Imran Khan’s march to Waziristan
There is no dispute over the fact that drones are violating our sovereignty. The difference in opinion is about the effects and collateral damage caused by these strikes. A large majority of people are of the opinion that these strikes are not helping the counterterrorism effort, are counterproductive and are leading to anger and more violence. Imran khan is of the view that there is a correlation between drone attacks and suicide bombings as such kind of violence started after the first drone strike in 2004. The fact is that there were 413 incidents of violence including 11 suicide bombings before the first drone strike. Terrorist activities have little or no link with drones. In 2009, there were 53 drone attacks and the casualties in the war on terror were 11,704 while in 2010, the number of strikes increased to 117 but the causalities decreased to 7,435.
Drones are violating our sovereignty but so are the foreign militants staying in our country without travel documents and using our soil for terrorist activities. They are the cause for drone attacks. The day they are expelled from our country, in all probability, there will be no drone attack. All kinds of weapons are used in wars; a drone is one of these weapons. Why are Western human right organisations protesting against only drones and not against say, daisy-cutters, artillery, mortars, bombers, IEDs, F-16s and many other weapons that cause more collateral damage than drones? Since the media has no access to drone-affected areas, the casualty figures reported are conflicting, ranging from 2,400 to 3,300. A recent report by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) claims that 474-881 civilians, including 176 children, have been killed. How does the TBIJ differentiate between a civilian, a terrorist or a facilitator when it does not have the lists of names of members of the Haqqani network, Gul Bahadur and thousands of other Taliban, jihadis or the various sectarian groups operating in the area? On the other hand, people present in the area, having information about the terrorist organisations, their members and facilitators, reject claims of high civilian casualties. Except for three strikes, the other 312 have mostly killed terrorists and their facilitators.
Imran Khan ought to present the victims of drone attacks to the international media. At the same time, he should also make them meet the bereaved families of those thousands of innocent Pakistanis killed in targeted attacks. The army will take care of the families of their shaheed and disabled soldiers, but the families of civilians killed by the Taliban and al Qaeda will suffer for the rest of their lives. Imran does not realise that by terming this a US war, he is hurting the families of those 4,000 soldiers who lost their lives in the war on terror and is also demoralising those who are still fighting these terrorists.
Imran has taken a bold initiative but terming it a peace march may be a misnomer, unless he gets a commitment from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that they will surrender the day US forces withdraw from Afghanistan. The TTP has an agenda of implementing their brand of sharia in Pakistan through armed jihad. They do not believe in democracy, they consider the armed forces and most of the Pakistanis murtids, they do not believe in the Constitution or other pillars of the state. They want power and will not share it with Imran. He has to take extra security measures for his march up to Kotkai. He should not depend on Mehsud or the Bhittani tribesmen for security for they could not save themselves from the Taliban and had to submit to their rule. There are many terrorist groups operating in the area. One act of terrorism is likely to badly tarnish Imran’s image as a prudent and visionary leader, as perceived by a large number of his followers and this may lead to a serious law and order situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (37)
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Is we that incapable to eridicate the TTP such a small organization??? or its we who is prolonging their survival??? Operations ...run....again...chasing....is this a salutation??????
99% of Pakistanis including me are against drone attacks. Though I'm against it because it is completely against our sovereignty. And another argument which is valid is that many innocents are murdered as collateral damage especially children. BUT I am forced to think what PTI and the rest of the nation think about our army's demand for drone technology which it will use itself in FATA areas. If our army does it (and I am really unsure about our army's capabilities) and innocents die will that be OK? will IK and others protest against that too?
Also FATA areas should be brought into mainstream. Even before all this they were the hotbeds of criminals, kidnappers, smugglers and everyone knows that. This is what happens when government has no control over a particular area. There might be lawlessness in Pakistan but things are not as bad as FATA where chechens. uzbeks and Arab militants outnumber locals these days in some areas from what I've heard.
The only people who have problem with IK's Peace march is US and blind supporters of US..If God Forbid anything happens to this peace March then it will be sure that TTP are working for US.
Did some one asked the residents of NWA, how their life is drastically changed due to TPP / Jahdis. That area & peoples were famous for their hospitality... Now due to Taliban.no one is ready to welcome any non resident. For them Drone attack is blessing in disguise as it is eliminating the foreign elements who has taken over their area.
A commentataor "Mirza" has said it all alnong with the author. And that is the truth.
