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Pakistan. All eyes on Tribal Areas. Speculations
abound: Osama is under arrest. Rumours going around: Al-Zawahri
is to be arrested soon. These rumours going around Pakistan
have been echoed by world press as well. Speculations are not
baseless. General Musharraf, the self appointed military president
of Pakistan, spin the rumours on March 18 in an interview with
CNN. Musharraf told CNN: “We feel that there may be a high-value
target. I can’t say who.” Asked whether there was heavy fighting,
President Musharraf said, “Yes, the resistance that is being
put up by the people there has made us feel that there may be
a high-value target. I can’t say who.” He is right while talking
about the resistence.
Pakistan military is using gunship helicopters.
A reporter, according to Daily Times Lahore, claims to have
seen 15 helicopters in the area. Brig (r) Shah said, “Paramilitary
troops backed by the army and attack helicopters are taking
part in the operation. We are using heavy weapons because they
are also using heavy weapons against our forces,” he said. However,
he said the use of warplanes could not be ruled out if the situation
warranted. The resistence to protect 'high value target' turned
serious on March 16 when a shoot out between Pakistani troops
and so-called Al Qaida members left 39 dead. Repotedly, 12 Pakistani
troops while 27 Al-Qaida members were killed in the shootout.
By the time, this report is filed more reports of casulities
are pouring in. Musharraf claims that there are possibly 600
Al Qaida members hiding in Tribal Areas.
The region called Tribal Areas, is administrated
by Pakistan. But in many ways, Tribal Areas have kind of autonomous
status, since British Days. This region is a kind of buffer
zone between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Wana, a small town in
Tribal Areas, is the battle ground for current fights between
Pakistan military and Al-Qaida fighters. Musharraf revealed
the big presence of Al Qaida members in Tribal Areas for the
first time while addressing a gathering on March 15. Few days
before his interview with CNN. At the same function, he also
publicaly accused for the first time, Al-Qaida for carrying
out suicide attacks against him on Dec24 last year. It was a
Libyan Al-Qaida member, he said who had masterminded the attacks.
The presence of US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Pakistan
capital Islamabad, while Musharraf was announcing the encirclement
of a 'high value target' further strengthens the speculations.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell during a one-day visit to
Pakistan capital announced that the United States would designate
Pakistan a “major non-NATO ally” status. But it is not yet clear
who this 'high value ' person is.
According to CNN coresspondent, Brown and his
sources, which include Pakistani intelligence, it is believed
that al Zawahri was among 200 well-equipped Al Qaeda fighters
cornered near the Afghan border. Most of teh Pakistani newspapers
are pointing out Al-Zawahri as the 'high value' person. Osama
cannot be ruled out either. RUMOURS STARTED END-FEB: The rumour-mills
were set in motion by Iran Radio by end Feb. On Feb 27, Iran
Radio in its Pashto service, aimed at Pashto speaking Pakistan
region and Afghanistan, claimed that Osama bin Laden has been
arrested. Next day, both Pakistan and United States were quick
to deny the reports. Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency's Pashtun
language services had reported that Osama was arrested in Pakistan's
tribal regions. The report, which could not be independently
verified, said the alleged arrest took place "some time ago"
but gave no further details. Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid
Mehmud Kasuri told reporters next day at a press conference
that he could not confirm reports carried by "international
media" that Osama had been arrested in Pakistan. Same day, in
Washington, a senior US defence official denied the report,
telling Reuters it was "another piece of stray voltage that's
passing around outthere."
According to AFP, the Iranian correspondent
responsible for the report told Reuters that the radio had also
reported Osama's capture a year ago. But said a new source had
told him on Friday the Al Qaeda leader had been seized "a long
time ago". Following these denials, very next day on Feb 29,
US media reported that Osama Bin Laden crossed into Pakistan
on Feb 27 and is closely guarded by Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters
disguised as a Pakistani tribesman. The reports said Bin Laden
"is currently hiding" in a remote area in South Waziristan near
the Afghan border. Wana is located in Waziristan. DIRTY DEAL:
Robert Fisk while addressing a seminar here in Stockholm last
year had remarked in a light vein that Osama would be arrested
before US elections in November 2004. It seems what he said
was taken seriously by Texas (cow)boy. US administration is
well aware that no one knows about Al-Qaida network in Afghanistan
better than Pakistan military. It will be perhaps not possible
to arrest Osama without a helping hand lent by Musharraf. It
was perhaps in this background that few weeks ago when Nuclear
scandal hit Pakistan, USA was keeping a mum. Also, USA needs
Pakistan troops to engage them in countries where is it falling
short of troops. Musharraf on the other hand, is now clearly
faced with life or death situation with regard to fundamentalists.
At the time, he came to power, and particularly after S11, he
was trying to please US administration by taking some cosmetic
steps against fundamentalsits. However, his support for fundamentalists
remained intact. It could not go on any more in changed world
situation where imperialism and funmentalists, two old buddies,
are realy in contardiction.
Following suicide attacks on his life, Musharraf
was faced with a situation where he should eliminate 'frenkenstien'
created by Pakistan military in colaboration with CIA, or get
eliminated by the frenkenstien. Also, the economy is doing bad.
