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Home , Aziz Khan (general), Badaber, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan

september 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 10

From FATA to the NWFP: : Orakzai Agency; : North character,”9 video and music shops, Waziristan Agency; : and at times barber shops due to their The Spread their South Waziristan Agency; and Tank: practice of shaving beards. Among these Grip in South Waziristan Agency). Clearly, targets, most instructive perhaps is the increased disturbances and militancy in regularity of attacks on girls’ schools; By Hassan Abbas FATA is pouring into the neighboring Taliban and affiliated militant groups settled districts of the NWFP. Based on destroyed 125 girls’ schools during the years of neglect, incompetence in historical trends, this development was last 10 months in Swat area alone.10 governance and failure to devise an predictable, and it is surprising why These incidents cannot fall into the effective policy in the realm of fighting Pakistan did not fortify the defenses of category of retaliatory attacks. religious extremism has provided an the settled areas earlier. The government opportunity for the Taliban and other cannot claim that it was unaware of this Law Enforcement Failure extremist groups to expand their emerging threat as only six districts of In many cases, civilians in the NWFP activities and influence in Pakistan’s the NWFP were declared “normal” for reached out to the police force, but to North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). elections on February 18, 2008.2 little benefit. There is a widely held Continuing instability in Afghanistan view in the NWFP that the police are and the progressive loosening of the Suicide Bombings either helpless or unwilling to challenge government’s writ in the Federally A total of 324 blasts in Pakistan, the Taliban’s expanding influence.11 Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) including 28 suicide attacks, during Consequently, the Taliban often perform has exacerbated the crisis. Pakistan the first eight months of 2008 left more a police role in certain districts (such also experienced a prolonged transition than 619 people dead.3 A significant as in Tank) where they even arrest from General ’s rule number of these attacks occurred in the criminals and parade them through the to a democratic dispensation, and this NWFP and the adjacent FATA area. In streets for public display.12 These moves proved to be a distraction that opened 2007, the highest number of suicide serve two key purposes for the Taliban: up more avenues for extremist forces to attacks targeted the region—of the 56 they show people that the Taliban can plan and implement their expansionist suicide attacks during 2007, 23 were in perform better than the police and hence vision. A weakening of the independent FATA and 21 in the NWFP—including can govern the area, and they create fear, judiciary further diminished the unprecedented attacks on mosques which has a strong psychological effect potential of the state as well as society and jirga gatherings.4 Previously, such on ordinary civilians. Additionally, the to check the overall deterioration of law locations rarely came under attack. For Taliban now ask locals in certain settled and order in the NWFP. the Taliban, another recent innovation areas of the NWFP to bring their cases has been its attempt to recruit young and complaints to Taliban religious Any effort to stem the tide of girls and women for suicide attacks.5 courts rather than before the country’s civil extremism in the NWFP first requires courts.13 Failure to invest in local civilian a dispassionate analysis of the ground Nature of Targets law enforcement agencies has played a realities. This article attempts to In comparison to FATA, where crucial role in the declining capacity of examine such indicators, by explaining Pakistan’s security forces face the brunt NWFP police. how the Taliban have managed to of attacks from Taliban and other al- spread their influence from FATA into Qa`ida-affiliated groups, the types and Open Threats to Government the NWFP, and will present some ideas nature of attacks in the NWFP have a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), on how to reverse extremist trends. different focus: enforcing an extremist a relatively new formation under version of religious ideals. For instance, the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud, Emerging