1 The Long War Journal: Future Surrender and the Expansion of Talibanistan

Written by Bill Roggio on September 29, 2006 12:01 AM to 1 The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2006/09/future_surrender_and.php

NWFP Governor Ali Jan Orakzai recommends expanding the Waziristan Accord to other tribal agencies, as the Taliban and al Qaeda continue to hit government targets

As we reported just two days after the signing of the Waziristan Accord, and UPI later confirmed, the Pakistani government is seriously considering further negotiations with the Taliban and al Qaeda in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province. Ali Jan Orakzai, the governor of the Northwest Frontier Province, has confirmed the Pakistani government is eager to negotiate a withdrawal from the tribal agencies. "If the treaty signed with tribal elders of North Waziristan proved successful, similar treaties would be signed with tribes in other agencies," reports the Daily Times

The problem is al Qaeda and the Taliban, along with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, the Taliban's political front and the only active political party in the region, are the real players behind the Waziristan Accord. The Taliban and al Qaeda have repeatedly broken the Waziristan Accord by executing anti-Taliban tribal leaders and "U.S. spies," and attacking government representatives.

Governor Orakzai also states 'there had been some reports from Bajaur of stray crossings and due notice had been taken of this.' Mr. Orakzai omits today's remote-controlled roadside bombing against a senior Bajaur official in Khar, the seat of government.

The violations of the truce continue on a near daily basis in North Waziristan. Another Afghan was shot multiple times at refugee camp near Kohat, and was found with "a note on the body saying he was an American spy."

Tahir Yuldashev, the leader of the al Qaeda affiliated Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and a "foreigner" currently living in North Waziristan, "sent a direct threat to the Central Asian governments" of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. "The mujahideen haven't forgotten the Muslims executed in Andijan last year. We will avenge Muslims in Central Asia or in Russia Karimov, Rakhmonov and Bakiyev had better remember...that they will be punished for the crimes they are committing," said Yuldashev in a videotape released on 9-11, just seven days after the signing of the truce.

The terms of the Waziristan Accord explicitly states "foreigners living in North Waziristan will have to leave Pakistan but those who cannot leave will be allowed to live peacefully, respecting the law of the land and the agreement." Apparently Governor Orakzai does not consider direct threats by "foreigners" living in North Waziristan against foreign governments a violation of the truce.