Incensed by Malala attack, jirga declares war on Taliban
Incensed by the attack on teenage child activist Malal Yousafzai, a local jirga has declared war on Taliban until the elimination of militancy from the picturesque valley.
The valley wriggled out of the clutches of Taliban following the 2009 military operation against notorious militant commander Mullah Fazlullah aka Mullah Radio who claimed responsibility for the attack on Malala.
“The attack on Malala Yousafzai and other girls was a cowardly act which should be condemned on every platform,” Saifullah Khan, the chairperson of the Nepkikhel Aman Jirga, told a news conference at Swat Press Club on Saturday.
“The attack shows that even children are not safe from the evils of terrorists. But we clearly extend our message to anti-Pakistan elements that such cowardly acts will not deter us from fighting against terrorism,” he said.
Khan added that the Nepkikhel Aman Jirga had stood firm in the battle against terrorism. “We invite the entire nation to stand with us against terrorists. We have made countless sacrifices for the restoration of peace and we are ready to render more for maintaining peace in our region,” he said.
Criticising the attack on schoolchildren, Khan said if the Taliban were bold enough, they should dare to come out of their hiding holes and fight.
“It is not bravery to attack innocent children. They are only defaming Islam, Pakistan and our nation in the name of their own version of Islam,” he said.
Khan said it was the responsibility of the entire nation to stand by them and keep a vigilant eye on extremist elements and inform the authorities accordingly.
“Maintaining peace in Swat is our collective responsibility and we will fight to our last breath for peace. We also demand the government arrest Malala’s attackers and award them exemplary punishment,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (45)
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@Danish aziz: No, what you have is a country with a very small tax collection net that couldn't possibly maintain an army the size and sophistry of said Pakistan Military. "Your" Military, if you can call it one belonging to your state is funded by foreigners and also owns many means of production to finance itself. At best it can be called a very well financed private nuclear armed militia that occasionally renders mercenary services to Pakistan through strategic compulsion and to the US for financing. When a state decides that it's military should have means beyond the capacity of the state the military will inevitably become too big to belong to the state. Pakistan does not have a military. The military has Pakistan.
Wow...Really.....If you believe that then i have a drone to sell you. Its brand new and btw its the same one that attacked Malala. @ayesha talat Siddiqui:
Taiban are good people they dont kill anybody. They are themselves students how can they kill Malala.
Since everything in Pakistan happens through the prism of 'Islam' I have a simple solution -- declare the Taliban's version of Islam as 'non-Islam' just like the Govt has done for the Ahmadis. If they claim to have the backing of Islam, then just arrest and charge them for Blasphemy.
This is all well and good. But when will we realize that this kind of violence will not end unless we rip it out by the roots by:
1) Going after anyone and everyone advocating violence against any Pakistani especially clerics or TV and Radio hosts who call Ahmedis, Shias or anyone as "Wajib-ul-Qatal". It is the law, isn't it? 2) Taking back control of educating our youth using modern internationally-recognized curricula from the mullahs. It is the government’s responsibility, isn’t it?
This is all we have to do. And if we do it well we should succeed within one generation, which is about 20 years. Better start now!
Our beloved armed forces need to come out of politics and start doing their job, saluting Kayani doesnt mean they are good soldiers, one needs to fight to survive and the fighting is done by those payed, trained and fed to it
@Afghanistan: Well, because yours is fighting a genuine US Occupation while ours is busy attacking innocent civilians even though, apparently, they're supposed to be overthrowing the government of Pakistan, don't see much of that happening, but yeah, the terrorism is always right on cue. Shooting a kid. Go figure.
@Danish aziz: Tax Payer funded military is spending 2 billion annually in FATA, resources are limited, pakistan is fighting war on terror on shoe string budjet . A) you are an indian. b) its impossible for army to bring end militancy it has to be local people
Jirgas should not encourage common people against anybody, rather they should educate the people to support and stand by the Army who take care of the country from all sorts of threats.. If there is no public support, the Army would be in the dark and fails to take appropriate actions..
So its going to be terrorists vs terrorists.
Its our army and civilian administration's job to fight terrorists. These Lashkars, once they get arms, money, training and experience, they turn their guns towards their mentors. Our top brass has habit of creating puppets in politics and proxy warriors in combats. They should rule the country and fight wars themselves or go home.
@Moise: Please provide some credible references (other than conspiracy bloggers) for your comment "No where to hide for CIA backed TTP now"! That comment appears to be standard fare for all the TTP APOLOGISTS!
