US to continue assisting Pakistan: Munter

US Ambassador Cameron Munter has stated that Pakistan is fighting a toughest battle in Mohmand Agency and that his country would continue to assist latter, Geo News reported.

Addressing on Pak-US relations in Institute of Strategic Studies here Monday, Cameron said concerns of Pakistanis about drone strikes would be conveyed to Washington.

The US ambassador further said it is being considered to pay compensation to the heirs of Obaidur Rehman, crushed by US Consulate vehicle in Lahore, adding that there is need to renew Pak-US bilateral relations for peace, stability and prosperity of South Asia. He said Raymond Davis is an issue of past.

Cameron praised the services and sacrifices of Pakistan in war against terror and said a tough battle is being fought in Mohmand Agency and that the US would continue to assist Pakistan.

Acquitted terrorists regrouping in K-P

By Qaiser Butt

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has blamed the lower judiciary for a rapid increase in terrorist activities in the province.

Cabinet alarmed that courts have sentenced only two per cent of the accused. PHOTO: APP

According to the government, terrorist activities in the province have increased because courts “honourably” exonerate 98 per cent of the terrorists that face trial.

The provincial cabinet met in Peshawar on Wednesday to discuss the situation, said provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain during a news conference. “Those terrorists freed by the courts become active again as they are given the opportunity to regroup,” he reasoned.

Hussain said that the cabinet was astonished that courts sentence only two per cent of the terrorists that stand trial. “Terrorists deserve to be hanged. They should be awarded the death sentence,” he rhetorically said.

Giving details of cases decided by courts in the last two years, Hussain said that 200 cases were registered during 2009 but the number fell to 101 in 2010. However, according to him, a 75 per cent increase was recorded in the last three months.

It is due to the government’s efforts, he said, that only 96 per cent of those accused for terrorism were freed by courts and four per cent were sentenced.

“Those terrorists who were freed by the courts have been able to re-establish their networks,” Hussain said. “The police and security forces have made massive sacrifices in arresting them but the terrorists have been given a licence to kill innocent people.”

The Khyber-Pakhtunkwa cabinet also noted that those militants who were not sentenced were apparently responsible for more attacks on police and security forces.

“Almost all of them took shelter in Mohmand Agency and Malakand to re-launch attacks on civilians and security forces,” Hussain said.

He said that senior leaders have allowed local commanders to make independent decision about terrorist activities. “Courts must discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the prevailing situation in the province,” he said.

Foreign hands: India suspected of creating unrest in FATA

The Peshawar corps commander’s statement earlier this week blaming “foreign hands” for the unrest in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was a reference to India, an official source told The Express Tribune while requesting anonymity.

“Yes, Indian hand was actively involved in last month’s killing of 11 Pakistani soldiers by Afghan militants at checkpoints in Mohmand Agency,” the official said.

“We have strong and undeniable evidence that the attack was sponsored by India. Indians are involved in terrorist activities in Fata like they are involved in Balochistan,” the source added.

Corps Commander Peshawar, Lt Gen Asif Yasin Malik had said authorities have gathered credible evidence of external interference in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

“We have credible evidence of the involvement of foreign hands in the restive tribal regions along the Afghan border and we have informed superior authorities to take necessary action,” he said.

Malik, while talking to the media on the sidelines of a seminar at the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar, said that “foreign hands are helping anti-state elements to destabilise Pakistan’s tribal regions for their vested interests.” The terrorists enter Pakistan through the western border to disturb law and order in the tribal areas and then return to war-torn Afghanistan, he added. On December 24, 11 soldiers were killed when about 150 militants attacked five paramilitary checkpoints in the northwestern tribal region of Mohmand. At least 24 militants were killed in the fighting. “Militants ran away, leaving behind dead bodies. Twelve soldiers were wounded in the fighting,” an official said.

In a telephone call to the media, Taliban spokesperson for Mohmand Agency Sajjad Mohmand claimed his fighters had killed 12 soldiers and captured a checkpoint.

In June 2008, then Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Sadiq had said: “Foreign governments and militants are involved in the turbulent situation prevalent in the tribal areas”.

