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 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (23)
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@ Tony: Proof of demographic change???
@ Tony:What kind of argument is this? Has there been any demographic change in Balochistan? None at all. In fact in 1973, Balochistan Goverment expelled all Punjabis including majority of teachers from Balochistan. Education suffered and lost decades, Marri admits now. I am a frequent visitor of Balochistan and ardent reader of history. Please quote me any reference showing any demographic change?
@Think: By that token, Indians should also adopt policy of settling non-kashmiris in Kashmir to chane its demography as you have done in Baluchistan.
I LOVE PAKISTAN ARMY MY BEAUTIFUL CONTE=RYI LOVE IT
@Amjad
If you were really objective, why not let the people of Kashmir vote in the United Nations resolution.
It appears you have never actually read the UN resolutions. Here they are. Read them carefully. According to the resolutions Pakistan has to withdraw from Kashmir before plebiscite.Thank me some day for bringing you closer to the truth.
As the presence of troops of Pakistan in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes a material change in the situation since it was represented by the Government of Pakistan before the Security Council, the Government of Pakistan agrees to withdraw its troops from that State.
The Government of Pakistan will use its best endeavour to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting.
Pending a final solution, the territory evacuated by the Pakistani troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the commission.
http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/jkunresolution.html
@ Bipul Rajput The areas with OVERWHELMING Muslim population were to go to Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir had more Muslims than non-Muslims, but was never overwhelmingly Muslim – except Kashmir valey Sorry to say but you are completely unaware of the facts. Go and read some history books even by your own historians, things will be crystal clear. In 1947, Kashmir's population was 77% Muslim, OVERWHELMING enough to accede with Pakistan!!! The land is more important, not the people. If this is what you believe than you have no right to be called as the world's largest democracy.
@mind it
Just read the following excerpt: “According to a recent report on Human Rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by Indian Army and its paramilitary forces,
Would you mind it terribly if I asked you about the source of this 'excerpt' and 'recent report'.Do provide a link if you can.
And incidentally, the news report is not about Kashmir, but some freedom fighters trying to free Chitral. Go ahead, call them 'freedom fighters' extend all 'moral support' to them without worrying about Indians.
"Adil Shah" or Akash Shanti is a perfect example of why peace will continue to elude South Asia. Rather than acknowledge that there is a United Nations referendum on the Kashmir dispute, he choose to ignore the facts. If you were really objective, why not let the people of Kashmir vote in the United Nations resolution. This will show you where the allegiance of the people lies. And yes we do know that from the time of partition, the British colluded with the Indians to take away as much land and resources as possible from Pakistan. Both wanted to punish Pakistan and prevent its establishment. This is a fact.
@narayana murthy HAhahahha believe me, PAKISTAN does not want to become anything like your land, thank u very much.. And "Kashmiris are fighting for what has been forced upon them by Pakistan as their rights." HAHAHHAHAHAHAH say what??!! When Indian armed forces will stop raping Kashmiri women and beating Kashmiri men, children and the elderly, maybe then u will know the truth.
@ Narayana Murthy Kashmiris are not fighting for their rights. Kashmiris are fighting for what has been forced upon them by Pakistan as their rights.
Kashmiris do not need any dictation from Pakistan, they themselves are sensible enough to figure out the transgression of the foreign Indian invaders. It is against this transgression they have been struggling and will continue to struggle till the last drop of their blood. But at least you have admitted that Kashmiris are indeed fighting, fighting for their birth right : freedom from the Indian tyranny.
Moreover u said: Kashmiris have more rights in India than any section of society. In reply to this I must say that you live in some other world :) Just read the following excerpt:
"According to a recent report on Human Rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by Indian Army and its paramilitary forces, there have been deaths of 93,274 innocent Kashmiri from 1989 to June 30, 2010. Besides this alarming figure of open killings by its security forces, there have been 6,969 custodial killings, 117,345 arrests, destruction, and razing of 105,861 houses and other physical structures in the use of the community as a whole. The brutal security forces have orphaned over 107, 351 children, widowed 22,728 women and gang raped 9,920 women. In June 2010 only, there have been 33 deaths including four children besides, torturing and injuring 572 people. The brutal Indian security forces molested eight women during this one month. This brief account indeed, is the reality of Indian achievements on which they are trumpeting for their success in the Kashmir through counter insurgency operations." If this is how Kashmiris are given rights more than any other section in the Indian society then for God's sake please stop cheating yourself and the INNOCENT HUMANITY.
Lastly I do not understand how has Kashmir become a HINDU land? I mean there has been a muslim majority in Kashmir way before 1947 and even today muslims there are in majority. Majority is authority. How's this possible that hindus are in minority in there supposed HINDU land?
@mind it: If in Pakistan history is taught in a particular manner so be it. Then a class five student will answer and think the way you do. I can only pity you for you are the product of this ditorted history.
"Grace" is a perfect example of the delusion majority of Pakistanis live in.
The sad part is no amount of reality will change their outlook. Which is why Pakistan is where it is, now, pretty much on a one way express train to complete ruin. By the time reality sinks in, it will, in all likelihood, be too late.
They deserve pity, more then anything else.
@Bipul Rajputs Even if you would ask a juvenile academic of class five he would tell you that during partition in 1947, all those areas where muslims were in majority were to be made Pakistan while the rest would become India.
Following this principle honestly meant the muslim majority Kashmir was to be the part of Pakistan and not India! So when you forcibly invaded Kashmir, was this not terrorist act? Thousands of Kashmiris have been killed up to date by your brutal forces, is this not terrorism?
When your leaders like Bhagat Singh fought the British, you called them Freedom fighters and proclaimed them your heros. And if today some deprived Kashmiri fights for his rights you call him a terrorist. So hats off to your double standards Mr. and your unaltered and untwisted history.
@Grace: You said:
We have been tasting Indian terrorism from the day the British illegally handed over Kashmir to India despite the wishes of her people.
Grace - word of advise - do not twist history, however unpalatable it may be. The state Pakistan is in today is because your academics dis-honestly twisted history, and lessons can not be learnt from altered history.
@Pakistan One: We have been tasting Indian terrorism from the day the British illegally handed over Kashmir to India despite the wishes of her people. The biggest orchestrators of state terrorism is India. So India is working with their lackeys in Afghanistan to send over more criminals. Our soldiers and people are ready to pay with their blood to defend our homeland. We showed it to your agents who tried to attack in Chitral and we will show it again. Pakistan Zindabad.
how does it feel to taste your own medicine? Orchestrators of cross border terrorism in India are now victims of cross border terrorism from Afghanistan