The Pakistan economy has always been dependent upon foreign
aid. Following the end of Afghan war, particularly with the
collapse of former Soviet Union, Pakistan lost its strategic
importance for US imperialism. A country that used to get most
US aid after Israel in 1980s was now facing US sanctions on
running its nuclear programme. But Afghanistan perhaps is the
trump card that never fails military generals in Pakistan. Military
dictator General Zia would not have prolonged his tyrnical rule
for 11 years had Afghan war not started in 1979. Again, September
11 provided military generals in Pkaistan to prolong their unpopular
rule in Pkaistan. September 11would never have been celebrated
so enthusiasticaaly as at GHQ ( military headquarters). US now
needed the services of Pakistani generals in Afghanistan to
get rid of Taliban. They are always happy to offer services.
New York Magazine lifts the veil. It carried a report by end-February:
'The United States has struck a deal with Pakistan to allow
US troops to hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden this spring
in an area of Pakistan where he is believed to be operating'
Thousands of US troops will be deployed in a tribal area of
northwest Pakistan in return for Washington's support of President
Pervez Musharraf's pardon of the Pakistani scientist who this
month admitted leaking nuclear arms secrets to Iran, Libya and
North Korea. "It's a quid pro quo," according to a former senior
intelligence official. "We're going to get our troops inside
Pakistan in return for not forcing Musharraf to deal with Khan."
Musharraf has also offered other help in the hunt for Osama,
accused of masterminding the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United
States, according to the article. "Musharraf told us, 'We've
got guys inside. The people who provide fresh fruits and vegetables
and herd the goats' for Osama and his Al Qaeda followers," the
intelligence official added.
Both USA and Pakistan have recently denied presenvce
of US forces in Pkaistan. But the major non-NATO status being
awarded to Pkaistan is not offered for nothing. In teh words
of Traiq Ali,'imperialism always acts in its own interest'.
As a major non -NATO ally, Pakistan will join an elite group
of nations, including Japan, Australia, Israel, Egypt, Kuwait,
South Korea, Argentina, Thailand, New Zealand and the Philippines,
which are granted significant benefits in the area of foreign
aid and defence cooperation. Major non-NATO allies of the United
States are eligible for priority delivery of defence material
and the purchase, for instance, of depleted uranium anti-tank
rounds. They can stockpile US military hardware, participate
in defense research and development programmes, and benefit
from a US government loan guarantee programme, which backs up
loans issued by private banks to finance arms exports. The designation
would help Pakistan buy weapons and other security-related equipment
from US companies and help train defence personnel in the US.
Well, as a matter of fact, this new status will help Musharraf
strengthen his support base inside military.More military deals
will bring more kickbacks for some genrals. They will be able
to stash more money into overseas accounts. Most probably in
Switzerland. Masses will have to pay more tax for the arms to
be imported under new status.
The US is also extending $3 billion to Pakistan
in five years which will help the country in education, basic
healthcare and access to clean drinking water. They are also
providing $1.5 billion in debt relief.. IF OSAMA IS ARRESTED
A humourist put it this way: , As for what to do with Osama
bin Laden: Killing him will only create a martyr. Holding him
prisoner will inspire his comrades to take hostages to demand
his release. Therefore, I suggest we do neither. Let the Special
Forces, Seals or whatever covertly capture him, fly him to an
undisclosed hospital and have surgeons quickly perform a complete
sex change operation. Then we return her to Afghanistan to live
as a woman under the Taliban. It remains to besee if Osma's
arrrest or AlZawari's arrest will help boast Bush poplartity
before election.But it will cost Musharraf a lot. Musharraf
will expose himself to more suicide bombers. .He will be more
insecure. Already on March 18, threats have been passed by Al-Qaida.
Daily Dawn reports: A statement attributed to Al Qaeda has threatened
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries it described
as "America's lackeys", with attacks similar to those in Madrid
last week. The other countries named in the statement were Britain,
Japan, Italy and Australia, an Arab daily reported in its Thursday
edition. "To America's lackeys we say: a lackey of America has
destroyed his future by allying himself with the tyrant of the
century," said the text, signed by Abu Hafs al Masri/Al Qaeda
Brigades received by Al Qods Al Arabi newspaper.
"Learn your lesson, you lackeys of America,
the brigades of death are at your gates," it warned. "We will
strike you with an iron fist, at the appropriate place and time,"
said the statement, condemning "Arab and Muslim lackeys like
(President Pervez) Musharraf and the Al Saud" family, which
rules Saudi Arabia. His own house ,military that is to say,
is not in order. Tariq Ali puts the support for fundamentalists
inside military very high. He thinks fundamentalists enjoy the
support and sympthy of 33 per cent inside military. The Muslim
masses will feel annoyed and helpless. The helplessness will
generate desperation and perhaps may translate to desperate
actions expressing through acts of individual terrorism. In
Pakistan, the fundamentalists, at present are fats getting unpopular.
Their unholy alliance with Musharraf and their 'inactive' support
to launch military action in Tribal Areas has exposed their
hypocritical role. Some militant splits in the MMA (major fundamentalist
alliance currently running governmnets in two provinces) cannot
be ruled out. This will lay the new basis for acts of terrorism
in Pakistan. By the way; Osama is becoming more expensive meantime.
According to a March 19 AFP report: The House of Representatives
voted unanimously on Thursday to double the reward for Osama
Bin Laden’s capture to $50 million.
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