The real problem in Waziristan
is that we are on our way to winning the battle and losing
the hearts of the people in an important part of our homeland,
maybe even creating a dangerous schism and dividing loyalties.
Our government and some people in our media are finding
it hard to balance the two.
Our country and its interests are dear to us all. And
so are the lives of our fellow citizens, especially our
noble and gallant compatriots who live in the magnificent
valleys of Waziristan.
The Father of our Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah,
had a special respect for this precious part of our country.
In his article on this page on 19 March, titled The Rising
of the Tribes, Mr M.A. Niazi brilliantly took us back
to how the Quaid resisted our civilian and military bureaucracies
who wanted to maintain a military presence in Waziristan
after Pakistan’s independence.
The Quaid believed the people of Waziristan were capable
of rising in constructive ways, through development work.
“The Quaid,” wrote Mr Niazi, “had confidence
in his people.”
Our tribesmen repaid the Quaid’s trust in kind.
The people of Waziristan embraced their compatriots in
the rest of the country. As astutely noted by Mr Niazi,
on the very day our bomber planes began pounding Waziristan
last week, resulting in the displacement of thousands
of our people, a proud son of that region was leading
Pakistan’s team to a precious victory in Rawalpindi.
The international media, possibly in ignorance and good
faith, is dubbing Waziristan as another version of America’s
‘wild wild west’ and its people as outlaws.
Some of our own commentators, by picking up the international
news coverage, are inadvertently contributing to showcasing
the Waziris as ‘bad people’. This is already
alienating scores of Pakistanis across the nation especially
those who have family and blood ties in Waziristan.
It’s important to stress that the vilified tribesmen
are loyal Pakistanis. They fought the first Kashmir war
and have shown their mettle in all our difficult times.
If some of them find themselves today facing off with
their brothers and cousins in our armed forces, it is
not because the tribesmen are disloyal but because they
are simply sticking to their honour and hospitality. Apart
from a misguided minority, the majority’s fervor
is not ill intentioned. That was why President Musharraf
flew down to Peshawar to personally engage tribal elders
and convince them of the need to purge their areas of
potential terrorists.
Here’s where the government is right: The possible
terrorists hiding in the area must be expelled. Their
presence unnecessarily undermines the interests of the
tribal areas and gives the excuse to others to interfere
in our internal questions.
Where the Government is Wrong:
But here’s where the government is wrong: The operation
in Waziristan should have come hand in hand with a media
PR campaign targeting our domestic audience to dispel
two impressions: One, that the government is not attempting
to kill its own people and, two, that the people in Waziristan
are not outlaws.
The Chechen/Uzbek Dilemma:
A second important element of the Wana operation is the
question of the presence on our territory of foreigners.
More than the Chechen and Uzbek opponents of their respective
governments,. the Arabs are diehard al Qaeda. A solution
must be found to put them out of their business without
turning their local Pakistani relatives, who are entire
tribes, into enemies of the Pakistani state.
Our American friends must also understand these real and
genuine constraints. The Pakistanis are keen to expel
any possible terrorists if they happen to be on our territory
because it enhances our national security. American-style
hot pursuit in our territories can be good for the Americans
who are facing tough elections ahead and need quick victories.
But this will be disastrous for Pakistan’s long-term
integrity and stability. Such measures will plant the
seeds of future conflict in a sensitive part of our country
and might push our fiercely independent minded people
into the arms of terrorists.
The best course is a policy of carrot-and-stick combining
development work with intelligence gathering and isolation
and punishment for the wayward. Our armed forces are already
doing this. And it is encouraging that our American friends
are joining hands in this effort. But it must be expanded.
Washington must show more trust and faith in Islamabad’s
own methods of dealing with the alleged terrorist presence
in our tribal areas. This is the best recipe to achieve
joint Pak-American goals without harming anyone’s
interests.
