'Declare FATA Part of Afghanistan War': US Think-Tank

[ejaz007]

Report Outlines Solutions for Pakistan's FATA
By ANTONIE BOESSENKOOL
Published: 8 Jan 12:55 EST (17:55 GMT)

Another terrorist attack like those of Sept. 11, 2001, could have its roots in the lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, yet the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan have erroneously focused on long-term solutions that don't work instead of short-term solutions that engage the local population, according to a report released Jan. 7 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington.

The FATA is in northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan, and is believed to be at least a part-time hiding place for Osama bin Laden. Al-Qaida and the Taliban have a strong presence there, and porous borders allow an influx of weapons from all over the world in addition to old Soviet weaponry that's still in working condition, according to the report's principal author, Shuja Nawaz.

The November attacks in Mumbai and the firing this week of Pakistan's national security adviser, after he publicly acknowledged that the last surviving gunman from the attacks appeared to be a Pakistani citizen, have raised the importance of finding a solution to the region's instability, said Arnaud de Borchgrave of CSIS.

Moreover, the FATA is part of a crucial supply route for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Those forces get 70 percent of their supplies, including food and 40 percent of their fuel, through the 1,000-mile route that passes through the FATA, stretching from the port of Karachi through the Khyber Pass, de Borchgrave said. "[It is] now the world's most vulnerable lifeline," he said.

Nawaz said CSIS's recommendations for the area are designed to engage the local population and work in the near- and medium-term to lay the groundwork for longer-term solutions.

"For the U.S. government in the near-term, we are suggesting a definition of an exit strategy for Afghanistan," Nawaz said. "We believe that unless you restore security to the region, unless you provide that security from inside the region, rather than from fortresses ... that are kept apart from the people of FATA, you are not going to be able to gain that traction and get them involved and get the ownership that you require for any project to work in FATA."

The report suggests many detailed steps for the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan in the next one to five years.

Among its recommendations for Pakistan are for the Islamabad parliament to agree on the status of the FATA and implement a policy against militancy; end the treatment of the FATA as a buffer zone between Afghanistan and Pakistan; and work to better integrate the FATA's economy into Pakistan's by increasing funding for education, health and infrastructure. Some of the recommendations are aimed at youth in the FATA, such as setting up registration and training centers to ease their emigration into other parts of Pakistan and the Middle East for employment, and regulating the FATA's religious schools - madrassas - so they operate with provincial education boards.

To reduce the number of potential Taliban recruits from the area, the report suggests Afghanistan should coordinate with Pakistan to create infrastructure-based and agricultural employment opportunities in the FATA and increase education development in the neighboring border provinces. Afghanistan's military should set up joint training programs with the Pakistan Army and Air Force, it states.

For the U.S., the report recommended building on the successes of past USAID projects that involve the local population; cutting the use of expensive U.S.-based consultancies in favor of working with local groups on education, health and agriculture projects; and declaring the FATA to be part of the Afghan war theater so the U.S. Central Command can operate with the Pakistan Army in military and economic efforts as needed.

The report also recommends the U.S. define an exit strategy from Afghanistan that would include meeting with the Taliban.

"This would force the Taliban to conclude their operations or risk losing the support of the general population that may favor an end to conflict and the exit of the United States' forces from their country," the report said.

Report Outlines Solutions for Pakistan's FATA - Defense News

 

[RedBaron]

...
Half of my family is from Swat. I can tell you right now, the operation has been a failure. Army needs police to escort them and police needs army to escort them.

This operation is only helping Anglo-American-Indo-Afghan sources to achieve their ultimate goal of creating a massive backlash and vaccume in NWFP against Pakistan, so it can be annxed.
...

A diary from an administrator in Swat:
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Swat diary: 'Taleban rule now'

The Taliban are on a murderous spree there killing villagers and FC alike, burning down girls schools. I'm pretty sure the locals dont want the Taliban around...

 

[Pashtun]

A diary from an administrator in Swat:
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Swat diary: 'Taleban rule now'

The Taliban are on a murderous spree there killing villagers and FC alike, burning down girls schools. I'm pretty sure the locals dont want the Taliban around...

Taliban? Oh what a getaway to blame everything on a escapegoat called Taliban eh, by hiding all the anglo-Indo-american crimes against masses for destablizing Pakistan.

Just because India is your country, it doesn't mean that it is not involved in cashing in the opportunity to destablize her arch rival.

The many so called talebans we have caught in our lands are paid, trained and sent by the nexus of evil trio.

