[Peace-discuss] Karzai approaches "Diem moment"?

[C. G. Estabrook]

http://news.antiwar.com/

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At Least 31 Killed as US Drones Attack Kurram

February 16th, 2009

Three US Predator drones attacked a building in the Kurram Agency of Pakistan’s 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) today, killing at least 31 people. 
The site was reportedly being used by the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the 
militant faction with whom the Pakistani government has recently been coming to 
terms in the Swat Valley. A commander named Bahram Khan Kochi was reportedly 
killed in the strike.

This is the second major US air strike against Pakistani targets in the past 
three days, and the fourth since President Obama took office. It is also the 
first strike in Kurram: so far the attacks have centered almost exclusively 
around neighboring North and South Waziristan.

The Pakistani government has not yet commented on the latest attack, but Foreign 
Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi denied claims made by Senator Feinstein 
last week that the US drones were using Pakistani bases for the attacks. Qureshi 
also denied that any understanding exists regarding the repeated US attacks.

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Karzai Expected “Better Judgment” From Obama

February 15th, 2009

In an interview with Fareed Zakaria aired on CNN today, Afghan President Hamid 
Karzai lashed out at his critics in the US and Britain, saying he had expected 
“better judgment” from the Obama Administration and expressing hope that “as 
they settle down, and as they learn more, we’ll see better judgment.”

Karzai accused the US and British media of conducting a campaign of 
disinformation against his government to punish him for criticism of American 
policies, saying serious charges of corruption against his government or his 
family emerge “whenever there is a disagreement.” Though declaring “I don’t like 
to call it propaganda,” Karzai made it clear he feels that articles like last 
week’s New York Times article Leader of Afghanistan Finds Himself Hero No More 
were part of a deliberate campaign against him, adding “I know the reason.”

The Afghan president conceded that corruption was a serious issue in his 
government, though only “as much as any other third world country.” He pointed 
to the 30 years of nearly constant war in Afghanistan as a primary reason, and 
conceded that US forces “will not be able to leave soon.”

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Pakistani Govt Makes Deal With Islamic Militants

February 15th, 2009

As President Asif Ali Zardari warned CBS that the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) were trying to take over Pakistan, his government was putting the 
finishing touches on a deal that may end the ongoing fight in the Swat Valley, 
and will also place the NWFP division of Malakand under Islamic law.

Pakistani forces have been engaged in military operations in the Swat Valley 
since 2007, killing large numbers of civilians and displacing hundreds of 
thousands. The operations did little to return the region to government control, 
and many local officials had been pressing for a settlement. That settlement is 
expected to be announced as soon as Monday.

The TTP freed a Chinese hostage as a sign of good will, and has announced a 
10-day ceasefire pending the formal announcement of the deal. President Zardari 
has ordered compensation be paid to all those affected by the NWFP violence.

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Pakistan Truce Includes Enforcement of Islamic Law

February 15th, 2009

As part of a ceasefire deal negotiated between the government and the Tehreek-e 
Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Swat Valley, Pakistani officials say that sharia will 
be imposed in Malakand, which constitutes a large portion of the nation’s 
Northwest Frontier Province.

The deal is expected to be formally announced sometime tomorrow, but provincial 
officials say they have already been in talks with the TTP on ways to enforce 
their particularly harsh form of religious law on the populace at large. The 
move comes as the All Parties Conference in the division officially demanded 
that the government impose sharia on all of Malakand. Thousands of Malakand 
civilians rallied, blocking the primary road through Malakand and demanding 
sharia as well.

While the move seems to have been embraced by many of the tribes in the area, it 
has sparked serious concerns in the rest of the nation about the government’s 
ability to tackle the growing influence of the TTP. One policy analyst referred 
to it as “definitely a surrender,” while retired judge Javed Iqbal warned that 
it would lead to the disintegration of the country.

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US Drone Strike Kills At Least 30 in South Waziristan

February 14th, 2009

A US drone launched two missiles at a large house in South Waziristan this 
morning, killing at least 30 and wounding seven others. A Pakistani intelligence 
official is quoted as saying more people are believed to be buried under the rubble.

At least 50 people were in the house at the time of the attacks, mostly Uzbeks 
and Arabs believed to be fighters for the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The compound 
reportedly was frequented by Baitullah Mehsud, a top Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) leader, though he does not appear to have been present during the attack.

The timing of the attack sends a clear message to the Pakistani government, 
which had been hoping yesterday that President Obama would reveal his “new 
strategy” with respect to the drones soon.

The large death toll will likely also bring uncomfortable attention to the 
comments by Senator Dianne Feinstein, who claimed that the drones were being 
“flown out of a Pakistani base”. With the Pakistani government officially 
complaining about the attacks amid public outrage, such a revelation would 
likely further destabilize an already floundering Pakistani government.

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