ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Some parliamentarians from tribal areas have been openly accusing the government of being involved in the US-led forces’ attacks in Waziristan. They warned that the use of force would worsen the situation.

They cited an increase in the frequency of US drone attacks, their precision and the government’s preference for use of force, instead of holding talks with militants, as the basis for their suspicions.

Over the past few months, dozens of people had been killed, including some alleged high-profile foreigners.

“During the Musharraf regime, these attacks were not so frequent and they lacked accuracy …

“They would usually target seminaries, mostly killing students and local people. But now, these attacks are so frequent and targets are so accurate that you start wondering that somehow the government is involved,” a Fata MNA said.

The lawmakers said: “Why had foreigners been allowed to stay in the first place and why are they being killed now?”

“Talks alone will solve the issue,” a PPP MNA from Bajaur, Syed Akhonzada Chittan, said.

Supporting people who fought against the Soviet forces, he said their struggle against America was as justified as it was against the former USSR. However, he said, there were “some foreigners and agents of RAW and Mossad working against the country’s interest”.

Mohammad Kamran Khan, an MNA from North Waziristan, said he was greatly perturbed by the non-implementation of the resolution passed by the joint session of parliament.

Previously, he said, US attacks had been confined to tribal areas, but now had extended to settled areas. He cited the recent attack near Bannu and feared cities like Peshawar, Kohat and Karak would also be attacked. Criticising the government’s ‘apathy’, he said he did not know why people were not openly expressing their anger over the attacks.

He feared that a conspiracy was being hatched to destroy national cohesion and that people were deliberately being pitted against the army.

Mr Kamran said they had repeatedly held talks with the government, but there had been an increase in the number of attacks despite the authorities’ assurances. Accusing all governments of trying to prolong their stay in power at the cost of the country and people, he said that the issue could not be solved unless the rulers took the nation into confidence about the identity of the attacks.

Referring to the existence of foreigners in tribal areas, he said most of them had gone back to their countries soon after an increase in US-led forces’ attacks inside Pakistani territory.

“It is strange why they were not being attacked in their own countries,” he wondered.

Terming the use of force futile, he said the government would not be able to win the war and finally, it would have to negotiate. “They will realise their mistake only after a lot of bloodshed.”

Munir Khan Orakzai, the parliamentary leader of Fata parliamentarians, said his group had asked the government to make its position clear on army operations in Bajaur and Swat and the drone attacks in Waziristan. “We have given the government till Nov 30 to explain its position,” he said.