Opinion Printline Pakistan
The fates of brothers,Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud two of the most dreaded terrorists of the country seem to be united in life and death as well.
Toofani takeover?
The fates of brothers,Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud two of the most dreaded terrorists of the country seem to be united in life and death as well. The former,then Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief,died a much argued death last year in a counter-insurgency operation. Hakimullah,his successor,died a similarly controversial death. The only diversion from this sordid tale is who the TTPs new flagbearer will be. Daily Times reported on February 1: The state-owned TV channel,PTV,on Sunday reported TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud died a few days ago,while some private channels also claimed he was buried in Orakzai Agency three days back. Sources said a doctor had been kidnapped from Hangu for providing treatment to the TTP chief,believed to have been injured in a US drone strike on January 14… Oddly enough,the government didnt confirm this as another report added: Interior Minister Rehman Malik told a private television channel the government was trying to verify the report… A tribal elder,speaking on condition of anonymity,said he attended Mehsuds funeral in Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday. The News added: The Taliban again denied reports and insisted Hakimullah was alive. TTP spokesman Azam Tariq told reporters from an undisclosed location on Sunday this was part of the propaganda against the Taliban. The News added on February 2: As reports of Hakimullah Mehsuds death continued to circulate despite denials by TTP,reports from Orakzai Agency said a local Taliban commander Malik Noor Jamal alias Maulana Toofan was officiating as the acting head of the banned organisation.
Paradigm shift
Signaling what could be a shift in Pakistans military policy towards Afghanistan,Pakistans army chief Ashfaq Kayani was reported on February 2 by Daily Times: Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani has denied Pakistan wants a Talibanised Afghanistan,and said his country has no interest in controlling Afghanistan. We cant wish for anything for Afghanistan that we dont wish for ourselves, Kayani was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency on his return from Brussels in a rare address to foreign journalists much of which was devoted to Afghanistan. The undercurrents of this address surfaced in Dawns February 2 editorial: Kayani warned that an environment hostile to Pakistan could strain its battle against militancy and extremism. Translation: address our concerns regarding India,or else dont expect us to cooperate as vigorously in the war against militancy… The army chiefs statement comes against the backdrop of calls from Washington and other western capitals for the Pakistan Army to move against militant bastions in North Waziristan. This is where the US and its allies believe the Haqqani network and al Qaeda have their main bases. However,Pakistans military appears to be saying that such action is unlikely unless some of its concerns are addressed. The News added: Strategic depth does not imply controlling Afghanistan If Afghanistan is peaceful,stable and friendly we have our strategic depth because our western border is secure Youre not looking both ways.
Insecure Karachi
Pakistans financial capital has been hostage to a turf war between rival political parties PPP,MQM,ANP in the wake of an announcement that local government elections would be held in Sindh within four months. Sindhs home minister had no choice but to warn of an army takeover of the city to restore law and order. Daily Times reported on February 4: As violence continued for the sixth day,the Sindh government decided to hand over security control of the city to the Rangers Apparently,Rehman Malik gets the kudos for containing the crisis,as The News added: The effort by Malik,who was reportedly specially asked by PM Yousuf Raza Gilani to travel to Karachi to defuse the heated situation in Sindh between the coalition partners,appeared to have come to naught before midnight
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