SISA Report no Pakistani Taliban in Turmoil

Transcription

1 SISA Report no Pakistani Taliban in Turmoil Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud and Qayum Khan Oslo, December 2014

2 Centre for International and Strategic Analysis SISA 2014 All views expressed in the report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Centre for International and Strategic Analysis. The text may not be printed in full or part without the permission of the author. Queries can be directed to: Centre for International and Strategic Analysis Phone: (+47) E- mail: Internet:

3 Introduction 1 Zarb- e- Azb (Strike of the Prophet s Sword) 1 is Pakistan Army s latest military offensive against both the homegrown and foreign militants in North Waziristan tribal region, intending to restore the writ of the government and curtail them from using the area as a haven for carrying out further terror activities across the country. North Waziristan had been the stronghold of militants led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur 2, who signed a peace pact with the government of Pakistan in However, with the consent of chief of the group, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 4 along with its foreign affiliates 5 made its entry into the area as a result of the military offensive Raah- e- Nijat 6 in neighboring South Waziristan in Al- Qaeda commander Abu Yahiya Al Libi 7 and Haqqani network military commander Mullah Sangeen Zadran 8 played an imperative role to convince Hafiz Gul Bahadur to allow the TTP to take refuge in North Waziristan after the latter agreed on shunning attacks against security forces in the area and avoid using the region as a launching pad for militant activities across Pakistan. 9 Meanwhile, Maulvi Nazir 10 had refused to provide refuge to the TTP in Wana area of South Waziristan during the same time. The TTP is chiefly concentrating on targeting Pakistani security forces and challenging the writ of the state. The TTP along with its foreign militant affiliates continues using North Waziristan as a launching pad for their attacks across Pakistan. However, Gul Bahadur Group has close links with Haqqani Network with main focus on their activities inside Afghanistan. 11 Prominent journalist and Ex- President of Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) 12 Safdar Dawar said, It was only after the renewal of 2006 peace agreement in late 2007 that Hafiz Gul Bahadur asked his fighters to avoid attacks on Pakistani military and focus on struggle inside Afghanistan. As far as Haqqani Network is concerned, it has never overtly stated its coalition with Gul Bahadur Group, but both of them have been assisting one another in their shared activities. 13 However, the major role of Gul Bahadur Group has been three- pronged support for Haqqani Network, which includes recruiting militants from local Wazir and Dawar tribes, providing bases to the aforementioned network in the area, and offering reserved force to the same group to fight against Afghan and coalition troops inside Afghanistan. 1 The report has been funded through a grant from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). All views expressed are those of the authors. 3

4 On the other hand, the TTP and its foreign associates moved against the promise they had made with Hafiz Gul Bahadur and intensified their activities in North Waziristan and used the area as a base for terrorism across Pakistan. The dubious character of the TTP compelled the government to launch military operation in the area on June 15, According to the press release by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of Pakistan s military - on June 15, 2014, the armed forces of Pakistan launched a comprehensive military operation against foreign and local terrorists in North Waziristan to eliminate them regardless of hue and color as they were hiding in sanctuaries in the area and had waged a war against the state. 14 Although Zarb- e- Azb has apparently curtailed the incidents of terrorism across the country as these were feared after the military offensive in North Waziristan, yet the assault at Army Public School and College in Peshawar on December 16, 2014 predicts a fresh wave of terrorist attacks. As many as 141 people including 132 students and 9 staffers were massacred, while the Spokesman for the main TTP, Muhammad Khurasani accepted responsibility for the said attack and the outfit claimed that the massacre was justified. On the next day of attack, the Taliban also released the pictures of their seven fighters, who took part in the assault and killed by the Pakistani security forces on the spot. 15 Militancy in North Waziristan With entry of the Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan, its other foreign allied militant outfits including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) 16, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) 17 and Jundullah 18 also took sanctuaries in the area. The tribal rivalries mainly between Wazir and Dawar tribes in North Waziristan provided a strong support to the TTP to escalate its influence in the area. Gul Bahadur Group is chiefly consisted of militants from Wazir tribe as its chieftain hails from Uthmanzai Wazir tribe and he has been losing support of Dawars due to tribal rivalry in the area. The TTP exploited the tribal rivalry between majority Wazirs and minority Dawars in the area, and filled that gap with its focus on the same area, where Dawar tribe provided them with manpower. Accordingly, Dawar tribe provided main 4

