Kurram Agency is burning in fire?

Kurram Valley is burning in fire of factional fightings, hundreds have been killed and thousand wounded, damage to properties is worth in billion. Total toll is round 1300-1500, exact figures are not available due to lack of communication, remote areas and post injury unreported killings.

It is almost 19-20 months have passed but severity of matter is still there, circumstances are witness that it could further escalate and burn up in flames any time? There are certain elements who have their vested interest and fuelling the situation, tension is almost at same level which was noticed after Iranian revolution in the area, in those days a sectarian organization (TNFJ) was created funded by Iran, under leadership of Allama Arif Hussaini, who was assassinated and some intellectuals consider  it was flash point of restart of sectarian conflict, Gen Zia was blamed and Gen Fazal Haque was murdered in revenge, then a series of murders and bomb blasts started through country. Analysts have dissimilar point of view, to know back ground of conflict, some parts of two different point of view are being copied, for further details please see the original articles:

Point of view of Shia vigilante Najam Sethi's: He says in Daily Times that "One should also bear in mind that after Iran, Pakistan has the largest population of Shias in the world. And if our Northern Areas are ever given the status of a province it will be the country's first Shia-majority province. The trend to attack the Shia began in Parachinar in 1986, when the mujahideen felt hampered by the Turis while marching into Afghanistan to fight the Soviet forces. In 2001, the Parachinari community did not offer shelter to Al Qaeda and Taliban elements fleeing from Afghanistan. In fact, one tribe agreed to shelter the "Arab mujahideen" fleeing from Tora Bora while another betrayed them to the Pakistani authorities who brought them to a jail in Kohat where a gunfight killed 10 of them."

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\19\story_19-11-2007_pg3_1

(Note: Reason for Karakoram State or Agha Khan state was same as described by Shia Vigilante Najam Sethi, 100% tourists motels and sites have been sold to Agha Khani's, necessity of Karakoram state or Agha khan state arise because one corner with Afghanistan was only few KM from Russian borders, this new state could work as buffer between Chins, Russaia, Pakistan and Afghanistan administered by neo-imperialists. This type of geography very well suit to neo-imperialists, Pakistan's base Siachen and Kargal area will be direct under scrutiny of India and country will be land locked except sea side, four international powers Russia, China, India and USA will remain on our heads for ever)

View point of Rahimullah Yoususzai (the News 20-04-07): He wrote that "The last time that Kurram Agency suffered sectarian killings was in 1997 and the death toll according to official and non-official counts was 71 to 100. Prior to that, the Sunnis and Shias had fought each other to a standstill in 1986 and by that time more than 100 people had lost their lives. There had been sectarian strife in 1973 and 1961 as well with scores of people getting killed and properties worth millions being destroyed

While hundreds of families belonging to Waziristan are taking, or are aspiring to take, refuge in Karachi as a result of the military operation being carried out by the Army in the area against the Taliban, the journey to the metropolitan "˜sanctuary' is a long and difficult one.The 1973 riots were sparked by a row over the height of the minarets at the main Sunni mosque and a Shia imambara in Parachinar. Both sides wanted their minaret to be taller. Sectarian clashes on a lesser scale also took place in 1980 and 1983. Old people also recall clashes taking place in 1938 as a reaction to sectarian riots in Lucknow in undivided India. It is said the Shias in Kurram Agency were perturbed over reports of the Lucknow sectarian strife and wanted to go there to assist their community. The British political agent would not let them go and before long the Sunnis became aware of plans by the Shias to travel to Lucknow. The Sunni elders reportedly proposed that they and the Shias could fight it out in Kurram Agency instead of going all the way to distant Lucknow. The story may be exaggerated but it also explains the limits to which members of the two sects could go to settle scores.

As was the case in 1986 and 1997, the combatants used mortars, heavy calibre machineguns, rocket-launchers and landmines in the recent sectarian fighting. Every fighter possessed the AK-47 rifle, commonly known as kalashnikov, even though it looked like a toy in comparison with the heavy and sophisticated weapons freely available in Kurram Agency and rest of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)."

