'There are problems on both sides'

-- Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Senior Minister NWFP
By Tauseef ur Rahman

The News on Sunday: What objectives did the government have in mind before it launched Operation Siraat-i-Mustaqeem in Khyber Agency?
Bashir Ahmad Bilour: First of all, I would like to make it clear that it was not an 'operation' but an action that was taken against the miscreants in Khyber Agency. It was not aimed at Taliban but the government wanted to purge the tribal agency of the criminal syndicates. The security forces only demolished the hideouts of those who were involved in kidnapping and other illegal activities. The small number of casualties itself speaks for the so-called 'intense' action. Had it been a major operation, the number (of casualties) would have been higher.
Secondly, maintaining law and order in FATA is the responsibility of the federal government and it is taking due action.

TNS:Do you think Peshawar is safe from the militants' onslaught?
BAB:The media likes to think that Peshawar is falling to Taliban while the situation is not that bleak. The government has full control over the areas that are under its jurisdiction. ANP believes in settling issues through negotiations rather than through the barrel of the gun.

TNS:What is the status of the deal with the Swati militants?
BAB:The ANP government, right from day one, has sought a negotiated settlement of all the issues, which is evident from our efforts to secure peace in the region (Swat).
The previous government (of MMA) did not have the courage to release Sufi Muhammad of the banned Tanzim i Nifaz i Shariat i Muhammadi (TNSM) as they could not afford to incur the wrath of Gen (r) Musharraf and the United States. It was ANP that released Sufi and inked a deal with the Mullah Fazllullah-led local Taliban in Swat. After the ceasefire, people experienced a calm in the scenic valley that lasted over a month.
See, there are problems on both sides. However, we hope they will be resolved amicably. We cannot fulfil the militants' demand for a general amnesty but I am sure their detained colleagues could be bailed out. The agreement with the local Taliban is still intact and the remaining issues -- including compensation to the affectees of the Swat operation and the removal of check-posts -- should soon be addressed.

TNS:ANP is known as a secular party. Will it support the Islamic Judicial System as demanded by the Swati Taliban?
BAB:The government promised the local Taliban that it would enforce the Shariah Nizam-i-Adl Regulation 1999, after fine-tuning it. The new system will bind the judges to dispose off cases of civil nature within six months' time, whereas the criminal cases will be decided in three months flat.

TNS:Are the Islamic punishments included in that Regulation?
BAB:Not at all, there is no provision for, say, 'Rajam' (stoning), or amputating hands of criminals in the Regulation.

TNS:Who are the people that are torching schools and hotels and attacking security forces in the Swat valley?
BAB:See, we'll have to differentiate between the Taliban and the miscreants. The groups involved in organised crimes like arson and kidnapping have nothing to do with Taliban. We shall take to task those actually involved in these incidents.

TNS:Are the ANP peace initiatives viable and workable?
BAB:I can safely say that the people's confidence in ANP is increasing day by day which is evident from the recent by-poll in which ANP secured two seats -- one in Swat and another in tehsil Tangi of district Charsadda where we had never won before.
However, there are certain forces that are not interested in seeing Pukhtuns as a peaceful united nation. We are in a state of war for there are electricity and gas problems, food shortage and also the deteriorating law-and-order situation which is why army was called in in different parts of the country. Despite the grave situation we are providing security to our citizens.

TNS:Does your government have a plan-B in case the militants in Swat scrap the deal?
BAB:Even if the Taliban in Swat pull out from the deal we will continue our efforts to bring them to the negotiation table because we don't want our people to ever experience the menace of suicide bombings again.

TNS:What are the reasons for militant insurgency in the province?
BAB:Certainly, there are foreign hands involved in the incidents occurring in FATA. These forces want to destabilise Pakistan, declare it a failed state and create a situation where the hoax of nuclear insecurity can be brought forth.
We need to effectively work to subvert the evil aims of the enemy. The people don't need sophisticated weapons; what they need is access to health, education and employment, and ANP is striving to provide all these to the masses.
We want to make the country a welfare state where the people do not die of hunger.

TNS:Is government serious about capturing/eliminating Baitullah Mahsud?
BAB:Physically eliminating someone from the scene would not help matters; rather it will complicate the situation further. Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti's killing is a good example to cite in this regard.

TNS:Was your party brought on board regarding negotiations with Taliban in FATA?
BAB:No, the government has not taken us into confidence regarding negotiations or whatever action it is taking in FATA. NWFP being adjacent to FATA has a direct influence on the happenings in the province.