Tribal elders and pro-government tribesmen have warned that they would renounce Pakistani nationality and migrate to Afghanistan if the government launched a military operation in North Waziristan Agency.
The warning was issued by a tribal jirga held at Islami Madrassa Nizamia Idak Shura Waziristan in the Mir Ali area on Saturday. A large number of elders from Uthmanzai and other tribes attended the assembly.
They said that they would settle in Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.
The jirga noted that the Afghan government was better than Pakistan as “it does not allow drone attacks on innocent children and women”.
Addressing the tribesmen, local leaders Maulvi Abdur Rahman, Maulvi Gul Ramzan and peace committee chief Mufti Sadiqullah accused the government of violating peace deals in the region.
However, they asked the local populace not to panic and flee their homes as the government has yet not made a formal announcement of launching a military operation in the region.
The jirga formed a committee that would meet with the political agent to ask him about the veracity of rumours of an imminent military operation.
The committee would also convey to the political agent that local tribesmen were body-searched at check posts even though the situation in the agency was relatively calm.
Meanwhile, political administration officials clamped a day-time curfew in most parts of the agency on Saturday.
The curfew hours will be from 5am to 3pm, according to an official announcement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (35)
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@Nomi
Pashtuns in Pakistan are relegated to a reservation called FATA and they play second fiddle to Punjabis. Pashtuns in Pakistan don't know how to speak, read or write Pashto anymore and how dare you sling mud at Bacha Khan and his son. Asfandyar is the corrupt sellout, get your facts straight.
@saad ur rehman:
Pashtuns represent 10-15% of Pakistan Pashtuns represent up to 60% of Afghanistan.
Nomi explain how? Which issues would it face that Pakistan isn't already facing now?
@ Prius
I agree with you that Pakistan was part of the indian subcontinent, but now we are a politically sovereign country. Pashtuns are more a part of Pakistan than they can ever be a part of anyother country.
I agree that Punjabis have manipulated and ruined Pashtun culture, but were they alone?
Why not talk of the corrupt pashtun leaders who betrayed people like Wali khan?
An independent Pashtunistan would again be embroiled in horrendous issues. The solution is to make Pakistan better.
Time for independent Pashtunistan is very near
We are not a part of you traitors
NATO supply dealers /
Shameless
Hypocrisy!
It seems the elders are upset as innocent women & children are the targets of the drone attacks. Least we mention how they treat the women in everyday life.
Drones are effective against the rogue elements. It's in PK's interest to support US and NATO allies. Eradicate the cancer!
NATO Welcome!!
No one is stopping you to go to Afghanistan - more have been killed in Pakistan by suicide Taliban bombers then in drone strikes - same suicide bombers who are among you and trained in your neighbourhoods.
Hypocrats, we are glad you will leave Pakistan - do so for good!
Pakistan Zindabad
Durrand line is illegally imposed by British Raj
Pakistan is part of India culturally and linguistically
Leave Pashtunistan alone . It was never a part of Pakistan
Pakistan is an artificial country like Israel
@Pakistani Pakhtoon: " ...........good and bad all taliban militants should be declared illegal thats the only way to clear this mess"
If this is done, Afghans will one day thank Pakistan.
Let them cross the border to Afghanistan and settle there . Without local support militants can not operate
These elders should say that they will catch every terrorist and kill them, so there would be no need to do any operation.
this will still nt solve the problem. pakistan needs to change the foreign policy towards afghanistan and all extremist, good and bad all taliban militants should be declared illegal thats the only way to clear this mess
@Afghanistan: first take ur 3 millions refuges from pakistan...burden on the economy of pakistan
@Tufan Agha:and yahoooo. Hey, when they go, the rest will opt for Pukhtunistan which Afghanistan has been claiming for decades and rightly so. As a Pukhtun myself , I don't see any difference between Afghan and Pakistani Pukhtuns, we are more closely related than with the rest of Pakistanis, these are the facts. Moreover don't forget that Baluchistan is already on fire and it is because of the insane military operations, you may not have Pakistan left when it implodes as the Americans and the Indian would like to see it happen. These attacks on the FATA are in cahoots with US and when the job is done, you people will be holding the bag like before when the Russians left.Americans would always take care of their citizens and will do anything to keep the high standard of living regardless how may millions gets killed in the process overseas. Would you ever think about your citizen's well being, just look at your government, most of them are corrupt to the core, they are taking care of you, don't they. Wait, they all will be flying the coop to greener pastures.