5 strength to the TTP to counter Wazirs influence in the area. To counter growing Hafiz Gul Bahadur led Waziri Taliban s influence in North Waziristan, majority of Dawar Mujahideen affiliated themselves with the Tehrik- e- Taliban (Pakistan), said a local TTP commander Jan Alam Dawar. 19 Moreover, the TTP intensified their militant activities in the area creating an alarming situation for the Pakistani government. Pakistan Army issued a number of warnings to Gul Bahadur Group regarding the presence of the TTP and its allies in North Waziristan, and their growing influence in the area, but then that was beyond the latter s sway to oust them from the area. 20 Resultantly, Pakistan launched Operation Zarb- e- Azb in North Waziristan mainly in Mirali, Miramshah and Datta Khel, which it termed as a military action against the militants without any discrimination. 21 After the commencement of military operation, Pakistani mass media quoted Army Chief General Raheel Sharif by saying the military will target Hafiz Gul Bahadur wherever he is found. 22 Assad Hashim, an Islamabad based journalist, who primarily covers security and human rights related issues for Al- Jazeera English said, The military certainly claims that it is going after militants of all hues and colors, but the fact is that it is impossible to verify this claim, because access to the area is tightly controlled by the same military, which is carrying it out. However, according to the IDPs of North Waziristan, enough warning was given before Operation Zarb- e- Azb in order to provide civilians a way out, with which the TTP fighters also began to leave the area. Today, Miramshah and Mirali are ghost towns - as are the surrounding areas. 23 Assad Hashim maintained, Now it is known that both the Haqqani Network and Hafiz Gul Bahadur operated primarily out of Datta Khel. In recent days, we have known more news from the military's PR wing, and thus unverifiable that airstrikes and operations are being carried out in Datta Khel, amidst reports that Hafiz Gul Bahadur (historically pro- government) has switched sides. 24 Militant Factions in North Waziristan 5

6 The entry of the Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was not a single addition to the militant groups in North Waziristan as its allies including Punjabi Taliban 25 and foreign outfits namely the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Jundullah, also took refuge in the area after the consent of Hafiz Gul Bahadur amid Raah- e- Nijat military operation in South Waziristan. According to Safdar Dawar, things went wrong when the TTP started bringing foreign fighters specifically the IMU militants into North Waziristan without apprising Hafiz Gul Bahadur. Accordingly, Hafiz Gul Bahadur took the matter during the joint Shura meetings of both the factions. Till that time, the TTP was too strong to seek prior permission from Gul Bahadur for any decision. 26 Gul Bahadur Group and Haqqani network were already active in the area. The density of Gul Bahadur Group was mainly concentrating in Mirali, Miramshah and Datta Khel areas of North Waziristan. Another senior journalist from North Waziristan Rasool Dawar perceives the reconciliatory approach of Hafiz Gul Bahadur gave an opportunity to the cunning TTP to strengthen its hold in Bahadur s domain. Before Zarb- e- Azb, main concentration centers for Hafiz (Gul Bahadur) were Mirali, Miramshah, Datta Khel, Danday Darpa Khel and Shawa, but currently, they have shifted their density to Shawal, Datta Khel, Spin Wam and Kurram Agency, Rasool Dawar said. 27 After the death of former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike on November 1, 2013 in Danday Darpa Khel area of North Waziristan, discordance emerged among the senior leadership of the militant organization over the issue of nomination of his successor. The appointment of Mullah Fazlullah as a new head of the TTP enraged Commander Khan Said alias Sajna, who was leading Mehsud Taliban, an influential faction of the TTP. According to Rasool Dawar, the growing dispute over succession of Hakimullah Mehsud led to the fragmentation of the TTP. 28 Split within TTP The death of Hakimullah and subsequent events including Operation Zarb- e- Azb paved the way for fragmentation of the Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan and various splinter groups emerged in the militant organization. Following are the breakaway groups of the TTP. 6