Officials in Islamabad claim that there are fundamental reasons behind Indian backing to militants in Fata. “Fast growing economic power China coupled with her strategic relationship with Pakistan – Beijing’s investment in development of Gwadar, a seaport of geo-strategic importance have irked the Indians,” they claim.

We sleep while our girls’ schools are blown up

By: Marvi Memon

Whilst traveling from Islamabad to Karachi for an event commemorating literacy graduates in Thatta, I came across a news item on a school being blown up in Landi Kotal. Addressing students, I mentioned the blowing up of a school in Fata. This was not the first time such an incident took place – in fact this November alone, nine schools have been blown up!

I will mention each one of them individually so that they are not a mere statistic. On November 22, a girls’ school in Landi Kotal was hit. On November 15 and November 11, militants blew up two government schools in Mohmand Agency. A day before, two primary schools for girls in the same agency were blown up. On November 6, a high school at Sulemankhel Budh bher was blown up. And on November 5, a government girls’ school was blown up in the settled district of Bannu. Two days earlier, two more girls’ schools were blown up – again in Mohmand.

The question arises as to what the rest of Pakistan is doing about the matter. There have been no significant protests which have managed to protect these schools. In fact, ironically, 800 employees of the education department in Fata have been suspended and terminated by political agents under the Frontier Crimes Regulations for not protecting government schools against militants. Over 100 female staff members are among the punished employees.

Research on this subject motivated me to make a call to my alma mater, St Joseph’s Convent High School. I wanted to drop by to discuss the possibilities of brainstorming for solutions on how to protect girls’ schools. I happened to be at my old school on a very important day. It was the first death anniversary of Ms Shafiqa Fikree, an institution unto herself. As I sat and listened to all that was wholesome about her, and thus our upbringing at such a prestigious institution, I kept thinking of the girls in Mohmand. Later over tea, in a discussion with my teachers, I realised it was education which taught women like myself a sense of fighting for justice. And people like myself who are able to attend such schools were the lucky ones since not all children are fortunate enough to receive this kind of education.

All schools across Pakistan must be invited to participate in brainstorming a solution so that there is ownership of the problem from a wide spectrum of schools. As one of my favourite teachers from school pointed out, a start could be a silent protest in all schools; a few minutes of silence on a chosen day everywhere in Pakistan marking our condemnation of the targeting of girls’ schools.

It was about time we began fixing things that are broken. And we need to do this by adopting a bipartisan approach, by jointly raising our voices against injustices and by trying to solve these problems by joint action. Of course, hurdles will be put in our way and there will be vilification campaigns by those who do not want us to succeed. But leadership and sincerity to our Pakistaniat demand that we ignore these and march on.

Indian cellular network’s penetration into FATA ringing alarm bells

By: Farzana Shah

PESHAWAR - The Indian cellular network in Afghanistan has started penetrating into Pakistani tribal areas with the sale of SIM cards of Indian and Afghan cellular companies in FATA is adding to the security fears of the country.

According to sources, the SIM cards of cellular network, owned and operated by India, are being sold in North Waziristan Agency, South Waziristan, Bajaur Agency, Kurram Agency, Mohmand Agency and Orakzai Agency.

These areas of Pakistan mostly bordering Afghanistan are the most militancy infested ones.

The Indian cellular communication network in collaboration with Afghanistan is said to have started functioning in Pakistani tribal areas. The law enforcement agencies in their report have cautioned the Government about risks this new development brings to the security of Pakistan.

“The Indian-Afghan mobile phone network has a vast range penetration in Pakistani tribal territory. “This network penetration can be a threat to security as it can be used by militants for terror activities a,” a security official told on the condition of anonymity.

It is worth mentioning here that tracing calls made from these SIM cards will be a difficult task for Pakistan owing to the fact it is being operated and controlled by India in Afghanistan.

Considering the apprehension of the law enforcement agencies, the Government has announced to ban use of Indian, Afghan SIM cards in FATA.

A letter sent by the centre to FATA and Governor secretariats and interior department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa directed the ban on those SIM cards and also asked for action against dealers selling them.

The political agents of aforementioned tribal agencies have been directed to take measures for disbanding foreign mobile network and launching crackdown against sellers of SIM cards.

They have also been asked to send the report in this regard to the centre through FATA secretariat.

