ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Commemorating International Peace Day, speakers at a seminar on Thursday urged the government to stop alleged killing of innocent people by the army in Waziristan.

The seminar on ‘The Waziristan Peace Accord: One step forward or two steps back?’ was arranged by ActionAid Pakistan and Sustainable Development and Policy Institute (SDPI) at a local hotel.

Speakers, including journalists, academicians, parliamentarians, and human rights activists, analysed the conflict situation in Waziristan in the light of the ongoing ‘war on terror’, and discussed its implications on the regional security with particular reference to Pakistan.

South Waziristan MNA Maulana Merajuddin said the tribal people were very considerate and they strictly followed the tradition of negotiations and Jirga. The right way to solve the issue and build peace with the tribal people is negotiations, because they will never compromise on their values and traditions, he said.

He said it was due to the flawed polices of the government that the situation had worsened. Government claims of killing militants during operations in North and South Waziristan were all lies. The military operations have instead lead to killing of innocent men, women and children. Thousands have been displaced because of military operations in which gunships helicopters and planes were used against innocent people, he said.

Mr Merajuddin said: “We understand the political situations and the conditions of our country, but we request the government to stop the killing of our innocent people at the hands of army in the US-led war on terror.”

Speaking on the occasion, QAU history department chairman Syed Waqar Ali Shah said Waziristan had always been the hunting ground for imperialists, and they had been experimenting with different kinds of weapons and bombs in these areas to gain hold of the political and economic power.

Huge funds have been spent on these military expeditions, but no solution to the crisis could be found. Civilian colonies have been targeted in Mohmand Agency and innocent citizens have been killed in Waziristan, he said.

Ismail Khan, bureau chief, Dawn Peshawar, said the North and South Waziristan had the lowest socio-economic indicators in the region, which was due to the unrest and military operations.

There are two problems in the area: the presence of foreign militants and cross border movement.

About the peace accord, he said the major problem was that there was no time frame for the agreement, and it was also unclear whether it was representative of all the people of North Waziristan.

Mr Khan said the previous Shakai agreement of South Waziristan signed in April, 2004, failed to deliver and the government lost control of the area. The current peace deal is an easy way out for the government, and it is difficult to imagine that the cross border movement will stop.

Aimal Khan from the SDPI said the ordinary people and tribal elders had always been bypassed by the military in all negotiations. He linked betterment in the lives of the people of Waziristan to increased socio-political development.

Dr Saba Gul Khattak, a women rights activist, pointed out the suffering of women and children in violent and conflict situations. Several people, especially women and children, had been displaced due to the conflict in Waziristan.

The speakers were of the opinion that President Pervez Musharraf had ‘reaffirmed’ his ‘commitment’ to fighting terrorism by signing the peace agreement with the Taliban. It is time to use not only brawns but also brains, they said. The peace accord is being closely watched by the US and the allied forces in Afghanistan.

Recently, US helicopters again violated Pakistan’s airspace in North Waziristan, which not only added to the tensions prevailing between the Taliban and the Pakistan government, but also threatened the peace deal.

Policy analysts consider the deal akin to army’s surrender to Taliban and to admit implicitly that it failed to gain control of Taliban dominated areas. The same idea also echoed in Ismail Khan’s analysis: Waziristan Peace Deal: Back to square one.