7 1- Main TTP Fazlullah is heading the main TTP. At the moment, there are only few prominent Taliban commanders left with Fazlullah. But there is understanding between the main TTP led by Fazlullah and rest of the newly surfaced defected Taliban factions that they would continue cooperating with each other in terms of planning and executing attacks across Pakistan. We have an understanding that we would face any threat collectively, if a group among us cannot deal with it separately, a Taliban affiliated with Commander Sajna faction said on the condition of anonymity. 29 It came forth during the ongoing military offensive in Khyber tribal district against a local warlord Mangal Bagh led Lashkar- e- Islam. Both main TTP and its breakaway group Jamaat- e- Ahraar vowed to support Mangal Bagh against Pakistan security forces. In this critical juncture, the Tehrik- e- Taliban extends its full support to Lashkar- e- Islam. Dozens of our fighters have already reached Khyber Agency to fight along with our brother against the army, TTP chief Fazlullah said in an audio message Punjabi Taliban Punjabi Taliban is a splinter group of the TTP led by Asmatullah Muaviya. Previously, the term Punjabi Taliban was used for all non- Pashtun Pakistani militants, mostly from Punjab province affiliated with the TTP. However, the split occurred when discordance emerged between Punjabi Taliban and the main TTP over the continuation of militant activities inside Pakistan. After consulting with Ulema (religious scholars) and keeping in view the current situation in Pakistan, Punjabi Taliban is going to end its armed resistance within Pakistan and would limit it to infidel forces across the border in Afghanistan, Asmatullah Muaviya said in a video message Commander Sajna Faction Khan Said Mehsud alias Commander Sajna was the first prominent TTP commander, who parted ways with Fazlullah led TTP over the latter s alleged support to Sajna s main rival Commander Shehryar Mehsud in May, Sajna faction described abductions for ransom, killings, raising extortion money, damaging public properties, etc. as Un- 7

8 Islamic activities being practiced by Fazlullah led TTP. Sajna Group tried to reform the Tehrik- e- Taliban; however, we failed despite our several attempts. Thus Mehsud Taliban led by Sajna have decided to part ways with Fazlullah led Taliban, Commander Sajna faction s spokesman Azam Tariq said. 32 But sources within Mehsud Taliban described Fazlullah s covert support to Shehryar Mehsud against Sajna was the real motive behind the split. Commander Sajna has long been asking Fazlullah to stop aiding Shehryar against him. He even delivered messages to Fazlullah through Gul Bahadur and Khalifa (Sirajuddin Haqqani) to stop bringing division within Mehsud Taliban by supporting Shehryar, but Fazlullah failed to do so, a leading Mehsud Taliban commander said on condition of not to be named. 33 This infighting between two leading Mehsud commanders cost dearly for the Taliban and resulted in killing of dozens of their fighters. But recently Fazlullah has sorted out the differences between commander Sajna and Shehryar in a week long Jirga, which took place in an undisclosed location in Pakistani tribal area. In a recent interview, Azam Tariq, a spokesman for Sajna faction also confirmed that the dispute with Maulana Fazlullah had now sorted out. We don t have any dispute with Maulana Fazlullah anymore. But we still holds our own independent organizational structure, Azam Tariq said Tehrik- e- Taliban Jamaat- ul- Ahraar Second major split occurred within the TTP in August, 2014, when a group of senior TTP commanders announced formation of a new faction, Tehrik- e- Taliban Jamaat- ul- Ahraar. This new faction is consisted of Omer Khalid Khurasani - former TTP head for Mohmand tribal district, Qari Shakeel- former member of TTP central Shura, Sajjad Mohmand alias Ehsanullah Ehsan - former central spokesman of the TTP, etc. This new faction is led by Mualana Qasim Khurasani, who was previously TTP chief for Malakand region. Jamaat- ul- Ahraar defected from the TTP over growing indiscipline, infighting and lack of coordination within the TTP. 35 Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the TTP- Jamaat- ul- 8

9 Ahraar, claimed that the new group had become the real T.T.P. and would refuse to take orders from Mullah Fazlullah Sheikh Maqbool Group Sheikh Maqbool aka Shahidullah Shahid, ex- spokesman of the main TTP, along with leading five regional commanders from various tribal districts recently pledged allegiance to ISIS chief Abu- Bakr Al- Baghdadi. I pledge allegiance to the Caliph of Muslims, Abu- Bakr Al- Baghdadi and will follow his orders and instructions, Shahidullah Shahid said in an sent to media outlets. 37 Soon after the announcement, the main TTP sent an to the author claiming that Sheikh Maqbool had been removed as TTP main spokesman before his announcement of joining the ISIS. Shahidullah Shahid is an imaginary name, which is used by a person, who becomes the spokesman of the TTP Central. Sheikh Maqbool has also been the spokesman of the TTP Central; therefore, he was called Shahidullah Shahid. Long ago, another brother had replaced Sheikh Maqbool and was promoted to the spokesman of the TTP (means, he became Shahidullah Shahid). We did not announce that due to our policy. But Sheikh Maqbool used this name (Shahidullah Shahid) for his individual purpose. We want to make it clear that Sheikh Maqbool is not Shahidullah Shahid (He's not our Spokesman anymore). As for as the Baiya (pledge of allegiance) to the ISIS is concerned, Emir of the TTP Central, Mullah Fazlullah has already made it clear that our Baiya is to Emir al- Momineen Mullah Muhammad Omar 38. Lastly, we will soon announce the name of our new Spokesman", the says. 39 Now the TTP has announced Muhammad Khurasani as its new spokesman replacing Sheikh Maqbool aka Shahidullah Shahid on November 08, ISIS and Pakistani Taliban So far among Pakistani Taliban, only Shahidullah Shahid has formally linked his group with the ISIS. Rest of Pakistani Taliban factions have distanced themselves from the ISIS and stressed that their allegiance is only to Mullah Omar. But also none of Pakistani Taliban groups have criticized the ISIS despite the fact that the latter s chief Abu- Bakr directly challenged the ideological position and authority of Mullah Omar and Al- Qaeda 9

