North Waziristan: Taliban prepare for war amid truce breaking claims
Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Taliban ask tribesmen to evacuate homes in North Waziristan.
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
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:
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.
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.