03-31-2007, 12:26 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ââ¦<b>Forced expulsion of foreign militants will bring South Waziristan closer to civil warâ¦â </b>
â Maulana Mirajuddin, tribal MP from opposition
Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal
by TFT
<i>In an exclusive phone interview from Tank city after returning from Wana where he brokered a temporary ceasefire between supporters of Taliban ameer Maulvi Nazir and foreign militants, Mirajuddin, the tribal MP from MMA, gives The Friday Times his version of the battle in Wana. As will be clear from his answers, there is much dissembling even as the fighting in South Waziristan shows the presence of foreign militant elements. Excerpts</i>:
<b>The Friday Times: The government says once foreigners are out of Waziristan durable peace with local Taliban leaders is possible. Do you agree? </b>
Maulana Mirajuddin: Expelling foreigners would start a civil war, which will neither be in the interest of Waziristan nor of the country. We are laying the foundation of a mess that we will not be able to clear. Using force to expel foreigners will leave local tribes with rivalries and feuds and they will fight each other just as others are fighting against foreigners. Instead of relying purely on the use of force to dislodge the foreigners from the area, we should politely ask them to leave Waziristan voluntarily.
<b>But these people have ignored âpoliteâ calls in the past. Why would they leave now?</b>
There can be no peace in Pakistan and our tribal areas as long as the United States remains in Afghanistan. America is conspiring against our areas. There are conspiracies being hatched and are fully backed by America. Peace will not return to Waziristan as long as America is present in Afghanistan.
<b>Would you support call for shelter to Uzbeks in Mehsud areas of South Waziristan? </b>Maulvi Nazir says they can no longer stay in Wazir areas and should leaveâ¦
The Mehsud tribe excused itself when such calls were made in the past. I am not sure the tribesâ chieftains will agree to such a call if it is given again. In the present situation, I donât think Mehsud tribes can afford to offer the foreigners their areas.
<b>Which group do you think will win the battle â Maulvi Nazirâs or the foreigners? </b>
Both groups can emerge victorious if both sides agree to a solution under a tribal jirga. I think the present conflict is a loss to both sides.
<b>The government is playing a silent spectator in the whole issue. What do you think about that? </b>
The government stands by the majority and the majority of Ahmedzai Wazir tribes are standing by Maulvi Nazir. We see no signs to suspect that the government is backing the battle against the foreigners (Uzbeks).
<b>Do you know who Maulvi Nazir is and where heâs come from?</b>
Maulvi Nazir enjoys the support of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes. The majority of these tribes support him. This must mean the man is able and has some qualities. What he does not like is the presence of America just across his door. That is the key to his struggle. He does not want the foreigners to stay any longer in Waziristan and believes that their presence is a danger to tribal society.
<b>You always disputed the governmentâs claims about the presence of foreigners in Waziristan. Your party, JUI-F, never accepted this. The Maulvi Nazir-led uprising clearly proves the government right. Is there a policy change? </b>
I donât think I ever said there were no foreigners in Wazir areas. I may have said so about my area but there can also be one or two foreigners. You cannot rule anything out. Arenât there foreigners everywhere in Pakistan? Foreigners were spotted in Karachi and Faisalabad but we never used helicopter gunships against them there. Why are we using them against foreigners in Waziristan only?
<b>How many foreigners are still in the Wazir areas?</b>
If we go by the casualty figures provided by the government then not a single Uzbek should be left now. I donât think the number of foreigners who are still in the area is high
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
â Maulana Mirajuddin, tribal MP from opposition
Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal
by TFT
<i>In an exclusive phone interview from Tank city after returning from Wana where he brokered a temporary ceasefire between supporters of Taliban ameer Maulvi Nazir and foreign militants, Mirajuddin, the tribal MP from MMA, gives The Friday Times his version of the battle in Wana. As will be clear from his answers, there is much dissembling even as the fighting in South Waziristan shows the presence of foreign militant elements. Excerpts</i>:
<b>The Friday Times: The government says once foreigners are out of Waziristan durable peace with local Taliban leaders is possible. Do you agree? </b>
Maulana Mirajuddin: Expelling foreigners would start a civil war, which will neither be in the interest of Waziristan nor of the country. We are laying the foundation of a mess that we will not be able to clear. Using force to expel foreigners will leave local tribes with rivalries and feuds and they will fight each other just as others are fighting against foreigners. Instead of relying purely on the use of force to dislodge the foreigners from the area, we should politely ask them to leave Waziristan voluntarily.
<b>But these people have ignored âpoliteâ calls in the past. Why would they leave now?</b>
There can be no peace in Pakistan and our tribal areas as long as the United States remains in Afghanistan. America is conspiring against our areas. There are conspiracies being hatched and are fully backed by America. Peace will not return to Waziristan as long as America is present in Afghanistan.
<b>Would you support call for shelter to Uzbeks in Mehsud areas of South Waziristan? </b>Maulvi Nazir says they can no longer stay in Wazir areas and should leaveâ¦
The Mehsud tribe excused itself when such calls were made in the past. I am not sure the tribesâ chieftains will agree to such a call if it is given again. In the present situation, I donât think Mehsud tribes can afford to offer the foreigners their areas.
<b>Which group do you think will win the battle â Maulvi Nazirâs or the foreigners? </b>
Both groups can emerge victorious if both sides agree to a solution under a tribal jirga. I think the present conflict is a loss to both sides.
<b>The government is playing a silent spectator in the whole issue. What do you think about that? </b>
The government stands by the majority and the majority of Ahmedzai Wazir tribes are standing by Maulvi Nazir. We see no signs to suspect that the government is backing the battle against the foreigners (Uzbeks).
<b>Do you know who Maulvi Nazir is and where heâs come from?</b>
Maulvi Nazir enjoys the support of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribes. The majority of these tribes support him. This must mean the man is able and has some qualities. What he does not like is the presence of America just across his door. That is the key to his struggle. He does not want the foreigners to stay any longer in Waziristan and believes that their presence is a danger to tribal society.
<b>You always disputed the governmentâs claims about the presence of foreigners in Waziristan. Your party, JUI-F, never accepted this. The Maulvi Nazir-led uprising clearly proves the government right. Is there a policy change? </b>
I donât think I ever said there were no foreigners in Wazir areas. I may have said so about my area but there can also be one or two foreigners. You cannot rule anything out. Arenât there foreigners everywhere in Pakistan? Foreigners were spotted in Karachi and Faisalabad but we never used helicopter gunships against them there. Why are we using them against foreigners in Waziristan only?
<b>How many foreigners are still in the Wazir areas?</b>
If we go by the casualty figures provided by the government then not a single Uzbek should be left now. I donât think the number of foreigners who are still in the area is high
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->