Waziristan
Jirga: An Exercise In Futility?
This Article appeared in DAWN on August 19, 2007 TO say that the situation in Afghanistan is grave would be an understatement. Every passing day sees the US becoming mired ever deeper in Afghanistan à la Iraq, because of its faulty strategy. In its desperation, it is looking for supporting planks and is leaning more [...]
Gathering Storm On The Western Frontier
This Article appeared in DAWN on March 11, 2007. American intrusions into Pakistan from Afghanistan, which until now have been occasional, are about to become frequent territorial violations. These inroads, be they in the form of targeted missile/air strikes or “enter-operate-leave” incursions are a rapidly approaching reality. What this entails for Pakistan is worth some [...]
FATA’s The Present Imbroglio
The Bajaur incident will cast its shadow not only on the future of the Federal Administrated Tribal Area (FATA) but also on the politics of NWFP in particular and the rest of the country in general. The political price the Government will pay for this misadventure notwithstanding, its impact on the relationship and interaction of [...]
Asserting Control
This interview appeared in “The News” on August 6, 2006. In South Waziristan, due to the flawed strategy by the government in the last one and a half year, (local militants) have organised themselves into a Taliban-style system of governance. They have established a parallel sort of administration. By Raza Rahman Khan Brigadier (Retired) Mahmood [...]