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Waziristan peace deal raises concern in Kabul

* Deal with Taliban does not end fears of militants crossing into Afghanistan
* Misgivings on the deal even in Pakistan

KABUL: Pakistan’s peace deal with pro-Taliban tribes along the Afghan border in North Waziristan has raised concern with analysts in Afghanistan asking if the militants could be trusted to halt the cross-border movement of insurgents.

They also questioned the timing of the accord in North Waziristan on Tuesday, on the eve of a visit to Kabul by President Pervez Musharraf who said “the deal was an achievement”.

The deal aims to end two years of violence in the semi-autonomous tribal zone of North Waziristan.

Crucially for Afghanistan, the Taliban said militants would not be allowed to move across the border to carry out attacks. In turn, the government will drop check posts, consult locals before carrying out attacks and pay compensation for losses during the military operations.

The government has already released the 132 people it had arrested, and returned seized vehicles and weapons.

Soldiers will continue to operate in the area “against the terrorists”, including Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, said Pakistani Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal.

Musharraf insisted at a media briefing with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday the deal meant that there would be “no Taliban activity on our side of the border or across the border in Afghanistan”.

Karzai, desperate to end an increasingly deadly insurgency that many say is being fed by rebels trained in Pakistan, said “we will wait and see”.

Afghan analyst Waheed Mujda, however, said the deal was “absolutely not good for Afghanistan”. The Pakistani Army’s presence would be reduced, and there was no guarantee the tribal area would actually stop militants from crossing into Afghanistan to wage insurgency, he added.

“How will it work and who will monitor the implementation of all the terms?” Mujda questioned.

“Obviously it gives more sanctuary for the Taliban, who are coming to Afghanistan for attacks. Local militants have clearly said it can’t stop them fighting against foreign troops based in Afghanistan,” he said.

The key concern for Afghanistan was whether the agreement would lead to more insurgents crossing the long and porous border between the neighbours, a Western diplomat said.

“If this agreement makes it easier for insurgents to move into Afghanistan, that is obviously going to give us a problem,” the diplomat added. The White House said on Wednesday the deal “did not provide great concern”, but a director of the Asia programme at the Washington-based Centre for International Policy said the pact showed a conflict of interest between Pakistan and the US over the Taliban. The deal made it “very foolish to think we could make Pakistan an ally against the Taliban,” said Selig Harrison.

There are misgivings even in Pakistan. “On the face of it, the agreement can be seen as a breakthrough, but if one reads the finer print, it appears that the government has all but caved into the demands of the militants,” said a Pakistani newspaper.

There were also suggestions that forces in Afghanistan should consider a similar deal.

Beleaguered Karzai “has only one way to survive outside his capital: buying support from those who can repay with security,” said a British newspaper on Wednesday.

“In the south that is commanders in league with the Taliban, even if it means Mullah Omar returning to Kandahar,” the newspaper said.

The NATO-led force said it encouraged Taliban to join a reconciliation programme underway, but and International Security Force spokesman said the movement had nothing to offer to the people of Afghanistan. AFP

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