Pakistan fights "faceless" enemy with little hope

ISLAMABAD, Sep 1 (KUNA) -- Pakistan joined the US-led war against terrorism in 2002 to save itself from extremism and militancy.
Almost seven years have passed and yet the efforts seem to yield fewer results than repercussions.
When Pakistan joined the global war against terrorism, it was against Al-Qaeda, then it focused on Taliban, but now the enemy is "faceless", security analyst Brigadier (Ret.) Asmat Khan Niazi told KUNA.
He said the enemy now is neither Al-Qaeda nor Taliban.
His comments made sense as it is rare these days that security and political authorities mention Al-Qaeda as the target of ongoing military operations in the tribal region and northern districts of the frontier province (NWFP).
However, authorities admit that militants at target have links to Al-Qaeda terror network of Osama Bin Laden.
Before launching the operation in Swat valley of NWFP, the military announced that it has launched a large-scale operation against local militants, who had sworn allegiance to Baitullah Mehsud of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP is the umbrella organization of several splintered Taliban groups of seven tribal agencies of Federal Administered Tribal Area (FATA). They all have different motives and, thus, different sources of funding.
Currently the security forces are conducting an operation in Malakand Division, which includes Swat, Mingora, Dir districts, and South Waziristan tribal agency of FATA.
Although forces have stepped up efforts to defeat the growing militancy and its spread to other parts of the country, militancy appears to remain unabated.
"We ourselves are confused as to who to fight," said a senior security official from Peshawar on the condition of anonymity.
He described different militant groups currently operating in different parts of the country and said they all use Taliban banner and terror as their tool, but have different motives.
Another intelligence sources said that in two tribal agencies, the Taliban are operating and are believed to be linked to the Taliban of Afghanistan.
However, said sources, in other agencies either sectarianism is rampant or criminals who are using Taliban name for their vested interests.
Similarly, sources said further, in Karachi (Southern Sindh Province) it is purely ethnic issue between local Mohajir groups and migrated Pashtun population.
In Baluchistan province, the nationalist movement is gaining momentum amid intensified government efforts to resolve the issue politically.
There have been reports that a new breed of terrorists has also emerged recently.
"Hundreds of tribesmen, who lost their innocent relatives and fellow tribesmen during military attacks, US missile strikes particularly, have also joined the militant networks to avenge their killings", said a senior journalist from North Waziristan, who requested not to be named for fear of militant backlash against reporters and journalists.
The situation is becoming tenser now, said a security official.
Despite stepped up efforts to control the ever-growing militancy and extremism, there appear to be no restive from terrorism, he added.
Three attacks on policemen in Malakand, Peshawar, and FATA in last three days have killed more than 40 security personnel and wounded over two dozen others.(end) amn.ris KUNA 011026 Sep 09NNNN