10 by declaring himself as Caliph and leader of the faithful. We have a support of a huge number of mujahedeen across Pakistan and soon we will decide how to assist our brother of the Islamic State in Iraq Syria, Muhammad Abu Zar Khurassani, a prominent commander of the Sheik Maqbool faction, said. 41 The common Taliban are questioning the presence of Mullah Omar, whether his alive or not. They argue that how they can follow a leader whose presence is difficult to ascertain since a decade, a senior Taliban commander, Maulvi Ahmad Hassan said. 42 A senior Islamabad based security official, who monitors militant activities across Pakistan said, Well, so far nothing serious to worry about, but the TTP is a natural partner of the ISIS in Pakistan. So far the ISIS has only symbolic presence in different parts of Pakistan by pasting posters in major cities. However, law enforcement agencies are taking all appropriate measures to counter it. 43 Operation Zarb- e- Azb Pre- operation Security Situation and Local Opinion Pakistani Tribal society is religiously and culturally a conservative one providing ideal ground to Islamist militants to further their activities and sway. Common tribesmen were already attached to religious obligations and tribal traditions. Therefore, the Taliban had not affected them with novel restrictions. Meanwhile, Hafiz Gul Bahadur led faction had already obliged the TTP, the most radical faction, by giving them refuge on a condition of non- interference in the local tribesmen s affairs by any means. However, the presence of myriad militant factions, both local and foreign in North Waziristan, caught the local tribesmen in constant feeling of insecurity. Taliban activities and counter actions of Pakistani security forces and consistent drone strikes by the US in the region kept on traumatizing the dwellers with acute uncertainty. The militants were involved in abduction and killing of the locals either under spying charges or demanding extortion money. Though we did not flee the area, but we were living under constant fear of possible abduction or paying extortion money to the Taliban. For tribal elders, it s imperative to maintain cordial relations with the government officials deputed in the area to resolve 10

11 local disputes. Some of my fellow tribal elders were abducted and later they were released after paying huge ransom, some of them were asked by the Taliban to leave the area or they would face dire consequences, a prominent tribal elder said on the condition not to be mentioned. 44 On the other hand, the security forces used to impose days- long curfew in the area restricting the movement of the locals to their houses. They were not even allowed to shift their patients to hospitals. The Army also used to carry out unannounced and indiscriminate shelling and aerial raids against Taliban hideouts in civilian populated parts of North Waziristan which often resulted in civilian deaths and property destruction. The government writ could only be observed in the area during the curfew. 45 When proposed peace talks failed with the TTP, Pakistani Army felt the need of military operation in North Waziristan as the militants were controlling the entire area and using it as a launching pad to orchestrate attacks across the country. The civilian administration, locally called as Political Administration, was restricted to its offices, while the security forces were confined to their forts, barracks and check posts. They could not even move freely in the area without imposing curfew, while militants hailing from myriad factions were roaming freely in the area and crisscrossing the security check posts all the day long. Militants held sway in the area and people were referring them their long- hauled inter- tribal and intra- tribal disputes as their self- imposed laws were providing speedy and cheap resolution. 46 Due to the aforementioned situation, traders, tribal Maliks and other politically influential tribesmen had left the area before the commencement of Operation Zarb- e- Azb. Influential, affluent and pro- government tribesmen in the area were under constant threat. They were asked for extortion money. They had to stay away from meeting the government officials as they could face spying charges for the government against the Taliban. A local medical store owner Muhammad Din Dawar, a resident of Mirali, the second largest town of North Waziristan, described life under Taliban, We were never 11

