Return-Path: <sentto-279987-2377-1001530095-fc=all.net@returns.onelist.com> Delivered-To: fc@all.net Received: from 204.181.12.215 by localhost with POP3 (fetchmail-5.1.0) for fc@localhost (single-drop); Wed, 26 Sep 2001 11:49:25 -0700 (PDT) Received: (qmail 29724 invoked by uid 510); 26 Sep 2001 18:48:34 -0000 Received: from n19.groups.yahoo.com (216.115.96.69) by 204.181.12.215 with SMTP; 26 Sep 2001 18:48:34 -0000 X-eGroups-Return: sentto-279987-2377-1001530095-fc=all.net@returns.onelist.com Received: from [10.1.4.56] by mw.egroups.com with NNFMP; 26 Sep 2001 18:48:15 -0000 X-Sender: fc@big.all.net X-Apparently-To: iwar@onelist.com Received: (EGP: mail-7_3_2_2); 26 Sep 2001 18:48:14 -0000 Received: (qmail 23057 invoked from network); 26 Sep 2001 18:48:13 -0000 Received: from unknown (10.1.10.142) by l10.egroups.com with QMQP; 26 Sep 2001 18:48:13 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO big.all.net) (65.0.156.78) by mta3 with SMTP; 26 Sep 2001 18:48:11 -0000 Received: (from fc@localhost) by big.all.net (8.9.3/8.7.3) id LAA23625 for iwar@onelist.com; Wed, 26 Sep 2001 11:48:01 -0700 Message-Id: <200109261848.LAA23625@big.all.net> To: iwar@onelist.com (Information Warfare Mailing List) Organization: I'm not allowed to say X-Mailer: don't even ask X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL1] From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net> Mailing-List: list iwar@yahoogroups.com; contact iwar-owner@yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list iwar@yahoogroups.com Precedence: bulk List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:iwar-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com> Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 11:48:01 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: iwar@yahoogroups.com Subject: [iwar] [fc:Radicals.gain.street.cred.in.tense.Baluchistan] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Radicals gain street cred in tense Baluchistan By John Fullerton QUETTA, Pakistan, Sept 25, (Reuters) ***** - They are everywhere. In black berets and dark grey uniforms, clutching Chinese-made Ak-47 rifles shiny with age, police stand watch on every corner, almost every street. "We have mobilised all our resources," a senior security official said on Tuesday. "We have put up extra posts all over the city, and checkpoints on all highways. "We are providing security for every foreign resident and visitor. The situation here is under control -- but it is tense, very tense." On the surface, Quetta appears to be a sleepy backwater, a provincial city of 1.5 million people. Children run home from school, women in brightly coloured chadors are out window shopping, their menfolk finger prayer beads, stroke their beards and argue over endless glasses of sugared tea. Yet this desert city is the political, military, economic and administrative centre for a vast region, and it lies only two- and-a-half hours' drive from the Afghan border. Beyond Quetta itself, Baluchistan province may be sparsely populated with only 6.5 million out of a national total of around 130 million, but it covers 43 percent of the country and shares a 1,400 km (850 mile) border with Afghanistan. SHATTERED TRANQUILITY Quetta's tranquility was shattered two weeks ago after suicide hijackers attacked targets in New York and Washington, killing about 6,000 people and prompting U.S. President George W. Bush to declare what he called a global war against terrorism. Washington swiftly identified what it said was an Arab-Afghan plot, named Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect and demanded that his radical Afghan hosts, the ruling Taliban movement, hand him over. It also ordered a rapid military build-up within striking distance of South Asia. Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, gave his country's support in principle to Washington's efforts to build an international coalition against "international terror." But the U.S. threat of violent retribution has played into the hands of what security sources say are about 15-20 radical political organisations in Pakistan, some with access to illegal arms and a few enjoying a considerable public following. The fear is that U.S. military action across the border, particularly in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, together with a perception that Pakistan supports such action directly or indirectly, might provide a trigger for widespread unrest. "I think it unlikely that any of these (radical factions) will openly challenge the authorities right now," said a senior security official who asked not to be identified. "But they will not fail to exploit popular opinion if the opportunity presents itself and if the international situation deteriorates." SIX RADICAL GROUPS The sources identified six of the radical groups: - Jamiat Ulema Islam, led by Fazlur Rehman. Radical, Islamist and popular, the JUI (Fazlur Rehman) helped found Afghanistan's Taliban. It is regarded by security sources as the most potent, with an edge over its rivals in street muscle in Quetta itself. It has eight of 43 seats in the provincial assembly. With headquarters in Dera Ismail Khan in northern Baluchistan, it has a big following in the towns of Chaman, Zhob, Pashin and Kalat. - Pashtunkwha (Pashtun Nation) Milli Awami Party (PMAP), led by Mehmood Khan Achakzai. Leftist, nationalist, and in Quetta, security sources say, it is second only in street cred to JUI (Fazlur Rehman). Also strong in parts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), it is rumoured to have links with Afghanistan's Northern Alliance, which is battling the Taliban. The sources suggest that in certain circumstances the PMAP could also agitate on the streets against the Pakistani authorities. - Jamiat Ulema Islam, a faction led by Samiul Haq. Its strength is concentrated in the NWFP. - Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed. It has some public support throughout Pakistan, but is not seen as a physical threat to law and order. - Sipha-e-Sahaba, led by Azem Tariq. A radical Sunni Muslim organisation, it is seen by security sources as peripheral in Quetta and limited to perhaps 500 members and active supporters. - Tarik-e-Jafria. A popular Shi'ite Muslim party, pro-Iranian and anti-Western intervention, it is strong in the NWFP while its support in Quetta includes members of the exiled Hazara community. On Monday evening, security sources told Reuters, two rocket-propelled grenades were detonated close to Quetta's military base. There were no casualties and -- set against the 42 incidents involving explosive devices detonated in city districts over the past nine months -- it seemed minor. Given the high level of security, though, the fact that a weapon of this type was fired at all kept security chiefs up for much of the night. "We are watching and waiting," said the senior security officer. "It's in God's hands now." 09:02 09-25-01 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Pinpoint the right security solution for your company- Learn how to add 128- bit encryption and to authenticate your web site with VeriSign's FREE guide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/JNm9_D/33_CAA/yigFAA/kgFolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ------------------ http://all.net/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : 2001-09-29 21:08:50 PDT