A study released by a think-tank, headed by former army chief Jehangir Karamat on North Waziristan, warns that the regional situation is not ripe for a new military operation by Pakistan in this part of this territory.
The US and ISAF troops need to do more on the Afghan side of the border before any such operation. Moreover, Pakistan needs time to recover from years of terrorism and military operations.
Of late, conflicting news have been filling the air about a possible military offensive in North Waziristan Agency. The US has been pressing Pakistan to act decisively against militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan, the pressure increased since the botched attack on New Yorks Times Square. The US alleged that the bombing accused, Faisal Shahzad, had received training in North Waziristan and said it was necessary to clear the region of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups. Though President Obama has confirmed that the Al-Qaeda safe-havens are shrinking, the American officials continue to say that the North Waziristan has become a hub and nerve centre of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. The Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen terms it the epicentre of terrorism which harbours Al-Qaeda.
Pakistan has its own concerns and priorities regarding military operation in the areas, which differ sharply from a US-proposed full-fledged military operation, as the 90 percent of US drone strikes in FATA are concentrated in North Waziristan. Besides differences on time of operations, Pakistan mulls over targeted surgical strikes instead of an all-out military operation.
Reports suggest that as many as 10,000 battle hardened militants including foreigners like Arabs, Uzbeks, Chechens, Indonesians, Tajiks and some European nationals affiliated with Al-Qaeda are present in the area.
The agency is also a hub of Taliban groups including Haqqani network, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Maulvi Nazir groups, pockets of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and some other Afghan Taliban elements.
Haqqani network has been a major bone of contention between US and Pakistan. The group is based in Miranshah the administrative headquarters of NWA and is led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the eldest son of Afghan jihad veteran Jalauddin Haqqani.
So far Islamabad has successfully resisted all types of pressures from Washington to launch a full-scale operation in this militant-infested region, arguing its army is stretched thin and does not yet have the control of neighbouring tribal agencies.
The government asserts that a large-scale operation in North Waziristan would jeopardise its efforts to clean up others areas and may prompt retaliatory attacks in mainland Pakistan. The political and military leadership has unanimously ruled out any foreign dictation or pressure for a military operation in North Waziristan.
SHUMAILA RAJA
Islamabad