Attack on Rawalpindi GHQ paves way to the Battle of Waziristan

October 12th, 2009 by Kashif Aziz ( 1,154 Views )

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Saturday saw end of another bloody week in Pakistan, with more than 50 casualities when a bomb blasted in busy Khyber Bazar of Peshawar and then a bunch of militants attacking the security check post of General Head Quarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army.

The attack on GHQ later turned into a hostage holdup situation. While the security forces successfully freed 39 hostages, capturing 1 militant and killing the rest, the saga has raised many questions in its wake. According to news reports, the attackers took up a safe house only 5 kilometers away from the GHQ, linked through a direct road, and were staying there since last 3-4 months. The attackers arranged Army uniforms and appraently planned to masquerade their way through the security check point. Obviously there is an intelligence failure somewhere which enabled them to reach that far, especially when such an incident was perceived by the intelligence agencies.

The attack on GHQ shares resemblence with recent terrorist activities like the attack on Manwan Police Academy, Rescue 15 building and attack on Sri Lanka Cricket team (which is assumed to be a failed hostage-taking operation).

Some believe these to be Fidayeen acts, where small number of attackers confront larger enemey and die in the process. However, if the Idea is to gather media attention then why not kill the hostages too? That would certainly make far bigger headlines and consume more air time than a “holdup and rescue” operation. Also, it is strange that a Fidayee allows himself to be captured alive. What happened to poision capsules and “savig a bullet for the end” concept?

As expected, both the blast in Peshwar and attack on GHQ were linked to Pakistani Taliban. Right after the exchange of fire at Security Gate 1 of the GHQ, a phone call at GEO TV claimed the work to be of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Amjad Farooqi) group. Farooqi, killed by security forces in 2003, was an accomplice of Omar Sheikh, who is in jail for the murder of Daniel Pearl. Later the blame was shifted to Hakimullah Mehsud group while the injured ringleader of attackers is said to be a part of banned Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The message coming from this attack is very lound and clear; nobody is safe and secure till the terrorists in Waziristan are not wiped off.

Obviously, now the government and Armed Forces are very much determined to launch a decisive operation against the militants in Waziristan. However, it is yet not clear why they are reluctant to perform most important element of any combat, to cut enemey supply lines. As it has now been established from these terrorist activities that Southern Punjab is a breeding ground of militancy and it not only provides raw material for the training camps of Waziristan but also doubles as a safe heaven for those who return to apply their training against the state. Why there is no operation in South Punjab before going into Waziristan? Why Mureedkay, Jhang and Multan are left untouched when Waziristan faces the drones every day?

And what about the enemy within? As Zahid Hussain writes for Times Online:

“Analysts said there were still officers in the military with radical Islamic leanings who opposed the army’s ongoing offensive against the militants in the northwest.

One indication is that many more officers and soldiers sport long beards than before, as is demanded by most of the militant groups and conservative clerics across the country.

Analysts said that did not necessarily mean they were inclined towards militancy, but there was always a danger of more conservative Muslims in the army turning to jihad.”

The battle of Waziristan is going to be long and hard as snowfall will start in a month’s time. The exodus from Waziristan will cause more financial mishaps for already strained economy of Pakistan and we have to, ultimately, accept the terms of Kerry Lugar bill.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 and is filed under Current Affairs .

Tagged with: Amjad Farooq, Daniel Pearl, GHQ, Hakimullah Mehsud, Rawalpindi, Tehreek Taliban Pakistan, Waziristan

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8 Responses to “Attack on Rawalpindi GHQ paves way to the Battle of Waziristan”

1

Shakir Lakhani
October 12th, 2009 11:29 GMT
I’ve noticed that men in uniform (whether officers or havaldars) always object to being subjected to body search, especially by civilians. Moreover, the ordinary Pakistani is scared of anyone in uniform. So the militants willbe tempted to wear police or army uniforms and strike again.
2

Hend
October 12th, 2009 20:25 GMT
taliban attacks are in retaliation of pakistani and american drone attacks on them. taliban is not a natural enemy of pakistani people.

once the americans leave afghanistan, taliban will no longer attack pakistan they will focus their attention on retaking afghanistan.

taliban’s only objective is to establish sharia throughout pakhtunkhwa and get rid of the foreign powers. their clash with america came only because of osama bin ladin otherwise there was no problem.

taliban is sensing the winds of american withdrawal and they know it is a matter of time before the victory is theirs.

