THE DUMMY'S GUIDE TO THE FATA(L) REGION

After 9/11 this often-sidelined borderland stepped on to center stage and has not left since. However, in the cacophony of allegations, counter-allegations, cross-border incursions and bombs, the nuances of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas have been reduced to generalizations that now act as smokescreens. Upon closer scrutiny of the seven tribal agencies it becomes clear that troubles are not homogenous across regions. The Taliban are in control of two agencies each in the north and the south, while the three centrally located agencies of Kurram, Khyber and Orakzai are least affected by that group.

IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

The Southern agencies of North and SouthWaziristan serve as the headquarters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP) under Baitullah Mehsud, while Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies in the North have their own Naib Amirs. The state faces major challenges in asserting its writ in these four agencies.

South and North Waziristan

“The Taliban Movement of Pakistan first started in impoverished South Waziristan Agency when jalaluddin Haqqani came to Pakistan in 2001.” Says Auranzeb Khan of Roohi TV. “ Through many Chechens and Uzbeks were living there, it was the first time that Arabs came.”

Initially the locals extended support to the outsiders:

“They paid for the rent and food in dollors.”

The state bank took countermeasures and the first operation in the tribal areas was conducted in 2003. “It was the first time that Pakistan Air Force Planes patrolled the skies of the Tribal Areas.” Says a journalist. Largely unsuccessful the operation fuelled anti-government sentiments because of civilian causalities. It was not long before the Taliban movement spread the north Waziristan as insurgents made their way to the adjoining agency.

The only pro-government group that confronted the Taliban in the area was led by Mullah Nazir, a former ‘Jihadi’ belonging to the  Wazir tribe. In 2007, Nazir was used by the government to expel foreign militants from south Waziristan. These days the agency is in the limelight because of incursions in September by Afghanistan-based US forces targeting alleged militants hideouts in Angoor Adda.

Bajaur Agency

The TTP Naib Amir here is Maulvi Mohammad faqir, who was part of the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi and came  to the forefront after the head of the organization, Maulvi Sufi Muhammad, was arrested on his way back from Afghanistan in 2001. The only other prominent organization in the area is the Jaish-e-Islami (Formerly Lashkar-e-Islami), a splinter group of the TTP headed by Maulvi Wallur Rahman. The Bajaur operation, which began on August 6 after paramilitary forces failed to wrest control of Loyeasam, near Khar, from the Taliban, is still going on. Said to be far more intense than previous operations, it came about after the US threatened to take military actions if cross-border militancy was not curtailed; in Washington’s view, Bajaur is the agency used most frequently by militants to cross into Afghanistan. So far there have been nearly 500 casualties. “The operation will continue even after Eid.” Says journalist Mukarram Asif Khan.

Mohmand Agency

Although a stronghold of the TTP, it is one of the three agencies – the other two being Kurram and Khyber – where foreigners are not present. More strikingly, the leadership in Mohmand is derived from local residents than outsiders. “TTP commander Omer Khalid belongs to the Safi Tribe from Safi Tehsil bordering Bajaur Agency.” Says khan, who recently migrated to Peshawar from Halimzai tehsil following the eruption of militancy there.

“However, public support waned after they tool measures such as beheading and kidnappings for ransom.” He says. “In the last year and a half, nearly 90 percent of the girls’ schools and Government offices have shut down. Tehsils Bazai, Halimzai and Safi have seen mass migrations since the Bajaur operation was started.

ON A DIFFERENT LINE

Far too busy fighting over ideological differences, the militants and Khyber Agency have not yet challenged the state. “The prominent groups here are Mangal Bagh’s Lashkar-e-Islam, Qazi Mehboob’s Ansarul Islam and the Haji Inamdar group (whose leader was murdered recently),” says a local journalist. “A fourth group is that Haji Zahir Shah, a local gangster who allegedly pays money to Bagh for protection. “

The region was peaceful till the arrival of Barelvi Pir Saifur Rehman in 1997 from Afghanistan, who settled here with the help of the Afridis and formed Ansarul Islam. To counter him, DeoBandi Leader Mufti Shakir, who belongs to the neighbouring Hangu District, laid the foundation of Lashkar e Islam in 2003. Fighting between the two groups ensued and scores of people lost their lives. Four years ago the Jirga expelled the two Non-locals and bagh became the Amir of Lashkar e Islam while Mehboob of the Afridi Tribe took over the Ansarul Islam.

Even though the jirga had settled the dispute, fighting between the two groups has continued and 400 to 500 people have been killed on both sides since.

AT RELATIVE PEACE

The ony Federally Administered Tribal Area that does not share its border with Afghanistan, Orakzai Agency is least affected by militancy – In fact, it is the only one where the sounds of grenades and bombs do not pierce the air. For journalist Mukarram Asif Khan of Voice of America, this is not surprising: “The militants don’t need the agency as such since they can access Afghanistan more easily via Bajaur, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Kurram Agencies.” He adds that there are sectarian differences in the region but that thsese have not led to a violent conflict.

OF SECT AND CREED

Kurram is another agency not under the control of Taliban, although it has witnessed bloody sectarian violence. Upper Kurram ( Inhabited largely by the Toori Tribe) is Shia dominated while the Sunnis resides in lower Kurram. Although the Shias here are ethnic Pathans who have lived here for nearly 400 years, the first recorded instance of sectarianism occurred in 1983.

Accordint to Roohi TV journalist Aurangzeb Khan, “sectarian clashes lasted a day or two and were resolved by a jirga with the government acting as the guarantor. However, during the Zia ul Haq era the clashes become more recurrent and intense. “ Currently, both sects accused each other of drawing help from outside: the Sunnis are alleged to be backed by TTP and the Shias by Iran. The fighting between the groups is still going on.

-- Herald-October 2008

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE COMMENTS IF YOU FOUND THIS ARTICAL INFORMATIVE...