The Indian Affairs (TIA) exclusive report on how Pakistan had handed over the six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan, published on Sept 20 has been vindicated. 

Rangeeza Noor (twitter: @rangeeza)Pashtun activist from Afghanistan raised the issue at the UNHRC drawing world’s attention to the Pakistan Army’s atrocities and the recent decision of handing over the control of six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to TTP. Reportedly, one person who has been given such powers is Nawaz Talha Talib, Ameer (Emir) of Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Elaborating at length on the atrocities being committed by the Pak Army in KPK, Rangeeza disclosed that more than 500 innocent civilians have been killed in the province in the last five years. She alleged that Pak Army and TTP are also committing atrocities on Pashtuns in Waziristan as well. 

TIA first broke the story on the basis of inputs from reliable sources in Pakistan. Our source had even confirmed the names of the districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, and Khyber agency as well as that of TTP Emir.

Some analysts believe that the handing over of 6 KPK districts was part of the clandestine negotiations that are currently underway between the Pak Army and TTP. 

Some reports also suggested that Pak Army support to TTP in areas bordering Afghanistan was the result of the feud between the top brass of the Pakistan army. The name of Faiz Hameed, previous ISI Chief & ex-Peshawar Corps Commander of the Pak army and responsible for the region (now transferred to Bahawalpur Corps) has also come up in this controversy as the prime backer of TTP.

Interestingly, Pashtun activities have been blaming Pakistan Army for its active backing of TTP activities in the Pashtun-dominated regions. They allege that the atrocities against Pashtuns, Balochs, and Shias are being committed on the directives of the Pak army.

Slogans like ‘Ye Jo Dehshadgardi Hai Iske Piche Wardi Hai’ have been raised all over Pakistan criticizing the Pak army for supporting terrorism.

Rangeeza Noor’s testimony before UNHCR is an interesting development in the whole saga. Time alone will tell how this will affect the relationship of the Pak state with various Pashtun factions on both sides of the Durand Line.