Map - FATA

The last week of March 2007 witnessed Tank, a town in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) exploding with attacks by Taliban and its allies in South Waziristan. A pitched battle between security forces and the Taliban lasted almost six to eight hours, as the latter attempted to take over the town. The local civil administration and the police failed to tackle the issue, calling in the Army to help. Curfew was imposed and the town totally sealed off, with soldiers patrolling the streets and markets, while helicopters circled to prevent any further attacks. The government quotes the casualty number at 26, (mostly militants), while the locals believe it could be more.

What is happening in Tank? Why would the Taliban attempt to take over a town outside the Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA)? Is this a part of Taliban's larger effort to expand their sphere of influence into the settled districts of the NWFP?

First, comes the question of the strategic importance of Tank. It is situated adjoining the South Waziristan Agency and is a major exit point for Taliban fighters and the tribes of South Waziristan. Mahsuds and the Bhittanis are the main inhabitants of this district, and as such Tank is a major town for the Mahsuds living in South Waziristan. Many Mahsuds who live in Waziristan now own a house in Tank. Traditionally, the Mahsuds dominated this town and in the past, the region witnessed numerous battles with the British. Events in South Waziristan, especially in the Mahsud-dominated areas are likely to have an influence in Tank and its surroundings. The Pakistan government failed to understand this or overlooked this historical link between the tribal regions and settled districts of the NWFP.

Second, the government failed to pay attention to the creeping Talibanization of this district. Perhaps the government believed that once the Taliban controlled Waziristan, they would be satisfied. In fact, one can find a direct link between the agreement that the government signed with the Taliban supporters in Waziristan and the growing Taliban influence in the settled districts adjoining Waziristan. The agreement with local Taliban has only strengthened it; since then, the Taliban has been attempting to influence the administration outside Waziristan, including the areas of Bannu, Darra Adam Khel and Kohat. Attacks on music shops and threats to barbers warning them not to shave (in the settled areas, at times even in Peshawar), are minor, but strong indications of Taliban's efforts to expand their influence.

In October 2006, the local community in Tank came out to the streets to protest this gradual Talibanization and the increasing problems of law and order. Hostage-taking and ransom demands by the Taliban became a norm, as had happened during the British era. Locals belonging to the business community and NGOs were kidnapped and their ransom ran into millions. Unfortunately, the administration failed to check local support for the Taliban, allowing them to become bolder in this region.

The current violence in Tank should be viewed in this light. It started with Taliban's local supporters (belonging to the Baitullah Mahsud group) attempting to forcefully recruit students from local schools. Baitullah, a leading commander from South Waziristan, who is now fighting in Afghanistan, has considerable influence in this region - both in tribal and settled areas. With the Taliban announcing a Spring Offensive to counter the Allied Forces in Afghanistan, it is essential for Baitullah to have new recruits. As a part of this drive, when his supporters went to the local public school in Tank, the school principal's resistance surprised them. Instead of bowing to their threats, the principal called the local police. There was a gun battle and a grenade attack, in which the SHO and two militants were killed. According to another news report, few days earlier, militants recruited more than 20 students from various schools.

The same evening, militants returned to the town, attacking the Frontier Constabulary (FC) fort and paramilitary personnel using rockets. The next day, the principal of the school, who resisted the recruitment, was abducted along with his brother. Militants blocked the Tank-Bannu road, while the local administration closed the schools for five days. On the third day, there was a massive attack by more than 200 Taliban fighters from all sides of the town. Using rockets and mortars, they targeted the local police station, the paramilitary fort, and five banks. Around 3 million rupees was reportedly looted and records destroyed.

Clearly, there is a pattern in Taliban's initiatives outside the tribal regions. With North and South Waziristan, besides Bajaur, fully under their control, they are attempting to expand into the settled districts of the NWFP, especially Bannu, Tank and DI Khan. The agreements signed between the government and local Taliban has only allowed them to consolidate their position inside the tribal regions. And now they are looking eastwards.