“The government’s short-sighted and half-baked measures exacerbated the situation. It waged an armed operation against the group but forged an alliance with the leadership. The head of TNSM, Maulana Sufi Muhammad, was captured by the army but was released without any charges. I do not understand the logic of a military operation that ends up with the signing of a peace deal and distribution of sweets,” the 26 year old said while mentioning the local practice of distributing sweets on the eve of a festive ceremony. “They sit side-by-side adorning each other with garlands while people mourn over their losses and bury their dead. Is this justice?”
According to a statement issued on May 3, 2001 by the NWFP provincial governor Owais Ghani, criminals and assorted illegal arms, timber, and drug mafias provided financial support to the TNSM and under their rule their activities flourished. TNSM strictly denies these allegations.
The Shariah movement returned to the political scene in the region with a vengeance soon after the 9/11 attacks in the USA. While U.S. President George W. Bush was envisioning plans to invade Afghanistan and topple the Taliban government in Kabul, the former mujahedeen in Pakistan were renewing their vows for a jihad and promising a new war against the USA along the same lines of struggle against the Soviet Union.
Soon after the US forces invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, TNSM was the first pro-Taliban group to send its forces to fight alongside the Taliban. Thousands of fighters crossed into Afghanistan along with their leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad. The TNSM fighters returned to their bases after the Taliban retreated from urban Afghanistan to their rural strongholds to initiate a guerrilla war against the occupying U.S. and NATO forces. Leaders of TNSM were arrested by Islamabad after their return in 2002 and imprisoned on charges of incitement of violence and violation of state laws. President General Pervez Musharraf outlawed the organisation in 2002.
“The cat and mouse game between TNSM and Pakistani military continued. The Pakistani government enjoyed the support of Washington while TNSM were bolstered by the inclusion of al-Qaeda elements in its ranks. The government signed a peace deal on one day and initiated an armed operation against the opposite side the very next day,” Naveed uttered angrily.
“Nothing changed on the ground except that the situation got out of control and the militants got bolder with their tactics. Pakistani military attacked militant positions on the ground. They also hit their hideouts from the air with the help of Cobra gunship helicopters given by the U.S.
“As if this was not enough to wreak havoc, the U.S. drones unleashed hell from the skies, killing hundreds of innocent civilians. Thousands of people have been caught in the crossfire with no place to run and nowhere to hide. I’ve seen the carnage myself. Was this all for peace?”
Stocky-built Naveed came to an abrupt halt. His voice was shaky and he didn’t want to continue anymore. Having lived for more than a year with him I never saw Naveed so silent before. The rage was in his voice but he silenced himself. The aggression was in his hands but he unclenched his fists and stood still.
As we were having this chat on a rainy spring evening, thousands of internally displaced refugees in Swat valley in northwest Pakistan were lying in the open without any shelter. There is an acute shortage of food in the refugee camps, I’m told. But one thing is very certain. There is no shortage of ammunition on either side in the conflict.
The radical Islamists impose their style of governance in the name of religion and carry out their harsh sentences against poor and powerless people. The Islamabad government with the aid of the U.S. government bombs and maims its own people by using tanks and fighter planes in a bid to please its master. And the poor and powerless people, suppressed by the militants and oppressed by the government, run to save their lives. Where is the democratic promise of liberty, fraternity, and equality? Why don’t I see the Islamic spirit of forgiveness, compassion, and justice? Perhaps, both the sides are only interested in furthering their agenda and exploiting their subjects in the name of their ideologies. Meanwhile, those caught in the middle are made to pay a high price; the conflict continues often at the cost of innocent lives.
I’ve been included in taxations for lengthier then I care to acknowledge, both on the private side (all my employed life history!!) and from a legal stand since satisfying the bar and following tax law. I’ve supplied a lot of advice and redressed a lot of wrongs, and I must say that what you’ve posted makes utter sense. Please continue the good work – the more people know the better they’ll be equipped to deal with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.