Tribal lashkars- a new strategy to defeat insurgents

By Tahir Ali

The insurgency-hit Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), frontier regions and several settled districts in the NWFP have witnessed a new development of late: the formation of lashkars and peace-committees to fight against insurgents to flush them out from and to ensure peace in, these localities.

This development is being considered as the most successful one in the multi-pronged strategy of the government to tackle the problem, referred to as 3-D strategy involving Dialogue, Development and Deterrence.

The involvement of local people against the insurgents, according to experts, is vital to defeating the militants. Before the advent and mobilization of these tribal volunteers against the insurgents, there was widely-held belief that the local tribal people are supporting the militants. Still many more believed that the militants had planted themselves amidst the locals and had obtained forceful allegiance from them. It’s a welcome news that the myth of alleged public support to the extremists and insurgents has finally been demolished.

It is said that dwellers of the militancy-hit areas by raising Lashkars only want to save themselves from military operations in their respective areas. It may be partially true. While instinct for survival may be one of the factors behind the decision for formation of tribal lashkars, the fact is there are also many other factors involved.

Different tribes in the region were pushed to form volunteer-armies after they witnessed destruction caused by the insurgency. The militancy and operation that followed it deprived the people of near and dear ones, animals, houses and businesses. Hundreds of educational institutions were razed to the ground. Health, power and communication infrastructures were ravaged in the militancy-hit areas. Tourism industry-the main source of income for millions in Swat-was virtually destroyed. Internal displacement of more than a hundred thousand people was affected- who still live in miserable conditions in makeshifts camps in different places- also drew the people to the phenomenon much to the joy and satisfaction of the government and to the dismay of the insurgents.

The insurgents gradually lost public sympathies and support as they executed ‘spies’ and slaughtered the security personnel. Again, their attacks against security forces more often than not killed security personnel but almost always caused civilian causalities as well. This not only annoyed the families of the former but also alienated the insurgents from the mainstream people in case of the latter. Their astonishing policy of hitting civilian targets like the Wah factory where hundreds of civilians were killed further increased their distance from the people. "The people had supported them in the past because, in their minds, they were victims of repression. But now they are identified with mercilessness and are considered more cruel," said a displaced person from Charmang Bajaur, declining to disclose his name.

Again, knowing that the raised tribal lashkars would destroy whatever of bleak chances they have of victory against the security forces, the Taliban started attacking the people involved in the process. In Darra Adamkhel, a peace jirga was attacked. In the insurgency-hit tribal and settled area, people and Maliks associated with the jirga mechanism were abducted and beheaded. The brutal suicide attack at a jirga of the Ali Khel tribe in Orakzai agency convened to raise a lashkar in which 133 people were killed seems to suggest that insurgents are loosing patience and are scared with the new phenomenon. The militants know fully well that their local rivals are in knowledge of their hideouts and passages. They, in turn, want to spread so much fear that people think a hundred times before joining the tribal lashkars. Whether they would be able to frighten people or not is not clear but one thing is certain that this and other such attacks will further harden public opinion against the militants. Should the insurgents persist with their attacks against the lashkars, the outcome may be a more revengeful counter attack by the lashkars which could badly harm the insurgents.

Anti-state foreign elements also took advantage of the trouble and infiltrated the ranks of the Taliban. Parliamentarians were told in the in-camera briefing a few days ago that 340 of the 744 militants killed by security forces in Bajaur were foreigners. Former federal communication Minister and father of NWFP Chief Minister, Azam Khan Hoti also recently told his home town Mardan journalists in that Russia, India and Israel were abetting and funding the insurgents. The native people in the insurgency hit areas were annoyed over these infiltrators.

Many criminals also joined the ranks of the insurgents who followed their own agendas independent of Taliban. People were abducted for ransom and released after payment. If they had to be released for one reason or the other, their luggage was confiscated. Incidents of bribery, nepotism and corruption were also narrated by the displaced people.

“It was why the people in Koza Banday in Swat changed their loyalties. While barely two months ago, all the people in the area came out to repulse the incoming security personnel, they now wish that the government come to their rescue and have decided to support the government,” said a person hailing from the area wishing not to be named.

He told Today's Muslim that they at first considered security forces as their enemies but now thought that the Taliban were responsible for all their miseries. “After all, it were they who fired the first shots and took law into hands. The government showed patience to avoid human losses. But Taliban took it wrongly believing that they had frightened the government. The government had to take action. After all what is government for if it doesn’t work for law and order?”

This development is being hailed or criticised by certain individuals and parties according to their vision, and on the basis of their interests and stakes involved in the issue. Some think the development is a positive one and the only hope for peace in the country. They say it worked in places in Iraq and Afghanistan. They opine that support of the locals is imperative for security forces in war and especially in guerrilla warfare. Pakistan sustained defeat in East Pakistan because the locals were up against us, they opine and add that Pakistani security forces remained on the receiving end so far because the insurgents had local support. Now as the people have taken up arms against the extremists, they will find no shelter and will be eliminated shortly.

Certain others have come down hard on the development. Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Amir of JI, dubs the tribal lashkars as a conspiracy for civil war in the country. He sees the US hand behind the process. He thinks that with these lashkars the country is once again being pushed to an East Pakistan like situation. It won’t be out of place to mention that the JI had formed armed wings (Lashkars) with the names of Al-badar and Al-shams in former East Pakistan and supported the Pak army despite the fact that almost the entire population there had turned against us. Now when tribal people have formed lashkars and majority of population have decided to flush out militants from their areas, he is opposing the move. Interestingly, the same JI has joined hands with other parties in Upper and Lower Dir and Buner- the areas where it is the most powerful of all parties- to block the entry of insurgents, perhaps to maintain its control of things there.

Qazi sahib says that all acts of terrorism are being committed in reaction to the policy support to the US. Amazingly in same vein, he states that India and the US are perpetrating acts of terrorism in Pakistan. He holds the government responsible for Orakzai blast. Should we assume that Qazi sahib and his party support the insurgents?

Knowledgeable persons fear that the mechanism may not work for a long time. They fear that the mechanism may produce a number of new ‘Masoods’ Dostums, Fazalullahs and Mahsoods. A recent BBC’s documentary on the issue highlighted the factors such as the relative difference in the training and weaponry of the insurgents and the tribal volunteers. This documentary also pointed to the possibility of the lashkars becoming yet another nuisance in times to come. Again, the insurgents come from no where and follow the hit and run policy while the volunteers would be living in their homes. Also, the communication infrastructure isn’t that good in the insurgency-affected tribal areas to enable the security forces to come to their rescue quickly. And more than anything, the rampant poverty and illiteracy may also impede the process sooner rather than later.

Fears and problems notwithstanding, dialogue, development and use of force should go on to bring the badly needed peace. The lashakrs and peace-committees must be given a chance to prove their worth. But along with it, the door for dialogue with the elements that are ready to lay down arms must be kept open. Of course, necessary safeguards must be taken to ensure that the mechanism work properly.
 

The writer waits for feedback and comments at:
tahir_ali1971@yahoo.com, or at 03459366452
TAHIR ALI KATLANG