pakistan must stop aerial bombings and drone attacks from americans because this type of warfare on populated areas is purely a crime against humanity.
3

Hamid Majid Abbasi
October 13th, 2009 11:13 GMT
@hend
that waz taliban of Mullah Omar nt Fazal ullah……………Sharia was there slogan bt TTP is simply moving on a hijacking scheme…………may be inspired by genghis…………nd if they have a problem with US fight them there? why to run and hide in swat………….dnt be mislead by TTP as the Taliban..
4

Hamid Majid Abbasi
October 13th, 2009 11:16 GMT
@kashif
dnt knw wats d delay for? it shud hav been initiated until nw
5

Hend
October 13th, 2009 19:34 GMT
Abbasi

Fully agree with you that the attacks made by TTP on Pakistani public are wrong and they seem to have lost the sight of the original objectives.

I am an Indian and not a supporter of Taliban, nor am I compatible with their principles.

However I want to make a few points,
An idealistic Taliban whose sole goal is to establish sharia, eliminate corruption and provide unbiased/ unsold justice to people is not a bad thing IF people of Pakhtunkhwa really want that. The big question is, whether Taliban is really that idealistic entity?

People of the rest of the Pakistan such as Punjab and Sindh obviously will not support even idealistic Taliban or even Shariat so obviously we are talking about having two different legal systems in one country. Though this might sound difficult but it is possible to some extent if people sit down and discuss what is possible and what is not possible.

To my knowledge even in India, certain laws about property and marriages are different for Hindus and Muslims, those for the latter being more in accordance with the Islamic sharia. So may be something like this can be worked out on provincial basis, without ofcourse undermining the authority of the central government in certain aspects.

Countries like Pakistan, India are multi cultural and multi ethnic. In our overzealous quest to forge a tight national integrity, sometimes we tend to ignore this critial difference and as a result we end up alienating our own people.

I am not arguing that action should not be taken against the crimes of TTP but I don’t support aerial bombardment on your own citizens, the collateral damage will hurt the common Pashtun and Swati more than TTP. This will actually feed the purpose of the fanatics. The temptations might be there to take a massive action and to show the people who is in charge but there is a danger that it will be problematic in the long term. This is a long and hard battle and there is no alternative to fighting it as such.

I write this a well wisher of Pakistan, its public in all provinces, a neutral observer and a good intentioned neighbor.
6

Kashif Aziz
October 13th, 2009 22:35 GMT
@Hend: As Hamid mentioned, the Taliban of Afghanistan should not be confused with the Taliban of Pakistan. Taliban literally means the Students and the Talibs who took over Afghanistan were the students and teachers of various Madaris (schools).

However, the so-called Taliban of Pakistan are mostly rogue and corrupt elements of society who are hiding behind false slogan of implementing the law of Shari’ah.

It has to be noted that Shari’ah was in effect implemented in Afhganistan under the Taliban rule and it was endorsed by the scholars of Pakistan and various Arab nations.

Also, the dynamics of Swat and Waziristan are quite different, if not exact parallel of each other. Waziristan is under threat of US drones as America believes it hosts freedom fighters supporting the resistance against US occupation of Afghanistan. When people of Wazirstan are droned, retaliation is natural which occurs against state of Pakistan as they believe we are supporting the US cause.

On the other hand the issue of Swat was highlighted and exploited by anti-Pakistan elements to engage Pakistan army in the area as well as to spread confusion, anarchy and mistrust amongts the public. Government of Pakistan while crushed the rogue elements in Swat, it has failed to reveal the handlers, and the supply chain to these miscreants. Unless this is done and a firm action is taken against them, the menace of terrorism can not be eleminated for sure.
7

Hamid Majid Abbasi
October 13th, 2009 22:48 GMT
@hend
absolutely,, i mean u are sometime in a situation where victory also comes with a price,, and aerial bombing is the last resort which I am sure gives sleepless to nearly all,,
but it was a fight which had to be taken………….else it was getting out of control………they are more furious on drones like we are……….as no law can justify it and we are speechless as to why we are nt responding………..bt as they say “real politik” is a dirty business……
8

Mohamed
November 17th, 2009 14:57 GMT
TTP claim they have not done the Peshawar market and the Islamic University bombing, Blackwater complains they have become a generic name for other “security agencies” active in Pakistan. Ultimately it is the ordinary, innocent people that lose lives and pay the heavy price.
CNN: Taliban claims some attacks, denies others in Pakistan

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