PDC welcomes Obama, s new strategy for Afghanistan and termed it a positive step towards stability and peace in region. The strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan was more important than Iraq where the resources and forces were used ignoring the importance of Afghanistan and region which diverted attention from the real place of terrorism which was rightly called as center of terrorism by the American President Obama. It was very encouraging to hear the US President saying that Afghanistan was not lost and there is no imminent threat of the government being overthrown. The world should understand that terrorists have no capability to re emerge in Afghanistan but the sources of terrorism which are known should be eliminated. There are more than 92 centers in Pakistan which are active spreading terrorism in region. These centers of terrorism have made Afghanistan as a hell and do not love to see a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan which can guarantee the development and stability in region if left to get developed and peace establishes there. All centers of terrorism are in Punjab province of Pakistan from where the terrorists are sent to FATA and Afghanistan and sabotage the peace and development efforts of international community. Now the American President has hit the right place from where the terrorism originates by calling it as Epicenter of violent extremism. PDC lauded the announcement of Mr. President regarding strengthening the capacity of Afghanistan’s security forces and government. Those who are not tired saying that Afghanistan has been captured by American forces should have heard the speech of President Obama where he declared that Afghan government and people would be the ultimate responsible for their own country and Americans are partners and not patron. Americans seek an end to the era of war and sufferings and have no interest in occupying one’s country. Terrorism which he termed as cancer on both sides of Durand line should effectively be harnessed. This is also encouraging to note in the speech that America and world could no more tolerate safe havens of terrorists whose location is known and whose intentions are clear. PDC appreciated the sentence in which American President Obama said that every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights and tend to light of freedom and justice and opportunity and respect for dignity and all people. PDC wishes to see all the claims in practical and deeds should speak louder than words.

Regards,

Zar Ali Khan Musazai

Chairman

Pashtun Democratic Council

pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com

www.musazai.blogspot.com

Press Release

Peshawar (       ) Pashtun Democratic Council is pleased to hear the nice and good news of Hamid Karzai who was re-elected as President of the Afghanistan. His Excellency! Hamid Khan Karzai is the representative of all 34 provinces of Afghanistan and all those Afghans living this side of the Durand line.

I facilitate His Excellency and all Afghans on this occasion of happiness and satisfaction on my own behalf and on behalf of my Organization, Pashtun Democratic Council.

We have the great pleasure to extend to him and all Pashtun/Afghans our heartiest and warmest felicitations on his re-election as President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Govt. and people of Afghanistan deserve to be congratulated on this great occasion of pleasure and unity. The election Commission of Afghanistan is also lauded for its untiring efforts which worked day and night to pave the way for promoting democratic process in Afghanistan. His Excellency! Hamid Karzai and his team is hoped to work for the development of Afghanistan and to serve the common men, women and Children alike. He is a symbol of unity for all Pashtun/Afghans living both sides of Durand line. We Pashtun living this side of Durand line hope that His Excellency will not leave us alone and will raise his voice for us on all fora of world. Today Pashtun are in very great distress and trouble and there is no one to talk in their favor. This nation is tipped as terrorist and militant but the actual position is that there are other forces which have been using this nation and this soil for their nefarious designs. Hamid Karzai is the sole hope for the Pashtun/Afghans to stay as a rock to defend his nation and people. Our prayers and good wishes are for him and his administration. We also acknowledge the efforts and services of international community especially America, NATO, UN and European Union whose people, soldiers and governments did their best to restore peace in Afghanistan and put this country on the path of democracy and prosperity.