About the matter of schools, reading the biased media from 1000s of miles away would only land you in the mudpile, because in Swat, only one district, smallest of all, called Matta, has been the target of the school burning stunts by uncircumcised bastards calling themselves Muslims and hiding behind the name of Talebans.

Rest all the districts, INCLUDING Bajaur, have never seen a warning to schools, yet one being targetted by these miscreants hiding behind the talebans cloak.

Sitting 1000s of miles away and forming an opinion doesn't make you an all informed man. You need to check the ground reality with locals before you can claim something by reading a here n there isolated reports from media.

 

[Task Force Black]

Which media? ...

... So wake up, smell the air.

The one which this very thread is based, the link has been provided on the first page and if you are observant and carefull enough you should find it.

As for the smell of the air, it is a clear, crisp and fresh morning in Helmand.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

pashtun, although I sometimes enjoy reading your posts, mainly because they are comprehensive and have much more to offer than the usual rant on this forum, I have to disagree. tribal lashkars are anything but false-flags, I seriously doubt that. Why would these lashkars burn down the homes of militants, and in exchange, have their chieftans beheaded or riddled with bullets?

Talk to anyone from Swat, they blame both the TTP (not taliban) and the army. They obviously blame the TTP for turning a tourists' attraction into afghanistan (NOTE: much of TTP is run by afghanis). Likewise, they blame the army for "mysteriously" ignoring the FM Mullah for so long and the set up of TTP check posts. Apparently, I don't blame them. The military or whoever was in charge completely ignored the signs of a parallel set up in Swat, and did absolutely nothing to counter it-pass legislation, etc.

More importantly, please learn to differentiate between all of these militant groups, they are not one and the same. There are more groups than the usual TTP that we hear about, most do not have any falling out with the army.

Aside from that, we usually hear there are no foreigners in the area from the locals, who swear that the militants are pashtun. Eventually, we find dead foreign militants, mostly uzbek or egyptian salafists. It is an insult of everyone's intelligence to claim that there are no foreigners in the area, considering the fact that the tribal chieftans, in all of their limited wisdom, allowed foreigners to marry their daughters (totally stupid idea, they probably thought they were on the "right" path because they were arab).

We all know the US will not directly involve itself in the tribal regions. It may try to, but I'm confident it will not come down to that.

 

[Pashtun]

pashtun, although I sometimes enjoy reading your posts, mainly because they are comprehensive and have much more to offer than the usual rant on this forum, I have to disagree. tribal lashkars are anything but false-flags, I seriously doubt that. Why would these lashkars burn down the homes of militants, and in exchange, have their chieftans beheaded or riddled with bullets?

Thank you sir. And that is exactly what I tried to explain. They are taking matters in their hands, to deal with the external threat (not PA) on their own, instead of letting army laying waste. That's the core reason, they are burning houses (a tradition to punish the supporters of the crime) and getting their chieftains killed, so things can be contained within the tribal code. But Lashkars are still to be armed, which the govt. does not want to as it can backfire (as the govt. assumes). Where I believe, they must be armed and supported through Intel and air support as needed, instead of going all out on a war against unknown, undetermined, unlocated enemy. That is why I said a surgical operation is in dire need.

Talk to anyone from Swat, they blame both the TTP (not taliban) and the army. They obviously blame the TTP for turning a tourists' attraction into afghanistan (NOTE: much of TTP is run by afghanis). Likewise, they blame the army for "mysteriously" ignoring the FM Mullah for so long and the set up of TTP check posts. Apparently, I don't blame them. The military or whoever was in charge completely ignored the signs of a parallel set up in Swat, and did absolutely nothing to counter it-pass legislation, etc.

Oh absolutely. I think you did not read between the lines. This is exactly what I said, that a strong sentiment has been growing against the army operation, because it failed to achieve the results, rather resulted in more devastation. People in Swat at one point was asking Army to leave them to Talebans (complaining the harshness of the operation). And that doesn't mean that they do not realize that the so called menace of TTP is not to blame. They blame them with all the fingers pointing at them in the first place. But they look at the Army operation as a massive failure than producing some fruitful results.

Let me give you my example. We have about 100 acre land in Swat, which is currently occupied by Army, they burned our crops to clear the land so they can keep a good sight to protect their camp. We totally welcomed them and asked our farmers to provide them with all the necessities.

Now, right across our lands, the so called militants are camped. Believe it or not, right across eachother (army and militants). And we are yet to find out why there's no action being taken on the militants there.

