On March 17, 2011, a day after CIA contractor Raymond Davis was released by a Pakistani court under a blood-money deal, U.S. drones fired four missiles in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, a Taliban and Al-Qaeda sanctuary. At least 38 people, including civilians and policemen, were killed in the attacks.[1] Davis's release came as anti-U.S. protests were at their peak in Pakistan, threatening to further seriously damage Pakistan-U.S. relations. The drone attacks further ignited the anti-U.S. sentiments in Pakistan.
Following the drone attacks, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a key commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP or the Movement of Pakistani Taliban), threatened to break a peace accord agreed to with the Pakistani military since 2008. The tribesmen belonging to the affected area held a press conference in Peshawar, allegedly at the behest of Pakistani officials, and vowed to wage jihad against the U.S. if the drone attacks did not stop.[2] In an unprecedented step, Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani also formally criticized the U.S. drone attacks, while in protest Pakistan pulled out of the tripartite talks involving the U.S. and Afghanistan in Kabul.
A few days later, the Urdu-language daily Roznama Ummat interviewed former Pakistani military officer Brigadier (retired) Mahmood Shah, who has served as secretary of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATAs) of Pakistan. He has also served as chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In addition to serving in senior positions in the Pakistani military and government, Brigadier Shah is also a well-known columnist and commentator on political and security issues in Pakistan. In the interview, the former Pakistani officer urged the Pakistani establishment to give a clear message to the tribesmen to that they have a right to avenge the U.S. drone attacks.
Following are excerpts from the interview:[3]
''The Time has Come Now to Reconsider All Accords with the U.S., and … It Must Also be Taken into Account Whether or not to Continue to Uphold Them''
Question: ''After the drone attack in Datta Khel, Hafiz Gul Bahadur has warned that he would break the peace accord if the drone attacks are not stopped. What information do you have in this regard?''
Brigadier (retired) Mahmood Shah: ''This issue is linked to the Raymond Davis case; and both the U.S. and Pakistani governments had an understanding in this regard and that is why the ruling political parties (especially those who are in the parliament) were taken into confidence. Both the federal and the Punjab governments were aware in this regard. The government tried to resolve this difficult issue but the way the U.S. responded to their actions [by immediately launching the drone attacks in Datta Khel] brought embarrassment to the government instead. The U.S. did not take the path of goodwill in this regard; whereas the [Pakistani] government released Raymond Davis, earning the annoyance of its people while the moderate section of the people held the view that there was no need to show so much passion on this issue.
''It is very possible that there might have been some agreement between the government of Pakistan and the U.S. which could be good for the country. But when there was no lessening in the drone attacks even after the release of Raymond Davis, the government was taken aback; and afterwards the military leadership [i.e. General Kayani] strongly condemned them [i.e. the drone attack], and said some meaningful sentences also.
''The time has come now to reconsider all accords with the U.S., and … it must also be taken into account whether or not to continue to uphold them. The government should consider these accords [with the U.S.] in a pragmatic way as to what extent are these accords beneficial for Pakistan. It should also be contemplated whether we want to remain the frontline ally of the U.S. because the [Pakistani] government released Raymond Davis, [thereby] putting itself in danger, but the U.S. retaliated against it with aggression and extreme arrogance. The U.S. poured scorn by carrying out the drone attack. Now Pakistan has to take all the options to stop the drone attacks. The U.S. has forced Pakistan to this level that now Pakistan is faced to stop these attacks on its own.''
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''Instead of Making the Tribes Declare Jihad, the Situation would Turn in Favor of Pakistan If the Government Announces that These Tribesmen have Full Rights to Take Revenge''
Question: ''Has the government made the tribesmen declare jihad to stop these attacks?''
Brigadier (retired) Mahmood Shah: ''Instead of making the tribes declare jihad, the situation would turn in favor of Pakistan if the government announces that these tribesmen have full rights to take revenge. Now with the announcement of jihad by these tribesmen, some of the Taliban might join hands with them and the whole issue might go into the hands of these tribes, creating problem for the government. This is a very delicate situation.
''The government should use this opportunity in its favor and should consider its options. It should break its tripartite treaty with the U.S. [and Afghanistan] and recall its ambassador from Afghanistan. At present the government has taken a step in this direction by not participating in the tripartite conference in Afghanistan but it should consider more such steps. It is an opportunity to get out of the U.S. net because America has done much oppression. Presently, Pakistan has a golden opportunity to do so.
''The situation in the tribal areas could change; the course of movement there could be changed. If Pakistan gets out of this tripartite alliance, there would be peace in the tribal areas. If the U.S. viewpoint is that it can advance up to North Waziristan in its defense, then the [Pakistani] government should announce that these tribesmen have a right to defend themselves and take revenge from the U.S.''
''This is a War and It Should be Accepted as a War; In Wars the Other Party has Also the Right to… Retaliate''
Question: ''It is said about the tribal elders who held the press conference in Peshawar [declaring jihad against the U.S.] that they are people who cannot even go to Waziristan.''
Brigadier (retired) Mahmood Shah: ''In fact, this was a message that was given to the people present over there. They will understand it. But, I want to say that now the government should give a clear message to them. We should keep these issues to us rather than let them go in the interest of the Taliban.
''This is a war and it should be accepted as a war. Because, in wars the other party has also the right to take to those recourses which one party has taken, and retaliate. Now, the time has come that we come out of this war against terror and tell the U.S. to close its network from here. The army chief [General Kayani] has given a strong message. The Foreign Office summoned the U.S. ambassador [Cameron Munter to protest the drone attacks, following which] he went to Washington. It seems that a strong message has been communicated.''
Question: ''But the message has been given by the military leadership; and why is our government's stand not tough in this regard?"
Brigadier (retired) Mahmood Shah: ''It is a fact that everybody should look united. But call it bad luck or good luck that the military is the only organized institution which is free from political pressure. Now, the judiciary is also trying to free itself from political pressure. Similarly, if the parliament also takes independent decisions, then there would be no scope for other institutions to take decisions and then a kind of balance automatically would be established.
''The U.S. military is more powerful than us but their political institutions are more powerful than their military; that is why their military comes under their political institutions. In our country, the weakness of our national leadership is wide open before us all. They lack the capability of preparing any national policy. They are deprived of the capability of taking steps and making decisions.''