Owning our institutions

Ayesha Ijaz Khan

There is a time to criticise the government. And then there is a time to stand firmly behind it. This principle is well-entrenched in most long-standing democracies but is something that we in Pakistan seem to be struggling with. Although the present government may have several flaws in terms of governance issues and corruption scandals, it is nevertheless a legitimately elected government, and not one that has made its way to power on the force of a gun.

I am stunned, therefore, when I hear some Pakistanis claim that the politicians and the establishment are “corrupt to the core and have a vested financial interest in earning American dollars for continuing a war in Pakistan.” It is true that our politicians and our establishment have much to answer for in terms of tax evasion, lack of focus on basic healthcare and education, as well as faulty policies of supporting jihadi groups in a quest for strategic depth, things that have all contributed in leading us to the present mess.

Given the ever-increasing number of loved ones lost by civilian politicians as well as army personnel, it is not only highly irresponsible to cast aspersions on the motivation or sincerity of the government and military to fight this war, but it also gives space to terrorists who would like nothing more than mistrust to flourish between the various arms of state and its people.

The only way to combat this terrible menace that confronts us as a society, a menace that has no regard for our basic values – that does not care for the sanctity of a mosque or the sanctuary of a school – is through unity. And unity is only possible if we do not thrive on suspicion and ill-conceived conspiracy theories. What is desperately needed, instead, and is absolutely essential to defeat the terrorists in their objectives, is utmost cooperation between the government and the military and the government and the people, as well as the military and the people.

Having spoken recently to an army officer who returned from battling the militants in Mohmand Agency, which resulted in clearing most of the area from the hold of the terrorists, he acknowledged that a key factor in the success was the support of the local people. But he told me that it was very difficult to get that support because the locals were not convinced that the military was serious in its fight against the militants. “For a long time, they observed us,” he told me, “but when they were convinced that we were serious in the fight and taking losses of our own, they supported us and took on great risks to themselves in helping apprehend Maulvi Omar, the spokesman for the TTP.”

Similarly, it is absolutely crucial that we respect and cooperate with the civilian law enforcement arm of our state. More than one policeman in Peshawar has taken on suicide bombers, such that his body takes the brunt of the force and other residents are protected. The superb job done by the district police officer, Dr Usman, in Sargodha, is yet another brilliant example of how law enforcement and the community at large can cooperate in helping apprehend terrorists and preventing further attacks. Our focus at this point in time should not be on theorising about Musharraf’s follies of days long gone or being caught up in a utopia of talking to people who have declared Pakistan “dar ul harb” and refuse not only to pray in its mosques but consider most of us deserving of murder. Instead, Pakistan’s civil society should be forming neighbourhood watch groups, calling for SOS help lines, monitoring suspicious activity in bazaars and on the internet.

Recently I examined a timeline of terrorist activity in Pakistan from 2001. What quickly became apparent was the pattern of violence. Initially, attacks concentrated on the Christian community, when few of us paid heed. This was followed by attacks on Shia Imambargahs. Next, influential community members, who could have curbed terrorist activity by mobilising public opinion, were taken out. This was followed by attacks on politicians who spoke out against terrorism and army officers fighting against it. And now, no Pakistani is safe. A trip to the bazaar or a prayer in a mosque could well end up being a fatal activity.

It is clear, therefore, that the perpetrators of this violence are a group of people whose ideology remains vehemently exclusionary. Starting off with Christians and then Shias, they now consider the rest of Pakistan equally devoid of belief. And although it is possible that the historic enemies of the Pakistani state may not be averse to helping these groups out, that is certainly not the root cause of the problem. The root cause, and one that we should be exclusively focusing on, is much closer to home.

For those who ask: how can Muslims kill Muslims? All I have to say is: are you not familiar with our history? The Khariji movement claimed the lives of several noble Muslims and came from within the Muslim community, long before America or India or Israel existed as countries. Nor is this internal strife exclusive to Muslims, for Christians too have fought amongst each other. France and England, both Christian nations, fought for a hundred years.

The fact that the Americans may be willing to talk to the Taliban in Afghanistan is a good sign, because peace in Afghanistan can only be a harbinger for better times in Pakistan. But it is not a good enough reason for us to talk to the TTP. Not only can a group that takes up arms against the state not be tolerated, but also the agreement on this among most sane Pakistanis, both in and out of government, underscores the fact that Pakistan’s war is not the same as America’s war. We are in this region for keeps. America can pick up and leave, just like it did at the end of the Soviet-Afghan war. We have a vested interest in how things take shape in our country, and, thus, in defeating an ideology that is bent upon carving out communal differences and keeping half our population illiterate.

Our government must continue to oppose the drone attacks planned for Balochistan because it is not in our interest to open another front in this war, but Pakistanis must also stop doubting the government’s intentions. We must own our institutions for, flawed as they may be, they are undoubtedly better than the anarchy the Taliban represent.

But the government and military too must be mindful. It is far easier to win the trust of the people if some sacrifice is made and greed avoided. A good example is that of the Supreme Court, which has successfully won the trust of most of the country due to the sacrifice undertaken by key members of the judiciary. Similarly, the military must demonstrate to the people that it will submit to civilian decisions in foreign policy and will not seek to influence domestic politics in clandestine ways. And the civilian government must seriously deliver with the mandate it has been given. It must cut down its own expenses and luxuries and start focusing on increasing the tax net and giving back to the people who put it in office. In the words of the learned Dr Mubashir Hassan, it must “reconstruct or perish.” For the sake of my country, I sincerely hope it reconstructs. The alternative is too painful to imagine.

The writer is a London-based lawyer and political analyst. www.ayeshaijazkhan.com

US, Pakistan both offer head money for Baitullah

By Rahimullah Yusufzai

PESHAWAR: Baitullah Mehsud has become the only Pakistani with a head-money separately announced by both the Pakistan government and the US.

However, the head money placed on him by the US is far larger than that announced by Pakistan. It is offering $5 million, or Rs410 million, for his capture. In comparison, the Pakistan government offer of Rs50 million, or $600,000, for credible information that could lead to his capture is peanuts.

As someone remarked, bounty-hunters would inform the US authorities to claim the head money instead of telling the Pakistan government due to the much bigger amount of dollars being offered by the Americans. Requesting anonymity, he said the two governments should pool their efforts not only in terms of the head money they are offering for Baitullah Mehsud, or BM as he is called by officials of the intelligence agencies, but also getting him killed or captured through a coordinated strategy.

The belated announcement of head-money by the Pakistan government for Baitullah Mehsud and 10 other Pakistani Taliban commanders was made through an advertisement carried by newspapers on Sunday. All 11 of them are affiliated to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and belong to Fata.

In terms of the head-money, Baitullah Mehsud is followed by his deputy Maulana Faqir Muhammad, who is the Taliban commander for Bajaur. Head money for him is Rs15 million or $182,000.

The head money for five other TTP commanders – Abdul Wali alias Omar Khalid and Qari Shakeel from Mohmand Agency, Tariq Afridi from Darra Adamkhel and Hakimullah Mahsud and Qari Hussain from South Waziristan – is Rs10 million each or $122,000.

Qari Hussain’s name in the list of wanted militants with head-money should be enough to deny recent reports in sections of the media that he was killed in the June 23 US drone attack on a funeral gathering in South Waziristan. Known as the ìUstad-e-Fidayeen,î or trainer of suicide bombers, Qari Hussain personally phoned some reporters in Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan to refute media reports that he had been killed.

For the remaining four TTP commanders, the head-money is Rs5 million or $61,000. They are Qari Ziaur Rahman, who in fact is an Afghan national living in Bajaur, Fazal Saeed Otayzai from Kurram Agency, Mufti Ilyas from Darra Adamkhel, and Waliur Rahman alias Aliur Rahman from Bajaur.

The newspaper advertisement announcing head-money for the 11 TTP commanders didnít carry their pictures. Government officials handling the matter said they didnít have any pictures of the 11 wanted men. This was strange and shows the lack of intelligence on the TTP leadership that is presently available with the government.

The newspaper advertisement, however, provided the name of the fathers of the 11 men, their tribe and address. Bounty-hunters were promised secrecy in case they came forward with credible information for nabbing the wanted men, alive or dead.

Four phone numbers were also listed for informers having information about the whereabouts of Baitullah Mahsud and the 10 other men. However, efforts to reach those phone numbers turned out to be tough exercise. There was no response from the toll-free number 0800-15015 even after a long wait and effort. The phone rang on the other side when the number 091-9210210 was contacted but nobody answered. The phone number 091-9210457 remained busy whenever it was called. Only the fourth number, 091-9212158, could be reached after some effort. The operator who answered said about 20 people made calls on the phone number from places like Peshawar, Malakand and Karak but nobody provided any information about the whereabouts of the wanted Taliban commanders. ìThey were just curious. They wanted to know more about the head-money and the wanted militants,î he said while hastening to request anonymity.

The US announcement of $5 million head-money for Baitullah Mahsud a few months ago catapulted him to the rank of a senior al-Qaeda leader. Such a huge amount hasnít been offered for the capture of most of al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders who until now have been killed or captured. Though he is a Pakistani Taliban commander loyal to the Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Muhammad Omar, the US government accused him of being an al-Qaeda facilitator. Baitullah Mahsud was also accused of sending fighters to Afghanistan to attack the US-led coalition forces.

It may be added that Osama bin Laden and his deputy Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri carry head-money of $25 million each. The head-money for Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Muhammad Omar is $10 million. Despite such huge amounts, the three men are still at large. In fact, there have been no sightings of bin Laden, Zawahiri and Mulla Omar since the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in December 2001 and all reports regarding their whereabouts are based on speculations.

Earlier on May 28, the ANP-PPP coalition government in NWFP had announced head-money for the 21 Taliban leaders and commanders from Swat. It included the Swat Taliban head Maulana Fazlullah with a head-money of Rs50 million, an amount equal to that offered by the Pakistan government for Baitullah Mahsudís capture. The offer of reward to informers didnít have any impact, at least until now, as none of the 21 wanted Taliban commanders from Swat has been killed or captured.

Impending battle of Waziristan

Brig Asif Haroon Raja

The swift and focused operations on multiple fronts and from four directions in Malakand Division helped in forcing militants to come out in open and wage pitched battles. Mass attacks were covered by suicide attackers riding explosive laden vehicles. At one place, when main gun of the tank targeted a vehicle in Swat, cluster of 21 suicide bombers along with their vehicles and motorcycles was destroyed because of sympathetic detonation. Open resistance by militants suited the army since it negated guerilla tactics. Large numbers of militants were gunned down in ensuing clashes thereby forcing them to abandon mass attacks and to attack in smaller groups from all directions against one military target. When this strategy too failed in slowing down the advance of determined army sub-units led by courageous young officers, and their senior leadership based in Peuchar fled the scene, it caused panic and they decided to flee.

Lower Dir, Buner, Swat and Shangla districts have been retaken by the military within a span of one month. Command structure, logistic dumps, arms and ammunition stocks and training areas have all been dismantled and second and third tier leadership as well as large number of militants killed. Notwithstanding continuation of small-scale terrorist acts in these areas, by and large the backbone of militancy has to an extent been broken. The army is now helping in restoration of services of gas, electricity and water as well as in supplying relief goods to the affected.

Gen Kayani has aptly remarked that the tide has turned in Swat. Visit by army and air chief to battle zone on 8 June was a morale booster. Now that the military is reorganizing and consolidating its gains, it has entered into critical phase of retaining captured territory. It will have to establish check posts, outposts, carryout mobile patrolling, maintain troops deployed all over Malakand Division from brigade/battalion administrative areas entailing movement of vehicles, thereby presenting softer targets. The militants have been dispersed but not eliminated completely. Guessing from their past tactics, after a breather, they would again regroup and resort to their favorite tactics of hit and run, hitting vulnerable spots.

The runaway leadership and militants from Malakand Division must not be given any respite. They have the option to either hide within the areas where they have been beaten, or move to adjoining districts, or any of the tribal agencies, or major cities, or Afghanistan. The latter course should be pre-empted by pressing US military to play its role. Fazlullah has been targeted five times but somehow he has escaped. In the last attack on Kabal he got injured. The noose has however been tightened around him. Unless senior leadership of Taliban in Swat, Bajaur and in Waziristan is got hold of, ideological movement would not die down. It may peter out temporarily but would resurface with greater vengeance once the military returns to barracks. As long as top leadership of Swat Taliban remains at large, one cannot say with firmness that back of militancy has been decisively busted. Baitullah, Fazlullah and some other prominent leaders have been provided Israeli made chip technology which forewarns them of impending danger enabling them to escape each time the noose is tightened around them. Our agencies will have to counter chip technology or spread their intelligence network all over to net the wanted 21 militant leaders on whom head money has been announced.

There is talk of impending operation in Waziristan. President Zardari has already let the cat out of the bag thereby denuding the army of the advantage of element of surprise. On one hand he has forewarned Baitullah led forces to hone their weapons and prepare a bloody reception; on the other he has created feelings of insecurity and unease among the non-militants of that region and many have already started to migrate to safer areas.

Till such time Malakand Division is fully cleared and writ of civil administration re-established, the second front should as far as possible not be opened in Waziristan. Reaction of militants in Bajaur is yet to be seen. In all probability, they would like to open additional fronts like Upper Dir to cause dilution of effort on the army. Most of the runaways from Malakand regions must have escaped to adjoining districts and Bajaur where the militants still have a toehold in Mamond District. Some new areas like, Kohistan, Battagram, Malakand Agency could be heated up. Restive Mohmand Agency and Khyber Agency are other possibilities that could get activated.

Working on the age-old principle that contact with enemy must never be lost, Waziristan should be kept under constant surveillance. It should be kept engaged by keeping it under continuous observation and some small-scale actions. This policy was not followed in Swat each time the army was made to withdraw prematurely without completing operation in totality.

The battle plan for Waziristan should include isolation of militants and making them immobile by targeting their vehicles, blocking escape routes of militants to Afghanistan or neighboring areas within Fata, division through creation of armed lashkars and village defence force and encirclement. Khost has become main supply centre for meeting needs of Baitullah. Booth RAW and RAAM are supervising reinforcements of men and material. This route needs to be sealed. Each army unit should have quick reaction force with desired mobility and firepower to reach out to the area where help is needed by the locals or civil law enforcing agencies. The base of terrorists where suicide bombers are recruited and trained must be located and destroyed. Qari Hussain in South Waziristan supposed to be a specialist in motivating and churning out suicide bombers, should be targeted. Communication system of militants should be jammed through C4I electronic means. Maulvi Nazir in South and Haji Gul Bahadar in North Waziristan who are averse to fighting Pak army and believe in waging Jihad in Afghanistan against occupation forces should be taken on board. Importance of effective media campaign to counter negative propaganda of militants needs no emphasis. Choking effect on single main supply route because of movement of IDPs should be accounted for by creating alternative routes.

All supply routes will have to be well protected since the militants are focusing a lot on this aspect to make supply lines unsafe. In April-May, over 130 convoys of police, paramilitary forces and army have come under attacks in different parts of NWFP. Somehow, militants gain prior information before or during the movement starts. In each case, militants have been following proper ambush drills by first halting the convoy by destroying front vehicle through IED and then cutting off the tail. Thereon, the militants in hiding open up indiscriminate firing. They have sufficient ammunition for a sustained firefight even when reinforcement arrives. Leakage of information must be plugged and anti-ambush drills as well as dispatch of quick deployment force at the site of occurrence well-rehearsed. Administrative tail will have to be drastically cut to avoid unnecessary movement of vehicles.

During search and destroy operations, efforts should be made that no innocent person gets killed or property destroyed. Displaced persons should be well looked after and protected since relief camps become one of the hunting grounds for the militants to enroll recruits. Within the battle zone, peaceful citizens who opt to stay should be protected. Lashkars and village guards should be further strengthened and motivated. An effective, elaborate and well coordinated local intelligence network free of CIA and FBI should be put in place at grass root level. Displaced persons could become useful informers to disclose inner intelligence of the militants. Since Swat has been neutralized where suicide bombers were trained, such sites in South Waziristan must be traced and destroyed to prevent suicide bombers streaming into cities. Likewise IDPs in camps and outside should be screened and guarded from RAW agents.

The writer is Member Board of Advisors Opinion Maker, a defence and political analyst.

Five burqa-clad Arabs arrested in Mohmand

By Fauzee Khan Mohmand

Four of the five Arabs are Saudi nationals – Ahmed, Ali, Mohammad and Obaidullah – and one Libyan national, Abdullah. The Afghan national has been identified as Habibullah. – Dawn photo

GHALANAI: At least 13 militants were killed in a clash with security forces following arrest of five burqa-clad Arabs, one Afghan national and a local man in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday.

Four of the five Arabs are Saudi nationals – Ahmed, Ali, Mohammad and Obaidullah – and one Libyan national, Abdullah. The Afghan national has been identified as Habibullah and the local man as Shad Ali. They were detained at the Khapakh checkpost. The Afghan was living in Chakdara area of Lower Dir.

When troops were taking the detained men to Ghalanai, about 60 militants attacked them in an area between Ziyari Kando and Nasapai. The clash continued for more than two hours, an official spokesman said.

Security forces shelled militants’ positions from Ghalanai with mortars and cannons. Thirteen terrorists were killed and the others escaped. Two vehicles of militants were destroyed, the spokesman said.

Security personnel brought the body of one militant to the Ghalanai FC camp; the other bodies were taken away by the attackers. The administration sealed all entry points to the tribal region and beefed up security to apprehend the fleeing militants.

Troops also launched a search operation in Mian Mandi Bazaar.

A jirga of tribal elders will be held in Ghalanai on Wednesday to discuss the presence of militants, including foreigners, in the area.

The spokesman said the detained militants had been hiding in Kareer Qandaharo and Kung Khwayzai for several days and they had attacked the Khapakh post.

‘They came to Pakistan via Afghanistan which is financing them,’ he alleged.

He said SMGs, hand-grenades, Kalashnikovs, passports and other important documents had been seized from them and their vehicle had been impounded.

What sustains the Taliban? Gems, timber and marble

by IANS

ISLAMABAD: Illegal trade in gemstones, timber and marble helps sustain the activities of the Taliban and other extremist groups, an editorial in a leading English daily said on Monday.

‘It is not possible to put a definitive figure on how much the Taliban are making from their excursion into economic activity, but the government estimates that it is losing Rs 65 billion ($800 million) annually from the illegal timber trade and indiscriminate deforestation alone,’ The News said in an editorial headlined ‘Funding terror’.

‘Not all of this will be going to the Taliban, but whatever they make from the gem and marble business, will. Once again, they have demonstrated an ability to adopt and adapt, to profit from the weaknesses of the civil administration and get the most out of the lands they now control. Underestimating their abilities is a mistake we all lose by,’ the editorial maintained.

Noting that scant attention has thus far been paid to how the Taliban and some other extremist groups fund their operations, it said the ‘traditional’ picture is that there is a global network of informal funders and sympathisers, as well as at least two large state players in the Muslim world.

Yet a picture is now emerging which tells a very different story as to how these groups get their money and sustain themselves, with three natural resources namely gemstones, timber and marble featuring strongly,’ the editorial said.’Necessity, goes the saying, is the mother of invention, and income diversity is now the name of the game,’ it added.

Marble was the Taliban’s first target, beginning April 2008 when they took over the Ziarat quarry in the Mohmand Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Around a million tonnes of marble a year are mined in FATA every year, and prior to the Taliban takeover, the government had hoped to increase marble and granite exports to $500m by 2013, ‘a hope now not to be realized with the profit now going into other pocke’s', The News said.

The emerald mines of Swat were next. By late March, reports began to be confirmed that militants had taken control of the government’s emerald mines located in the mountains of Mingora, the largest city of the district.

The occupation of the Mingora mine apparently took place sometime in February 2009, following the controversial peace deal between the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) administration and Taliban-backed radical cleric Sufi Muhammad, the newspaper said.

Taliban forces then seized the nearby Shamozai and Gujjar Killi mines and started mining and trading gems ‘probably at below market rates’.

‘Local people were reportedly happy with the takeover as it was said that the Taliban were sharing up to one-third of the profit with them,’ the editorial pointed out. Swat is rich in timber, ‘and a partnership between the long-established timber mafia in Swat and Dir has been rapidly established’.

A further ‘income steam’ is being established via the non-commercial route of the jaziya tax, the levying of which has forced some 35 Sikh families, who have resided for long in FATA’s Orakzai Agency, to flee the area. Their property and houses have been appropriated by the Taliban, the editorial noted.