12 intimidated by the Taliban. My medicine business was running smoothly without being jeopardized by their activities. I was also exporting medicine to Afghanistan and raising handsome money. But military operation destroyed everything and now I am taking loans to meet both ends. 47 Commencement of Zarb- e- Azb Pakistan army had long baulked at launching military operation in North Waziristn; The Army was overstretched due to its engagements on multiple fronts including offensives in Swat, South Waziristan and Khyber Agency against the militants, dealing subsequently with the flow of the IDPs, non- conducive environment for military action across the country and furthermore, the then Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani did not want to give the impression that the operation in North Waziristan was launched under American pressure. We were finding it more difficult to decide on deploying troops (in North Waziristan for a full- fledged military operation) as it would have given an impression that it was done under the US pressure, former DG ISPR Athar Abbas outlined the factors behind delaying the offensive in North Waziristan. 48 Moreover, Pak- US acrimony and trust deficit were running high due to Salala post attack on Pak- Afghan border in Mohmand tribal region on November 26, 2011, which left 24 Pakistani security personnel killed. Meanwhile, a unilateral pre- dawn raid by US Special Forces in Abbottabad to kill Osama Bin Laden on May 2, 2011 further scarred the relationship between the two allies. However, this time military operations in the other areas have been concluded and previously fraught Pak- US relations have getting gradually improving after new political and military leadership of Pakistan has taken the charge. Strategically, it had become imperative for Pak Army to flush out militants from their last sanctuary in North Waziristan which had become a main concentration point for militants after being driven out from other tribal areas in the wake of several military operations. Otherwise, militants may have resurfaced in other areas culminating the success made by the Army. The gains Pakistan Army had made against the Taliban would have been at risk, if the military operation were not launched in North Waziristan as militants were gradually sneaking into previously cleared areas, said Islamabad 12

13 based senior journalist Omar Farooq. 49 Secondly, almost every terrorist act inside Pakistan was linked to North Waziristan by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA). Therefore, Pak Army considered it necessary to launch comprehensive and punishing military operation to contain and dismantle militants in North Waziristan. Subsequent Events After the commencement of Operation Zarb- e- Azb in North Waziristan, exodus of over a million tribesmen took place. Security forces succeeded in clearing two major towns of North Waziristan, Mirali and Miramshah in a couple of weeks by applying massive aerial strikes. Accordingly, the militants moved to other areas of North Waziristan, adjacent tribal districts and across the border to Afghanistan to evade military operation. In North Waziristan, the main sheltering areas for the militants are Datta Khel, Shawal valley and the bordering area with Afghanistan. Amid the military operation, artillery shelling and aerial strikes besides US drone attacks are continuing against the militants in the area. Analysts believe that the consistent US drone attacks alongside military operation in North Waziristan cannot be possible without Pakistani authorities collaboration. It would certainly be highly unlikely for the US to be carrying out drone strikes in an active Pakistan Army- controlled conflict zone without at least cursorily letting them know who was being targeted, when and where, Islamabad based security and human rights analyst Assad Hashim said. 50 US Drone strikes had dried up for several months before the operation, but the attacks got intensified with the commencement of Zarb- e- Azb as at least 14 strikes have taken place in North Waziristan until December New Sanctuaries of Militants Though Pakistan army is reiterating that this operation is against all militants factions without any discrimination 52, yet recently Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs uttered the conventional approach of Pakistani establishment of maintaining discrimination between Good and Bad Taliban during an interview to the BBC- Urdu. When the United States attacked Afghanistan [in 2001], all those groups who we had collectively armed and trained were pushed into Pakistan. 13

14 Some of them are a threat to Pakistan, while others pose no threat to Pakistan s security. Why should we antagonize them all? Sartaj Aziz maintained. 53 The military operation was aimed to flush out the militants from the area, but the Taliban were already aware of the possible offensive in the area and were seen vacating the area. It was also confirmed by the local residents of Miramshah and Mirali. Just a few days before the operation, we were observing decreasing Taliban movements in Mirali and Miramshah Bazaar. Their number was getting lessened with each passing movement. In Miramshah, I personally saw some Taliban packing their goods and loading vehicles. And those Taliban had been living there for past five years, Haji Noor Khan Wazir, a tribal elder from Miramshah said. 54 A leading TTP commander also said on the condition of not to be named, We had already lessened our presence in Miramshah and Mirali almost a week before the operation. When operation was formally announced, we asked the remaining Mujahideen to leave the area as security forces were carrying out ruthless air strikes. But in rest of North Waziristan, our brothers are still present and conducting Jihad. 55 A leading TTP commander from South Waziristan, Abu Omar said, We have shifted our setup to South Waziristan, both to Mehsud and Wazir areas, in the wake of the (military) operation. Initially, it (Operation Zarb- e- Azb) was a setback, disrupting our activities in North Waziristan, but now we are getting recovered and soon we will be operational like before. 56 The abovementioned claim seems to have vindicated by the Peshawar massacre, which left 141 people including 132 children dead. 57 Terrorists came from back of the school and auditorium. They killed children in auditorium through firing. 132 children and nine staff members embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) at that time. QRF (Quick Response Force) reached in 15 minutes. Total strength of the children was Out of which, 960 children were rescued from the school and 121 children injured. The SSG completed the operation. One terrorist was killed at the auditorium and the rest at the administrative block. The IED material was neutralized. In the operation, seven SSG jawans (soldiers) and two officers were injured, a security official said