bbc@pes.comsats.net.pk

Note: During the same era when "Tabbarra processions" were very popular in UP areas, father of Abida Husain (In laws of Najam Sethi, Abid Husain a fake Col, he never joined Army, same as Mubarik Haveli in Mochi Darvaza was gifted to Qizlibash family for their services against Muslim in 1857 by Britains, father in law of Najam Sethi was canteen contractor under British rule) use to send peoples from Jhang to join "Tabbara" precessions, remembering those days Josh Malihabadi also mentioned such procession and his participations in those rallies in his book "Yadoon Ki Barrat", Some books of Qurat ul Ain Haider entirely revolve around Shias/Sunni topic because her father was so called Sunni but his mother and she herself adopted Shia faith, same as Josh Maleehabadi's grandmother was shia but he adopted Shia faith, who took hold of the family. It will not be out of place to mention that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto belonged to Deobandi faith but with an agreement with Nusrat Bhutto both daughters were married to Shia's, Asif Zardari is one of the inventions of Nusrat Bhutto. It is common belief of Sunni Ulema that "Tabbara" means "bashing Sahaba Karam", in present Pakistan Shia's did not have political power to openly celebrate their custom, but usually raise word "Tabbarra" during their majalis. It is a historical fact and pointing it is nothing to do with sectarianism. It is myth that General Zia was Deobandi, Begum Shafiqa Zia ul Haq was chairman of Shia Shrine of Bari Imam and Imam Husain Council as well. Ijaz ul Haq his son was involved in destruction of Jamia Hafsa. Gen Musa, Gen Yahya Khan and Sikander Mirza were openly Shia by faith. Chief Punjab constabulary which attacked on Jamia Hafsa, its chief belongs to Hangu Gen Hussain Mahdi, and his brother in law was Mashaf Mir Air Chief. Present IG Islamabad is relative of Ali Nawaz Gardezi ex Chairman CDA, who played negative role against implementation of Shariat in Zia era, with the help of Brig Irshad Tirmizi, DD ISI, who was later posted at Tehran, and all such supply of nuclear details to Iran, he was the main character. Later it was blamed on AQ Khan.

One more serious matter which require separate column is Dr. Israr Ahmad's speech on ARY and later some peoples became insane and used abusive language against Dr. Israr Ahmad, simple matter is that there are thousands of narration available in Ahadis e Kutab, some peoples follow one and leave others, some Muslims think obligation to all of them. Sufi's have their own channel of narration, first strike on such system came through Sir Syed, and later Ghulam Ahmad Pervez who totally rejected this sysyem. Sir Syed was labeled as "Natury", while Ghulam Ahmad Pervez was given the title of: Munkir e Hadees", about particular Hadees which was mentioned by Dr. Israr Ahmad on ARY TV had a connection with Hazrat Ali. Tahir Ul Qadri has gone so extreme, the way he adopted in denial of particular hadees that spirit of Ghulam Ahmad Pervez will be jumping with joy. Same type of material is written at so many other authentic places but peoples usually avoid controversy which is right path to discuss individuals. After so much political stunt peoples started to read books of Ahadees, and there they found more harder instances, which are not easy to digest to everyone. I would like to quote example from "Kashf ul Mahjoob", written by Data Ganjbakhsh sahib, most sacred booh in sufi Islam, Mian Tufail Muhammad when translated in Urdu from Persian, he entirely removed two parts of the book later it was called Lahori (Nuskha) book, Same book is known as Samarqandi(Nuskha) book, still has those deleted parts. (Please refer chapter Halat e Sukkur, Halat e Sehv about Hazrat Sulaiman and Rasool Allah.) ("Halat" mean condition or state), now what all such moulvis will say who are fighting with each other. Reading require patience, writing on sectarianism is always a thankless job, division and hate has reached to a great height that it looks reconciliation is impossible. It wondered many peoples when long processions against publishing of Image of Rasool Allah Iwere passing throufg streets of Paksitani cities, why did they not bothered to see ran and Iraq, there images of Rasool Allaf, Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Hussain are widely available for sale on card boards, still you can watch images on foreign TV's or type Google image you will find all such images, then why local peoples were so angry by printing of images. First anybody must watch its own home that what is happening there. Same thing is happening in one Islamic country, then how can you deny fact. Throughout Indo-Pak and Bangla desh faith is almost same, south Afghanistan is different from Northern part.

