Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
The overall media coverage to this event is pathetic. A section of the media is treating it as if nothing's happening, and the other portion is completely opposing it. Lot of propaganda out there, the march would be held, the march would not be held, army is behind the march, he has talebans blessing, the rally could be attacked/not attacked.
Post#134.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Pakistani Taliban deny offering protection to PTI peace march
PESHAWAR: A statement issued by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Friday denied all news reports of the militant organisation offering protection to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) South Waziristan rally and called the rally an attempt by Imran Khan to “increase his political height”.
Spokesperson Ahsanullah Ahsan said in the statement that TTP was a theoretical organization based on the fundamentals of Islam which practices all its matters in the light of Islamic orders.
“As Imran Khan is a liberal, secular person and so is his party, we deny all baseless news stating that we have offered to provide him security for his so-called peace rally,” said Ahsan.
The statement further said that the “mujahideen” were not so worthless that they would be deployed “to protect a westernised and secular personality”.
“Imran Khan’s so called peace march is not in sympathy of drone-hit Muslims; instead it is a try by him to increase his political height,” said the TTP spokesperson, adding that they, therefore, did not need any sympathy from him.
The statement also said that they would not reveal their plans against anyone as that would be against “military tactics”.
Now let me hear those who call IK Taliban Khan.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
^ One group has threatened to attack the rally in DI Khan or Tank...but still the opponents are calling it farce and drama...one thing I fail to understand, that the area is in war for the past 7-8 years, why has the president or prime minster of the country not find the time or courage to visit the area?
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
^ One group has threatened to attack the rally in DI Khan or Tank...but still the opponents are calling it farce and drama...one thing I fail to understand, that the area is in war for the past 7-8 years, why has the president or prime minster of the country not find the time or courage to visit the area?
Because they think that FATA is a synonym of Taliban and its a den of over 4.5 million terrorists. Another reason is that rulers think that FATA is the sole responsibility of the military. We also have to see their capacity to govern and maintain their writ, which we have been seeing in Karachi right from their day one in power. To most of politicians, Pakistan means KPK, Punjab and Sindh. Balochistan and FATA belong to the military.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
^ some people are even equating this march with support for taleban. No one is thinking about the people of Fata who have been sandwiched between the militants, drones and operations.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
^ some people are even equating this march with support for taleban. No one is thinking about the people of Fata who have been sandwiched between the militants, drones and operations.
It's a calculated blunder. Just to degrade PTI for political point-scoring, they have decided to set aside the whole population of Fata — same people for whom they shed crocodile tears day in, day out.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
His peace march should be diverted to GHQ. Wait a second this is only topi drama, as he himself has been chosen by ISI as B-team. Also Mullah Umar has not yet granted him permission to visit Waziristan:)
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
how did it go?
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Doing something practical for the innocence people who get killed in drone attacks is wrong? Can we think of something beyond political point-scoring?
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
how did it go?
It will start today.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
The PTI’s peace march to South Waziristan
The writer is professor of political science at LUMS
Though the PTI-led peace march in Waziristan is symbolic, it brings a serious humanitarian issue to the world’s attention — indiscriminate killing of local Pashtun tribesmen, women and children. We know they are not the direct target of America’s drone strikes, but the fact is that they have been killed along with suspected militants who happen to be both foreign nationals and Pakistanis. The deaths of innocent persons with no link to militants and the destruction of their homes and properties is morally abhorrent and politically counter-productive to the goal of fighting against terrorism. The abstract language of war wrapped in a single word, ‘collateral damage’, is nothing more than an insult to intelligence. It is not difficult to understand the meaning of this phrase, which implies that it is the people on the ground who have nothing to do with the two warring sides — the militants and the US and its allies, and yet are getting killed.
The world and Pakistan shouldn’t close their hearts and minds to this mindless killing for political expediency or in the false belief that drones are the only weapons of choice. Let me first make my own view clear on militancy and terrorism, so that there is no confusion about what I say about the peace march. Terrorism and militancy in any shape, under any ruse or excuse, cannot be condoned. We know that states, including Pakistan, act unjustly, do many wrongs and have many failures. A civilised way to counter this state of affairs is through political, peaceful means and through mobilising civil society.
Militancy in Fata is a highly complex problem with so many conflicting narratives — each with a constituency of supporters and followers. The issue at hand is that Imran Khan’s peace march will include hundreds of foreign nationals, including several from the United States. I believe it is late in the day, as this war has gone on for a decade and thousands have already lost their lives, but nonetheless, it is an important move, which brings two issues of national and international political discourse to the fore.
