Waziristan 110 Years ago and now
By: Tarique Khan Javed
President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum.
                           Dated 20 Nov 2009

The current debate in the country about our military operation in FATA in general and Waziristan in particular reminds me of the similar debate held on 7th March 1898 in the British House of Lords.

A wise man of the past:
In that debate Lord Roberts and Lord Lansdowne, urged that irrespective of cost consideration it is essential that the British rule should be extended to all FATA, while Earl of Northbrook urged against it.

Richard I Bruce in his book “The Forward Policy and its Results” explained in detail how he and Robert Sandeman pacified and occupied Baluchistan. He was of the opinion that by using same principle of “peace and goodwill” all FATA could also be occupied. After Baluchistan he becomes the Chief Political Agent of Waziristan (1894-97) under Punjab Government. He pushed his case for applying same policies as of Baluchistan to his new employers, but failed to convince them. For Waziristan, which forms 60% of Fata, he informed his government  that 56% people of his Agency begged  to be incorporated in the Empire on the lines of Baluchistan, while small percentage of population who  survived on banditry, extortion and other illegal activities opposed such a move. He also informed  that the Mullah Class, who also did not work for leaving, changed their loyalty rapidly, some times  favoring the established class and sanctity of property while at other times the lawless class which did not believe in sanctity of property.

He had warned of grave consequences in case this was not done, his prediction has come to pass.

The current fight in FATA is between the three classes of people identified by Bruce. The two lawless class have merged to form the TALIBAN, while the voice of the established class i.e. people with property and believing in normal life as enjoyed by rest of the world is not heard or mentioned.

Unwise and ill informed leaders:
People like Imran Khan, Munawar Hassan and Fazal- ur- Rehman, strongly urge stoppage of military action and favor continuation of the status quo. They are not bothered by the presence of huge number of rogue element in the territory and thriving on all kind of illegal activities from arms and drug smuggling to extortion and kidnapping.

In this time and age advocacy of complete lawlessness in a substantial part of the Country is beyond comprehension.  

Bruce’s argument and recommendations were sound and based on him and his boss Robert Sandeman’s experience in settling and pacifying Baluchistan which included a large Pakhtoon territory with more hostile topography.

The pragmatic and smart Pakhtoon:
When Bruce with his 300 Sikh sepoys established the Quetta cantonment in 1877, he faced weekly suicide attacks by Pathans who resented British presence. However, the same Pathans have become the most peaceful citizens of Pakistan. Pathans realized that the settled and organized life under the British rule was much better than the previous life of so called freedom and extreme poverty.

Bruce’s proposal to incorporate all FATA into British Empire using the Baluchistan model was not fully accepted by the Punjab Government. The implementation of Forward Policy in Baluchistan was partly due to the fact that Sandeman reported directly to Delhi where he was able to find support for his ideas initially involving lot of expenditure in the larger interest of protecting the Empire from Russian expansion. The vision was not shared by the Punjab government who worried about huge expenses without any apparent return from a barren and unproductive territory.

British bases in Waziristan:
Despite that Bruce as Chief Political Officer of Waziristan was very slowly and gradually able to open the Tochi pass and open the Shahur from Jandola to Wana via Khaisera. Before he left in 1896, he had convinced the majority of Tribal leaders that it was in their interest to let British forces establish permanent cantonments at Wana, Ramzak, Jandola and Tank. He convinced them that in order to face the rogue and bad elements in their territory such a force was a must and that the Tribal leaders themselves can not fight these elements with out the support of an organized army.

While day to day running of the Agency affairs were left to the respective Tribal chief who were bond to follow the agreement reached for keeping peace and security in their areas, the British army was always ready to punish any tribe which committed gross transgression of the pledge. This kept the tribes under control.

Major blunders of Pakistan:
However, a major blunder was committed in 1947 when as a new State Pakistan decided to close the cantonments. The apparent reason given was the cost consideration. The Punjab Government argument that the cost involved is not worth the potential income once again gained ascendancy over Bruce’s argument that cost should not be a consideration when strategic national defense was involved.

Between 1947 and March 2004 there was no army presence in Waziristan. The area became a safe heaven for all kind of criminals, arms/drug smugglers and terrorists. The net result was 9/11. As part of Tora Bora bombing if Pakistan army had moved in full force in Oct 2001 it could have easily captured the area, as tribes were terrified at USA’s anger. However the mean and short sighted Military Dictator of the time instead decided to use the terrorists like Osama Bin Laden who had shifted their base from Afghanistan to Fata in general and Waziristan in particular as leverage for extracting huge amount of aid from USA. He pretended to be doing a lot to erase the terrorist but did little to hit the known bases and nerve centers.    

By 2004, the dual policy of Military government became apparent following confession of caught terrorists in Saudi Arabia and else where, as to how easily they got their training in no go areas of FATA.

In April 2004 the Government was forced to send in troops in Waziristan for the first time. However it was a half hearted operation for propaganda only. Instead of occupying key bases, deals were made with tribes to flush out foreign terrorists. This was not taken seriously by tribes and terrorists alike, as they knew well that unlike British Government, Pakistan Government had no military presence in their difficult time to penetrate territories.  Many deals followed which for the terrorists was only meant to  time gain and organize, while the half hearted Government policy was meant to ease pressure of the West demanding do more. Frustrated USA started Drone attacks which succeeded in killing key terrorists like Batullah Mahsud but at the same time large number of innocent people. If we had done our job on time the need for these attacks would not have occurred.    

Rah e Najat seems to be the answer:
The current operation Rah e Najat seems to be serious move judging from our forces casualties. They are undertaking a very difficult mission and sacrificing lives. There efforts are worth as this will not only mean that the factories of suicide bombers will be closed but it will also expand the territory of Pakistan. The land being occupied with such cost of our soldiers should never be vacated. Each hill top should be turned into a small fortress on the lines of Baluchistan. This will compel all tribes to respect and obey Pakistani rules for survival.

 This will lead to new security arrangement on Baluchistan line whereby the Army will be on top and aloof while Para military force like FC or Rangers, Police and local Militias will ensure law and order. With the establishment of Courts and Registry in major centers the property value will go up making people prosperous. Hospitals, Schools, Colleges, training centers will help people reach higher level of standards of living as enjoyed by rest of the Country. The vast silent majority will welcome these moves and will become active defenders of the new found better life. Like Baluchistan no one will miss the lawless ness prevailing now.