OPERATION RAH-E-NIJAT...by Salam Khan Wazir and Habibullah WAZIR

OPERATION RAH-E-NIJAT

 

            The operation RAH-E-NIJAT have launched towards the close of June 2009 in the strong hold area of Baitullah Mehsood in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />South Waziristan. The success of the operation will depend on how the Government proceeds with operation.But it is obvious that the operation will be long and the human cost will be painful and devastating.

            The geography of Waziristan is such that it lies along the Durand line drawn in 1893 agreed upon between a British official and King Abdur Rehman.

            Waziristan is composed of two agencies south and north. In both the agencies various tribes like Mehsood, Dawar and Wazir are living in both the agencies, but Wazir tribe is in majority in both the agencies.

            The tribal belt lies along the Afghanistan border. During the soviet occupation of Afghanistan in (1979-1988) Mujahiden freely crossed the border with the active support of USA and Pakistan and attacked the soviet forces. At the withdrawal of soviet forces from Afghanistan, Taliban installed a Government in Afghanistan ultimately and the dubious involvement of Saudi dissident Osama bin ladin in the terrorist attack (9/11) on American World Trade Center and Pentagon, brought NATO forces under the US command to Afghanistan to fight down Al-Qaida and Taliban. The Taliban spilled over to Pakistan Tribal areas to fight back NATO forces. Pakistan being a front line state in the war against terrorism deployed its own armed forces against Taliban & terrorist in the tribal belt.

            By and by, the Taliban gained so much power that they challenged the writ of government in the tribal areas and also in some of the settled areas. The Government of Pakistan was humbled and compelled to lunch a strong military operation to eliminate Taliban. This is why Rah-e-Rast operation in Malakand Division and Rah-e-Nijat operation in South Waziristan has started.

            The operation RAH-E-NIJAT is targeted against Waziristan. NWA Wing of militants is being commanded by Mulla Gul Bahadar who is considered a loyal of Pak Army and is in close contact with Haggani group of militants. It is surprising that as the Government is making full preparation for the operation, the attacks of the militant commander on Pak Army conveys are increasing, causing large casualties while giving the reason that the Government of Pakistan support, US drone attacks on Taliban.

            SWA Wing of militants mainly divided in to two groups. The one group is commanded by  Baitullah Mehsood and the other group is commanded by Mullah Nazir.Mullah Nazir and Mullah Gul Bahadar are liked minded militant commanders.Despite having little differences over the recent moves of Pak Army against Baitullah Mehsood,Mullah Nazir is opposed to the move against Baitullah but he can not attack on pak army due to public opposition and pressure.

            Further, it is worth to mention that there are some liberal groups among the SWA of Wing militants.They fully support the pak army operation against Baitullah.One of these liberal groups of militant Talibans belong to Shakkai - a very beautiful area at a distance of about 35 km from central WANA to the north. The people of this area are liberal and fearless. The other groups is being commanded by Late Abdullah Mehsood who has spent some time in the prison of Guntanmobay. But later in 2007, he was killed by some unidentified gunmen in Zoob, an adjacent region of Balochistan to SWA.After the death of Abdullah Mehsood, the group was commanded by 28 years old Pir Zainodin Mehsood, but due to some discord between he and Baitullah, he was assassinated in D. I. Khan.Tufan, the militant commander, the second cousion of Pir Zainodin Mehsood has taken the role of Leadership of the group led by Zainodin. Abdullah group is being fully supported by the militants of Bettani tribe.

            In the current operation RAH-E-NIJAT against the Baitullah Mehsood, the Shakkai militants and Abdullah group of militants strongly supporting this operation.While Mulla Gul Bahadar openly opposed Rah-e-Nijat operation.Meanwhile, Mullah Nazir is in a mood of opposing the operation RAH-E-NIJAT, but due to strong public opposition he has become silent.

            This time, the government seems determined to fight a last war against Talibans and Terrorists. The Pak Army used heavy weaponry and Jet fighters to destroy the centers and sanctuaries of the terrorists.

Never before this Pak Army has launched such a vigorous and ferocious war against its own countrymen. It is pertinent to mention that public opinion and support is at the back of military operation. It is a good omen for the government to move ahead with the operation. The destructive phase of Rah-e-Rast has been over and the constructive phase has been started while the Rah-e-Nijat operation has started in SWA with the objective to strangulate and finish terrorists and Talibans.

It will be premature to jump to the conclusion about the fate and success of RAH-E-NIJAT and Rah-e-Rasth. However,we may say: “Hope can be postponed but never abandoned.”                    

 The co-Authors Habibullah wazir and Khan Salam Khan Wazir.