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| http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HB08Df01.html
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
KARACHI - By taking control of virtually all of Pakistan's North Waziristan
tribal area on the border with Afghanistan, the Taliban have gained a
significant base from which to wage their resistance against US-led forces in
Afghanistan. At the same time, the development solidifies the anti-US resistance
groups in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, which will now fight under a single
strategy.
The Taliban recently declared the establishment of an "Islamic state" in North
Waziristan, and they now, through the brutal elimination of the criminal
elements who previously held sway, in effect rule in the rugged territory.
As a tribal area, North Waziristan has always enjoyed significant independence
from Islamabad, and even on the occasions when the Pakistani army has ventured
into the area to root out foreign fighters or Afghan resistance figures, it has
received fierce opposition, and in effect been forced to back off.
The Taliban and their supporters plant roadside bombs on the routes used by the
Pakistani paramilitary forces, and virtually every day one or two vehicles are
blown up. This measure is aimed to keep the security forces away from the actual
tribal areas of Waziristan. In short, the writ of the Pakistani political agent
(the central government's representative) barely extends beyond Miramshah Bazaar
and Wana Bazaar (the official headquarters). Everywhere else, the Taliban are
calling the shots.
Asia Times Online has viewed a video disc released by the Taliban that
illustrates their control in North Waziristan. The footage includes their bases,
where thousands of youths are present, preparations for an attack into
Afghanistan, and shots of criminals executed at a public rally staged by the
Taliban.
The government of Pakistan has termed the executions "tyranny".
The video opens with pictures of the headless bodies of criminals strung up in
Miramshah Bazaar, executed by the Taliban.
The next segment showcases the establishment of strong bases in which thousands
of turban-clad youths can be seen with guns. Commanders scan the ranks and
select a squad to launch a guerrilla attack on a US base in Khost province in
Afghanistan. They put on headbands with the wording "There is no God but the one
God; Mohammed is the messenger of God."
The fighters emerge from their base at night and head for Khost. After a
30-minute battle, flames can be seen rising from within the US base. The squad
returns before dawn.
The video also includes the "official" announcement of the establishment of an
Islamic state in Waziristan (which includes the tribal area of South Waziristan)
and a declaration of the Taliban's rule in North Waziristan.
This development confirms an Asia Times Online article describing how al-Qaeda
and its allies - in this case the Taliban - would establish bases from which to
coordinate and strengthen its global war against the United States (Al-Qaeda
goes back to base, November 4, 2005).
This announcement of an Islamic state is interpreted as a prelude to the
Taliban's summer offensive, precisely at a time when Iran's nuclear dossier will
be submitted to the United Nations Security Council, and both Europe and the US
will be mounting pressure on Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.
The US and Iran being at loggerheads sits very well with al-Qaeda's plans to
establish bases and a unified command system of anti-US resistance from Iraq to
Afghanistan. Iran is at present the only missing link in this strategy.
Despite little love being lost between the Taliban and Iran, al- Qaeda's
Egyptian camp has retained its traditional decades-old ties with the Iranian
regime. The real ideologue of the Iranian revolution of 1979 was Dr Ali
Shariati, who was inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood's Syed Qutub. Similarly,
the Islamic Jihad of Palestine officially claims its inspiration from the
Shi'ite Iranian revolution, despite being a completely Sunni Islamic group.
Al-Qaeda's link with Iran, although at a very low level, could prove critical in
the coming months. Should Iran find itself sanctioned, or even attacked by the
US, few states would dare to support Tehran.
Al-Qaeda, however, would seize the opportunity, asking in return that it be
given its desperately needed corridor through Iran to link Afghanistan and
Pakistan with Iraq and the Arab world.
A silent revolution
The Taliban video disc, which is a mixture of Pashtu and Urdu, maintained that
criminals had been calling the shots in North Waziristan. They routinely
abducted children and sodomized them, and they charged protection money from
shopkeepers, from transport operators, and even for marriage ceremonies. The
gangs were headed by an Afghan, Hakeem Khan Zadran. They had various sanctuaries
where drugs, women and alcohol were available.
The government, too, was claimed to have paid the criminals so that they would
not interfere with official business.
But a turning point came last December. A group of Taliban fighters were heading
to Khost to launch an operation in Afghanistan when they were stopped by some
criminals demanding money for safe passage. The Taliban refused, and were
allowed to pass. However, a few kilometers further down the road the criminals
fired a rocket and blew up the vehicle. Four Taliban belonging to the Wazir
tribe were killed.
The incident outraged local supporters of the Taliban, who converged near
Miramshah and warned people to leave their homes if they lived near criminals. A
raid was then conducted on one criminal sanctuary. In a fierce 15-minute gun
battle, several gangsters were killed, some were seized and many fled.
Over the next three days, according to the video, the Taliban smoked out
numerous criminals from their hideouts all over North Waziristan. Many were
executed at mass rallies in Miramshah Bazaar.
The Taliban movement
In a similar manner, the Taliban emerged as a reformist movement against
criminals and warlords in Zabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan about 16 years ago.
The Taliban have shown their muscles so powerfully in North Waziristan that
Pakistani forces have just stepped away. It has now become a popular movement
with the complete support of local tribes.
The Taliban have attracted thousands of foot soldiers from all over, including
Arabs, Chechens, Pakistanis, Afghans, Uzbeks and local tribals. North Waziristan
is now their "Islamic state" and base from which to launch a summer offensive in
Afghanistan.
According to Asia Times Online investigations, more than 100 suicide squads have
been lined up for the summer assault. These squads have precise targets all over
Afghanistan. The Taliban leadership is also encouraged by the strong
representation of Islamists in the new Afghan parliament as potential
supporters.
The Taliban have already disseminated warnings to all the governors in the south
and southeast of Afghanistan not to mobilize forces in search of the Taliban -
or else they will face the music in the form of suicide attacks. (On Tuesday in
the southern city of Kandahar, a suicide bomber attacked a guard post outside
the police headquarters, killing 13 people and wounding 11.)
Local Taliban commanders such as Mullah Dadullah are already in the field to
sway Afghan tribes in the Pashtun heartlands of Afghanistan to be prepared for
the offensive.
Contacts in the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan - a major resistance group - in Kabul
maintain that the long absence of commander Kashmir Khan had led many to believe
that he had been arrested by US forces. However, he recently emerged from hiding
and has become the main engine of the resistance in the Kunar Valley, where he
is cultivating local tribes for support.
"If this military strategy is implemented it would have serious consequences for
the allied forces in Afghanistan, especially at a time when they are mounting
pressure on Iran," commented an intelligence analyst. "However, the Taliban made
tall claims about winter suicide attacks, but barring a few events they failed
to inflict major losses on allied forces."
That was before the Taliban secured a base in North Waziristan, though. This
time around could see a very different outcome.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HB08Df01.html
Alan
"Can't you see we're still here,
Can't you see we're still here,
Singing loud; Singing clear,
We shall not go under,
We're still here."
Nemesis Peace Centre
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http://theoriginalfirebird.blogspot.com/
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