First, Pakistan has failed to provide the people of the tribal areas security of life and property. It has failed to effectively end militant strongholds that have created mini-fiefdoms holding local populations hostage. Second, it has not been effective in persuading the US to accept the fact that drone strikes hurt Pakistani interests as well and defeat the broader objectives of the war on terror.
Imran Khan is the first leader to have shown grit and courage by stepping forward and showing national solidarity with the people of Fata. By marching together to express their opposition to the drone war, the participants of the march will demonstrate that they have a common cause with the tribes.
The second issue is how to regain the trust of the people and sovereign control of these regions. The colonial approach of ruling through three sets of actors — the political agent, the maliks and the security forces — is no longer going to work. A politically integrative approach that brings them into the mainstream will work. Pakistan’s political parties are therefore the best vehicles to achieve all of this.
The peace march with tens of thousands of participants, whether they are allowed to hold the rally or not, has already got its point across — that they will not leave the tribesmen alone in their pain and suffering.
The louder the echo of this message, the broader will be the prospects of negotiating peace and stability in the troubled Fata region.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
This event is being covered much more positively by the international media. In Pakistani media I have just read two positive articles (hamid Mir and rasul bux rais). The event is being highly criticised by ANP, PMLN and the media. I read a very strong article against it by saleem safi.
BBC News - Pakistan’s Imran Khan to lead anti-drone protest march
Pakistan’s Imran Khan to lead anti-drone protest march
6 October 2012 Last updated at 00:30 GMT
Imran Khan says many Pakistani civilians are being killed by US drone strikes
Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is to lead a march to the tribal areas this weekend to protest against US drone strikes.
The two-day march is due to start in Islamabad on Saturday and end with a rally in South Waziristan which has been a major focus of drone strikes.
However, it is not clear if authorities will allow the rally to take place.
Mr Khan, like many Pakistanis, says the attacks kill large numbers of civilians and foster support for militants.
US officials insist strikes by the unmanned aircraft rarely claim civilian casualties and are an effective weapon against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party says the march and rally will attract hundreds of thousands of people.
“When they think of Waziristan, quite rightly, people get a bit scared because what is happening there is a mess created by this so-called war on terror, which has become a war of terror,” Mr Khan said.
“And it has collateral damage… women and children getting killed, families getting killed. [This] has created militants.”
Continue reading the main story
Drones in Pakistan
Recent US report highlighted “terror” felt by civilians in north-west Pakistan, where drones target areas such North and South Waziristan
Hundreds of low-level militant commanders and substantial minority of civilians killed
Exact figures difficult to compile because independent media and researchers denied access to area by authorities
Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates 2,570-3,337 people killed in drone strikes, of which 474-884 were civilians
Living Under Drones report says top commanders account for estimated 2% of victims
Security issue?
Mr Khan’s critics accuse him of trying to boost his party’s popularity but supporters say the march shows he is in touch with the concerns of Pakistani people.
Mohammad Ansar Adnan, a student in Islamabad, told Reuters news agency that drone attacks were “an escalating problem”.
“If Imran Khan is taking a step to resolve this issue, I think we should all go along with him, and once we are there, we should offer prayers for peace.”
Authorities in South Waziristan say they have not given the PTI permission to stage a rally and they cannot provide security for so many people.
The government of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says drone strikes are counterproductive and a violation of its sovereignty.
However, it has done nothing to stop them and many Pakistanis - including Imran Khan - believe this amounts to tacit consent.
In September, a report by Stanford and New York Universities in the US said Pakistani civilians were being “terrorised” 24 hours a day by CIA drone attacks.
It said rescuers treating casualties were also being killed and wounded by follow-up strikes.
The scale of civilian deaths has been difficult to assess because independent media and researchers are denied access to the tribal areas.
US President Barack Obama has insisted that the drone strategy is “kept on a very tight leash” and that without the attacks, the US would have had to resort to “more intrusive military action”.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
According to PTI's press release this would be the program of the rally:
October 6th
9:30 am Start off from Kashmir Highway Near Margalla Motel Islamabad
9:45 am Reception at Motorway (Islamabad Toll Plaza)
10:30 am Reception at Balkasar Interchange
11:00 am Reception at Talagang
12:00 pm Reception at Rikhi
12:30 pm Reception at Mianwali
1:00 pm Reception at Kundian
2:00 pm Reception at Paharpur
3:00 pm Reception at DI Khan
Night stay at DI Khan
October 7th:
7:00 am Start off from Tank for Kotkai via Jandola and AspinkaiRaghzai
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
That’s because most of the Pakistani ‘sahaafis’ are probably on America’s payroll.
I have never really cared for Saleem Saafi. I can never tell if he is genuine.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Khan’s march into no-go zone a dangerous gamble
IF Imran Khan gets his way - and he’s a man accustomed to doing so - he will lead a motley caravan of leftists, conservatives and journalists into Pakistan’s tribal no-go zone this weekend.
