(11)Reviewing the Waziristan Accord: Negotiating with the Taliban Shura
The Pakistani claim that the Waziristan Accord was not negotiated with the Taliban is false, says jirga member
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| Governor Ali Jan Orakzai in 2004, when he was a general in the Pakistani Army. Click picture to view. |
Just one day after helicopter strikes on a Taliban and al Qaeda training camp in Zamazola, South Wazirstan, which killed upwards of 30 Taliban and al Qaeda, Dawn reports on a meeting held last month between Jan Aurakzai, the governor of the Northwest Frontier Province, and the tribal jirga from North Waziristan. The meeting discussed the first “100 days of the peace deal” was attended by “Utmanzai tribal elders and interlocutors of local Taliban shura.”
Dawn interviewed Maulvi Nek Zaman, an MNA [Member of the National Assembly] from North Waziristan. “[The] Taliban shura has some reservations, but the deal [Waziristan Accord] would remain intact, said Zaman. “Allegations regarding infiltration from the Waziristan side into Afghanistan are absolutely baseless.”
The Afghan government is also pleased with the “progress” of the Waziristan Accord, “but would consider amending it if there were any shortcomings in it.”
Some shortcomings include: a 300 percent increase in attacks in the Afghan regions bordering North and South Waziristan; the Taliban repatriating their dead after launching mass attacks from across the Pakistani frontier; the establishment of a parallel government and the opening of Taliban recruiting offices across the region; the creation of a Taliban tax, the establishment of 22 al Qaeda bases in the tribal areas; an assassination campaign against tribal elders and pro-government “spies”; and a clearly defined Taliban military and political chain of command.
The Pakistani government again vowed to crack down on “miscreants” within its borders. “Any hideout/sanctuary being used by terrorists/miscreants shall be knocked out wherever it is found,” said President Musharraf, in a speech to the 100th Corps Commanders Conference. “We shall not allow any illegal cross border activity or any terrorist to take refuge in our area, which shall be dealt with by direct military action.” Pakistani military action has been conducted piecemeal, with limited high-profile strikes either timed to coincide with senior political visits to the region, or while under pressure from the U.S. and NATO.
See The Fall of Waziristan: An Online History for more information.