IK is goining to Waziristan to justify the Butchers of Humanity. If he is leader and sympathetic to tribal people, then he must visit the families of those tribal elders assasinated by Taliban.
Imran is too simple and inexperience,he does not know waziristan and its people are very wild and uncontrollable,even their head khan dont have controll over their people.
@Only PTI :One fact is confirmed that you have not gone through the whole report by Standford/NYU, the report of TBIJ quoted by the author is part of that study.
@Unmec :You have to just Google year wise casualties in war on terror in Pakistan and will find the figures.These are facts not any research paper for which sources have to quoted.
Great piece with facts,all those who do not agree should produce facts to prove that drones are enhancing violence and more Pakistanis are dying since initiation of Drone attacks.Taliban and Al Qaeda have been greatly damaged and they are scared of drones not the local Tribal.
Why are drones illegal if the Government of Pakistan has given their consent! Clearing of airspace, providing bases for takeoff how much proof do we need. Drones are the primary weapons used against terrorists, the likes who have somehow evaded Pakistani security forces and operate with impunity across both sides of the border. Its about time we recognize the real enemy and wage a full scale war to save this country from the barbaric forces threatening to impose their narrow vision on the majority. As for Khan Sahib, well he is a politician and knows how t play to the galleries, unfortunately that is a very short term perspective.m
Why US does not launch drone attacks against Bangladesh or Indonesia if it is waging war against Islam??Just food for thought.great article Mr author.
@Mirza:
You hit the nail on the head. The TTP thugs don't believe in democracy, constitution or our way of life. They simply want to set up a Salafi theocratic fiefdom backed by their Salafi supporters in Saudi. Hell, the TTP even warned IK not to come to the region.Imran Khan is too naive to appreciate or even comprehend the ideological agenda of these scumbags.
Of crucial importance, the military needs to wake up and smell the coffee, and end the jihad by proxy project. It was good to see Gen Kayani indicate his inclination to do just that at the PMA address. Time to back words with action. Importantly, the military must be cleansed of all TTP sympathisers - no more half measures.
@Only PTI:
Hmm..let me think. Should I believe a retired military professional who has served on the ground in the tribal area dealing with the TTP problem, and has had direct experience dealing with the issue, or should I believe some pseudo-intellectual academics sitting in Stanford and NYU writing 'research reports'???
@Muhammad Tayyab: "There is no doubt that TTP is also fighting for US, getting funded by US, getting weapon supplies from US & also getting trained by US".
Ah that is why a drone killed Baitullah Mehsud. Genius. Also the chap that tried to blow up Times square was TTP and they are ot as masochistic as some other countries who burn their own homes to make a point.
"TTP operates from 2 Afghan provinces where US & allies forces maintain heavy presence."
The ISAF forces used to police the other side of Durand line quite well and the TTP could not escape easily to Nuristan in the past. But after years of pleading that Pakistan prevent the Afghan Taliban from having safe havens in NWA and attacking tNATO forces, US has decided to let Pakistan get a taste of its own medicine. IT simply withdrew forces from the area and ignores TTP hideouts. This is what brought Pakistan to the table and it agreed to an NWA operation. Ofcourse not following through what is agreed is par for the course and that is what happened with that also.
To sum up, US actively attacked TTP in the past and now neglects them in a tit fortat response to Pakistan's support for the Queta Shura and HAqqanis.
On the other hand, people present in the area, having information about the terrorist organisations, their members and facilitators, reject claims of high civilian casualties.' Any body can such claims and show them as facts either way.. what is the source of this info...
As always the author has come up with an excellent and impartial analysis. The most pertinent question that could be asked is : why did Americans invade Afghanistan? Drone attacks is a consequence of that war. To be very honest we would not have faced all the calamities and bloodshed had there no 9/11. The fact of the matter is that Al Qaeda, its affiliate and sympathizers are the ones who brought about this mayhem and destruction and most importantly changed the political landscape profoundly. IK is naive enough to attribute suicide attacks and terrorism to drone attacks only. Terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan is politics but by other but more vicious means. We have to either own it or combat it. There is no other alternative.
Too simplistic, hackneyed arguments.
War Is Terror! And these terrorist drones are the most terrorizing of it all. Imagine, what would it be like if your child had to live under a constant fear, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 12 months a year, of a machine flying in the air could fire a missile on his house, which could kill him, his family, or could disable him for life? To kill a few terrorists, you can terrorize innocent children, men and women. Imagine what kind of psychological effects living under this fear would have on these people?
