Hawkman, I shall write about it today.. but read this one from by Muhammad Khurshid
Accord With Taliban
by Muhammad Khurshid
opednews.com
September 7, 2007
The Taliban and Pakistan agreement signed in Miranshah, the headquarter of North Waziristan Agency, tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border has stunned the observers here.
Some of them have declared this act a victory for the Taliban. Surprisingly, Pakistani government has accepted all the conditions put farward by Taliban.
It is worth mentioning here war was declared in Tribal Areas against Taliban and terrorists, when Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai was wearing the army uniform as at that time he was corps commander, heading the army in war against Taliban, but now he is in civilian cloth when accord was signed with the same Taliban.
The administration of the United States must aware of this move. Some of the tribesmen have been saying that we are again given in control of Taliban. The tribesmen have attached great expectations with the US as they thought they may be saved by her from the terrorists.
But the situation taking other turn.
Reports said that North Waziristan Grand Peace Jirga has formally announced the peace agreement arrived at between the government and the local Taliban here, which followed pulling out of the security forces check posts from different areas of the Agency.The members of the Grand Peace Jirga, government officials, tribal elders and local Taliban were also present in the Jirga held here at the Degree College premises.
The decisions taken by the Jirga make it obligatory for the North Waziristan tribal elders, local mujahideens and ulema to ensure ceasing all sorts of attacks on the security forces and government assets, the governance would rests with the Pakistan government only, political administration would be approached for the resolution of all problems and the issues would be resolved under the tribal traditions and FCR.
The Jirga decided that there would be no to and fro crossing on the border for militant action in Afghanistan, all North Waziristan aliens would leave Pakistan and those opting to stay would remain peaceful and respect the law, while the government property, vehicles, wireless sets etc. taken into custody during the skirmishes would be returned to the tribal government.
The Grand Jirga has also decided about some government obligations, which included that the government would free all the persons arrested during the operations and they would not be re-arrested on the basis of past incidents, all the national privileges would be restored and the check posts set up on the roads would be wrapped up, while Khasadar and levies would be posted on the old check posts. Under the agreement, land and air operation would be stopped and the problems would be resolved in the light of the traditions.
The government would pay compensations for the losses incurred during the operation. Under the tribal tradition, there was no ban on arms and neither the government would be imposing such a ban, but the heavy weapons would remain proscribed.
The implementation of the agreement would commence with the pulling out of the troops from the check posts to the military camps. Under the agreement, a ten-member committee has also been set up which included ulema, mushiran and members of political administration.
This committee would be reviewing implementation of the agreement besides taking action on the violation, if any. Director General Media Civil Secretariat FATA Shah Zaman Khan said the agreement was signed at a simple but impressive ceremony held at Miran Shah where in the two parties expressed their firm resolve to abide by all the conditions laid down in the agreement for establishment of an enduring peace in the tribal areas, particularly in North Waziristan Agency.
Agreement has been the out come of the efforts of the forty-five members grand tribal Jirga that was launched on July 20 last. The members of the Grand Peace Jirga, government officials, tribal elders and local Taliban were also present in the Jirga.According to reports the implementation of the agreement would commence with the pulling out of the troops from the check posts to the military camps.
The agreement also guarantees that land and air operation would be stopped and all issues would be resolved in the light of the traditions. The government would pay compensations for the losses incurred during the operation.
As per the details of the agreement released by the government, the Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency have committed that Personnel of army and law enforcing agencies and state properties will not be attacked; no target killing shall be carried out; no parallel administration will be established in the area; no cross border movement to Afghanistan for militant activities will be carried out and no ingress in settled areas adjacent to North Waziristan Agency will take place. Similarly they have resolved that all foreigners in North Waziristan will leave Pakistan, albeit those who are unable to do so for certain genuine reasons shall respect law of the land and abide by all conditions of the agreement.
They shall not disturb the peace and tranquility of the area.From the government side it was agreed that those arrested during the operation would be released. In fact most of these people have already been released and their privileges and benefits would be restored; new check posts on the roads will be dispensed with and all the old check posts will be manned by Khasadars and Levies. The government will resolve all disputes in accordance with tribal customs and traditions.
Compensation will be given to the innocent tribesmen who lost their lives and properties during the recent unrest/ operation. Army troops will be shifted to Camps within the Agency. Back ground information about peace agreement:Serious peace efforts were initiated for the first time when the President General Pervez Musharraf visited Governor House Peshawar on 26th April 2006 to address an all FATA grand tribal Jirga.
The tribal elders during their speeches on the occasion suggested and requested the President to give a chance to the tribal elders to resolve the issue through traditional tribal Rewaj. They assured the President that the tribal customs and traditions were effective enough to settle such thorny and complicated issues. The President acceded to their request and asked the then Governor to take further steps to materialize the proposal.
Later on when the new Governor Lt. General(R) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai assumed office of the Governor NWFP, the efforts received a new impetus as he on the very first day of taking oath expressed his commitment to the restoration of complete peace and normalcy in Waziristan and elsewhere in FATA. He said that peace in tribal areas was his sole mission and it would be accomplished with the help of the tribesmen.
The efforts of the Governor NWFP proved fruitful as on 25th of June, the local militants announced a unilateral ceasefire, which further strengthened the peace initiatives. Formation of grand Jirga for seeking permanent peace in North Waziristan was another uphill task but lastly on 16th of July, it was announced comprising leading tribal elders representing all the tribal agencies and FRs.
The Grand Jirga met the Governor on 19th of July at Governor's House Peshawar, where the Governor addressed the participants of the Jirga and informed them about the sensitivity of the problem. He also gave the Jirga his consent that the decision made by the Jirga would be accepted.On the very next day, July 20, 2006, the Jirga arrived in Miranshah the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency and initiated consultations with the local elders and ulema.
The Govt. at the very out set showed good will gesture by releasing a few tribesmen, which made the environment more conducive for reaching to some positive conclusion. After hectic efforts for about 55 days finally both the sides agreed to an elaborate agreement that was formally signed on 5th September and announced.
It is still not whether it is victory of Taliban or the Pakistani or US administration, but one thing is very much clear that the war against terrorism is directionless. Only innocent people mostly women and children are being made target in the war. Some observers are saying that both warring parties earned a lot during the war, but at the cost of human death and destruction. |
