http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=216877
Time for Baitullah Mehsud to give up militancy
Friday July 10, 2009 (1006 PST)
[email protected]
Madrassa educated Baitullah belong to Shadikhel Mehsud in South
Waziristan but he was born in Lakki Marwat and was brought up in Bannu where he
had also performed as Imam Masjid in a village of Janikhels in Bannu Frontier
Region. Short-statured, unassuming and chubby, he suffers from hypertension and
diabetes. His sub-tribe Shabikhel Mehsud accepted his authority after he became
affluent and acquired arms and large number of dedicated fighters. Once Uzbeks
and Tajiks were shunted out from Wazirinhabited South Waziristan by the army
and with the active help of Maulvi Nazir, Baitullah gave refuge to them. Most
were from Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) including their leader Tahir
Yuldachev. It necessitated another operation in Mahsud inhabited South
Waziristan. Baitullah fought the army and forced it to conclude a peace
agreement in February 2005. Abdullah and Baitullah were close relatives but not
on friendly terms. Both operated in different areas with their own followers.
Following in the foot steps of Mulla Omar led Afghan Taliban; Baitullah
formed Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) in December 2007 after the death of his
cousin Abdullah. Another peace deal was inked with him in April 2008. The basic
purpose of the Tehrik was to espouse the cause of Islam and work for
establishing Islamic laws in FATA. However, unlike Afghan Taliban, instead of
waging Jihad against foreign occupation forces, he preferred to battle Pak
army.
To justify his war against the army, he declared it as a mercenary army
on the payroll of the US. Till as late as early 2009, he maintained a reserved
and reclusive posture and was camera and media shy. For unknown reasons he made
a volta face and became boastful. He started to proudly claim each and every
act of terror in Pakistan and even the one in USA and went to the extent of
asserting that his men are capable of attacking Washington. Reportedly he has
about 15-20,000 followers from FATA, NWFP and Punjab and has no dearth of arms,
ammunition and funds duly supplied by his patrons sitting in Afghanistan. He
has his affiliates inall agencies of FATA, as well as in Darra Adam Khel and
Swat.
Baitullah is reputed to be a vindictive, revengeful and ruthless man and
is strongly believed to be on the payroll of CIA, RAW and Mossad. If Baitullah
claims that he is a patriot and has a team of genuine Talibanand are not like
throat cutting Swat Taliban, he should prove his patriotism by first turning
the guns of his followers towards Afghanistan under occupation of foreign
forces. Presently all his guns are pointing inwards towards Pakistan security
forces and not a single mission has been launched into Afghanistan which is a
genuine battleground for Jihad and where Afghan Taliban are waging a relentless
struggle to free their country from foreign occupation. The second step to
prove his credentials would be to dissociate itself from all criminals and
miscreants and fake Taliban of Swat who have indulged in horrendous crimes that
have given a bad name to good Taliban. Likewise all unregistered foreigners
residing within his area of influence should be pushed out to Afghanistan from
where they had come or to be handed over to authorities in Pakistan.
In the third phase he should giveup militancy and give a helping hand to
the government to develop FATA and to integrate it within NWFP. This step will
be of utmost importanceto avoid bloodshed of Pashtuns which is flowing
profusely for the last so many years. Fighting the state at the behest of
foreign powers and leading a life of a vagabond will have disastrous
consequences for thepeople of FATA. He must know that USA and India are friends
of none. So-called TTP is being misused to serve their vested interests to kill
two birds with onestone. He will be out of mind if he thinks that foreign
patrons wouldallow him to carve out an independent state and introduce Sharia.
One of the main reasons of ousting the Taliban in Kabul was that they had
introduced Sharia and had refused to tow their line. The US is keen to convert
Pakistan into a secular state and a client state of India and is actively
working on this agenda.
Taking into account Indo-US objectives duly complemented by Israel and
UK, where does Baitullah led TTP figure out? The US has already chalked out a
comprehensive Af-Pak policy whereinall extremist elements residing within
Pak-Afghan border belt will be eliminated. FATA has been declared as the most
dangerous place on earthand a hub-centre of terrorism posing a threat to world
peace. The US troop surge of 21000 in southern Afghanistan and heightened
pressure on Pakistan to act as the anvil is part of the gory plan. If he thinks
that he can defeat the army with the help of his foreign mentors and carve out
an independent Islamic state, he is living in world of fancy. I am sure he must
have seen a glimpse of power of military in Malakand Division where the terrain
for fighting guerrilla war fare is morefavorable for the militants.
Everywhere else the militants are being clobbered and they are on the
run. In South Waziristan, the terrain is wide open and devoid of congested
built up areas. He must also know that unlike Malakand Division where the
military plunged in without adequatepreparations, it is more prepared for
Waziristan. Here the units have been operating since 2002 and are well versed
with the topography andenvironments. He may be banking upon his suicide brigade
duly trained by notorious Qari Hussain supposedly an expert in motivating and
training boys of tender age. He seems to be oblivious of the fact that all the
training sites, hideouts and arms dumps have been identified and will soon be
destroyed as was the case in Swat. I am sure he must have noted the changed
pulse of the public which has condemned his heinous acts. They have now come to
know that he and his exclusive team have very little knowledge of golden
principles of Islam as enshrined in Holy Quran and practiced by our Holy
Prophet (PBUH) during his prophet-hood.
Innocent boys belonging to poor class are being brainwashed to launch
suicide attacks. Mosques, Imambargahs and Khanqahs have been targeted and so
many innocent persons have been ruthlessly beheaded. If Baitullah and his
accomplices think that they would escape to Afghanistan and would be garlanded
by their patrons, they are sadly mistaken. Americans have already announced $ 5
million head money for Baitullah and would therefore be in no position to
provide him refuge as in case of run away Brahamdagh.
The US seems to have belatedly got after Baitullah; some serious attempts
have been made to kill him. Apart from head money, deadly drone attacks were
launched on his main strongholds for the first time killing over 100 people.
One possible reason could be that the latter has seen through the game
hatched in the form of Af-Pak policy which aims at decimation of militants. He
may have felt the tightening noose around him and his fighters cornered within
a specific locale, and seen the raised hammer of US-Nato troops. This
apprehension prompted him to join hands with Gul Bahadur and Faqir, form a
Council and declare allegiance to Mulla Omar.
Second; he carries too many secrets and his capture alive by the
militarycould spill the beans.
Third; the Americans have determined that Baitullah has lost considerable
public support including his own clan as was evident from splinter group headed
by deceased Zain and now by Misbah and has lost his usefulness.
Fourth; he might not have obeyed their commands to rush to the aid of
marooned Fazlullah. Americans always bet on a winning horse and ditch alosing
horse. Whatever the reasons, ground realties have changed and Baitullah has
lost popular support of the public and possibly confidence of his mentors. Myth
of TTP has shattered and Baitullah is finding itdifficult to get a fatwa
(edict) issued to legalise Jihad against Pak army. It is still not late for him
to abandon the path of militancy and lead a peaceful life.
<<baitullah-mehsud-filephoto.jpg>>
