High-level huddle: Civil, military brass discuss Waziristan operation

The meeting was focused on ‘evaluating’ various aspects of a possible military operation in North Waziristan.

ISLAMABAD:

The country’s top civil and military leadership met on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of a military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting which was attended by the ministers for defence and interior, along with army chief General Raheel Sharif, Director General ISI Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam and Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Aamer Riaz.

An official statement merely said that “they discussed matters relating to national defence and security”. However, sources familiar with the high-level huddle disclosed that discussions were focused on ‘evaluating’ various aspects of a possible military operation against militants in North Waziristan, following the breakdown of the government’s peace initiative.

A senior government official told The Express Tribune that the civil and military leadership decided to use force against irreconcilable groups. Peace talks, meanwhile, would be pursued with reconcilable factions, he added.

The government has already given the military the go-ahead for ‘preemptive strikes’ against militant hideouts in the country’s tribal regions.

Asked whether the government has finally decided to launch a ground offensive in North Waziristan, the official said the government would follow the policy of ‘ambiguity’ as part of its strategy to encourage groups that may still be interested in talks.

“The first option now is how to control the insurgency through surgical operations, so talks have gone in the background,” said another official while requesting anonymity. “But even then the government is ready to hold talks if the Taliban come to the negotiating table unconditionally,” the official added.

The Express Tribune has learnt that the civil and military leadership also discussed the possible fallout of a full-scale military offensive in North Waziristan.

According to sources, the military leadership informed the government that the security forces would clear the area within three to four weeks but the battle could only be won with the subsequent steps by the civilian authorities to stabilise the situation.

“The government will have to act against these groups who may have their hideouts in the settled areas,” said a security official on condition of anonymity.

The official added that the slaying of 23 Frontier Corps troops by the Mohmand chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was the turning point which compelled the government to consider other options.

A senior Pakistani government official was also quoted as saying by The Washington Post that the government was on the verge of launching the North Waziristan offensive.

“It could be any day,” said the official, adding that military plans have been shared with top US officials, who have long urged an offensive.

The official said government targeting would ‘not discriminate’ between the TTP, the Haqqani network and other militant groups in North Waziristan, including al Qaeda.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2014.