I do not think that these Tribal Jirgas can achieve anything. I think that the Talibans effectively control the tribal area and their leaders. Only Army can wipe out these Talibans. The question is if the army has the courage and conviction to do this.
Imran have been saying this for ever, we need to get our tribal leaders and jirgas on our side to eliminate these talibans. IK haters will hiding their faces in shame now.
Then, we the Pakistani nation, should stand behind Nepkikhel Jirga, and not the Pakistan Army that clearly does not want to move againt the extremists. The Malala incident has given rise to serious questions regarding our army's capabilities and willingness to taking on the extremist elements in FATA. If they cannot eliminate a couple of thousands radicals, then how would they safeguard the Pakistani borders and soil against India, that has much lager military capabilities than the Taliban? Why is it so that we are snatching food, medicine, and education away from the poverty-stricken people of Pakistan to fund an army that cannot protect the girls like Malala and their schools and has been treating the likes of the attrackers on Malala as their strategic assets?
@DevilHunterX:
Please elaborate.
its a good decision bt who will fight that institution or forces who fund talibans and provide them training and safe houses?.. every tribal agency has the same issue. most of tribes stood up against them bt the secret forces protect them
This is for those who are trying to justify Malala's blood by terming her a spy of USA...dears, what possible help could Malala provide to a Country like USA which can Attack and shatter the places in our own Army Contentment Areas anytime they want...why they need Malala when they can Buy Great Mul'as of Pak by pouring few Dollars into their mouths...no logic...no sense behind splashing such filthy things here..!!!..Inshallah Malala will be back again...and this time, she will rise higher. Ameen.
Let them surrender all arm and amunition first and this work will be done army thereafter the jirga will be allowed to take care of social affairs .
@ Raw is War: "and the Pak army is sleeping?"
The Pakistani Army is too busy playing the real estate market.
@Cautious: Lets do that as soon as china has loaned the U.S more $$$. Current deficit is over 1 trillion & that too 4 years in a row. Our tax Dollars at work !
Just more evidence that Pakistan has no control over these territories. Perhaps the simple solution is to finally admit that these territories are really not part of Pakistan and let others take care of the problem?
@arcane: Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.)
Better late than never. They have taken the right decision. Pakistan government should fully support those people/tribe fighting against Taliban. We should not write them Taliban but Zaliman.
Actions speak loudly than words
I wonder if Imran Khan would describe it as Jihad! both parties are Muslims.
Let's see how many anti Talibans join this jirga's lashkar from other parts of Pakistan.
Finally, some one from the "righteous" has spoken. Thank you should be in order!
I dont know why pakistanis love our taliban and hate their taliban
I can't believe people supporting Jirga.
So you want one monster to die and another monster to rise?!!
Who's going to arm the Jirga? Will these guns and bombs be legal? Provided by the army? If they are illegal, then what's going to happen to them, after this war?
Is there absolutely no sense among Pakistanis?
While the declaration by the jirga is commendable, I endorse the above comment that we have a large militiary funded by tax payers who should fight the Taliban. Jirga should not only not have to fight but they have a right to be protected by the Armed forces.
talibans should be shot on sighting. They should be destroyed other wise they will destroy everything.
Why not extend all laws of Pakistan to Tribal areas...
Yes This Jirga has the Right Idea. Whole Country Wants these Taliban Animals to become Extiinct and let Real Peaceful Pakistanis Live in Peace and Progress.
and the Pak army is sleeping?
a very good move..now government should strongly support them with the strong economic and security assistance to the similar jirgas. Indeed Pakistan public are alive and are not afraid of these bunch of TTP thugs who attack women and children.
Much the best,excellent and august step is going to be taken by the Jirga to stop Taliban's terrorism in the province and country......
All power to the jirga..
Go and chase these scumbags and thugs down every burrow that they are hiding in..
Hunt them like rats and eliminate these cowards..
Wonderful Effort..Whole nation needs to join the rows...
Good on you! I commend your call for jihad against the Taliban animals.
No where to hide for CIA backed TTP now. Just like Iran finished it's TTP called Jundullah and its leader Rigi the time has come to end TTP for Pakistan.
No No....These tribals and jirga people are terrorist, all of them are with the Taliban and should be droned.....RYT..FASCISTS??????
We don't need vigilante justice.We have a large military funded by taxpayer money.It's the responsibility of the military to combat terrorist threats.Why are these tribal vigilantes being allowed to take the law into their own hands? Where is the state? it is the state's responsibility to provide security since the state collects taxes on everything from us.We don't need tribal jirgas or heavily armed lashkars,these same people will become the new Taliban in later years.