The Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Shaukat Sultan has categorically denied the indulgence of any foreign country troops in the ongoing security forces operations in south and north Waziristan agencies against foreign terrorists and their local protectors. He was speaking at a seminar on Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) of Pakistan here at the Area Study Center for Russia, China and Central Asia, Peshawar University on Tuesday.
The ASC and Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany had jointly arranged this two-day seminar. Others who spoke in the first session were Brigadier A. R. Siddiqui (Retd) and Malik Qadir Khan from North Waziristan Agency.
The DG ISPR who spoke on 'An Appraisal of the Situation in Waziristan', stated that the Pakistani security forces were alone carrying out anti-terrorist operations in Waziristan. There was no truth in the rumours that either the United States troops or air force were physically assisting or fighting on Pakistani side in Waziristan, he said. He also debunked the reports that at any time the US helicopters landed in Pakistan territory for participating in the anti-terrorist operations.
Major General Shaukat Sultan told the audience that two kinds of approaches had been adopted to counter terrorism in Waziristan. First, he said, indirect approach under which all political channels were used to deal with foreign terrorists.
And second, he added, was direct approach that was to use military power to quell terrorism. Both the approaches were in function but the direct approach was used as a last resort, he said, adding that otherwise all efforts were being made to deal with the situation politically.
He declared Shakai agreement as the most clear draft under which the foreign militants and their local protectors were to surrender before the government writ. But what he said that the militants had violated the Shakai agreement that envisaged the registration of foreign element and their subsequent stay in the tribal agencies upon surety from the local elders of their good behaviour and an amnesty to the locals upon producing guaranty of living with peace under existing tribal laws.
The violation of Shakai agreement and attacks on government installations and security forces and the failure of political process ultimately compelled the government to initiate action against the terrorists, he said.
Shaukat Sultan said that there was complete peace and situation was under control in North Waziristan Agency. The government, he said, had handed over the control of some areas to local tribal elders but the security forces to remain in North Waziristan to deal with any untoward situation. About South Waiziristan, he stated, the situation was also under control.
However, the security forces were taking prompt action on the tip of terrorists' presence anywhere in South Waziristan area.
Earlier, Brigadier A. R. Siddiqui (Retd), a former director-general of ISPR who presently extensively contributes well researched articles to periodicals and newspapers, took to task the ISPR for lack of coordination between GHQ and ISPR.
He cited the statement of Corps Commander who stated about withdrawal of troops from Waziristan check posts but at the same time its contradiction by the ISPR that troops would remain in Mehsud area as long as peace prevailed.
He stated that the operation was a daring effort but military lacked the political clarity, a key to success to such a move. The 'high value' targets, he added, were identified and pursued but escaped and remained untraceable. He also cited some other examples from Waziristan operation that spoke of lack of coordination between civil and military authorities. A tribal elder from North Waziristan Agency, Malik Qadir Khan, in his humorous speech in Waziri Pushto dialect traced the history of Waziristan.
He criticised the FCR law but stated that it was partially good and partially bad legal system for the tribesmen. He also castigated the government for making tall claims of developmental activities in Waziristan but not making even a sympathetic statement about those who are the victims of ongoing operation there.