jointly to take the province out of the grave crisis confronting it.

Mr Raisani said blowing up electricity pylons, damaging railway tracks and killing people were not in the interest of the province but the question was why had the attackers taken the extreme steps of damaging national assets. “We must concentrate on resolving the main issue because of which we are facing the law and order problem.”

He said the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, Balaach Marri and hundreds of others in the military operation had deeply hurt the Baloch people; thousands of people had been displaced, hundreds of political workers, including Akhtar Mengal, had been under detention for a long time and none of the prisoners had been presented in a court.

“If a political worker is killed or hanged, his family will at least be satisfied that he has been buried but the family members of the missing people remain anxious about whether they are alive or dead or are being tortured.

“It is the responsibility of the institutions that hold the missing persons to present them before courts,” he said.

The chief minister said the federal government and its institutions should accept the reality that use of baton, denial of rights and keeping politicians in custody were not working.

“To save the federation and develop harmony between the Baloch and the federation we have to take concrete measures to remove the feeling of deprivation of the oppressed people.”

He said the people of Balochistan should be given a share in the governing bodies and allowed to participate in the development process. Lack of trust between the haves and have-nots would perpetuate the feeling of deprivation and disharmony between Balochistan and the federation, which would not be good for national integrity.

Paying tribute to Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Bugti and Balaach Marri for sacrificing their lives for the rights of the people, democracy and the coming generations, he said recognition of rights was the only way to bring peace, harmony and prosperity to Balochistan.

He said granting autonomy to the federating units was the main issue and the centre should only keep the portfolios of currency, defence, foreign affairs and communications.

He said Fata should be merged with the NWFP and the federal capital’s representation in the Senate should be abolished to maintain equal representation of the provinces in the upper house of parliament.

The chief minister announced that his secretariat’s expenses would be reduced by half and directed the provincial secretaries to cancel all appointments made by the caretaker government, except the recruitments made through the Balochistan Public Service Commission.”

Interested readers will note that the Minister, does not condemn militancy, does not condemn the killing of Pakistani paramilitary, police and soldiers. Indeed the minister justifies the killing of Pakistani officials.

Interested readers cannot fail to notice that according to the Minister Raisani, Pakistanis are “outsiders” and that Pakistanis do not enjoy rights of citizenship in all of Pakistan, including Balouchistan.

Will interested readers fail to realize that what the minister seems to have in mind for his “flock of sheep” is a “affirmative action” plan what would bestow upon the Balouch a kind of “niggerdom”, a sort of “Bhumiputra” – after all the Balouch cannot compete with other Pakistanis for jobs, the Balouch ought not be encouraged to foster a deep value for education as the route for social mobility.

Is this the Pakistan of our forefathers dreams and valiant effort against all odds? Are we to allow ourselves to led to slaughterhouse by these ministers who position themselves not as the voice of the Pakistani people but as agents of vile division and tribalism?

The Minister, you will note, refers to the Balouch as “oppressed people”, is this true? And if is true, what opposition can Pakistanis possibly offer to their “liberation” but, if on the other hand, it is not true that the Balouch and the others whom the minister refers to as “political movements” are armed insurrectionists in the pay of anti-Pakistan elements, what then must we do??? Will we resolve to fight or flight???

 

[JK!]

i think not mining the border was a big mistake on our part. i think the government should mine it completely and also build a fence.
that is the only way that we will end this problem.

I'd like to see the passages targeted just block them off.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

“If Gwadar is a gateway for Central Asian states then it also is a mega problem for the Baloch because settlement of outsiders will deprive the natives of their right to sit in this house. The settlement of outsiders will be conditional and they will have no right to vote or contest elections,” he said.

This is the statement I find most objectionable by Raisani.

Compare it to the statements of the right wing Islamophobes arguing against "Muslim Immigration" into Europe. Its essentially the same idea.

I am all for Balochistan gaining autonomy, but not for draconian restrictions like these that fly in the face of equality of rights for all Pakistanis. All settlers in Balochistan would essentially become second class citizens, treated much the same way the Gulf States treat immigrant workers.

He wants to continue the "pure Baloch race" or what? Shades of the Nazi's "pure Aryanism?"

 

[maqsad]

Close to 50% of Balochistan's population today, especially in Quetta, are Pathans from Afghanistan's Kandahar province. There is even a part of Quetta which is like a city within a city and it is called Pakhtoonabad I believe. We don't hear any news about those pathans taking over Balochistan now do we? Hmmmmmm.

This makes me suspect that the Baloch are being manipulated by forces that want the province to secede and become an independent nation thus making it easier for foreign forces to loot and plunder it while paying off the top leadership who may in turn subsidize existence for native Baloch if resources permit.

This may also explain why so many of them are whining about gawador because that port is not really a resource but is rather the front door to an energy and trade corridor which has the potential to attract massive amounts of non-baloch from other parts of pakistan thus making it harder for other players in the great game to steal Balochistan from Pakistan.