Funding for this new force is mainly from religious supporters in the tribal areas, the Persian Gulf, {opium trade [Insert Increased Heroin Flows from Afghanistan]}, smuggling, kidnapping, and extortion. The training facilities "are still operating in Waziristan, both north and south, and other parts of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and Baluchistan" say foreign diplomats and accused the "Pakistani passivity" in breaking up the terror networks and some reports say that sleeper Taliban sells "had infiltrated into every Afghan city."
Apparently, Pakistani, Afghan, American, and NATO officials are at a loss at what can be done "to bring the region under control." Pakistan's answer was the September accord in North Waziristan which even government officials privately admit that "they have made a serious mistake in allowing the militants so much leeway." Former FATA Secretary Brig. Mahmood Shah was quoted saying that the deal was "not good" as it had "too many concessions" with no "binding" clauses and is now "working against the government interest."
"Benefiting from the truce with the Pakistani military," which has "taken down checkpoints, released detainees, returned confiscated weapons and vehicles and issued an amnesty," the Taliban has "increased their activities." Shah says that since the truce, the terrorists have "imposed a new elite in Waziristan " by killing "More than 200 tribal chiefs" with impunity.
Publicly, Pakistan continues to defend this treaty and says it will adopt similar measures in other areas such as Baloachistan.
However, the truth is that while there is a running
civil war in Baloachistan, Pakistan does not even "pretend" to control Southern Waziristan as its authority does not run beyond its "compounds" (Pakistan signed a similar deal with the South in 2004). With the deal in place, the fundamental influence is now spreading "on private radio stations, widening network of religious schools and distribution of CDs and DVDs." Pakistani newspapers have reported "incidents of music and barber shops being closed, television sets burned and girls' schools threatened." At the same time, since the militants are "more powerful than the military and the local tribal police," the government turns a blind eye to killings, providing sanctuary to criminals and fugitives, kidnappings, robberies, and rape. Even though the "overriding" factor for local support for the Taliban is "fear," they enjoy sympathy because they are men "from their own tribe" who have been alienated from the government by harsh and "failed government military campaigns" viewed as "dictated by the United States."
This increased Taliban activity has prompted Karzai to summarize that "the whole region will run into hell" if Afghanistan is not "fixed" to "be peaceful" and blames the failure to make this happen on Pakistan and specially asked NATO to recognize this nuance. Karzai repeated his accusation that elements of the Pakistani government of continuing to support Islamic militants and he says that the fight in Afghanistan is "the symptoms of terrorism" and not "the roots of it" which he says is in Pakistan. This vindicates the long standing Indian argument that "the epicenter of terrorism is in Pakistan." Taliban militants have increasingly targeted government officials and since September have killed one provincial governor, narrowly missed another, and killed several district-level police, intelligence and administrative chiefs. Reacting angrily at these attacks aimed at weakening the government, Karzai says that "The problem is not Taliban" but "The problem is with Pakistan."
Despite sustained Pakistani denials of sponsoring terrorism targeted at Afghanistan and India, evidence is mounting. The International Crisis Group, like the NYT report, blames Musharraf's 2004 South Waziristan and September 2006 accord with North Waziristan. The group says that these accords were created after Musharraf's government tried "brute force" and "appeasement" tactics failed and "emboldened the pro-Taliban militants." The accords are an act of supplication facilitating "the growth of militancy and attacks in Afghanistan by giving pro-Taliban elements a free hand to recruit, train and arm." US State Department spokesperson agreed saying that "safe havens and areas where these extremists can operate" is "a real concern" for the US government. But the question is what it is doing about it.
The US views Pakistan as a frontline anti-terror ally and has publicly praised it for deploying 90,000 troops on the Afghan border. Bush says the personal militant attacks on Musharraf and his continued operations against the al Qaeda is proof of his good intention.