Exodus: a large number of population is leaving their homes:
Karachi: FATA peoples are seeking shelter in parts of the city that are already occupied by their relatives, mostly in some areas of Landhi, life isn't easy even after the displaced families manage to flee the war-torn area.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=99482

"˜10,000 Pakistani refugees in Afghanistan' (20-02-08)
WASHINGTON: The number of Pakistanis fleeing to eastern Afghanistan to avoid violence in their country has risen to about 10,000 in recent weeks, a US military official said on Tuesday. Commanders had reported last month that the number was only between 300 and 400 families. But Army Col Jeffery Johnson, the US command surgeon in eastern Afghanistan, said thousands more had crossed over the border and been taken into the health care systems in Khost and Paktika provinces.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13095

Pakistanis fleeing to Afghanistan: US commander (03-01-2008)

WASHINGTON: Several hundred Pakistani families have fled to Afghanistan in recent days to escape the turmoil in their country, US officials said on Wednesday. And the Pakistani military has removed a small number of troops from a border post between the two nations to tend to problems elsewhere, said Col Martin Schweitzer, a US commander in eastern Afghanistan.
"Clearly, we're very interested with what's going on over there, we're watching it pretty closely," Schweitzer told reporters at the Defence Department. He said that so far, commanders have not seen any significant rise in cross-border activity in his area bordering the lawless tribal region of northwest Pakistan, though 300 or 400 refugee families have crossed into Afghanistan.
"We have not see a significant threat emerging," Schweitzer said in a joint video press conference from Afghanistan with Arsallah Jamal, the governor of Khost province. Jamal said the refugees are being housed with Afghan families who were once refugees in Pakistan.
"We have received in the last two weeks or last 10 days a number of Pakistani refugees," Jamal said, adding that they were "escaping the war" between the Pakistani military and Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters hiding in northwest Pakistan.
Schweitzer said the Pakistani military reduced troops at one border post by a small number, leaving only a small formation there, but they are still conducting their duties. Because of increased cooperation between coalition forces in Afghanistan and the Pakistan military, their operations are more effective along the border, he said. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=12055

Note: Recent hue and cry of Altaf Husain widely publicized on private channels has the same bases that innocent peoples are moving to different areas of Pakistan in search of refuge and also crossing borders. But Altaf Hussain is blaming them terrorist or Taliban. Question is Karachi is like mother for all nationalities, peoples move there in search of jobs. MQM has not leased Karachi, Altaf is calling Rahman Malik and Zardari, to harass incoming refugees, and bomb blasts were carried out through Karachi. It is not written on the face of any one that family is Taliban or Shia, refugee is refugee. Moreover Karachi is not state of MQM. Karachi is nothing if all provinces may not provide raw materials for its factories; provide wheat, oil, gas, sugar and other necessities. We respect citizens of Karachi who always welcome peoples of different areas. But beware of Altaf Husain poisonous doctrine, who became billionaire by receiving goon tax from industrialists and commercial holdings. Moreover he did not accept Pakistan and call it plunder.

Need to represent subsequent data shows how important task is ahead?

Government is continuously introducing new groups as terrorists which are less lethal and by engaging their links to Taliban they want to hide facts from US administration which is asking for details of 2 billion dollars (used by army generals). For example according to media some kind of sectarian clash was going on since one year, only one group left in the field i.e Lashkar e Islam, but nobody want to take name of other group. Other group Ansar ul Islam is not visible anywhere, not in any agreement or coming before media. However some MNA's and Senators are behind Ansar ul Islam only due to sectarian affiliation (it is on record). Factional fight is still in progress. Bara is shown another place under Taliban rule, all such propaganda is based on lies, Bara is feeding ammunition and smuggled goods to entire Pakistan since last 50 years after Landi Kotal which is still famous for such activities.

It was great non-sense of current government that it did not allow reasonable time for ANP to let finish their business of reconciliation in all those areas. It wondered every one that NWFP was handed over to General Kiyani (Gen Kiyani means to Mush, and Mush means to George Bush). Then what for politicians are taking six figure salaries, lamb roast dinners, Umra on govt expenses, Singapur and Dubai tours, everybody knows that how stupid Governor NWFP is? He is the person who pushed Baluchistan in hell.

On other hand Altaf Hussain of MQM started hate campaign on sectarian lines, unfortunately GEO and ARY had been broadcasting his poisonous statements which caused entire city of Karachi under bomb blasts and panic. Daily Times, AajKal are continuously busy in publishing hate material, now since Farafnaz Isphani has joined their rank with such group their attitude has become more aggressive, after printing hate material they name it "Freedom of Expression", and if anybody protest then Najam Sethi including whole their company start crying in front of media organizations. Najam Sethi and whole gang of Daily Times, Friday Times and Aaj Kal is consists of yellow and lifafa journalists. Their editorials, news items and comments are all full of sectarian hate. Previously such group was limited to Sipah e Sahaba, deobandi or Salfi etc., now they have started to lodge bare naked attacks on family of Shah Waliullah like in today's Daily Times their comments could not be viewed as positive in any sense including freedom of expression, it is hate. If PFUJ and other journalists forums will camouflage a few culprits matter will never finish but it could take aggressive turn. Everybody knows that peoples are sentimental in matter of religion. It is not freedom of expression, it is burning of fire or putting on fire our own home, Farahnaz Isphani and Najam Sethi have vested interests. Both are serving their overseas lords.

