Wanted by Taliban courts

The Swat chapter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has summoned some 47 notables along with their families to their Sharia courts within a week, or face "action". What is in store for the summoned one would not hazard a guess except recalling recent media footage of the accused being lashed. But the "action" for the non-compliance according to the Taliban lexicon means death - beheading or by any other means in full public view.
Almost all those wanted by the Taliban are said to be 'on the run' from Swat except for Afzal Khan Lala, the veteran ANP leader, who is still holding on at his billeted residence under army protection. The rest of the people including those who have fled the area should feel secure and resume their lives, says Muslim Khan who spoke to the media after the much-dreaded local TTP supremo, Maulana Fazlullah, had announced the list of the wanted on his FM radio.
The latest Taliban move comes as almost the entire Swat Valley and adjoining areas pass under the de fecto control of the Taliban. They have set up courts and - it is no more the news-breaking - people have turned up at these courts to seek justice. Meanwhile, the anti-westernization squad of the Taliban seems to have picked up momentum; it has dismantled some 180 girl schools, blasted video kiosks and warned barbers not to shave beards.
So much for the writ of the government in the troubled Swat region after the year-long military operation. The 'mission' to restore normalcy to the restive valley has been accomplished a number of times but there is no peace as yet. So much so that only the other day the army troops were authorised to shoot at sight violators of round-the-clock curfew in the valley's five towns.
All schools have been placed in the control of the security forces. Violence continues, because, as informed by the ISPR, "the military had cleared the areas but militants penetrated them again and it was decided to clear them again and hold on to it to prevent militants' movement there. This is a "new strategy...there is a new vigour and a new approach", said ISPR DG Major General Athar Abbas.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman is confident that girl schools in Swat will reopen on March 1. With nothing on the ground as hard evidence will such a posturing help find the way out of the dark woods of the Taliban-infested Swat Valley? Mystery remains as to why victory has eluded for such a long time.
It bears repetition that insurgency in Swat is not of the type that is rife in tribal areas adjacent to the Pak-Afghan border: it is entirely home-grown, patterned more on the valley's own historical movements than Afghanistan-centric militancy in the FATA.
Whatever the truth in claims of foreign interference the fact cannot be denied that militancy in Swat draws sustenance largely from domestic politics and happenings, including the unfortunate Lal Masjid incident. In supporting this argument one may cite the case of Maulana Sufi, who had led a lashker into Afghanistan to help Afghan Taliban resistance and as a penalty suffered many years of incarceration, is a nobody in the hierarchy of Swat Taliban.
The fact is that in the recent past the Taliban had have parleys, with the government with considerable success. Why is it that instead of broaching dialogue with them the government has opted for military action?
Also, why is it that ANP-led provincial government, which has the constitutional obligation to ensure peace and tranquillity in Swat and adjoining areas, is out of the loop? Perhaps, only because the Swat militancy has the tinge of religion to it otherwise some of the issues that seem to be emerging between the Centre and various territorial units of the country are no less contentious. The problem of extremism in Swat demands that instead of going for strong doses the emphasis should be on making correct diagnosis.
Unfortunately for various unknown or only partly known reasons the issue of extremism that tends to foment militancy has not been tackled with due care and indulgence. Now that a "new strategy" is being prepared it would be worthwhile to acknowledge the workability of the spirit of 'unity in diversity'. The people of Swat need girl schools and these have been there in existence for scores of years.
The extremists need to be convinced that they need these schools, more than ever before. Also, if some 15 years ago the demand for Sharia courts was acceptable, why not now? War as the only option for solution to Swat Valley militancy is not going to work - save if the purpose is to go on fighting and not being able to subdue a handful of extremists is the 'mission'.