Regards,

Zar Ali Khan Musazai

Chairman

Pashtun/Afghan Democratic Council

Peshawar.

www.musazai.blogspot.com

www.larawbar.com/pdc

Cell: 0301-5963337

Pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com

Clergy  and intelligence agencies are playing dirty game on the blood of innocent Pashtun

By Zar ali khan musazai

We strongly condemn the inhuman incident of car bomb in Peshawar city in which more than 100 innocent civilian mostly women and children martyred and more than 200 seriously wounded. Pashtun Democratic Council consider it as a genocide of the Pashtun nation by the barbarian negative and anti-Pashtun forces which are bent upon to annihilate this nation but one has to understand that neither Changez khan nor Sikandar have ever succeeded to annihilate this nation. Those terrorists who are playing as agents of the conspirators who are sitting miles away from the pashtun area should try to understand that playing havoc with own nation is treachery. Today Pashtun ask the question as to who are doing this barbarism with them. The answer is simple that only and only Pakistani establishment, military, ISI and their partner militants (Terrorists) are responsible for this enmity against Pashtun. Pakistani religious clerics and religious parties are trying to hoodwink the people and international community about the real situations. In Pakistan mulla-military have formed an alliance to wipe out the pashtun. Mulla has been working for the nefarious designs of the ISI and establishment. ISI and Pakistan never ever want to see a prosperous, developed and peaceful democratic Afghanistan and for this purpose these two forces with the connivance of some hidden forces have joined hands to sabotage the development in the region. Today we hear religious parties in Pakistan asking Americans to go back to America from Afghanistan and at same time they denounce Lugar bill. American forces are sitting in more than 100 countries of the world but no where there happens any violence or opposition to American forces but here in Pakistan clergy is mobilizing people against the Americans and international community. It means that Pakistan through its clergy sees the dream to the capture Afghanistan after the departure of the Americans.  All the nationalist and democratic Secular political and tribal Pashtun are being or have been assassinated by the notorious hands of the terrorists. The sole aim of self made insurgency in Pashtun region is the handi work of the intelligence agencies and it is quite foolish to believe that Americans and Indians are doing it. No one except the Pakistani intelligence agencies are responsible. This is just  to befool the people and international community and divert the attention from the real players in region. Today we see that a particular religious party Jumati Islami, known as B-team of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has been protesting Kerry Lugar bill. They both know that the bill in question is meant to develop the social sector in Pashtun areas including FATA and malakand, Swat etc. When this religious party was in government in Musharraf era then there was no hue and cry over such donations. But when Americans made their mind to spend the money on development and for the betterment of the People of Pashtun region then religious parties started hue and cry saying that now the dooms day will fall on them. This is once again a conspiracy against the pashtun and they do not love to see Pashtun be educated and prosperous. They are doing this nefarious job to keep the pashtun backward and ignorant; their sole aim is to use them against foreign forces in Afghanistan. Now international community including Americans should realize the gravity of situations and leave Pashtun be their friends. Americans do know  where are the centers of terrorism? They are situated in Punjab. Then what are the hurdles which stop Americans and international community to hit the real centers of terrorism. Only fighting against Pashtun will not prove to be real solution. Unless and until the sources are targeted the problem will not be solved and this process will continue. Pashtin will be dying, American and NATO forces will be martyred in Afghanistan and the real conspirators will get dollars and lead a comfortable life. Oh, Americans and international community for God sake leave Pashtun to lead a peaceful life and go to the real places from where the terrorism originates, I mean Punjab and Islambad. Fault does not lie in Pashtun region rather it is in Islamabad. We once again condemn the attacks on innocent Pashtun and demand of international community to come behind terrorists and annihilate their nests in Punjab and befriend Pashtun which is the only and real solution if interested. We condole the death of all those Pashtun women, children and young who embraced martyrdom in suicide attacks in Peshawar and other parts of the Pashtunkhwa. The clothes of Pashtun women and children were hanging through the walls of high buildings and most of our women were made nude and naked but still Pashtun and international community both are slumbering in ignorance. We Pashtun know our enemy well and enemy is still busy making conspiracies against us.

