Opinion

Fazlullah’s death & its impact

Ayaz Wazir May 30, 2010

Maulana Fazlullah shot to fame when he lead the movement for the enforcement of Sharia laws called Tehrik-i-Nafaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) in Swat and Malakand. Supported by the Tehreek-i-Taliban he defied law enforcement agencies in the Swat valley but was forced to leave the area when a military operation was launched against him.

Conflicting reports were received from Afghan officials about his death. Senior officials of the eastern province of Nuristan are reported to have said that he had been killed while leading a force of 700 fighters, including Afghans and Pakistanis, in an attack on Bargi Matal. Another report was that the person killed was Fazlullah’s deputy Hamidullah. Taliban sources close to Fazlullah have strongly refuted reports of his death and of him leading a large force of fighters against the Afghan forces. They thought it was not possible given the situation prevailing in Afghanistan these days.

Although Fazlullah is thought to have been dislodged from his ancestral area he still wields great influence and remains a major threat to security in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And this is not the first time that he has been reported dead. He proved such reports to be wrong a number of times in the past.

However, if it is true, it will not bring the movement to a grinding halt but will be only a temporary setback. While individuals may be important they are never indispensible in a movement or a cause. Somebody else will step forward to carry on the banner.

The question which nobody in the corridors of power, especially in intelligence and security circles, has answered is why a puny chairlift operator was allowed, blatantly and unfettered, to make use of FM radio facilities to propagate his cause for so long when we had the technical knowhow to disrupt his broadcasts. Also, why were timely steps not taken to address the grievances of the people on which the Maulana capitalised? It is a different matter that in the process he locked horns with the security forces and when it became difficult for him to live in the area he left for Afghanistan following in the footsteps of his father-in-law.

In Afghanistan the biggest motivating force for the unity of the Taliban is the presence of American and Nato forces, as former Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil has said. The Taliban movement has almost become a national cause and the Afghans seem to have realised that the US-led forces in their country have designs other than helping its people. Left alone and to themselves the Afghans are quite capable of resolving their problems. Unless the US realises that the presence of foreign forces on Afghan soil is the real problem and withdraws them, Afghanistan is doomed to remain a strife-torn country.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2010.

COMMENTS (9)

jamil khan | 14 years ago | Reply @ spinkane: Then why have you taken the trouble of reading his article and then responding also?

jamil khan | 14 years ago | Reply It appears that some of the commentators have either not read or not willing to pay attention to What Gen.McChrytal said recently.The gist of what he said was that the US forces will not leave on the date announced by President Obama. The US and NATO failed to form a government in 9 long years that could take over resposibilities after withdrawal of foreign troops from that country.How long should the Afghans wait? Lastly Why should we decide for the Afghans the form of government best suitrd for them. Let them have that freedon to make a choice BUT will the invisible hands give them that choice? Look at what is happening in FATA for no sins of the tribesmen.Operation is about to be launched there but have we heard of what happened to the Hamzoni tribe at the hands of our defenders???? Its a game and a game of those whom we cannot see.

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Muhammad Ziad | 14 years ago | Reply Afghanistan is the only country where traditional Islam still survives. It is that same primitive society from where Islam took its roots. Once Us leaves Afghanistan , you might be right that they are quiet capable of resolving their problems but only with Guns and Bullets. Where i disagree with you is that the main force behind the unity of the taliban is Mullah Omar not Foreign forces. Mullah Omar still commands the taliban and this is what binds; separates them from the others. Al-Quaida for example is not commanded by Osama bin laden or Aymen Al Zawahiri thus a very loosely structure of command and control. There are no specific guidelines or rules of engagement for the Al-Quaida but it is in existence for the Afghan taliban. Mullah Omar people only remain in Afghanistan hence a tight knitted structure of command. Any puppet regime Us leaves behind will be bought down and replaced by Taliban either through Civil War or the government will surrender. Afghanistan is of taliban , this is where Pakistan starts to think of its national interest.

Omar Ali | 14 years ago | Reply An excellent analysis Mr. Wazir.

Sadia Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply The impact of Fazalullah’s death will be minimal as the Taliban is Sawat have been dislodged, also the process of succession is quick TTP and the new leader is always more furious so to establish his credentials. The recent wave of terror must be addressed as we must not shy from taking bold initiatives which may seem unpopular at this juncture. The American withdrawal needs to be well-planned and well-executed the results of a hasty soviet withdrawal lead to chaos in Afghanistan in the 90’s. The Afghan security forces must step up to fight their battle.

Spinkane | 14 years ago | Reply How do an ex ambassador becomes an expert on Tribal areas? By the way Swat is not a tribal area.ET please improve your standard of articles.There is no substance in this piece,Nadir El Edroose comments should have been published as a piece,Ayaz's article as comments.You may loose your readership

Ayesha Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Its high time that we learn lessons and correct our approach towards solving the complicated problem which has faced FATA and Pashtunkhwa. If the operations so far have solved this problem then we should launch it in North Waziristan also where America is putting a lot of pressure on the government of Pakistan to do so.

wazdan | 14 years ago | Reply Fazlullah was fully suported my Pakistani agencies, will known leader of ANP Afzal khan Lala who confronted Swat Talibans to the last told In interview to Geo news that Mingora Police captured a jeep full of modern weapons along with 3 persons. Ofter some time The Pakistani agency personnels come in a jeep & ask who has captured the jeep the then DSP,SHO claim they have captured .the Agency personnels ask to free 3 person and SHO,DSP accompany the Arms to be deliver to Fazlullah at his base.which they did.As LALA said i will confront till the last these criminal peoples, & he stay in his home till the defeat of these criminal.If at this time ofter the discloser of Lala if gov have stooped all the brutality on the Swat peoples have never been happened.All these facts can be verified from Lala who is the most powerful,respected,influential person of all Swat.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply I am abit sceptical about the assertion that "unless the US realises that the presence of foreign forces on Afghan soil is the real problem and withdraws them, Afghanistan is doomed to remain a strife-torn country". I wish it was as simple as that. The good news is however that the US has realised that the best thing to do is to pack up. Canada and Denmark which have one of the larger contributions to ISAF are packing up. Obama wants to exit by next summer, and the newly formed British coalition is having a National Security away day this Tuesday to reassess its Afghan participation. Liam Fox, the British Defence Secretary in his visit to Kabul last week, seemed to make it quite clear that the time had come to make a swift exit. So the West is leaving, but will it solve the Afghan problem? Will that improve the state not only in terms of security but offer a better future for the Afghan people? After all we today criticize the US for abandoning Afghanistan once the Soviet's withdrew. After 9 years of foreign influence the Afghan political landscape is severely polarized. The Taliban are but one of many armed groups jockeying for power, not to mention the Northern Alliance in the North. I am far from arguing that ISAF should remain in Afghanistan, however, by demanding a swift withdrawal we are offering them the luxury of withdrawing without fixing a nation that they have a responsibility for fixing. Lets just hope that history doesn't repeat itself and the musical chairs of leaders entering and exiting Kabul of the 1990's isn't repeated.

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