Trends in NWFP targets included a population welfare now feels empowered to confidently There are a number of emerging trends office in ,6 dozens of girls’ schools,7 threaten the NWFP government and in the NWFP that reveal how the Taliban Swat’s Buthgarh Jehanabad historical issue ultimatums.14 This is happening are increasing their influence. site containing rocks engraved with 8 Buddha images, women with “immoral Swat,” Dawn, September 12, 2007. Security Zones 9 “Pakistan ‘Prostitutes’ Beheaded,” BBC, September 7, Of the NWFP’s 24 districts, the 2 Zulfiqar Ali, “Only Six of 24 NWFP Districts ‘Normal’ 2008. has declared for Polls,” Dawn, February 5, 2008. 10 Akhtar Amin, “Militants Destroyed 125 Girls’ Schools eight districts as high security zones, 3 Javed Aziz Khan, “Pakistan Tops South Asian States in in 10 Months,” Daily Times, August 21, 2008. which means that Taliban activities are Violence,” The News, August 30, 2008. 11 “Taliban Destroy Three Police Pickets in ,” expanding and the chances of terrorist 4 Ashfaq , “Challenges 2007-2008: Spate of Daily Times, July 12, 2008; Abdul Sami Paracha, “Taliban 1 attacks have increased. These districts Suicide Bombings Augur III for Pakistan,” Inter Press Besiege Police Station in Hangu: Army Battalion Sent to are , , Kohat, Bannu, Service, December 24, 2008. Evacuate Policemen,” Dawn, July 10, 2008. Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera, 5 Ashfaq Yusufzai, “Pakistan: School Girls Lured to Sui- 12 Iqbal , “New Frontier Police Chief Faces Tali- and Tank. Five of these districts (or their cide Bombings,” Inter Press Service, July 18, 2008. ban Challenge,” Daily Times, January 5, 2007. frontier regions) border different FATA 6 “Tailor’s Shop Blown Up in Bajaur,” Daily Times, Sep- 13 Akhtar Amin, “Taliban Set Up Illegal Courts in FATA, agencies (Peshawar: Khyber Agency; tember 7, 2007. NWFP,” Daily Times, June 29, 2008. 7 Reza Sayah, “Pakistan: Bomb Destroys Girls’ School,” 14 For background on Tehrik-i-Taliban, see Hassan Ab- 1 Shakil Sheikh, “Eight NWFP Districts Declared High CNN, July 25, 2008. bas, “A Profile of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan,” CTC Senti- Security Zones,” The News, July 29, 2008. 8 Hameedullah Khan, “Buddha Images Survive Blasts in nel 1:2 (2008). september 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 10 with more frequency since the success extremist militias including the Taliban province who voted these forces into of comparatively progressive political are targeting Peshawar with added zeal power over the religious parties expected forces in the February 18 elections. and energy. In late August 2008, a girls’ quicker and more significant action. It is evident that government “peace” school was bombed in the Badaber area talks offered in April and May of this in , which was the Conclusion year made the TTP more aggressive first attack of this kind in a provincial The prevalent view within Pakistan in its demands, and the government metropolis.21 Secondly, Mangal Bagh, generally and in the NWFP specifically now acknowledges this mistake.15 the head of Lashkar-i-Islami, who is that direct U.S. military operations Rahman Malik, Pakistan’s interior is essentially a warlord operating and Pakistani security force action advisor, said publicly that the TTP is in Khyber Agency,22 is introducing in FATA are a lead cause of Taliban “an extension of Al Qaeda” and the two his “projects” in Peshawar District retaliation in the settled areas of organizations have close ties.16 There apparently without any hindrance.23 He Pakistan. Only recently has Pakistan’s are also strong indicators that installing is believed to have sympathizers in the political leadership started emphasizing Sufi Muhammad of Tehreek-e-Nafaz- security forces due to his anti-Taliban that the growing unrest is a direct e-Shariat- e-Mohammadi (TNSM) in stance, which at best is a political problem to Pakistan, and not just to the Swat failed to reduce the effectiveness position because his religious ideals are . Training and equipping and control of his son-in-law, Maulana quite similar to those of the Taliban. the Frontier Corps is not a substitute Fazlullah, in the Swat area. Only a For instance, he has asked men to grow for providing adequate resources to the military operation and the imposition beards, wear caps and keep their ankles NWFP police. As a recent RAND study of curfew have placed TNSM cadres on visible (a very conservative Islamic stipulates, effective law enforcement is the defensive. requirement) to avoid beatings. A large critical to defeat terrorists. number of people have purchased caps Sectarianism to avoid being killed.24 The nature of Taliban expansion clearly Attacks against Shi`a have shows that the religious worldview of also increased in the NWFP, especially Additionally, the small-arms fire that the Taliban is also instrumental in this in Dera Ismail Khan.17 Peshawar is recently targeted the vehicle of the chief matrix and little is being done to counter also in the grip of such attacks.18 In a U.S. diplomat in the also indicates it. Talibanization can be effectively recent attack in Dera Ismail Khan, a the increasing threat to foreigners, challenged by religious leaders in the TTP operative murdered a Shi`a man; especially to Americans. Khyber NWFP who can expose the Taliban’s later, a suicide bomber went to the Agency, which is adjacent to Peshawar deviant ideology. The question is hospital where the deceased man’s body and is the supply route for NATO forces whether the Pakistani government was taken and blew himself up in the in Afghanistan, has also emerged as will (or can) provide security to those midst of his grieving relatives, killing a new center of Taliban activity, as who are willing to undertake these approximately 30 people.19 Sectarianism ambushes on convoys have become challenges. Militants cannot be isolated is not new in Pakistan, but its intensity more frequent.25 without such measures despite the fact has increased. Shi`a-Sunni tribal that as a whole they are few in numbers. confrontation in Kurram Agency is also The new NWFP coalition government The warning of Maulana Fazl-ur- having an impact in the NWFP. led by the (ANP) Rehman, the head of a faction of Jamiat- and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) i-Ulama-i-Islam (JUI-F) and a member Peshawar: A Brief Case Study appears to understand the consequences of the ruling coalition, should be taken A brief survey of developments in of this threat more than the previous seriously when he contends that “it’s just Peshawar demonstrates the potential and government led by an alliance of a matter of months before news comes ambitions of extremist forces. Although religious parties, but this realization that the entire North-West Frontier media assessments that Peshawar, has not yet translated into action. Province has slipped out of control.”27 the capital of the NWFP, is facing an Nevertheless, an anti-terrorist force Indeed, without immediate remedial imminent takeover by the Taliban are of 7,000 men has been raised recently measures, what is happening in FATA exaggerated,20 there is no doubt that to tackle “Talibanization,” marking a today may very well be tomorrow’s good first step.26 Yet, the people of the reality in parts of the NWFP. 15 Personal interview, senior government representa- tive, Ministry of Interior, , June 25, 2008. gust 30, 2008. Dr. Hassan Abbas is a fellow at 16 “TTP is an Extension of Al Qaeda: Rehman,” Daily 21 “Militants Blow Up Girls’ School in Peshawar,” Daily Harvard University’s Kennedy School Times, September 2, 2008. Times, August 26, 2008. of Government. Previously, he served in 17 “Gunmen Kill Shia Leader in DI Khan,” Daily Times, 22 Mangal Bagh has recently relocated to the Landikotal the administrations of Benazir Bhutto August 9, 2008. sub-district of Khyber Agency. and Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan. He 18 Javed Aziz Khan, “TNFJ Leader Assassinated in Pe- 23 Dr. Farrukh Saleem, “Emir Mangal Bagh,” The News, is also the author of Pakistan’s Drift shawar,” The News, August 17, 2008; “Bomber Hits Paki- August 3, 2008. into Extremism: Allah, the Army and stan Shia Mosque,” BBC, January 17, 2008. 24 “Editorial: Mangal Bagh Still Rules Khyber,” Daily America’s . 19 “D I Khan Blast,” The News, August 21, 2008; “Editori- Times, September 1, 2008. al: A Sectarian War,” The News, August 23, 2008; “What 25 Zahid Hussain, “Taleban ‘Siege’ of Peshawar Threat- is Your Name?” The News, September 5, 2008. ens Pakistan’s Grip,” The Times, June 26, 2008. 27 The comment was made in the National Assembly of 20 Nick Meo, “Pakistani City of Peshawar Could Fall to 26 Zeeshan Haider, “Taliban Bring Vigilante Law to Pakistan. See Haider, “Taliban Bring Vigilante Law to Taliban as Fear and Attacks Grow,” Daily Telegraph, Au- Pakistan’s Peshawar,” Reuters, June 27, 2008. Pakistan’s Peshawar.”