Pakistan - Taliban makes a comeback in South Waziristan

A Taliban faction has made a comeback to Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal region, imposing a ban on cultural and social activities and restricting the movement of women outside their homes without male members of their family, a local daily reported on Wednesday.



Following the 2009 military operation against Mullah Fazlullah-led Taliban in the northwestern Swat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (then known as North West Frontier Province), then Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had launched an offensive in South Waziristan and had cleared it from control of militants.



In recent days, according to Dawn, the Taliban imposed its strict version of Islam under the guise of peace committee in South Waziristan. The committee is headed by Salahuddin alias Ayubi, a successor of Mullah Muhammad Nazir, an influential Taliban leader who was killed along with his 10 associates in a US drone strike in the Birmil area of South Waziristan Agency in January 2013.

"The so-called peace committee has issued tough guidelines through pamphlets in Wana town and warned local people to abide by these rules otherwise violators would face repercussions," the report said, adding the committee has banned music, athan (a traditional dance performed in wedding ceremonies or other festive occasions), and use of narcotics.



The committee's guidelines stated that such activities, which promote immorality or violate Islamic teachings, would not be permitted in the region.

"The movement of women outside their homes has been restricted and they would not be allowed to visit markets and clinics or faith healers without adult male members of their families, including husbands and brothers," the pamphlets said.

Pakistani Taliban had first emerged in 2003 in the South Waziristan Agency, under the leadership of Nek Muhammad Wazir. Talibanisation had then spread to other tribal regions along the Durand Line that Kabul had always refused to recognize as a permanent border with Pakistan. The first US drone strike on Pakistani soil was carried out against Nek Muhammad and he was killed in it. After establishing their writ in tribal regions, the Taliban had moved to parts of adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Swat Dir, Buner and suburbs of Peshawar.

According to the pamphlets, residents are not allowed to stay outside their homes at public places after 10pm. "This step would prevent disturbance and noise in the area," it said.

A leaflet issued by the peace committee claimed that elders and Ulema (clerics) of Karikot, Ghwa Khwa, Shaheen Warsak, Doog, Dabb Koat, Zari Noor and Sherna had agreed to these steps.

A committee comprising elders and clerics has been set up to ensure implementation of the 'code of conduct' and to identify violators of the guidelines. A local cleric, identified as Ameer Ainullah, has been appointed head of the committee.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/taliban-makes-a-comeback-in-south-waziristan/articleshow/61662977.cms