15 After launching a much- hyped military operation in North Waziristan, majority of the militants left for the adjacent tribal areas or across the border into Afghanistan. Pakistani military has also an eye on the new sanctuaries of the Taliban, where they can regain strength to launch terror attacks. Therefore, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited Afghanistan on December 17, 2014 and held separate meetings with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and ISAF commander General John F Campbell. According to ISPR Press Release, the Army Chief discussed security situation at Pak- Afghan border and shared vital elements of intelligence related to Peshawar incident with the concerned authorities. 59 Other local accounts plainly indicate that militants affiliated with Haqqani Network were not targeted and they were discreetly given a safe passage to flee the area for adjacent Kurram tribal area. Javed Hussain Bangash, a resident of Kurram Agency said, We have been seeing growing number of Afghan Taliban affiliated with Haqqani Network in different parts of Kurram Agency since military operation in North Waziristan. They are operating here under government immunity as they are travelling to Afghanistan without being stopped or questioned on dozens of military check posts on main road leading to Afghan border. 60 On the other hand, Haqqani Network and its local ally Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group fled to Afghanistan and Kurram Agency. The Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and other allied outfits fled from Mirali and Miramshah and took refuge in other nearby areas like Datta Khel and Shawal inside North Waziristan besides fleeing to the other tribal areas like South Waziristan Agency, Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency and upper parts of Orakzai Agency. The government s claim of no discrimination among militant groups 61 might be based on its sincere efforts to dismantle militancy completely, but Javed Bangash, the local of Kurram Agency still rebutted it by saying, To us, it clearly shows that there is still discrimination between Good and Bad Taliban. Our elders have conveyed their concerns multiple times to both civilian and military authorities to secure the area from becoming another North Waziristan for the Taliban

16 Army s Strategy versus Taliban s Tactics Pak Army s strategy is based on dismantling and wiping out the militants to restore government writ in North Waziristan. Along with the use of force, efforts are underway to strike peace pacts with some of the splinter groups of the TTP. In this regard, Mehsud tribe Jirga has been holding meetings with government on behalf of Mehsud Taliban led by commander Sajna to pave the way for a possible peace deal. Actually, Sajna faction is concerned about the plight of Mehsud displaced persons in the wake of 2009 military operation in Mehsud inhabited part of South Waziristan. Since then Mehsud tribe is displaced and living under miserable conditions in different parts of the country. For peace talks with government, rehabilitation of Mehsud tribe would be the top priority from our side. We understand that Mehsud tribe has been suffering a lot due to military operation since 2009, Abu Omer, a militant commander linked with Sajna faction said. 63 As a confidence building measure, the government has already released seven Mehsud Taliban from prison in Wana, South Waziristan and handed over to the Jirga. 64 On ideological front, the long- hauled stance of Pakistani Taliban to fight against Pakistan Army for being a frontline ally in war on terror is vanishing as the US led international coalition is also withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan. Furthermore, Punjabi Taliban led by Asmatullah Muaviya has already announced to end militant activities in Pakistan. Besides this, Pakistani military is mainly relying on air power throughout the operation to dismantle the Taliban in North Waziristan which mostly result in infrastructure destruction i.e. houses, markets, roads, schools, health units, etc. As per a senior military official account, Pakistani military is applying three- pronged strategy in the ongoing military operation. In first phase, we carry out aerial strikes and artillery shelling to soften up the target. In second phase, we deploy our ground forces to physically capture the target area. Then we conduct search operation to clear the area from possible IEDs and to confiscate militants leftovers. This strategy has been very successful since Swat operation in 2009, a senior security official described it on condition of anonymity

