Attack in Chitral

That the fates of Pakistan and Afghanistan are intertwined was demonstrated once again on August 27 as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants based in Afghanistan carried out a daring attack on checkposts in Chitral, killing over 30 security personnel. The attack is believed to be the handiwork of Maulvi Fazlullah, who was the TTP’s head in Swat, and Maulvi Faqir, who held the same position in Bajaur. Both men had sought refuge in the Kunar province of Afghanistan after they were forced to flee during military operations in their area. This attack is the latest sign that they have been able to regroup in Afghanistan, which they are using as a base to hit back at the Pakistani state.

Maulvi Fazlullah, in particular, has been hitting Pakistan as often as possible. Among the more daring attacks ascribed to him was a bombing that targeted ANP Senator Zahid Khan in Dir, earlier this year. He has also been accused of carrying out kidnappings in Dir for the past year. It has become clear that militants targeted by the Pakistan Army are easily able to cross the porous border and bide their time in Afghanistan.

The situation is even more perilous as the militants know that the US will begin phasing its troops out of Afghanistan from next year. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has shown little willingness to secure the border and tackle the TTP militants hiding in his territory, preferring instead to constantly blame Pakistan for attacks in his country. Both sides need to admit that they have a responsibility to stop such attacks and need to step up their efforts without indulging in a blame game. It is hard enough to fight the militants while carrying on a war of words with someone who can be a natural ally in this battle.

The one lesson the Pakistani Army needs to learn is that it cannot treat different tribal agencies as separate entities. Military operations will have limited effectiveness if they do not take into account the ability of militants to flee the area and take refuge in any one of North and South Waziristan, Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency or settled districts like Swat and Dir. It has become obvious that the Pakistan Army cannot hold these areas simultaneously, and even if it were able to do so, the porous border with Afghanistan remains a problem.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2011.