(The Writer is Chairman Pashtun Democratic Council and can be reached at his email pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com, www.musazai.blogspot.com)

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari was born in the village of Landi Kotal , Khyber in 1907. But he spent the more part of his life in Peshawar.It is said that in winter he lived in a small home situated inside of Aasia gate while in summer he lived in his own native village situated in the west of Peshawar in mountains near Durand line,Landikotal. The weather is commonly pleasant there and one can spend his time without having electricity fan. Hamza Baba was not a lonely person and he was always surrounded by his will-wishers, friends and disciples where ever he was. He was having a sound health and mind while he was hearing little loud and his eye sight was also very good and as for as his memory concerned was wonderful. Hamza baba remembered his all poetry and besides he had memorized the poetry of other poets belonging to other languages. He used to recite his poems in Urdu language but on the advice of his Pir Abdul Sattar shah Bacha he started his poems in his own mother language Pashto. He was an encyclopedia of Pashto literature. His services for Pashto language and literature are innumerable. He is known as Baba-e- Pashto Ghazal. As he says:

Sta pa Anango ki a Hamza da weeno sra de

Ta shway da Pukhto Ghazal zwan ao za de Baba kram

Translation:

(The color in your cheeks is the color of the blood of Hamza)

(0, Pashto Ghazal, you are grown up but Hamza became old)

Hamza baba was a student in Islamis Collegiate School but due to his family reasons he could not continue his higher education and left education in mid way while his love for Urdu poetry also diminished and gave his full fledged attention to his own language Pashto. After leaving his School he was soon married and employed in the office of  Political Agent in Landi Kotal. Soon he left his job there and went to Bombay to try his luck there. Bombay was then a sort of Hollywood of sub- continent. Although this tour of Bombay proved to be a misadventure but Baba did not lose heart and the year of 1920 he succeeded in getting the role in a film. In 1941 he was called upon by Rafique  Ghaznavi  to write script, songs and dialogue for the Pashto film Laila Majnoon. Hamza baba was deeply trenched in mysticism and about his this experience he says: I stepped into the land of wonders in 1930. I was not consciously inclined that way before and it would be more true to say that I have not come here of my own but was simply dragged to it. Hamza baba took formal allegiance, in Chistia order , at the hands of his Pir Sayyed Abdul Sattar Shah commonly known as Sattar shah Bacha in Dabgari Peshawar.In 1937 a  Pashto literary society called Bazm-e- Adab was founded by baba. Syed Rahat Zakheli was elected as its President while Hamza baba was elected as a vice-presidentand. Bacha Gul Niazi as its general secretary. Later on Hamza baba was made its president and he started looking after of this society. In the year 1950, this society was merged into a larger society called Olasi Adabi Jirga.      The moving spirit behind this August Jirga was Sanobar Hussain Kakaji with Hamza Shinwari and Dost Mohammad Kamil as its vice-president and general secretary. Its membership consisted of Qalandar Momand, Ajmal Khattak, Mir Mehdi Shah, Wali Mohammad Toofan, Fazle Haq Shaida, Saifur Rehman Salim, Afzal Bangash, Latif Wahmi, Hussain Khan Soz, Ayub Sabir, Farigh Bokhari, Raza Hamdani, Qamar Rahi and a number of others. Apart from promoting poetry this Jirga also paid equal attention to the promotion of Pashto prose. For poetry as well as prose, it started holding regular sessions at the Balakhana of Kamil sab in Peshawar’s famous Khyber Bazar.

Hamza baba had a great love for his own language Pashto and says:

The enemys say that Pashto is a language of hell

I will go to heaven with this language.

About his own land in India he writes:

I feel the taste of Pakhtoonkhwa in India,
when I come across an Afghan there
this shows his love for his mother land Pashtunkhwa.

In 1962 Hamza Baba published his first major work on Philosophy called Zhwand and in 1970 he published the accounts of his pilgrimage to Makka with his well known verse.

Hamza safar ka da Hijaz no hom

Za da Pukhtoon da Qafillo sara zam

Translation:

Even on my journey to Hijaz Hamza,
I go with caravans of the Pakhtoon

In 1970 he published the memoir of his Sheikh Syed Abdus Sattar Shah.