More importantly, please learn to differentiate between all of these militant groups, they are not one and the same. There are more groups than the usual TTP that we hear about, most do not have any falling out with the army.

I wrote a little note about different groups calling themselves talebans here: http://www.defence.pk/forums/war-te...-percent-afghanistan-report-2.html#post259621

Please go through from them and let me know if you concur.

Aside from that, we usually hear there are no foreigners in the area from the locals, who swear that the militants are pashtun. Eventually, we find dead foreign militants, mostly uzbek or egyptian salafists. It is an insult of everyone's intelligence to claim that there are no foreigners in the area, considering the fact that the tribal chieftans, in all of their limited wisdom, allowed foreigners to marry their daughters (totally stupid idea, they probably thought they were on the "right" path because they were arab).

We all know the US will not directly involve itself in the tribal regions. It may try to, but I'm confident it will not come down to that.

Actually that is not true. The locals were the first one in Swat, who found uncircumsized fighters with bushy private parts (I am sure no Muslim, specially the one fighting for the name of Islam, would have such physical attribute).

Moreover, the Uzbeks and Tajik etc. are paid mercenaries, and at times they are fighting for the nexus of evil trio as well to create anarchy in the region. So whoever pays them well, they go with them. So I am not sure why would locals say they are local fighters, even tho with Mullai swahib FM, does have some support from locals, because he has been the right and wrong of the villagers for many decades right under the nose of authorities and nobody did anything to contain him.

Anyway, pretty much we were on the same page, with different wrods and statements.

 

[Omar1984]

because in Swat, only one district, smallest of all, called Matta, has been the target of the school burning stunts by uncircumcised bastards calling themselves Muslims and hiding behind the name of Talebans.

Indians are definately behind destabalizing FATA, Balochistan, and some parts of NWFP, theres been so much proof but our Pakistani government seems to be quiet on this matter.
One should really think why India set 8 consulates on the Pak-Afghan border, and that doesn't require much thinking.

 

[haviZsultan]

Let me give you my example. We have about 100 acre land in Swat, which is currently occupied by Army, they burned our crops to clear the land so they can keep a good sight to protect their camp. We totally welcomed them and asked our farmers to provide them with all the necessities.

Now, right across our lands, the so called militants are camped. Believe it or not, right across eachother (army and militants). And we are yet to find out why there's no action being taken on the militants there.

This one has been raised a lot of times. The army seems to do nothing when the taliban come and burn schools and slaughter innocents. The people of the tribal areas and swat have suffered heavily because of the operation even though the real cause of all this suffering is the taliban. Specially artillary bombardment and airstrikes is causing unnecessary loss of life. The Swatis speacially I have been told feel like they are caught between the militants and armed forces. Even I am worried about the developments as some people when i headed to swat did seem angry with not only the government but also though the only solution was an independent Pashtunistan.

Also it is also unknown how the terrorists are getting their equipment and money and it is being speculated that a foreign scource is funding them. For example the taliban have spent over 3 million $ and possibly much more on weapons and paying their fighters ( every taliban foot soldier is paid atleast 170$ monthly) while the drug trade and taxes they collect could only account for 500,000$ of cash maximum.

Therefore i would like to know if the people of Swat think that a foreign intelligence agency may be involved in spreading the violence and have the lashkers found more proof in this regard?

 

[RedBaron]

Indians are definately behind destabalizing FATA and some parts of NWFP, theres been so much proof but our Pakistani government seems to be quiet on this matter.
One should really think why India set 8 consulates on the Pak-Afghan border, and that doesn't require much thinking.

Where are the eight? I know of only four apart from the embassy in Kabul: Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. Of these, only the Jalalabad consulate is close to FATA border.

And is there a paper-trail showing linkage between the "miscreants" and the Indian consulates? Who are these "miscreants"? Are they local tribals bought over by the "evil Indo-US-UK trio", or are they Uzbeks/Tajik mercenaries? How would foreigners survive in the hostile tribal areas without local support?

Its a fantastic story but some facts would be nice...

 

[Pashtun]

dimension117

Oh absolutely. As I said, it's really hard for the people to understand whose side Army is, when they see these foreign fighters, as well as Army, doing the same thing to their livlihood. I mean the bomb that falls down from a jet, doesn't know the difference between a militant or a civilian.

Dr. Khalil Ur Rahman (Bajaur) said in his interview, the army helicopter came upon their caravan going out of the village, and they all stopped, came out, raised their hands in the air to show to the helicopter pilot that they are not militants. The chopper came back and fired two missiles, killing all but a few from around 40 ppl, among them Dr. Khalil Ur Rahman's only son, who lost both of his legs.

