Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Waziristan Operation; Some Points!

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Waziristan Operation; Some Points!

The ongoing military operation of Paksitani forces in its Waziristan region carries a blend of impressions about it. Journalists and media experts, both local and international, are showing different and often ignored aspects of these operations. It would be very early to conclude about the gains and losses of these operations but there are differing views and reports on the media. There are those who are happy that militants are going to be eliminated in the only possible way. There are those who have so many reservations about the objectives and achievements of these operations. But it is for sure that people of the area are suffering too much.

Just like the military operations carried out by Pakistani forces in its northern areas, different aspects regarding these operations are under severe criticism from the media and the civil society. Just like the other corrupt governments of the world, the preparations by the government to rehabilitate the IDPs were almost nothing and this has resulted in great anger in general public against the government. Almost a million refugees have been left on their own and they are shocked as where to go and what to eat. At present, most of the IDPs are having the support of their relatives in Peshawar and other towns and cities of KPK.

June is the hottest month of the year and Waziristan and other affected areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa including its capital city Peshawar is burning with fire these days. In this scorching heat and suffocating air, the condition of people fleeing the area is really miserable. The difficulties started when the government imposed curfew in the area and it was such sudden that people suffered a lot to find edibles for their family members. Later on, when the residents were allowed to leave the area, there were no facilities of transportation. Transportation fares skyrocketed due to intense demand and security threats in the area. In such circumstances, only those who could afford and pay for transportation left the area and there were many who could not leave the area as they did not have enough to pay for the transportation charges. They had already accepted to die with their families in the area either by a bombing of army planes or by the two-sided rockets and shelling between militants and army. The worst is yet to come when the army will start its ground battle because till now, the operation has been limited to the airstrikes in which the army enjoys an edge over the militants but when it will come to one to one ground fighting, militants may also give hard time due to the mountains and woods.

The sufferings of IDPs don’t end even after leaving the area. According to the reports, some camps have been established for the refugees but eyewitnesses report that there are no facilities in these camps so majority of the people prefer to live with their relatives instead of living in these camps. At present, the IDPs are eating whatever they were able to bring with them with their homes but it would be difficult for them to continue like this in the long run and if they were not able to return to their homes, they will be suffering with joblessness because there is already the lack of jobs and sources of income in the province which has been affected with militancy for many years now and which has left the economy of the area completely crippled. In such circumstances, government along with the assistance of the United Nations and other international donors must arrange for any kind of financial support to the IDPs.

At the same time, the decision of Sind and Punjab governments not to let the IDPs into their states is also under criticism. These governments feared that militants would spread into their cities and towns mixed with IDPs and would strengthen its roots in the area but it shows another fact that even government doesn't trust in the screening method of the IDPs and there may be militants merged with the IDPs. If these militants were left unchecked and they were able to return to the area after the operation is over, once again they would be able to functionalize their activities, causing the same danger which was present before the military operations.

The government claims that these military operations are well-targeted and no civilian casualties can be tolerated but according to the Pakistani media, people coming from the area have reported many cases of civilian casualties as well. Now that journalists don’t have much access to the most critical areas, the actual figures may not be known but it remains a fact that these reports are increasing the public anger and creating doubts about the accuracy of the bombings of warplanes.

Although the claims made by the army about the casualties and losses of militants seem to be quite satisfactory, but people of the area tell a different story. According to them, days before the military operation started, militants and terrorists had left the area because they were sure that they will not be able to do anything against the air-strikes. It is also feared that they are preserving their manpower to utilize when they will get into a one-to-one ground confrontation with the army.

At present, any kind of estimate about the loss and remaining strength of terrorists in the area may not be accurate. It would only be known when the military would start its ground operations where they would be facing the real strength of the militants. Military experts regard the militants of the area strong and well-trained in such a war and they may give tough time for the government forces. At present, it is hoped that after the airstrikes, army would be able to quickly sweep the area and make it clean of the terrorists and IDPs would be able to return to their houses but there is also present the threat as what might happen if the ground battle got longer than the expected and especially worse if Taliban decided to fight a permanent guerilla war against the government like the Tamil Tigers. The condition would not only be frightening for the military experts but also IDPs who are not in position to stay in the same condition for so long and hope to regain their normal lives after returning to their homes.

Whatever may be the situation, this war against terrorism was inevitable and it was the only and final option left for the government. For the time being, efforts can be made to decrease sufferings of IDPs by providing them more facilities and making serious rehabilitation arrangements for them. In the same way, military experts should work to wind up this operation in the least time possible because prolonged war may only benefit the militants and more importantly, the routes of entry of militants in the area and hideouts should be completely eliminated so that they should not be able to re-enter and work on their agendas.

Muhammad Rasool Shah works as Academic Coordinator at Barakat Int’l School, Kabul. He can reached at muhammadrasoolshah@gmail.com.

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