Important works of Hamza Baba

Poetry: Da zarrah aawaz, Ghazawooney, Baheer, Parey wooney, Saprlaey pa aaina key, Yoon, Szuand au yoon, Salgai and Naawey chapey (A travelogue).

Prose: Da Hijaz palour, (A travelogue in Pushto), Szuawer fikraunah, (Critical essays) Szuand, Wajood shahood, (Philosophical essays in Urdu), Insaan aur khuda (Urdu), Tajjliyat-i-Mohammadia (Pushto) and Insanee anaa au pooha (Pusht

Issued by

Pashtun Democratic Council

www.musazai.blogspot.com

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

The money provided to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar Bill will not go directly to the Government of Pakistan. This was reported in a Pakistani newspaper few days ago.

Jacop- j- Lew, US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources who recently visited Pakistan and NWFP (Pashtunkhwa) Province is said to have uttered these words.

Jacob should also know that money given to Islamabad as aid by the US for development of FATA is eaten up by bureaucracy sitting in Islamabad and FATA Secretariat with both hands as this fund is meant as a bounty for them. This fund is ruthlessly embezzled and will yield no positive result in elimination of terrorism and extremism from FATA and its development and prosperity. There are big crocodiles in FATA who are eating the flesh and sucking the blood of Pashtun tribesmen and tribeswomen. Americans will be thinking that they spent million and million of dollars for development of FATA but on ground the lot of tribal has not yet changed and they see no result on ground. Most chunk of the American fund goes to the account of the organizations working against Americans and their plan to develop FATA and make lives of tribesmen pleasant. There are reports that those organizations and individuals working to strengthening militancy in FATA are the blue eyed- Children of FATA Secretariat while those organizations and individuals who are really secular and anti-militants in FATA are intentionally discouraged and are given nothing. Such organizations and their representatives are the enemies of FATA Secretariat. We do not know whose Agenda is being promoted there by this secretariat? We have clear and clean Agenda to promote peace and develop in FATA and eliminate militancy from there. Our organizations are discouraged why? We pose the question as to why FATA Secretariat is funneled so much huge fund which unfortunately is not spent there in a proper way. FATA Secretariat spends all American funds on the employees of FATA and their security apparently due to fear of the militants while all militants belong to them and will never harm them. They just embezzle the money of American people. There is a leading network of the FATA NGOs namely Tribal Development Forum(TDF)  working to promote peace in FATA and develop the area has been neglected and there are reports from inside of FATA Secretariat to discourage it and exert pressure to dismantle it. FATA has been neglected since long and as for as Pakistani state is concerned has done nothing good for FATA and its inhabitants. This establishment has no good intentions there. This was kept in dark intentionally and even today this Pakistani cannibal establishment has been using it and its people. Now a day it is an established fact that Civil Society Organizations in our region face many many problems and the lives of people working in such organizations are under threat and Damocles sword has been hanging over their heads all the times. I am talking of those organizations working in settled districts of NWFP (Pashtunkhwa) province. If we talk about those organizations which are FATA based and native then the situations are quite different and their condition is really alarming and such organizations and their staff have innumerable problems before them. We all know that Civil Society Organizations are the best tools to mobilize the society and work hard to promote pluralism, democracy and educate people to let them know as to who are they and what are their rights?. But as for as FATA and those FATA based organizations concerned are, to be praised as working there is a Herculean task and one has to burn mid-night oil for it. Almost all FATA based native organizations are so poor and resource starved that even they have hardly to pay salaries of their staff. But still these organizations are determined to work in FATA to promote peace and see development there. If some one including US wants to promote peace in FATA and witness a change in lives of the people in FATA then they will have to take the Civil Society Organizations of FATA into confidence and rid them of from crocodiles sitting in Islamabad and FATA Secretariat who have no interest to see a peaceful and developed FATA. If genuine demands of our organizations are not accepted then TDF will take this issue to streets and will demonstrate for the rights of FATA People and right.