17 On the other hand, the Taliban are using tactics of IEDs attacks and target killings. However, significant decrease has been seen in the number of suicide attacks, armed assaults and ambushes on government installations since the commencement of Zarb- e- Azb. The decrease in attacks manifests that militants are on the run. They are striving to find new sanctuaries and establish command and control centers. So far Zarb- e- Azb seems to have inflicted fatal blow on militants capabilities to carry out major attacks, senior journalist Omar Farooq said. 66 Pakistani security forces also claim to have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, propaganda stuff, laptops, cameras, etc. during the operation in Miramshah and Mirali. However, the Taliban are persistently denying the government s claims. In this regard, TTP Jamaat- ul- Ahraar s spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan sent an to media persons, which reads, These report are almost wrong. Before operation, 99 percent of Mujahideen goods have been shifted to safe areas. We ourselves shifted everything except lights and water drums, and there was a long chance for everybody to leave the area before the operation. 67 Conclusion People of the tribal area have been failed by the Pakistani government since 1947, both actively and passively, through its inaction and inability to deliver government services and its insistence on upholding the colonial era draconian law, the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) 68. Ironically, the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) has been kept isolated from mainstream Pakistan politically, administratively and constitutionally. Decades of isolation and abandonment of FATA from the state provide an ample opportunity to the non- state actors to extend their sway. Once, this militancy was primarily state- sponsored, but that is no longer entirely the case. But these militants can only survive in FATA particularly North Waziristan, because these areas are allowed by the government s ineffectiveness to exist as grey areas, outside of its responsibility and reach. Operation Zarb- e- Azb may have succeeded in driving certain kinds of militant groups out, denying them the space to operate, but if these gains are to be solidified and made meaningful, then the government will have to go further than the strategy seen in South 17

18 Waziristan and other tribal agencies. Despite the fact that the military operation in North Waziristan curtailed terrorist incidents up to some extent, but the recent Peshawar assault by the Fazlullah- led TTP, as per its claim, predicts further bloody reaction by the terror outfit. Therefore, the government is required to adopt some drastic changes in its approach in dealing with the tribal belt to restrain the area from cherishing further militancy due to the current flawed administrative setup. FATA must be brought into the fold of Pakistan's constitution - the political agent system of using nominated members to enforce state power must be ended. Government service delivery must be stepped up in the most basic of areas: education, health, water, power, sanitation and communications. These are not the ideas of a journalist or an outsider, but this is precisely what every single resident of FATA demands. The dwellers of North Waziristan feel trapped between the Taliban and other militant groups on one side, and the Pakistan Army and the political agent on the other. They have no control over their own destiny, and merely seek to survive in an environment where the government's default attitude towards them appears to treat them as terrorists, and the terrorists' default attitude towards them is to treat them as either sinners, or new recruits. 18

19 End Notes 1 Zarb-e-Azb is a code name for Pakistan Army s military operation against militants in North Waziristan, which has been launched on June 15, Hafiz Gul Bahadur is head of his own faction of the militants, which is often counted among Good Taliban, mainly operating in North Waziristan 3 Making Peace with Pakistani Taliban to Isolate Al-Qaeda: Successes and Failures by Rohan Gunaratna and Syed Adnan Ali Shah Bukhari, published in 2008, retrieved on December 6, 2014 from 4 The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is an umbrella organization of Islamic militants that was formed in December 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud while uniting 13 militant groups 5 The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan foreign affiliates included Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Jundullah 6 Rah-e-Nijat is the first full-fledged military operation against the TTP in Mehsud area of South Waziristan, which began on June 19, 2009 and ended on December 12, Abu Yahiya Al Libi was killed in US drone strike on June 4, Mullah Sangeen Zadran was killed in US drone strike on September 5, Growing Rifts between North Waziristan Taliban and TTP: A Precursor to Taliban Infighting? published on April 24, 2012, retrieved on December 6, 2014 from growing-rifts-between-north-waziristan-taliban-and-ttp-a-precursor-to-taliban-infighting.html 10 Mullah Nazir was head of his own faction of Waziri Taliban in Wana area of South Waziristan, who was killed in US drone strike in January 2, 2013 in Angoor Adda near Wana 11 The Haqqani Network and the Threat to Afghanistan by Jeffrey Dressler, retrieved on December 8, 2014 from 12 Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) is a representative body of journalists from the tribal areas of Pakistan 13 Interview with Safdar Dawar in Peshawar, who is a Reporter at Wall Street Journal and hails from North Waziristan 14 ISPR Press Release No PR124/2014-ISPR published on June 15, 2014 as retrieved on December 8, 2014 from 15 Report by The Independent, published on December 17, 2014 as retrieved on December 18, 2014 from gunmen-who-killed-148-as-they-claim-massacre-was-justified-and-warn-of-further-violence html 16 The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) is a militant group formed by Uzbek Islamists Tahir Yuldashev and Juma Namangani in The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is an Islamic separatist group founded by Uyghur militants in western China 18 Jundullah is a militant outfit that has closed links with Al-Qaeda and Pakistan Taliban 19 Interview with a local TTP Commander Jan Alam in Mirali in Growing Rifts Between North Waziristan Taliban and TTP: A Precursor to Taliban Infighting?, published on April 23, 2012, retrieved on December 8, 2014 from growing-rifts-between-north-waziristan-taliban-and-ttp-a-precursor-to-taliban-infighting.html 21 Supra Note Pakistani electronic media quoted Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to tell about the military operation in North Waziristan that it was without any discrimination in militants 23 Interview with Islamabad based Security and Human Rights Analyst Assad Hashim, who works as correspondent for Al-Jazeera English 24 Ibid 25 The militants affiliated with Sunni extremist sectarian outfits as well as militant groups that are fighting in Indian Kashmir are collectively called Punjabi Taliban 26 Supra Note Interview with Rasool Dawar in Bannu - He is a tribal journalist hailing from North Waziristan and currently associated with Geo News and Associated Press (AP) 28 Ibid 29 Interview with a Taliban commander of Commander Sajna faction in Wana area of South Waziristan in late September Official propaganda wing of the TTP, Omar Media released the audio message of the group chief Mullah Fazlullah last month 19

