After taking cognizance of the deteriorating security situation, emanating from the recent terror-attacks inside the country, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani briefed the political leadership on October 16 in connection with the military operation against the militants of South Waziristan.

Next day, the ground operation, “Rah-i-Nijat” (Path to Deliverance) was launched after weeks of heavy aerial bombardments to weaken militant fortifications. Some 28,000 soldiers moved into a remote corner of the mountainous region, in a three-pronged attack, intended to trap 10,000 insurgents of South Waziristan including some 1 500 Uzbeks and foreign fighters. In this regard, on October 18, the Chief of the Inter-Services Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Athar Abbas said: “The army has launched an operation after receiving orders from the government.”

However, there is an appropriate rationale behind the military operation in Waziristan. Apart from the previous suicide attacks and bomb blasts, terrorists based in South Waziristan, intensified their subversive attacks in the major cities of Pakistan by acting upon the tactics of guerilla warfare in order to create lawlessness in the country.

In this respect, on October 15, five civilians and 12 personnel of the security forces have been martyred in three separate terrorist attacks by killing 9 terrorists at FIA Building, Manawan Police Training Centre and Bedian Elite Police Training Centre in Lahore. On the same day, eleven persons were killed in a car suicide attack at a police station in Kohat, while several persons were killed in similar type of blasts in Peshawar intermittently. On October 12, a suicide bomber killed 41 people in Shangla. In their most challenging subversive act, on October 10, nine militants targeted the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi where Pak Army foiled a major tragedy by killing eight terrorists and rescuing 39 hostages. In the event, 12 soldiers, a Brigadier and a Lt. Colonel had also been martyred, but militants’ ringleader Aqeel alias Dr Osman was captured alive whose links to South Waziristan were proved after initial investigation.

Waziristan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has connections in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attacks, occurred in Pakistan within ten days. The group had also claimed responsibility for the last year’s terror-attacks on several key installations of Lahore like the Pakistan Navy War College, FIA building, the Manawan Police Training Center and Rescue 15 building of the police including assault on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

It was due to the panic and sense of insecurity caused by the merciless insurgents that emotions have been running high against the Taliban militants from all segments of society. Each assault has been strengthening public opposition to militancy and religious extremism. In this context, Pakistan’s political commentators and the general masses strongly condemned the recent terror-acts, while expressing their views through electronic and printed media.

Regarding the new wave of terrorism, which killed dozens of persons, the leading newspapers printed the views of people saying: “The militants are not what they claim to be…the enemies of the United States…in fact, they are the enemies of Pakistan and they want to impose their version of Islam on us but they will never succeed.” The papers further wrote: “People of Pakistan were not only unanimous on the military operation against militants in Swat and other areas of Malakand Agency, but they also wanted a quick yet effective strike against those hiding in South Waziristan.” Similar thoughts were expressed by the people through TV channels.

However, just like the previous military operations which had broken the backbone of the insurgents in Swat, Dir and Buner, Pakistan’s major political parties and civil societies of every province have been greatly backing the ongoing offensive in South Waziristan.
 
Besides, the latest wave of terror-attacks and public support to the operation, Rah-i-Nijat, there is other logic behind military action in South Waziristan. Notably, the militants enter Pakistan from Afghanistan where tentacles of terrorism exist. In this respect, India has set up secret training centres in Afghanistan where its military personnel in collaboration with its secret agency, RAW have been imparting training of guerilla warfare to the youngsters, having connections with South Waziristan where some other such training centres are also working. By setting aside the atrocities of the Taliban insurgents such as hostage-takings, beheadings, and torture, Indian officials incite the local tribesmen by propagating that Pakistan’s armed forces are killing its own people. The main aim behind is to attract the innocent people, and to produce suicide bombers after brainwashing.

In this respect, an online website reported, “The new hatchery of producing female suicides bombers is being headed by Commander Maulvi Shamim at his Muddrassah in Laddha, located in South Wazirsitan. The Uzbak and Afghani women instructors are imparting Jehadi and suicide training to the innocent girls and women. Trainees include Mehsud, Punjabis and Sindhi women and girls.” They were being funded by foreign agency too. Apart from this nursery of suicide female bombers, houses in Sam Sarai, Baderzai and other places of South Waziristan Agency are also training girls and boys on similar lines. Reports suggest that the female suicide bomber who attacked the police station in Peshawar on October 16 was from the Muddrassah of Maulvi Shamim.

On October 13, 2009 a private TV channel also released a video in which the terrorists including the captured ringleader, Aqeel have been shown getting training in guerrilla warfare. He is close fellow of the late Baitullah Mehsood, the former Chief of the TTP.

In the recent past, some of our high officials repeatedly pointed out that the late Baitullah Mehsud who was killed in a US drone attack on August 5, had been backed by the foreign powers. He was having a number of secrets regarding foreign intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, like Baitullah, his successor, Hakimullah Mehsud who has threatened more suicide attacks in our country is also collective agent of RAW and CIA. While playing a double game like his paymasters, his real aim is to incite the innocent Pakhtoons in order to further destabilise Pakistan.

Now, this fact is known to everyone that Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic world. Hence, US, Israel and India are in collusion to weaken it by creating anarchy for achieving their secret strategic interests. Covert support to the insurgents of the Frontier Province and separatists of Balochistan are part of the unfinished agenda of these foreign elements. Besides NWFP, sporadic ambush attacks on the security forces, government installations and ministers in Balochistan might be cited as example.

It is of particular attention that location of South Waziristan makes it most conducive place for the anti-Pakistan plotters and fighters. In this regard, Time magazine reported on October 18, 2009: “South Waziristan is close to outsiders…which comprises harsher terrain, made it the ideal hiding place for foreign militants…over the years, various groups of militants fortified their bases…Pakistan’s military moved on South Waziristan stronghold of the TTP, an umbrella group of militants…have been behind some 80% of terrorist attacks in the country including the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.”

Nonetheless, the South Waziristan Agency which shares a common border with Afghanistan is the epicenter of all the terrorist activities in Pakistan. Subversion in country’s major cities including Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai and Mohmand agencies are plotted there with the support of Indian RAW which itself is being backed by the tactical help of US and Israel.

Regarding the recent terror-attacks, ISPR Spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and other TV commentators have indicated Indian involvement behind the attack, remarking: “Hakimullah Mehsud and other terrorists are “the enemies of the state” and “are mercenaries who receive arms from Afghanistan to destabilize the country.”

Now, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s armed forces which have strong rationale behind the military operation must check all these activities of the Waziristan-based militants once for all.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations.