july 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 8

Propaganda and Peace which morphs into a computer graphic the accompaniment of gunfire: the of a box of laundry detergent. The box is Pakistani are attacking a Deals: The Taliban’s easily recognizable as the most popular Tochi Scouts checkpoint. The video Information War in brand in . On this soap box, jumps to the aftermath, in which the Pakistan however, are words in English and Urdu checkpoint has been overrun and close- for “Pak Force” or “Pak Foj” (common up shots of corpses with the Tochi By Arthur Keller shorthand for the Pakistani Army) with Scouts’ uniforms are clearly visible. a logo saying “Pervez” (a logo which The Taliban videographer zooms to a in early 2008, the later turns into “Bush”). The voiceover nauseating view of one of the Scout’s announced that it would invest $400 of the pseudo-commercial exclaims: corpses, his head smashed open and his million to train and equip Pakistan’s brain clearly visible, as is the nametag Frontier Corps (FC) to combat the Slaves (infidels) you can buy the on the uniform: “Tahir Iqbal.” In the Pakistani Taliban and slow cross- for 25 rupees a eerie light from fires of the burning border attacks into . box! For cleaning all Muslims! camp, surrounded by charred and U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in the They are the best in destruction. bloody Tochi Scout corpses, one of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region Just say their name and ask for it. Pakistani Taliban, spectrally lit with rely on Pakistani troops, such as those Look at the pictures and buy it. the green glow of low-light cameras, from the under-equipped FC, to control They are smarter than the devil. delivers a monologue aimed directly at the border in the violent Federally every Pakistani Army or FC soldier that Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).1 The voiceover terminates with a sees the video: Most FC units—such as the Tochi sinister chuckle. Yet, “Clean Army” is Scouts—are composed of indigenous only warming up. Next, it laments that We want the “Pak Force” to Pashtun levies. the United States broke the promises it understand their goals and not to made to Pakistan for a better life for its give in to the Jews and Bush and Unfortunately, Pakistani soldiers are citizens: go to hell for their doings. Listen being actively targeted by the Pakistani and understand the meaning of Taliban’s propaganda efforts, often with Now all of those four years have belief, being clean, and jihad in the disturbing effectiveness. To realistically passed but none of the promises way of Allah. Think about your life understand U.S. options in Pakistan, have been fulfilled...Economics after death. Army mothers, sisters, one must understand the impact of the and life in Pakistan speaks for fathers, brothers, and family: Taliban’s propaganda and intimidation itself, which needs no proof: Gas make your children understand. tactics in FATA, and why these tactics which was 30 rupees in 2001 per You are a mother or father of the have caused the Pakistani government liter is now 70 rupees because of army, you have wished that your to resort to ineffective “peace deals” friendship with Bush. Sugar which son sacrifice themselves for their with Taliban-affiliated fighters. These was 20 rupees per kilo is now 35 country, and be successful. But realities mean that U.S. assistance to rupees a kilo. There are a lot of today your sons have joined the Pakistan’s FC is unlikely to curtail the other examples. Even ignorant infidels and the American flag and Taliban’s increasing influence. people can see the difference they are fighting with mujahidin between then and now. and ruining the life and afterlife, The Taliban’s Message and will go to hell. Would you Amat studios is the Pakistani Taliban’s The video finishes with a snuff- like this to happen to your loved production studio. It churns out a film ending. The viewer sees clips of ones? 3 steady stream of propaganda aimed Pakistani General Khattak, leader at the local Pashtun populace and the of the 2005 army campaign in South Labeling a box of soap “Pak Army” Pakistani armed forces. Amat’s videos, . Then comes shaky low- and saying that the army is “cleansing” generally in Pashtu or Urdu, seem to light footage dated January 7, 2006. brother Muslims is a simple but be intended for domestic consumption, The location is Mir Ali, a small city devastating accusation in a Muslim although senior Taliban members have in North Waziristan. Cries of “Allahu country. To many Muslims in the said they will soon be appearing on Akhbar” (God is Great) ring out to Pakistani military, the dual threat of “You Tube.” One Amat video, “Clean brutal death and hellfire earned by Army,” hit the market in 2006.2 The 3 Khattak was in charge of the Pakistani Army raids siding with “infidels” against the umma video starts with a clip of Pakistani into South Waziristan in 2005, raids renowned for the has a dispiriting effect, and nowhere President Pervez Musharraf addressing amount of ill will they generated in the local Pashtun more so than in FATA. assembled Pakistani Army officers, populace because of the popular perception that the Pak- istani Army used their helicopter gunships and artillery Other Amat videos cleverly exploit local 4 indiscriminately, causing many civilian casualties. Khat- customs. One video, “Ansar,” goes into 1 Hassan Abbas, “Transforming Pakistan’s Frontier tak was also prominent in calling for a peace deal with details on the duty of Pashtuns to shelter Corps,” Terrorism Monitor 5:6 (2007). local militants after the Waziristan offensive, a deal that 2 “Clean Army” is an untitled Amat studios video des- is now widely acknowledged to have created a safe haven 4 “Ansar” is an untitled Amat studios video designated ignated “Clean Army” because of the accusations of eth- for the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qa`ida. Khattak is cur- “Ansar” because of the discussions of the need to harbor nic cleansing against the Pakistani Army. The video was rently in charge of the efforts, funded with U.S. dollars, to al-Qa`ida. The video was transcribed by the author in transcribed by the author in May 2006. improve the Frontier Corps. May 2006. july 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 8 al-Qa`ida, specifically playing on are generally motivated by revenge or killed, becomes ever more unwilling to Pashtunwali, the Pashtun code, and the money, but the targets are left dead by oppose the Taliban. The malaise injected duty of Pashtuns to provide milmasthia, the side of the road with “American Spy” into Pakistan’s military has long since which loosely translates as “hospitality,” pinned to their jacket. The dead men spread from the paramilitary FC units to al-Qa`ida guests.5 Another Amat rarely had any connection to the United such as the Tochi Scouts into Pakistan’s video, “Snake,” reinforces the evil of the States, but their corpses nevertheless regular army. In 2007, India’s security United States and its allies. The opening are chillingly effective psychological and intelligence establishment noted that scene is a rattlesnake morphing into warfare. Pakistani Army troops in FATA have President Bush.6 The video displays “unprecedented levels of desertions, houses in Waziristan demolished by the Despite many outlandish claims and suicides, and discharge applications.” 2005 Pakistani Army offensive. One inconsistencies in Amat videos, the In the space of just five days in October voiceover states that the demolished paucity of contradictory information 2007, the Pakistani Army allegedly house belonged to a widowed mother of flowing into FATA as well as the suffered 150 desertions.10 four. Another clip shows an interview complete dominance of the Taliban’s of a young boy who explains that he has message means that the Taliban’s Even stronger evidence of disaffection been orphaned and wants to become a twisted version of events is often the was the 2007 surrender of 250 Pakistani jihadist. Passionate appeals for local soldiers to a few dozen militants in tribesmen to take up arms against the South Waziristan without a single shot Pakistani government are a constant “To many Muslims in the being fired. In January 2008, an entire theme in “Snake.” The Taliban’s Pakistani military, the dual checkpoint of 40 soldiers surrendered propaganda in FATA also extends their post to Taliban militants, again beyond videos. Dozens of unregulated threat of brutal death and without a single shot fired.11 Apathy or “black” low wattage radio stations hellfire earned by siding and risk aversion are pervasive in the spew extremist propaganda in almost Pakistani military. every valley of FATA. with ‘infidels’ against the umma has a dispiriting The Taliban are not universally In conjunction with these propaganda welcomed in FATA and their brutal vehicles, the Taliban have made a effect, and nowhere more tactics have excited considerable practice of attacking alternate sources so than in FATA.” resentment among many Pashtun of information, such as newsstands. tribesman. Unfortunately, that To further control the information resentment does not mean the Taliban’s environment, Pakistani journalists grip on power is weakening. The usual in FATA have been assassinated for only one heard.8 How seriously is the avenue for Pashtun tribesmen living in writing articles of which the Taliban Pakistani Taliban about spreading its FATA to deal with physical threats is did not approve. There has also been propaganda? Tehrik-i-Taliban chief the formation of a lashkar, an informal a campaign of intimidation aimed at Baitullah Mehsud recently announced tribal army. The assassination campaign the local Pashtun tribal leaders, who a major propaganda push and stated, against maliks suggests that a lashkar to are called maliks. In Afghanistan, the “The media war is the real war.”9 oppose the Taliban probably will never Taliban have long employed “night Furthermore, Pakistani authorities have be formed; many of the maliks who could letters,” crude notices posted in public shown little ability to curtail this media lead such a lashkar are dead, others are places or nailed to buildings threatening war. For example, the “Clean Army” cowed into inaction by the body count. death for those who cross the Taliban.7 video included the name, location in The Pakistani Taliban also make prolific the Wana bazaar, and phone number of U.S. Assistance Unlikely to Make Impact use of night letters to warn off maliks the video distributor. The distributor Although the United States declared it who might be inclined to cooperate obviously has no fear of Pakistan Army will invest $400 million to train and with the Pakistani government against soldiers even though his wares openly equip FC troops to combat the Pakistani the Taliban. Maliks who have failed to advocate their death. Taliban and slow cross-border attacks heed the threatening letters have been into Afghanistan, even in the best of summarily executed by the Taliban. Are the Taliban’s Tactics Successful? circumstances it would be hard to get FC Overall, the Taliban’s tactics are troops to actively engage the Taliban; in Added to the assaults on the maliks is working. The average FC soldier, having fact, many of the FC troops are related the regular killing of ordinary Pashtun seen videos of fellow soldiers brutally to Taliban members.12 After factoring tribesmen by the Taliban. These killings in the FC’s demoralization, it becomes 8 Just a few of those claims include that the United States evident that no amount of training and 5 “Pashtun Tribes Live by Their Own Set of Rules,” Pa- has 10,000 troops in Pakistan, that Musharraf has shtunFoundation.org, date unknown. given the CIA 74 bases in Pakistan, that the U.S. battle 10 Rajat Pandit, “Multiple Conflicts Bleed Pak Army,” 6 “Snake” is an untitled Amat studios video designated against Islamic extremism is actually a systematic effort Times of India, October 31, 2007. “Snake” because of the opening sequences showing film by Christendom to destroy Islam worldwide and con- 11 Bill Roggio, “Pakistan Troops Abandon Second Fort of a rattlesnake. The video was transcribed by the author tains the clear implication that the West wants to enslave in South Waziristan,” The Long War Journal, January in May 2006. Muslims lands. 17, 2008. 7 Declan Walsh, “Night Letters from Taliban Threaten 9 Iqbal Khattak, “Media War is Real War: Mehsud,” 12 “US to Spend Over $400m to Enhance the FC,” The Afghan Democracy,” Guardian, September 19, 2004. Daily Times, May 27, 2008. News, March 3, 2008. july 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 8 equipment will likely be able to overcome negotiation do not rely on either the extremism that relies on effective ground the pull of local ties, when combined risk averse regular army or the even action from the Pakistani Army, the FC, with the fear and guilt engendered by more timid FC for enforcement, but or the Khasadars will fail. Until that the Taliban’s intimidation tactics and on the local police force in FATA, the basic truth is recognized, U.S. efforts propaganda. Marksmanship classes or Khasadars, who are even more poorly to combat militant Islamists in FATA Kevlar vests will not change the social trained and equipped than the FC. A will continue to flounder, and money realities on the ground, or the near total provision of one of the latest peace plans will continue to be spent on training information dominance of the Taliban is that an expanded force of Khasadars and equipping Pakistani troops while in FATA. The likelihood of a return on will fill the security gap left by the getting very little in return. the $400 million investment is low.13 withdrawal of the Pakistan Army from FATA. The Khasadars will allegedly Indeed, the Taliban’s propaganda The Taliban’s morale-destroying accomplish this extremely difficult task tactics, followed up with its campaign of propaganda also has important with the benefit of training, funded by fear, are making it increasingly unlikely implications for the various peace deals the United States.15 that Pakistan, despite support from being negotiated with Pakistani Taliban the United States, will be able to resist in FATA. These deals are “bait and The fact of the matter is that the peace the Taliban’s growing strength and switch” scams. For example, the North deals are being signed because the spreading influence in the near future. Waziristan Accord of 2006 required the Pakistani government knows that its demoralized soldiers and police have Arthur Keller is a former case officer with “The average FC soldier, little will to fight, and believe face- the Central Intelligence Agency’s Counter- saving but impotent peace deals are the Proliferation Division, where he worked having seen videos of only alternative to publicly admitting on both nuclear and “delivery systems” fellow soldiers brutally the truth: the Army, the FC and the proliferation, as well as on counter- Khasadars are incapable of handling the terrorism issues. Mr. Keller served as an killed, becomes ever more Taliban. Regardless of the reassurances inspector in the Survey Group in unwilling to oppose the the United States may receive from 2003 and 2004 and in Pakistan’s tribal General Khattak or Army Chief of Staff areas in early 2006. Since leaving the Taliban.” Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, pervasive morale CIA, he has been published in the New problems mean that no elements of the York Times, Washington Post and Pakistani military will slug it out with provided commentary to CNN and WBEZ the Taliban in ground combat, with the (NPR Chicago) on intelligence matters. Pakistani Army to be withdrawn from exception of very limited engagements, He recently finished writing Hollow many areas, to be replaced by expanded such as clearing the Lal Masjid (Red Strength, a novel about the CIA, the FC units. Another recent example is the Mosque) in in 2007, or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and 2008 peace deal with Taliban leader (now-curtailed) operations in Swat Iran’s nuclear program. He can be reached Baitullah Mehsud (a deal that came even this year. Pakistan’s recent “offensive” via e-mail at [email protected]. after Mehsud was accused of arranging against militants in the Peshawar area, the assassination of former Prime for example, grounded to an ineffectual Minister Benazir Bhutto). The deal halt in early July 2008 before significant withdraws regular army troops from numbers of militants were ever even the Mehsud areas of South Waziristan engaged.16 and instead gives the FC “freedom of movement.” Missing was any mention of Since 2005, the only consistent and how the FC will enforce the provisions tangible benefit to the United States of the agreement.14 Reliance on FC units for “engagement” with the Pakistani for “enforcement” is one big reason all military has been the occasional agreements with the Taliban are dead authorization to target militant letters. compounds inside Pakistan with airstrikes, an authorization which does In some cases, the various Pakistan- not require the demoralized Pakistani Taliban peace agreements now under military to put any of its soldiers at risk.17 Any U.S. plan to combat Islamist 13 The United States has tried training Pakistani soldiers before, to hunt al-Qa`ida in Afghanistan. The unit never 15 “23,000 Levies Being Trained to Help Counter Ter- saw action, but became an informal guard for President rorism,” Daily Times, May 27, 2008. Nawaz Sharif and later dissolved, never having gone 16 Riaz Khan, “Pakistan Halts Assault on Militants,” As- after a single al-Qa`ida member. See Steve Coll, Ghost sociated Press, July 5, 2008. Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin 17 As in Swat earlier this year, the Pakistani military has Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 (New demonstrated that they will use artillery and Cobra heli- York: Penguin Press, 2004), p. 445. copter gunships to target militants, but for any purposes 14 Ismail Khan, “Peace Accord Finalized with Mehsuds,” requiring “boots on the ground,” such as active patrol- Dawn, April 22, 2008. ling, border control and raids, the Pakistani military has been highly ineffective.