Before this current round of the FATA operation began, some individuals here were calling for military solution. To “go in and cleap up the place,” but what has happened so far? 300 Pakistani soldiers held hostage by the very same militants and asking those *oh so evil and backwards tribes *to intercede.
If it is not fully apparent that Pakistan should work with the tribes of FATA before launching foolish campaigns, it will become more apparent in the coming months. No one is supporting militancy in the region, but the pathways towards resolution lie in peaceful negotiations that should lead to an agreement.
The militancy in FATA is directly linked to the Pakistani about face after 2001 where the Taliban were no longer ‘officially’ supported. The Western installed government of Afghanistan has been consistently challenged by the militants.
The best course of action for Pakistan is to leave the militants alone under an agreement where the residents of FATA and the Pakistani military is not harmed. Once western attention has been completely diverted and Pakistan/Afghanistan are no longer under the radar of the US, these militants can once again take over parts of Afghanistan. If Pakistan is presently supportive of them, any future gov’t of Afghanistan will hold these allies. In fact, many ‘ex-Taliban’ hold seats of power in the present setup.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Pakistani Militants Hold Army Troops Hostage
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept. 3 — Close to 300 Pakistani soldiers and officers have been held captive for four days after they were seized by pro-Taliban militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border without a shot being fired, government officials said Monday.
It was the first time government officials acknowledged that so many men had been captured and that they were being held hostage. The government has asked tribal elders to intercede to seek the release of the soldiers, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the embarrassment the capture has caused the government.
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A tribal member of Parliament, Senator Saleh Shah, who was asked to help mediate their release, said the militants were demanding the withdrawal of the military from their area and the release of their comrades. **The government rounded up 100 Mehsud tribesmen in the area soon after the soldiers were captured, but released the men again as part of the negotiations.