Incumbent prime minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the turmoil and war-ravaged tribal area of Waziristan on 21 April along with civil and military key personnel. Where the Commander of the Peshwar Corps Faiz Hameed briefed the Premier about development projects and oppression against terrorists in Waziristan. Prime Minister also announced educational and health mega projects for the oppressed area. The tour of the newly elected primer is a positive step toward rebuilding the peace process and development projects, the most important is restoring the trust of the Waziristan people. In the so-called war on terror, the most unfortunate and bereaved families who bore the brunt of war are from Waziristan.
From the beginning, Waziristan was being ignored by the federal governments and state. Which kept the region underdeveloped and the most impoverished area of the country. But during the war on terror, the existing infrastructure of the region deteriorated and people faced unending oppression. And Waziristan became a sandwich between terrorists and the military. Almost every family in this awful area lost their beloved in an unwanted war. The tyranny and terror endured by the people of this area are unprecedented. They survived landmines, suicide attacks, rockets, and every kind of coercion that fall on this area.
Even though business, education, and health facilities have taken off. According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bureau, less than 33% population of the erstwhile federally administered area, FATA’s people can read and write. Poverty, unemployment, and insecurity of lives and property are high. People are paying debts and expenses which were not obligatory to them.
After the withdrawal of NATO forces, this area is still facing terrorism. And many are being martyred. This terrorism is the result of some person’s unilateral and vested interest on state-level which pushes the area into war. In the past drone attacks on innocent civilians played the role of catalyst for terrorism. According to the Bureau of Investigating Journalism, based in the UK, in the alone first five years of the Obama presidency American drones killed more than 900 Pakistani civilians, including up to 200 children, and they were the majority of the Waziristan people.
Now, the time has come to heal the thick wounds of the Waziristan residents. The majority of the Waziristan area authorizes the lawmakers Mohsin Dawar, Ali Wazir, and PTM, Pashtun Thafaz Movement founder Manzoor Pashteen. Those persons are the real representatives of the underprivileged and downtrodden Waziristan public who demands their rights in the constitution ambit. But unfortunately, some factions labeled above mention personnel as traitors and RAW agents. Such suspicious allegations put oil on the fire and aggravate the anger of the masses who already facing coercion. If those sections have proof of foreign agencies’ funding to PTM, they should bring those evidence to the courts. Otherwise, State institutions must listen to the demands of those persons. They demand of removal of landmines that incurred a massive blow to the resident of that area. PTM wants the release of missing persons and also it demands a high scale investigation of the extrajudicial killings of persons. And they urge the security of individuals, their property, and their businesses.
No doubt Pakistan has given unparalleled sacrifices against the war on terrorism. Many of those sacrifices have been made in Waziristan. Where the Pakistan Taliban a militant group wants sharia-imposing independence. Which is illegal and against the integrity, sovereignty, and autonomy of Pakistan. No state in the world tolerates actions against itself. The military of Pakistan is striving to wipe out all militant groups from the region. Which is a natural aspect. But dropping all the burden of an unpopular militant group on innocent people is illogical and unfair.
Two years back I was traveling from Faisalabad to my hometown Bhakkar. A teenage student of madrassah was sitting beside me. We started a discussion about Waziristan and the fate of the area. His eyes filled with tears, and his voice started to scramble. His family members lost their lives during detested war on terror. But he was still confident about Pakistan. However, he was demanding equal rights. As I have friends from Waziristan. They all have reservations with the state but they yearn for this country.
So, the majority of people support Pakistan, but they want equality and equity.
Now some practical measures are required to alleviate poverty, and unemployment and mitigate the adverse impact of the so-called war on terror on livelihoods. The government should prepare a comprehensive strategy to overcome the reservations of the resident of Waziristan. And more inclusive development approach is needed to benefit the public through different help programs like the Benazir income support program. Such initiatives would not only reduce poverty but also lessen the conflict.
Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif recently honeyed word promises about the establishment of a Danish school system, a university, and a mobile hospital must be fulfilled which is a necessity of time. At the military level, unnecessary check posts must be abolished and people must be treated with respect at different check posts. The empowerment of war-ravaged areas will strengthen the country’s security and bring prosperity. For a unified, strong, and invincible Pakistan, a holistic peace approach is inevitable. Peace restoration and political reconciliation are impossible in Waziristan without the engagement of local tribes, this is only apparent when people will feel secure and prosperous. Otherwise, Pakistan will remain a dangerously fragile state and vulnerable to extremism and terrorism.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Asian Mirror’s editorial stance.