Now entire NWFP knows how big of a patriot Khalil Ur Rahman is, he would kill you even if you say anything to Pakistan, and at the end of the interview, he said, what would I think of Pakistan, everytime I look at my son (who lost both legs). (I can provide the interview if someone wants).

Things like this only happened due to massive army operation, against and untagged enemy, which has no location, and everyone knows that in the Army, yet a massive bombing campaign had been held, resulting only by leaving bad taste in the mouth of people, who are already sick and tired of tyranny of militants, yet twice the more carnage they had to embrace due to operation, thats where they once protested to army and said leave us to talebans.

And you are dead on about how the militants are getting the weapon. I am sure Army wont be providing them to kill its own soldiers, so its coming from across the border. And who controls that side? obviously the Allies. Rest we all know who has the benefit in arming the militants against Pakistan.

And don't be fooled by the drug trade and taleban link. As a matter of fact, Drug trade in Afghanistan is entirely in the hands of CIA. (I can give you pages of evidence if you want on this matter).

And lastly, not only Swatyans, but entire NWFP/FATA knows that foreign agencies are involved. In Orakzai agency, tribes caught some Afghan policemen, who were released on Nanavatey (a tribal code of forgiveness) after they provided details about other fighters creating conflict between Shia and Sunnis, all trained by Indian consulate in Khost, for $2000/month.

They were paraded in the front of the media and were widely reported on local NWFP papers (not sure if other papers followed suit or not).

So locals must be supported in the effort to eradicate this foreign threat, instead of alienating them with such massive operations. But the problem is between the government and Army and the corruption. I personally see this from every angle as a trap for Army.

They are involving army in such actions by engaging them in a catch-22 situation. So there's a displeasure between civil society and the security agencies, before they can move in and defang the army by using the public unrest.

Hence my stand, Pakistan must not make this grave mistake by allowing the foreigners invading their country. It will, in a snap, alienate masses.

 

[Omar1984]

Where are the eight? I know of only four apart from the embassy in Kabul: Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. Of these, only the Jalalabad consulate is close to FATA border.

And is there a paper-trail showing linkage between the "miscreants" and the Indian consulates? Who are these "miscreants"? Are they local tribals bought over by the "evil Indo-US-UK trio", or are they Uzbeks/Tajik mercenaries? How would foreigners survive in the hostile tribal areas without local support?

Its a fantastic story but some facts would be nice...

What are those consulates doing in Afghanistan? And please dont give me crap that they're there to help Afghans, you Indians could care less about Afghans and how do you know tribal areas are hostile?

 

[Pashtun]

Where are the eight? I know of only four apart from the embassy in Kabul: Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. Of these, only the Jalalabad consulate is close to FATA border.

And is there a paper-trail showing linkage between the "miscreants" and the Indian consulates? Who are these "miscreants"? Are they local tribals bought over by the "evil Indo-US-UK trio", or are they Uzbeks/Tajik mercenaries? How would foreigners survive in the hostile tribal areas without local support?

Its a fantastic story but some facts would be nice...

Actually you are missing the Indian missions, close to 14 (along with consulates) operating in the border area, which apparently India confirms. Where Pakistani Intel sources claims 107. (Google it).

And how the foreigners (such as uzbeks, tajiks) operate in the tribal area? for that you have to go back in the history a little bit and examine the ground facts about mass migration of Afghans into Tribal areas (close to 3 million) that had every and all sorts of ethnicities from Afghanistan coming our way. Thats how they can freely travel in the areas because these ethnicities have been living there since the Russo-Afghan war, so anybody new, coming in, would go unnotice due to the nature of the situation on hand, and thats how the miscreants slip in, unnoticed.

Also, I must correct you there, its not hostile area btw, its the most hospitable area in the entire world, they will die to protect you, even if you are their enemy and you ask them for shelter.

You must google writers, writing about Pashtuns and their lands and then you'd know what exactly Pashtuns are - unlike the propoganda machine writing all sorts of things about them to cash in the opportunity to control this most important geopolitical area in entire Asia.

 

[zombie]

What are those consulates doing in Afghanistan? And please dont give me crap that they're there to help Afghans, you Indians could care less about Afghans and how do you know tribal areas are hostile?

afghanistan doesnt need permission of pakistan to decide who should open consulates.

Next pakistan will have to ask permission of India to open consulates in China and Bangladesh?