We will welcome closure of FATA Secretariat fund by US and strongly demand of US not to release it until   Crocodiles are purged out from FATA Secretariat.

(The writer is  Political and Social worker and Spokesman of Tribal Development Forum (TDF) and can be reached on his cell: 0301-5963337, +92-525304)

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

The boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan takes it name from Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, foreign secretary of British India, who concluded an agreement with Amir Abdul Rahman Khan (ruled 1880-1901) of Afghanistan on 12 November 1893. This agreement formally adjusted the “the eastern and southern frontier of His Highness’s dominions, from Wakhan [corridor] to the Persian border.”  The history of the Durand Line goes back to the Treaty of Gandumak, signed in May 1879 between British Major Louis Cavagnari and the Afghan Amir Mohammad Ya’qub Khan during the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1879-80. According to provisions of the Gandumak Agreement, the British were to maintain a military and diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and control its foreign policy. Also, Britain was granted jurisdictional control of the three strategically significant frontier districts of Kurram, Sibi, and Pishin. However, when the Gandumak plan failed to achieve peace, the British

 opted to leave Afghanistan, but to ensure that it remained a buffer state between their own Indian empire and the Russian empire in Central Asia.

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani in a recent meeting held with American Home land secretary of  security where  he demanded of Americans to force Afghan Government to accept to fence the Durand line and make it as a permanent border between two countries.

Pashtun/Afghans will never accept Durand Line as a permanent border between two countries and to fence it is never acceptable to Afghan living both sides of the Durand line. It is a line drawn forcefully which has artificially divided one nation into two parts in1893 at a time when English were ruling India. English drew this line without the consent of the Pashtun/Afghans.Since the time Pashtun/Afghans have not realized this as a border and will not do so in future.

It is true that Americans are the friends of Pashtun/Afghan and we do know that they will help us in the solution of our problems but as for as the fencing of Durand line is concerned Pashtun/Afghan request them and international community to force Pakistani leadership to avoid further miseries of Pashtun/Afghan and help them in resolving of their issues which will make this nation to get united and this is the real solution of all the problems in region. Taking Pashtun /Afghan away from each other will never help in elimination of terrorism rather it needs commitment, sincerity and honesty on the part of Islamabad. The sources and nests of terrorists are in the Punjab.

If international community is sincere to eliminate the terrorism from the region, then it will have to strive to work hard and get Larawbar Pashtun /Afghan united. Pashtun/Afghan know that   terrorists and their promoters have been using the Pashtun areas to weaken Afghanistan and such tactics mean just to show the world that Durand line be accepted as a permanent border. But this should be clear to all and sundry that the problems will not be solved rather will perpetuate. Pashtun/Afghan  are against terrorism and are 100% sincere in it but those who have made this as a profession to earn dollars and dream to  fence Durand line in this context will not succeed. International community knows well those who promote terrorism and why? And this is the reason that today such demands are put forward. Swat has no Durand line but terrorists are there. It means that fencing will solve the problem is like living in fools paradise.

Pashtun/Afghan  demands of  International  Community to help Pashtun/Afghans get united and take this issue very serious. It is not a problem of the two states that they will sit together and say O.K. It is a long standing demand of a nation which has been kept separated for more than 100 years artificially. Pashtun/Afghan  also urge upon all Pashtun/Afghans living every where in the world as Diaspora  to stand united and appraise the world about their problems and get them informed that Durand Line is not a border and Pashtun/Afghans will never accept it as one because this is the issue of a nation survival.

21st is the century of unity of the colonially divided nations. If world community wishes to see this region as a cradle of peace then it will have help to bring artificially divided nation closer and keeping it further aloof will create problems.

