Lashkars may push Fata into civil war

ISLAMABAD - The newly constituted policy to crush militancy in the restive tribal territories and adjoining areas of NWFP by use of centuries-old armed lashkars (tribal militant force) could push these areas into an unending civil war, feared tribal elders.

In background interviews with TheNation, the tribal elders and elected representatives exhibited apprehension over the prevailing situation in the wake of formation of tribal lashkars, fearing that the strategy could lead those war-ravaged tribal areas into a bloody civil war. “The only way to get rid of the militancy is to engage armed groups into negotiations and to seek help from those quarters, which have imposed this war on us to play their role to settle the militancy issue,” they suggested.   

Although the tribal lashkar, an old traditional way to punish oulaws, was an effective weapon to maintain peace in the tribal areas, yet with the changing scenario now, it could not yield the required results to bring long-lasting and complete tranquillity in these areas. The militants are on the run after the tribesmen took up arms to fight them but at long last, this policy could backfire with much higher intensity.

The official circles, especially, the security agencies are backing these tribal lashkars, and the government is also welcoming the rising of civilians with arms to flush out these militants. “It is an effective way to defeat the militants,” a security official on condition of anonymity told TheNation.