Should his protest pilgrimage against US drone strikes occur as planned, and not be foiled by security forces as rumour now suggests, it will be the prime ministerial hopeful’s most audacious political stunt yet and a rare glimpse into a remote borderland known as one of the world’s most dangerous places.
Gathering in Islamabad yesterday for Khan’s much-hyped Waziristan peace rally were the extremes of his supporter base - young Pakistani conservatives who have responded to his anti-American message and leftist foreign activists.
Among the foreigners is outspoken British peace activist Clive Stafford-Smith, who wrote an open letter this week to US President Barack Obama asking - somewhat melodramatically - that he not be killed by a drone while in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Area.
“When I march into Waziristan on October 7th, 2012, please do not let the CIA kill me, Imran Khan, or the others - including many Americans - who will be marching with me to highlight the plight of the innocent people, including at least 174 children, targeted by drones in recent months and years,” read his letter, published on the website of human-rights group Reprieve.
By contrast, Khan has said he is prepared to die for his peace cause. No one can rule that out this weekend given the Pakistani Taliban’s mixed messages - on the one hand decrying Khan as a liberal who will be targeted, only to turn around and offer him their protection in South Waziristan.
Beyond the hyperbole, Smith and Khan’s message is that for every innocent civilian killed by a US drone in Pakistan, an “extended family of new enemies” is created. That message is gaining currency in America, just as it has the sympathy of a vast number of Pakistanis for whom the Obama administration’s accelerated drone campaign is a gross breach of sovereignty and the root of virulent anti-Americanism.
Pakistan’s mainstream parties were forced to take notice of Khan last October after a rally in Lahore for his Pakistan Freedom Party attracted 100,000 supporters. One in Karachi two months later drew 150,000. Yet, if new polls are to be believed, Khan’s so-called “political tsunami” is losing its momentum, and his audacious Waziristan march is drawing some cynical feedback.
Some have criticised his decision to change the venue from drone-hit North Waziristan, a safe haven for Taliban and Haqqani Network commanders, to Kotkai - a small village at the edge of South Waziristan.
Kotkai is the birthplace of Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud but, after a military offensive there a few years ago, has since been restructured as a heavily secured “model village”.
“One wonders about the very rationale behind this peace march,” wrote local television anchor and columnist Saleem Safi this week.
"If it is being done to register protest against drone strikes, in the last seven years there were a total of 223 attacks in North Waziristan, while South Waziristan was targeted 76 times.
“And if the idea is to protest effectively against drone attacks, why risk the lives of a party leader and his supporters while making things even more difficult for the already overburdened security forces in the area?”
Prominent journalist, commentator and editor Najam Seddhi says Khan clearly believes there are votes in this weekend’s agitation, even though the presence of foreign women from the US Code Pink anti-war movement has alienated factions within his own party.
“If on the one hand this is seen as defying the army, then it will put paid to his critics who say he’s too close to the military. If it goes off well, it will endear to him to those electorates (in FATA and neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkwa),” says Seddhi.
Yet the need to recapture a slipping vote bank is forcing Khan into a dangerous gamble.
“(Khan) was banking on an early election by October or November and has to do something to keep the attention of people,” Seddhi adds.
“If there is an attack or mishap anywhere along the line, then I suspect the media will go after him for jeopardising the lives of people.”
Medea Benjamin, one of 32 Code Pink activists in Pakistan this weekend to meet drone victims and join the march, says her group has been warned by US diplomats not to join the march because of a credible threat of attack.
None has been dissuaded.
“We sincerely believe nothing is going to happen in terms of violence,” Ms Benjamin told The Weekend Australian.
“If something did happen, I think the consequences would be a lot of people would start learning about, and asking about why we were here and what we were doing.”
Of that, there is no doubt.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Has anyone ever seen Saleem Safi positive about anything under the sun? I did not. Saleem Safi and Sana Bucha are beyond my comprehension.
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Pakistani Taliban TTP warns Imran Khan ahead of drones march | World news | guardian.co.uk
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Does it mean the TTP isn’t interested in stopping the drones?
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
Does it mean the TTP isn't interested in stopping the drones?
Who knows, the drones gives them a reason for survival...besides their main reason is punishing the tribals, so what difference would it make to them if that is done through their terrorism, drones or military operations
Re: Peace overture: PTI caravan for Waziristan
I have a question.
God forbid, if something should happen to IK, what do you see the future of Pakistan ?
Are there other like-minded people who could carry his legacy forward or
will this movement for change and a better Pakistan die with one man. :(