PM Pakistan has no right to dictate international community and Afghan Government on this sensitive issue to fence the Durand line. All Afghan will stand united to foil such conspiracies against this brave nation. Afghan living both sides of Durand line  have been suffered heavily and wounding them further will create problems not solution of the issue. Pashtun/Afghan again demanded of Pakistani PM to forbid issuing such statements as these injure Pashtun /Afghan and Pakistani establishment should leave Afghan to concentrate to prevail peace in region and develop Afghanistan. Pashtun are the victims in Pakistan and rubbing salt on their wounded body should be stopped.

The Durand Line was demarcated by the British and signed into a treaty in 1893 with the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rehman Khan. The treaty was to stay in force for a 100-year period. According to Afrasiab Khattak, a political analyst, the areas from the Khayber Agency Northwards to Chitral, however, remained un-demarcated.

This disputed land was legally to be returned to Afghanistan in 1993 after the 100 year old Durand Treaty expired, similar to how Hong Kong was returned to China. Kabul has refused to renew the Durand Line treaty since 1993 when it expired, throughout, years, Pakistan has tried to get Afghan Warlords and Taliban to sign a renewal contract of the Treaty, and thankfully they didn’t not fall  for the treachery of Pakistan. One of the reasons Pakistan faced problems with the Kabul rulers right from its inception was Kabul’s claim over the North West frontier Province. (NWFP) Kabul never accepted that line or the fact that the NWFP is part of Pakistan.

The Durand Line stretches 2,640 kilometers (1,610 miles). Afghanistan’s loya jirga or ‘tribal court’ of 1949 declared the Durand Line invalid as they saw it as ex parte on their side (since British India ceased to exist in 1947 with the independence of Pakistan.

The British presented a signed document with the person of King Abdul Rahman Khan in 1893 referring to the borders between Afghanistan and British India. This document was in English and the person of Abdul Rahman Khan did not understand the English language, therefore leads the suspicious nature of forgery and or false documentation. The Dari or Pashto translation of this document or agreement has never been signed by Amir Abdul Rahman Khan, suggesting that he nullified this agreement.

Durand Line Agreement is an illegal agreement, and therefore, it is null and void

Agreement between Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, G. C. S. I., and Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, K. C. I. E., C. S. I.

Whereas certain questions have arisen regarding the frontier of Afghanistan on the side of India, and whereas both His Highness the Amir and the Government of India are desirous of settling these questions by friendly understanding, and of fixing the limit of their respective spheres of influence, so that for the future there may be no difference of opinion on the subject between the allied Governments, it is hereby agreed as follows:

The eastern and southern frontier of his Highness’s dominions, from Wakhan to the Persian border, shall follow the line shown in the map attached to this agreement.

The Government of India will at no time exercise interference in the territories lying beyond this line on the side of Afghanistan, and His Highness the Amir will at no time exercise interference in the territories lying beyond this line on the side of India.

The British Government thus agrees to His Highness the Amir retaining Asmar and the valley above it, as far as Chanak. His Highness agrees, on the other hand, that he will at no time exercise interference in Swat, Bajaur, or Chitral, including the Arnawai or Bashgal valley. The British Government also agrees to leave to His Highness the Birmal tract as shown in the detailed map already given to his Highness, who relinquishes his claim to the rest of the Waziri country and Dawar. His Highness also relinquishes his claim to Chageh.

The frontier line will hereafter be laid down in detail and demarcated, wherever this may be practicable and desirable, by joint British and Afghan commissioners, whose object will be to arrive by mutual understanding at a boundary which shall adhere with the greatest possible exactness to the line shown in the map attached to this agreement, having due regard to the existing local rights of villages adjoining the frontier.

With reference to the question of Chaman, the Amir withdraws his objection to the new British cantonment and concedes to the British Governmeni the rights purchased by him in the Sirkai Tilerai water. At this part of the frontier the line will be drawn as follows.

