'Turncoats and terror in Pakistan's tribal areas'

[Aidoneus]

Shahzad's latest, interesting as ever:--

Turncoats and terror in Pakistan's tribal areas

KARACHI - An alliance of six religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis- i-Amal (MMA), won unprecedented election victories just under two years ago in the Pakistani tribal areas, as well as in North West Frontier Province and Balochistan, contesting on a pro-Taliban platform.

However, when the Pakistani army, under US pressure, began (unsuccessful) operations in the South Waziristan tribal area this year to root out foreign and Afghan resistance elements sheltering there, the MMA opted for a mediatory role.

And now, with a further large operation likely to begin soon, the MMA has gone a step further by completely backing the government's efforts.

Because of the sensitive nature of the army's presence in the tribal areas, where it is widely despised, and also that the army was given a bloody nose last time out, Islamabad has clamped down on news from the area.

However, Asia Times Online contacts in South Waziristan confirm that fresh skirmishes - the third this year - have already begun, once again under US pressure, and the Pakistani army has taken up positions for a big offensive. Militants, meanwhile, disregarding the MMA, have also dug in. According to the contacts, the latest bout of fighting began on Tuesday near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan. An army spokesperson confirmed heavy attacks on army positions, but said they had been repulsed, and made no mention of casualty figures, although they are believed to have been heavy on both sides.

--snip--

When the Taliban and al-Qaeda retreated from Afghanistan in late 2001 in the face of the US-led assault on the country, without much of a fight, the move surprised many people. Strategic experts then argued that the Taliban withdrawal was a prelude to a guerrilla war, up to the point that they could start an organized war against US- led forces in Afghanistan.

The present situation in the Pakistan-Afghanistan tribal area bears testimony to this theory - and the war has only just begun, in North and South Waziristan, and parts of Afghanistan, where the Taliban have taken control of many districts around Zabul and Kandahar, with the US-sponsored Afghan administration unable to take them back. Even the US base in Kandahar came under attack recently, and according to a spokesperson of the Afghan government, several US soldiers lost their lives.

--snip--

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FG10Df04.html

[bemildred]

1. Thnx. Should be interesting to see how the new "offensive" comes out. nt

[Moderator]

2. Aidoneus

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