- Going round in circles?
Troubling news reports about some peace committee trying to enforce Taliban style curbs on social and cultural activities in Wana, South Waziristan, are made much worse by the official machinery’s apparent ignorance about the development, or reluctance to comment on it. Banning music, traditional dance, and the movement of women (unless accompanied by male family members) is a throwback to the darkest days of TTP’s hold over fata, especially Waziristan. But we have been told, for quite some time now, that not just south, but also North Waziristan is now pretty secure. There are, obviously, strict controls on civilian movement in and out of all agencies. How, then, could this mysterious peace committee organise on such a scale; allegedly involving ulema from across the area and even naming an amir?
That the so called peace committee is, reportedly, headed by a former deputy of South Waziristan’s old strongman Mullah Nazir only raises further questions. Nazir, who was killed by a drone strike in ’13, was once prominent among the ‘good Taliban’, and was locked in intense battle with Hakeemullah Mehsud who was then head of TTP. Are these committees, then, part of those former fighters who have been ‘cleaned’ and slowly incorporated into the mainstream?
There is an urgent need to address certain crucial elements about fata. One, who is really running the show? Is the military calling all the shots or is the government also involved? Two, why is no thought given to arranging elections and giving locals the power to govern, especially now that pace has been established? Three, what will it take for the government to finally make some movement on fata reforms? And four, how could a so called peace committee flex Taliban style muscles at such a sensitive time and cause panic among the people? Those in charge are required to bring urgent clarity to the situation. Losing the gains of the battle will only make us go round in circles.