From the crest of the Khwaja Amran range near the Psha Kotal, which remains in British territory, the line will run in such a direction as to leave Murgha Chaman and the Sharobo spring to Afghanistan, and to pass half-way between the New Chaman Fort and the Afghan outpost known locally as Lashkar Dand. The line will then pass half-way between the railway station and the hill known as the Mian Baldak, and, turning south-wards, will rejoin the Khwaja Amran range, leaving the Gwasha Post in British territory, and the road to Shorawak to the west and south of Gwasha in Afghanistan. The British Government will not exercise any interference within half a mile of the road.

The above articles of’ agreement are regarded by the Government of India and His Highness the Amir of Afghanistan as a full and satisfactory settlement of all the principal differences of opinion which have arisen between them in regard to the frontier; and both the Government of India and His Highness the Amir undertake that any differences of detail, such as those which will have to be considered hereafter by the officers appointed to demarcate the boundary line, shall be settled in a friendly spirit, so as to remove for the future as far as possible all causes of doubt and misunderstanding between the two Governments.

Being fully satisfied of His Highness’s goodwill to the British Government, and wishing to see Afghanistan independent and strong, the Government of India will raise no objection to the purchase and import by His Highness of munitions of war, and they will themselves grant him some help in this respect. Further, in order to mark their sense of the friendly spirit in which His Highness the Amir has entered into these negotiations, the Government of India undertake to increase by the sum of six lakhs of rupees a year the subsidy of twelve lakhs now granted to His Highness.

H. M. Durand,

Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.

Kabul, November 12, 1893.

Written and Composed by

Pashtun /Afghan Democratic Council

pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com

Note: This Article was presented in Peshawar Press Club in a seminar about Durand line by Pashtun Awareness Movement (PAM))

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

About 3 million people from restive Swat, Buner and Dir migrated to comparatively safer areas of Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, Peshawar and some others in down Pakistan , a small number where these IDPs were restricted to settle or encamp. In other three provinces of Pakistan  some political parties and individuals opposed the entry of IDPs from Pashtun areas. This approach has certainly hit the minds of Pashtun whom have been continuously told that their migration would mean Survival of Pakistan but unfortunately those who were used to save the Pakistan for elite were denied entry into the same Pakistan which compelled Pashtun to think over their future strategy. These and many other like these are the questions which arise in the minds of Pashtun IDPs. Few days ago when I was in Buner to ask about the condition of those who were struck there and could not come out due to continued curfew and mischief of the religious terrorists. During my discussion with people they often asked questions like as to why the leadership of the militants was still intact? Where are the dead bodies of militants? Why did the provincial government of ANP and Peoples Party sign a peace deal with sufi Muhammad an erstwhile leader of the apparently banned Tehreek Nifazi Shariat Muhammadi who had taken more than 10000 people from the areas in question at a time when the then emirate of the Taliban was debacled after they refused to hand over the Osama to Americans in 2001 who was tipped as the one to target the America. After the treaty was signed the militants started coming to Buner and fought against the local people of Buner. People also launched war in their own defense but the administration did not come to their rescue. In the first time people of the area killed more than 45 militants but later on the then militant commissioner Syed Javed came to rescue of the terrorists and frightened the local people of the repercussions. Local people complained that the said commissioner had used his official car to take an ailing militant to hospital. Commissioner himself was a pro militant man who promoted the terrorism in the region at a time when he was the deputy commissioner of Swat and used to offer prayers after militant Fazlullah .Local people also suspected that local leadership of the Taliban militants was air- lifted to some safer place from Peuchar, Swat as the military and militants are same, they opined. When  people were interviewed some of them said that peace could not return to Malakand division until leadership of militants are wiped up and said that the same old method is being repeated again. Some of the people said that Fazlullah and his cronies would not be seen like Osama and Mulla Umar who disappered and are not seen till today. Most of the people did not believe what the military spokesman of Pakistan says to media time and again and were 100% sure that the militants would come again as the dummy operation once comes to an end. Militants are hiding in the mountains and forests. It was also observed that local support was not seen for the militants and terrorists but still people are confirmed in their thinking and practical that the terrorists are the snakes and are reared up by the ISI for ulterior motives to sabotage the development in Afghanistan and foil the Pashtun national movement for the unification. People also said that when operation started the helicopters came, hit some places in the mountains where no terrorist was hiding. They wondered innocently and put the question as to why the terrorists are not targeted and rather they were informed quite some time before the operation started.  Almost all people including the children were of the view that the state itself was involved in the destruction of their  houses (They were unable to differentiate between Democratic government and military including ISI). Some of the local people who had no area with politics opined that such dramas with Pashtun nation would be continued as the Pakistani establishment was averse to the presence of the American forces in Afghanistan and want Afghanistan to be under its command though this establishment did not understand that Afghanistan is a sovereign country and a proud and capable nation. Afghanistan is going to be a modern democratic state in Asia but the establishment of Pakistan could not tolerate it and does not like to see a strong and a prosperous Afghanistan. Pakistani establishments think that strong Afghanistan means weak Pakistan and this could not be a digestible item for it. Pashtun Afghan living both sides of the Durand line want unification as this is one nation and one people and this should also be clear that only Afghanistan is the historic country of all Afghans. Pashtun are being used in this drama of destruction while the game is prepared in Islamabad and Punjab and this is  a fact that today  many Punjabis Taliban are fighting in Tribal area and Swat who have come from the southern Punjab of Pakistan. The epicenter is Punjab but the product is sent to Pashtun areas. International community should think over it before the milk is split and then crying over it would be useless and if Americans and foreign forces lose in Afghanistan then the terrorists would not stop in Kabul. Americans are not hated in Pashtun areas because people understand that they would acquire science and technology and militants have no developmental and social program for Pashtun. Militancy leads to destruction and annihilation which Pashtun hate. Pashtun also understand it that the culture, language, history and geography of the Pashtun Afghans were at stake had the international community not come to Afghanistan. Now Pashtun are tired of war in region and want business and good life for them as well as for the coming generation. They want to see their children getting modern day education. Fighting against each and every one is not the contract of Pashtun. Pashtun want to go side by side with the international community and civilized world but international community will have to bring Pashtun closer as friends for the perennial peace and prosperity in Pashtun region including Afghanistan.

