Pakistan's embattled president touts gain in war on terrorism
Musharraf may finally be reaping the success of his agreement with local tribes near the Afghan border.
from the March 23, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
Conflict has implications for Afghanistan
If Waziristan's tribal elders are fighting on behalf of the Musharraf government, it could constitute a significant turn in the violence plaguing Afghanistan. Since sweeping into Pakistan in 2001, foreign fighters – Uzbeks, Arabs, Chechnyans, and others – have forged an uneasy alliance with local tribal people through religion, intermarriages, and the blood bond of being mujahideen.
)
But in that time, the militants, estimated to number 2,000, also developed a reputation for violence and disrespect of local customs, observers say. Locals blame them for usurping the power of elders through targeted killings.
"I think the majority of the locals are against the foreigners. These foreigners are going on their own, challenging the writ of the local tribesmen," says Mr. Khan, adding that foreign militants are also blamed for instigating most of the violence in Afghanistan.
With locals turning on them, foreign militants will loose their support base, and that could mean a blow to their ability to launch attacks inside Afghanistan, says Khan. "These foreigners are operating in Afghanistan and coming back. There will be no sanctuary for them."
The military must now weigh a cautious balance, observers say. By helping them subdue foreign militants, the government risks empowering the local tribes to the point where they may one day seek to challenge the government.
"The government should now try to establish its credentials with the [local] militants and bring them into the political process, and establish its writ there," says Talat Masood, a retired Army lieutenant general and now a military analyst in Islamabad.
RSS feed
