The Waziristan Accord was a key agreement between the government of Pakistan and tribal factions in the northern part of Pakistan. Pakistani troops and tribal leaders from the north, including Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, were involved in a bitter conflict. On September 5, 2006, this accord was signed and witnessed, which led to an end to the fighting and sectarian attacks along the border.
Specifically, some key elements and guarantees that the Waziristan Accord provides:
- The release of over a thousand captured Taliban and Waziristan fighters from Pakistan
- Pakistan will cease all air and ground attacks against Waziristan
- Borders and checkpoints will be patrolled specifically by tribal soldiers
- Waziristan will be named “The Islamic Emirate of Waziristan”
- There will be no crossing borders between Waziristan, Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Heavy artillery and weapons larger than handguns will no longer be carried by tribal factions
- Pakistan will pay compensatory damage and loss of soldiers to Waziristan
But that is not all this accord could possibly provide. It’s a hunch of mine. Maybe I am wrong, but it could provide a benefit to the United States of America.
It doesn’t sound to me that Pakistan got anything out of this ‘deal’, but it does lead me to wonder why this accord came about. There is criticism against Pakistan over this treaty, because it signifies, in a sense, that Pakistan has created a deal with the Taliban, who are prevalent in Waziristan like roaches on a plate of stale cookies.
And, it made me think about bin Laden, and how he is holed up in Waziristan, under protection, perhaps even made safer by this accord, but it made me think again.
This treaty actually could help US forces immeasurably by opening the gate for them to enter Waziristan, without resistance from Pakistan, to nab bin Laden and hopefully capture him alive. Previously, no US forces were allowed in that region. They couldn’t go any further than the Afghan border with the same region of Waziristan, which technically up until September 5th, was sovereign territory of Pakistan. Now that this binding agreement exists between Waziristan and Pakistan, it doesn’t seem that there is anything in writing that prevents the US from coming in to grab bin Laden.
Go read the whole thing.
3 comments:
Beanzir spoke about this last night during her lecture. She is adamantly against the accord (she specified one key factor) - the release of over a thousand Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists. She added that this can only mean more terrorist attacks on a global scale. Not good.
Hi Steve,
Who is Beanzir?
I wondered if Musharaf was paving the way for our troops to enter Pakistan. He's having trouble in the ranks of the ISI and military.
Oh, I expect a Coalition incursion would be met with a formal protest on his part. Internal politics might require such gestures.
The regrouping of the Taliban & Al Qaeda in Pakistan has to be dealt with. We just can't fight alone the long Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Of course, it will be interesting to see what the left will do. They’ve been calling our Afghanistan campaign the “good war” and complained that we didn’t finish it. With all those calls of “why don’t you go after bin Laden” will they cheer? Don't hold your breath. But it could split the left.
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