(The Writer is the Chairman Pashtun Democratic Council and can be reached on his email pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com, pdc.org.pk@gmail.com

www.larawbar.com/pdc)

Chairman Pashtun Democratic Council Zar ali khan musazai has welcomed the maiden address of the President Obama to the Muslim world. He said that Obama made it clear  to the Muslims that America and American people are not against Muslim world or Islam. The Muslims all over the world have lauded it and expressed satisfaction over the address of the President Obama. This address will hopefully address the misconceptions among the Muslim world about the America. He said that such steps are positive and should be lauded but at same time Muslim world should also not forget that this has also deficiencies and holding merely America for all its woes and troubles is not a just. Zar ali khan further said that dialogue is the best way to bring the people closer and at the same time Muslim world will have to accept the rights of its people who are still subjects and slaves under the despots  Muslim monarchs who have been ruling with iron hands in a ruthless manner. Terrorism and all its forms are unacceptable and democracy should prevail in Muslim world where people should be considered as citizens with all human rights including the rights of women who are the worst victims in the Muslim world and their rights are violated. In our region the girls schools are destroyed which means that terrorists and their mentors wish to see the Pashtun women as ignorant and make Pashtun people deaf and blind about the modern day world and its benefits .Democracy is the best way to solve our lingering issues. International community is further demanded that Pashtun should not be left alone in this hour of need where we people are facing the monster of terrorism. We assure the world that we Pashtun will be standing with the international community to flush the terrorism from our region. All those who have extended their assistance with Pashtun IDPs are our friends and hoping they would continue assisting our people in future.

Issued by

Pashtun Democratic Council

Peshawar

www.larawbar.com/pdc

pashtundemocraticcouncil@gmail.com