20 31 Video message of Asmatullah Muaviya, which was ed to media persons 32 Azam Tariq said this in a press conference in North Waziristan on May 28, 2014 as retrieved on December 8, 2014 from 33 Interview with a leading Mehsud Taliban commander in Wana, South Waziristan 34 Interview with Azam Tariq, the spokesman for Sajna faction 35 TTP-JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan ed a video message to media persons describing the reason behind the split 36 Hard-Line Splinter Group, Galvanized by ISIS, Emerges From Pakistani Taliban by Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud and Declan Walsh, published on August 26, 2014, retrieved on December 9, 2014 from 37 Sheikh Maqbool alias Shahidullah Shahid said in his sent to media outlets 38 Mullah Muhammad Omar is head of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, who declared himself as Emir al- Momineen (Leader of the Faithful) during Taliban rule in Afghanistan 39 sent to the author by the TTP after Sheikh Maqbool was removed from the post of spokesman of the group 40 Report of online version of English daily Dawn News as retrieved on December 09, 2014 from 41 Interview on phone with Muhammad Abu Zar Khurassani 42 Interview with Maulvi Ahmad Hassan in Peshawar, whose real name has been changed due to security reasons 43 Interview with a senior security official in Islamabad, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media 44 A prominent tribal elder told the authors on condition of not to be named due to fear of Taliban reprisal 45 The authors visited the area and observed the situation besides interviewing local tribesmen and government officials 46 Ibid 47 Muhammad Din Dawar, a local medical store owner and resident of Mirali, the second largest town of North Waziristan 48 Report of English daily Express Tribune on July 1, 2014 as retrieved on December 10, 2014 from 49 Interview with Omar Farooq, an Islamabad based security analyst, who is also a special correspondent for Times of India and Daily Times 50 Supra Note Data on drone strikes collected from The Bureau of Investigative Journalism as retrieved on December 10, 2014 from 52 Supra Note Sartaj Aziz s interview with the BBC-Urdu as retrieved from on December 10, Interview with the displaced Tribal elder from Miramshah, Haji Noor Khan Wazir in Bannu 55 Interview with a leading TTP commander in Wana, South Waziristan 56 Interview with Abu Omar, A leading TTP commander from South Waziristan 57 Report of The Washington Post Pakistan buries victims of school massacre, published on December 17, 2014 as retrieved on December 18, 2014 from _-mostly-children-_-killed-in-pakistan-attack/2014/12/16/f140b30c e4-abcf- 5a3d7b3b20b8_story.html 58 A security official told the author on the day of Peshawar incident on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to media 59 ISPR Press Release No PR277/2014-ISPR published on December 17, 2014 as retrieved on December 18, 2014 from 60 Interview with Javed Hussain Bangash in Hangu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 61 Supra Note Supra Note Supra Note Report of English daily The Express Tribune published on November 1, 2014 as retrieved on December 10, 2014 from 65 Interview with a senior security personnel in Islamabad 66 Supra Note TTP-Jamaat-ul-Ahraar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan s sent to media persons 20

21 68 The FCR is a set of laws applicable to FATA, which was implemented during the British rule in