Tribesmen were advised not to seek shelter in temporary camps set up by the govt and asked to move to border regions instead. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Key Taliban faction commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur called upon tribesmen on Friday to evacuate their families from North Waziristan within the next 10 days, after forewarning them about the launching of a full-scale military operation.
The tribesmen were advised to move to safe locations, preferably to the areas close to the border with Afghanistan. Those who choose to stay on and interact with the military at any level will be punished, the Taliban commander said.
At the same time, Bahadur accused the government of reneging on a 2007 peace agreement. “It is now abundantly clear that the government had quietly reneged on the peace agreement long ago – but we have been showing restraint against our will for the sake of people of Waziristan,” says a pamphlet issued in the name of Bahadur on behalf of the Shura Mujahideen, North Waziristan.
The pamphlet was distributed in the troubled spots of North Waziristan and was sent to the media by Bahadur’s spokesperson Ahmadullah Ahmadi. This came over a week after military warplanes and helicopter gunships strafed suspected hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in different parts of North Waziristan.
In the pamphlet, the government was accused of “targeting innocent women, children and elderly and destroying private properties”. “We’ve received credible information that the government has decided to launch a military offensive [in the region],” it added.
The Shura Mujahideen of North Waziristan agree that the atrocities have become intolerable. “Since movement is difficult during [military] operation (state of war), the residents of Waziristan should shift their families to safer locations before June 10,” it added. The tribesmen have been advised not to seek shelter in the temporary camps set up by the government where “it’s difficult to protect one’s honour and faith”.
Instead the tribesmen have been advised to shift to border regions, preferably to Datta Khel tehsil, from where, if needed, it’ll easier to move to neighbouring Afghanistan. “[At the same time] those who want to fight for the honour of Waziristan should cooperate with us,” the pamphlet added. It, however, hinted that the Waziristan Taliban are amenable to talks before June 10. “We’re open, if anyone who can bring tidings of peace and reconciliation in this limited time.”
They advised all fighters of Waziristan to stop sending missions into Afghanistan and instead spare all their resources for the ‘defence of Waziristan’.
When asked for his comments, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed said he was not aware of any such development. “Neither I’m aware [of the distribution of pamphlets] nor have I any authentic information on this development from any source,” he told The Express Tribune. He said that it was better to put this question to security officials.
Security officials tried to downplay the development. “He [Hafiz Gul Bahadur] represents the same group that follows the ideology of extremism,” one security official said on the condition of anonymity. “Even before this announcement, Gul Bahadur was not contributing much to the establishment of peace or abiding by his commitment to root out foreign militants from the area.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
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This topic brings me to that worst outcrop of the herd nature, the military system what I abhor. That a man take pleasure in marching in formation to the strains of a band, is enough to make me despise him. He has been given his big brain by mistake; a backbone was all he needed. This plague-sp ot of civilisation ought to be abolished with all possible speed. Heroism by order, senseless violence and all the pestilent nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism, how I hate them! War seems to me a mean contemptable thing; I would rather be hacked in pieces than take part in such an aboniable buisness.(Albert Einstein) It is my convictionthat killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.(Albert Einstein).
Rex Minor
@Dr. Sofia Butt 70: You mean to say that all those whom they kill are non believers, only the poor common man is being killed without any fault on their part.
@Dr. Sofia Butt 70: absolutely true... i hope all start thinking maturely like you.
Let the war begins; victory is the history of tribes because of their honesty, truth, dedication, justice and faith. This is the war between believer and non-believer or hypocrite, between right and wrong. Those who claiming for writ of the Govt. and constitution neither they have respect the constitutions themselves nor they follow the system of justice and law. They just want extending their boarders, suppression, occupation and divide and rule. They are failed in bring peace, stability and justice in the land and people they called accept the constitution and writ of the Govt. Every day killing, abduction, rapping, corruption, smuggling, human trafficking, humiliation,occupation, inter and intera institutional blame game, survival of the fattest and the worst injustices has been reporting through out the Pakistan or in the area which is under the control of Pakistan Govt. and Army for last 66 years. Did they solved their problems, did prove their unity there, did they brought peace and justice there, did they mad any exemplary administrations and system to proved their honest, patriotism by action. Non. No one can see peace, justice and stability in Pakistan.