“Everyone feared being kidnapped by the Taliban at any time,” an internally displaced person (IDP) Ziaur Rehman said, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal about life under the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan, published in the US-based newspaper on Thursday.
“Everyone knew someone who was picked up by the Taliban.” Rehman, one of more than half a million people who fled the region as the military announced Operation Zarb-e-Azb, has taken shelter in Bannu. In the report, locals say the TTP has killed hundreds of Waziristan elders since 2007, wiping out the traditional leadership, which could have led a resistance movement against the TTP. The Wall Street Journal reports that many refugees in Bannu are hesitant to speak of life under the TTP, fearful that the militants can return to take their revenge.
“If anyone spoke against the Taliban or gave information against them, in the morning your head would be lying at your feet,” said Gul Naeem Wazir, who came to Bannu from the Spinwan area of North Waziristan with 28 family members.
Wazir said the Pakistani Taliban “eliminated” the jirga system in the region as men in their 20s and 30s became Taliban commanders, heading ‘armies’ of gunmen and suicide bombers.
Locals told the Wall Street Journal that apart from Uzbeks, Tajiks and Uighurs from China, it was hard to tell whether the gunmen belonged to the TTP, local warlord Gul Bahadur or the Haqqani network.
The Uzbeks used to spend a lot of time in the Internet cafes of Miranshah and Mir Ali, said Nizam Dawar, who runs a nongovernmental organization that works in North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, the military said on Tuesday that it had killed 376 militants so far but reported no civilian casualties. Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said some militants might have left before the operation, when the army surrounded the area. “There is no question of anyone escaping the cordon,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2014.
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I have not seen any where in Holy Book that Muslims should have long hair (gaysoo) and foot long beard. If this the criteria then Sikhs are better Muslims. Unfortunately our Madaris produced Qaris not knowing the meaning of verses in our own language. It is the fault of those who established these madrasas.
@kulwant singh: Thank you, Sardar Ji. God bless you too!
Only the poor people who has been compelled to leave their homes their villages their means of living such as their land know how difficult is to be a refugee or IDP who will look after their crops and homes. I pray for the success of the Pakistan Army pray they be able to eliminates the militants at the earliest so that those who have to left their homes may return to their homes and look after their homes and crops.
Sad state of affairs. These people are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Well, as long as the stories being published by the Wall Street Journal or any US led reporting authority, they are to be based on biasness and favouring US occupation in Islamic Countries. The objective is clear from US, they represent a sect of Muslims to be brutal involved in inhumane acts and ask/help the other sect to eradicate them and eventually the Muslims are being killed. The so called Muslim leaders being the cowards and well wishers of US acting on behalf of US and helping them achieve their objectives. And the Muslims are just busy blaming eachothers.
@Analyst: sorry mate but you are mistaken, long hair (and general appearance) is not the mark of a "true muslim". The only thing that matters is Taqwa!
"Long-hair" is a mark of a true Muslim. It is the duty of every Muslim to follow the traditional Islamic ways. They may have made mistakes but you shouldn't comment on their appearance.
May the gods take pity on these people .