A Simple answer to this may be::: Govt. should give these elders ultimatum option... If any of next terrorist act originated from their area ...they should be held responsible for it...any criminal or a terrorist should be treated as a CRIMINAL & TERRORIST ..
Where there is a maulvi there is a fasad.I don't think this jirga with some mullahs and muftis can be the true voice of locals.They should be considerd part of a problem and be silenced.Another attempt by deep state to create panik and fear.
Anti-State elements and terrorists are lifeline of Waziristan's economy. The rental property in Miranshah and other towns is more expensive than Karachi and Islamabad. If this area is cleared from terrorists, these local elders would have no choice but to move to Karachi or Afghanistan. Its economy, nothing else.
For those saying 'Khas kam jahan pak',we won't just go.We will take our land with us.The above comments prove that Pak never wanted the people of Waziristan,just the land.It's not that easy man,the british have tried,and before them the Mughals,and before them Alexander..
They should take their land with them...
Please go ahead. "Khas k'am jahaan paak". Why are they crying. The operation will be against terrorists.......but they might be their sons, brothers, etc etc. It is right that the terrorists have now spread all over Pakistan, but these are safe haevens. Hundreds of these animals have been killed in drone attacks. Of course there is collateral damage, but that means that the terrorists are living very close to ordinary citizens. These ordinary citizens should have their own committees to see that they do not operate from there and provide information to government to tackle with these animals.
And what peace deals are those?
We have to make Pakistan safe for all not just a few. All gun wielding elements have to be removed to establish law and order without which no development can ever take place. We must not cow down to these terrorists. They will be neutralised one day or the other. Sooner the better. Take action against the anit-state criminal elements at any cost.
Good if they leave Pakistan in peace.
"they would renounce Pakistani nationality and migrate to Afghanistan" A new interpretation of strategic depth policy.
@Prius: there are more pashtuns in pakistan than there are in afghanistan in pakistan there have been more than two pathan leaders so get your facts right before trolling.
Stop supporting NATO war on Pashtuns !
Pakistan will break along ethnic lines
Why is Pakistan giving NATO supplies for war in Afghanistan?
Will Pakistan give NATO supplies for Iran war too?
How much money has Pakistan made of NATO supplies
Free Pashtunistan!!
This might be good for PAKISTAN.... :)
What a great news. Are they really serious in renouncing the nationality of Pakistan and migrating to Afghanistan. Please go ahead.
If you have so much problems with PK govt cleansing the area from anti state elements and terrorists factions who have taken much more lives in Pakistan than collective military operations ; then stop safeguarding them. These jirgas/tribal heads should not have let TTP etc. get established with the locals support in the first place. Without their consent, its impossible that foreign militia can walk through their lands without major blood shed.
Right choice by people!
Pakistan has been making lot of money out of NATO supplies and drone attacks .
Pakistan is no friend of Pashtuns
yes i am agree with the elders and residents of north wazirestan. because the terrorists and al-qaide is not in this area but they are in the central areas of pakistan, not in the tribal areas. pakistan should launch wide military operation against militant in the central regions of pakistan.
Yes we are ready to give refuge to our ordinary muslim brothers of pakistan as they have given us nice hospitality during soviet union invasion and as Karzai mentioned we are twins brother. We would wellcome pakistani brothers coridally whenever they need as they have wellcomed us and they should know that we Afghans are also big hearted,eventhough, we are poor.
Every lie the establishment, its sponsored media, political section, and others have been propagating for so long has come to bite it. They all allowed drones to operate from Pakistan and also supported the drone attacks in private but condemned in public all in the hope that US would give them the drone technology. Even in Aug. 24. "Policy Matters" talk show Naseem Zahara opined that if would be OK if us gives the drone technology and Pakistan uses it in these areas. Only Ejaz Hider was talking sense but Naseem tried her best to sideline him. These lies and double dealings have come to bite Pakistan from all sides. Public opinion was intentionally moulded in a certain way, rather foolishly and dubiously , and this has made enemies of all and come to haunt these manipulators from every side. Pakistan now has no choice but to take out the terrorists at all costs. Otherwise, they shall take over the country.