Contrary to the claims and allegations of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the situation in North Waziristan Agency remained per routine on Sunday, as troops went about their weekly reshuffling in the area throughout the day.
Amidst a curfew-like situation, routine traffic on the main roads along with trade and business activities came to a halt.
However, in village and hamlets, especially those faraway, tribesmen continued their routine socio-economic activities. A couple of days back, the TTP had issued a statement to the media alleging that the military was finalising arrangements for a military action in North Waziristan from August 26.
A TTP spokesman had even mentioned the name of an army officer who, according to him, would supervise the military offensive. The spokesman had threatened to resist the military action, saying, “Troops will be welcomed in North Waziristan by suicide bombers.”
But on the same day, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani and Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani contradicted US media reports regarding the military action. Both made it clear that any decision regarding the military action would be made by the government and they would not tolerate any sort of external dictation or pressure in this respect.
The US media reports and Taliban threats resulted in wide-ranging unrest amongst the militants assembled from all over the region and some foreign countries in Waziristan. The militants had even started slipping into neighbouring tribal agencies and. Some of the al Qaeda fugitives had reportedly travelled to Syria to fight against the regime of President Bashar Ul Asad.
Sources in both Miranshah and Mirali towns reported normal situation in the area. They said local tribesmen had turned a deaf ear to reports of the military action. However, the reports have made uncertain the religious elders and tribesmen having a soft corner for the Taliban.
In this regard, a joint jirga held a day ago at Eidak area threatened to resist the military offensive. The participants even warned of migrating to Afghanistan and joining hands with President Karzai if the armed forces opted for military action in the agency. Meanwhile, at least nine people, including children, were killed when a mortar shell hit a residential area in Qambar Abad, Khyber agency late on Saturday.