How does this affect Afghan War?
Karachi, 25 August (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - A peace deal between Pakistan's government and pro-Taliban fighters has been delayed again as both sides failed to agree on issues pending since 2003. In a phone interview with Adnkronos International (AKI), the additional secretary for security in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Sikandar Qayyum said that "there was no meeting scheduled for peace talks in Miran Shah [North Waziristan's capital]." However, independent sources confirmed that the jirga was held saying the parties could not reach a peace deal but agreed to extend a temporary ceasefire till 10 December.
The government has also agreed to release 10 more pro-Taliban fighters.
For the past four years, tens of thousands of Pakistani security forces have been battling the Taliban militants in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan under the banner of the US-led war on terror. They have been trying to flush out foreign Islamic militants and their local supporters in the country's restive tribal belt, along the border with Afghanistan.
The pro-Taliban militants in the tribal agencies announced a complete ceasefire earlier this year after a period of intense fighting in which dozens of tribal militants and government troops were killed. The ceasefire offer was made with several conditions and the government and tribal militants began talks to find a peace deal. The unilaterally extended one-month ceasefire announced by militants also expired on Friday.
The bone of contention so far between the two sides is the presence of foreign militants in the tribal areas. The Pakistani government has insisted that foreigners living in the tribal areas have to leave or get themselves registered. The pro-Taliban militants have refused both conditions.
However, the wheels of dialogue between the two sides moved after a major breakthrough took place in a "prisoner swap".
Earlier as a goodwill gesture the political administration in the tribal areas of Pakistan released more then 32 tribesmen from the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe of South Waziristan including Dawar Khan, a very important local militant and clan chief.
After his release, the political administration, on the orders of the military, also released around 200 more militants, who were mainly captured during military operations in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan, which lie along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
The main areas of have been cleared in Angoor Adda in South Waziristan and Razmak, Mirali and Shawaal in North Waziristan, where the Pakistan Army has also abolished its posts. The local tribes have been demanding the abolition of all Pakistan military posts from both tribal agencies and for the military to be confined to the Scout Castles - the military forts built by the British during colonial rule.
However, the real issue is still pending.
The issue is the release of soldiers of the Pakistani para military forces who have been detained by the Pakistani Taliban. In exchange, the militants are demanding the release of their comrades who are from the settled areas of Pakistan and are associated with militant organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-i-Mohammed. Pakistani authorities have not agreed so far to talk about that issue. This is the real dividing line between the two parties to sign any final peace agreement.
The prelude of the peace agreement was the appointment of a pro-Taliban governor in Pakistan's North West frontier province which neighbours the tribal region of Waziristan. Retired Lt. General Ali Mohammed Jan Orakzai, a former corps commander of Peshawar was made to retire earlier on, alleged, pressure by the Americans, in 2003. He is a native of the tribal area and believed to be the main engine driving the talks between the militants, the self proclaimed Pakistani Taliban and the government.
On the other side of the fence is Haji Omar, a South Waziristan-based representative of the Pakistani Taliban who recently visited Islamabad as well, though secretly, to meet with top military representatives as well as some religious Muslim elders.
Though, the platform for the peace deal is a Grand Jirga which include tribal elders, leaders of Pakistan's six-party religious alliance, MMA, as well as members of parliament, e behind the scene, Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s directives and the intiatives of the current governor of NWFP are are at work.
Initially the Pakistani Taliban were reluctant to negotiate with Pakistani authorities but as soon as Mullah Omar’s directives came through, the process began. Governor Orakzai and Political administration are the guarantors of the negotiation and the implementation on the final agreement.
Though formally, the process of negotiation began on 20 July when Orakzai summoned the Grand Jirga in Peshawar, after two days they held another Jirga in Miran Shah (the capital of North Waziristan) on 22nd or 23rd of July in which the Taliban formerly participated.
The negotiations are based on following points or issues:
1) Foreigners are allowed to live in the tribal area without registration
2) They will not leave Waziristan and especially not to enter the settled areas of Pakistan.
3) They will neither launch any armed struggle against army nor get involved any local tribal feuds.
Sources say that both open and underhand financial compensations are being given to the tribes and they are also being provided help to restore their business activities.
The reconstruction of demolished shops in South Waziristan, especially in the area of Wanan Baazar which has nearly 500 shops, is proof of the army's seriousness in coming to a peaceful agreement with the tribal militants.
(Aki/Syed Saleem Shahzad)
Aug-25-06 18:45
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