Situation of Kurram agency is for worst than Swat, Adam Khel, Bara and other areas, where immediate attention was required but certain elements are trying to divert attention of govt. on sectarian foundations. Crimes happened in Swat, Bara, Dara Adam Khel and other areas were negatively reported, which pushed army to interfere, that provide opportunity to Army generals in justifying illegal Mush and continuity of army rule. In a recent TV talk show of Kashif Abbasy, both ANP and Waziristan MNA knocked out Farahnaz Isphahani, it is surprising that she even did not have sufficient knowledge about geography and history of Pakistan and its territories, shame on PPP for hiring such info secretary. In the same program ANP and FATA both clearly denied self created panic of Taliban propagated by PPP's government.

Statistics and explanation:

Please read carefully all statistics keeping in view that on one side of Pakistan, US is providing nuclear facilities to India, Iran is under tyranny; condition of Afghanistan is well known. In this situation if Pakistani Shia & Sunni will fight with each other, who will be benefitted? Or if Shia want to make son of Arif ul Hussani as sacrificial goat is it reasonable at this stage? Around two hundred students who are studying at Shia Muddersahs protested against Pakistan in front of Pakistan embassy at Tehran yesterday (The Jang), when US army fire missile in side Pakistan it did not care it will hit to Shia, Sunni, Hindu or Sikh. This is a reason that an anti-Iranian force Jundullah has started its business. Major players who are making money and trying to push Shia population are not their friends, Shia is as poor as other Pakistani Sunnis, flow of petro dollars is always temporary and everybody has to live in Pakistan. Following data did not show exact figure of causalities, but it can give a rough idea of severity of the circumstances carefully taken from national media.

Oct 26, 2007: 5 killed gun battle spread to Sadda city, Balashkhel, Khar Killey, Sangeena, Ibrahimzai, Alizai and other parts of the agency.

Nov 16, 2007: 10 killed http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/17/top6.htm

Nov 17, 2007: 05 killed http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=605

Nov 18, 2007: 70 killed (AFP) http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/November/subcontinent_November742.xml§ion=subcontinent

Nov 18, 2007: 30 killed, 130 wounded http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\18\story_18-11-2007_pg1_5

Nov 19, 2007: Death toll rises to 86, clashes between Qunj Alizai and Maqbal tribes, Malikhel, Bashera, Pewar, Teri Mengal, Jalamai, Saidanoi Kalley and Arawali. Army helicopters started shelling positions of the warring groups, The military said in a statement that 80 civilians and 11 security personnel have been killed, adding that the dead had been "targeted by both sides". Twenty-two bodies remained unclaimed at the main state-run hospital in Parachinar, Friday after gunmen opened fire on a Sunni mosque and Sunnis retaliated by attacking Shias, police said. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11235

Nov 20, 2007: 14 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11267

Nov 20, 2007 : The political administration of Kurram tribal agency and armed men of a particular sect were Monday accused of killing hundreds of others belonging to another sect mostly women and children in the fresh wave of sectarian violence in Parachinar, headquarters of the agency. Professor Ghafoor, leader of Anjuman-e-Farooqia, claimed that the number of casualties in the recent violence ran in hundreds. He rejected the government projected toll of 82 as false. Five to 10 bodies are lying in each house belonging to their sect in Parachinar city. They have been killed for no sin. Their houses were targeted with rockets and mortar shells," he alleged. He further alleged that dozens of their women and children were beheaded at the Agency http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81777

Nov 21, 2007: groups were firing at each other with light cannons and mortars in Upper Kurram, Sadda, Tehwar and Trimanga villages. Officials have put the latest death toll at 112 with 300 injured. The scale of the unrest has exposed the deep tribal and religious tensions in this mountainous region where guns and weaponry - including rocket-launchers and mortars - are in plentiful supply. Outbreaks of sectarian violence have claimed more than 4,000 lives across the country since the late 1980s. (AFP news).