 

[UMAV]

well thats the wishful think that the US and all other Eurpion think Tanks have had from the day pakistan was declared the N.Power, that fack is that it is not the FATA and the issues that it brings to the tabel but a far more serious agenda that they plan to implement but like i said wishfulthinking.

THERE IS A PLAN THAT MAN MAKES
THEN THERS A DESIGN THAT GOD HAS CALLED MASTER PLAN.

 

[RedBaron]

Actually you are missing the Indian missions, close to 14 (along with consulates) operating in the border area, which apparently India confirms. Where Pakistani Intel sources claims 107. (Google it).

And how the foreigners (such as uzbeks, tajiks) operate in the tribal area? for that you have to go back in the history a little bit and examine the ground facts about mass migration of Afghans into Tribal areas (close to 3 million) that had every and all sorts of ethnicities from Afghanistan coming our way. Thats how they can freely travel in the areas because these ethnicities have been living there since the Russo-Afghan war, so anybody new, coming in, would go unnotice due to the nature of the situation on hand, and thats how the miscreants slip in, unnoticed.

Also, I must correct you there, its not hostile area btw, its the most hospitable area in the entire world, they will die to protect you, even if you are their enemy and you ask them for shelter.

You must google writers, writing about Pashtuns and their lands and then you'd know what exactly Pashtuns are - unlike the propoganda machine writing all sorts of things about them to cash in the opportunity to control this most important geopolitical area in entire Asia.

First of, Pashtun, thank you for your detailed response. I am obviously no expert on FATA/Afghan/Pak ethnic and geo-political matters, so your notes are useful.

I would however like to clarify some points:
Regarding Indian influence in Afghanistan, there is no question GoI sees GoA as an important ally and seeks closer ties. Why would it not? '
1> One reason is to make GoP uncomfortable. Watch how GoI squirms when GoP seeks influence with GoSL or GoBD. This is a game that all countries play, and it's called realpolitik. Posting RAW agents at Indian consulates to gather intel is normal. Every country has intel presence as defence or "cultural" attaches.
2> GoI is also interested in projecting its influence in Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, for strategic reasons as well as for accessing their rich energy(gas) reserves. This may have been the vision behind the Indian cooperation with Iran on the Chahabar port. Getting GoA buy-in is important for GoI as some of the gas may be piped via Afghanistan.
The above two reasons have nothing to do with destabilizing Pakistan.

Regarding "evil trio" agents (with India being largest "evil"), I have the following points:
1> Mounting cross-border campaigns require trained manpower. It cannot be done by hiring mercaneries for cash, equipping them with Thuraya satphones and guns and asking them to create terror. Even the Mumbai terrorists were trained for a year by LeT. GoI does not currently have the capability to conduct training camps for terrorists in Afghanistan, even if it wanted to. There are no military bases and only about 500 paramilitary ITBP forces in Afghanistan who guard Indian workers laying roads. I think you guys are giving RAW too much credit here.
2> I know that Pashtuns are probably the most hospitable people on the planet. In fact, I saw a documentary (Locked Up Abroad) about a British Sikh journalist who was arrested by Pak Intel in Khyber while returning from Afghanistan. They claimed he was an Indian agent. His guide was a Pashtun from Khyber agency who was asked to go home. He refused and spent 2 weeks in jail with the journo to help him interpret and to support him even though he knew the guy was not Muslim. After UK embassy intervened and got him released, the journo came back to meet him after a year and they had an emotional reunion. This is fact, not fiction.
3> By questioning lack of local support, I meant that ragtag bands of armed men crossing the border into FATA would meet a quick death at the hands of the local tribals. Which tribal malik would allow these armed outsiders to operate freely, unless they have local ties (as AQ Arab fighters had)?
4> Here are the details on Indian missions:
Embassy of India
Malalai Watt, Shahre-Nau,
Kabul, Afghanistan
Phone : 00-873-763095560
Fax : 00-873-763095561
Email : embassy@indembassy-kabul.com

Consulate General of India
Kandhar, Afghanistan
Phone : 00-873-763095995
Fax : 00-873-763095996

Consulate General of India
Jalalabad, Afghanistan
Phone : 00-873-763096146
Fax : 00-873-763096147

Consulate General of India
Herat, Afghanistan
Phone : 00-873-763095871
Fax : 00-873-763095872

Consulate General of India
Mazar-e-Sharif,
Afghanistan
Phone : 00-873-763095867
Fax : 00-873-763095858


I don't deny Indian intel presence in Afghanistan, but I dont believe they have a hand in FATA crisis.