Another thing that I must say to the writer is that violence breeds violence. The more violence these drones cause, the more violent are the people living in these areas likely to become. We must remember, the biggest cost that society as whole has paid in this war on terror is the polarized attitudes. We need to stop this war, NOW. You cannot expect war to breed peace.
Mr Munir You Always doubt about the vision of Imran Khan on Terrorism & Tailban but tell me the way Mushraff tackle the issues with america and tailban and you was under his commad are perfect? Our is main to be responsible for current situation, Double Dealing made it ............
Brigadier sahb, please present a loud point here rather talking about stuff which doesn't have any mass.
Drones are the major cause of terrorism in Pakistan. In your article, please put an incite to the families who lost their loved one in collateral damage. Yes this is a US war which has already cost us billions and still the war is on way.
You know when something is costing too much and it yields nothing even after indefinite time, we must have a look on it. Did you ever thought why are we so deeply rooted in this war? TTP I know won't surrender, and I know we won't win either, the war will go on forever.
But one day TTP will bow down, the war will end, it will be the day when Pakistani Forces will intentionally hunt down a drone, stop being ally to American Army and make our policies for the betterment of country which yet has to excel in the field of science and education.
@Muhammad Tayyab:
When the regime of Pakistan backed by the Army is unable to have their writ on South/ North Waziristan how come that Tribal people will be able to expel Taliban from Wazieistan ?
Good article. I agree with you.
@Muhammad Tayyab: Please provide some proof that "TTP is also fighting for US, getting funded by US,......."! Also why would the TTP "operates from 2 Afghan provinces" when they have free reign in North Waziristan and other parts of FATA? In case you haven't figured it out, the drone attacks are given target information by forward observers on the ground in the target area! And just who might those forward observers be ?
"All kinds of weapons are used in wars; a drone is one of these weapons"
The last time I checked you were an American ally and not at war with USA.
This is one of the best Op Eds on this subject. A very precise yet logical and simple to understand even for a common person like me. Thanks a lot ET for providing us with great news and articles we appreciate that. You have cut through the excuses that the carnage of 40 thousand Pakistani civilians is caused as a reaction to the Drone attacks. No army or group only targets the poor civilians no matter what. It is also true that even if the US leaves, Taliban would not subside on the contrary they would flourish and impose Whabi/Salfi ideology on most of the mainstream Pakistanis with ruthless zeal. There were no Russians or Americans but what was happening in Afghanistan all those years during the rise of Taliban? Let us stop making the excuses for the brutal ruthless indiscriminate killers, wake up and smell the coffee.
A fitting answer to big bragging khan
The statement that "The day they are expelled from our country, in all probability, there will be no drone attack." is at least as Simplistic as "The day we come out of the American war, there will be no Suicide attack"
ironically, all the source links provided in the article tend to refute the author's point of view. The Author does not provide any SOURCE of his information such as "11 suicide bombings before the first drone strike" or "people present in the area, having information about the terrorist organisations, their members and facilitators, reject claims of high civilian casualties."
@ Author ! Great article. Looks like you already got your green card and are now ready to serve some think tank in US.
With all due respect, if some one considers that Taliban are just fighting to impose their brand of "Shria" here question arises that why didn't they fight before to impose it when the whole of this region was calm (before 9/11) when US was not attacking Afghanistan. There is no doubt that TTP is also fighting for US, getting funded by US, getting weapon supplies from US & also getting trained by US. TTP operates from 2 Afghan provinces where US & allies forces maintain heavy presence. The matter is, they have made the mindset of wast public that Pakistan is fighting US war thats why tribal people who hate US, consider TTP a group of Jehadi's. The point of Imran Khan is, we should differentiate TTP and tribal people. Tribal people have nothing to do with TTP and if we give them confidence that we're with you and will not leave you alone in your hard time, they won't help TTP and they themselves expel TTP from their areas.
So when Taliban kill other people in Afghanistan and enforce their vendetta, they are a tool of strategic depth, but when they kill our own soldiers, they become monsters? More than IK, it is our establishment (which our esteemed author has also been a part of) that comes across as confused. At least IK is sticking to what he believes in.
This is the Waziristan situation.Imran Khan as a politician is very immature and unfortunately has no vision on word affairs.Asad Munir article has written the words of truth and wisdom.Thank you for seen "deeper & wider'.
Mr. psudeo-intellectual....pls spare some moments to read latest Stanford/NYU research on drones and you will see the relation between drones and terrorism.