Nov 22, 2007: 09 killed http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg7_66

Nov 23, 2008: 02 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11339

Nov 25, 2007: 50 killed http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/25/index7.php

Nov 27, 2007: 50 died in week end clashes, total death toll more then 200 (Editorial) http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82953

Nov 28, 2007: The two-week-long sectarian violence in the agency has left at least 130 people dead and 320 others injured http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=83208

Dec 10, 2007: Allama Syed Abid Hussain Alhussaini said that the killing and kidnapping of passengers was a deliberate attempt to create chaos in the agency and claimed that such troublemakers did not belong to any of the sects. He was of the view that incompetent political administration had failed to restore peace on November 16 last, which resulted in the killing of innocent people and destroyed the peaceful environment of the agency.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=85398

Dec 25, 2007: 03 killed http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\12\25\story_25-12-2007_pg7_18

Dec 26, 2007: 7 killed http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\12\26\story_26-12-2007_pg7_10

Dec 27, 2007: 32 killed (More than 150 people have lost their lives in a series of clashes in the agency recently while some 400 people sustained injuries) http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11904

Dec 28, 2007: 16 killed http://nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2007/28/index12.php

Dec 28, 2007 : Fierce fighting is continuing at Sada, Khar Kalay, Balish Khel, Sangeena , Alizai, Tungi, Chardewaal, Bagan, Makhezai, Mengak, Maqbal, Kanjalizai, Satikot, Terimangal and Pevaar, heavy weapons including mortar guns, missiles, Rocket Launchers and Machine Guns are being used freely from both sides, while the government is like a silent spectator over the bloody clashes http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=696

Dec 31, 2007: 15 killed http://nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2007/31/index16.php

Dec 31, 2007: 20 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11997

Dec 31, 2007: 20 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11997

Jan 02, 2008: 02 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=88952

Jan 04, 2008: 62 killed, 183 injured http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=89349

Jan 05, 2008: Firing reported in Sadda, Balish Khel, Ali Zai, Sangeena, Ibrahim Zai and Khawar Kili http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\01\05\story_5-1-2008_pg7_29

Feb 17, 2008: 40 died, 100 injured http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13004

March 27, 2008: 01 killed, 06 injured http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=103344

Apr 04, 2008: 04 killed http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\12\story_12-4-2008_pg7_7

Apr 06, 2008: 03 dead http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13968

Apr 12, 2008: 17 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=14059

Apr 15, 2008: 07 killed http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=14113

Every peaceful citizen can judge easily which international powers are trying to destabilize Pakistan, what is their aim, think patiently that when Iran is under severe tyranny of west, what result then anti-Taliban stand of Shia's of Kurram agency will give. On other hand same faction of Parachinar (Sajid Naqvi & Husaini group) is is part of MMA, who is voicing any foreign aggression against Iran. There dozens of Shia's were murdered, most important point is that Moharram Ali who killed Maulana Farooqi alongwith two dozen police persons at Lahore courts was trained and sent from Parachanar, later hanged to death. Another reason of enmity is any faction living in FATA area and would like to support crusaders, that group  will face same fate as a group is created to destabilize Iran, and  a Pakistani based "Jundullah" group is reported which has backing of crusaders. Don't jump to conclusion that this article is against any one, it is a mirror, and Pakistan cannot afford such type of venture, this is not a time to play blame game. Najam Sethi, Farahnaz Isphani, Abida Husain type shia leaders need blood for their personal future achievements. History is witness neither Shia feudal or industrialists ever deprived ordinary Shia's from poverty nor they have any such program in pipeline. Salman Taseer Singh and his media has no morale base, wife is Sikh, he himself embraced Sikhism while marrying "Talveen Singh: (famous Indian writer), later son adopted Sikhism. Same story is with Najam Sethi, Abida Husain, Fakhar Imam and finally Tahira syed group who successfully snatched cricket seat for "Saleem Altaf", brother in law of Tahira syed.

Puzzle of pro-crusader rhetoric of Kurram agency will keep burning, Altaf Husain and Yousuf Raza Gailani type second grade politicians have no aptitude to clear mess scattered around them. Now NATO forces will invade Pakistan, then where citizens of that area will go, likely those will seek shelter at Lahore, Multan, Hyderabad or Karachi. Pakistan has no army neither Pakistan is sovereign state anymore, who likes violates its air space, drone hit peoples and kill them, Indians and Afghans are killing our Jawans. Think about it seriously.

Earthman

International Professor