Author: Iqbal Khattak
Publication: Daily Times
Date: January 4, 2006
URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C04%5Cstory_4-1-2006_pg7_35
NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has said that
education would help 'change the mindset' of people living in the tribal areas
of NWFP. His comments referred to the tribal belt on the border with Afghanistan
where 'jihadi feelings' refuse to die down.
The United States is also making efforts to
emphasise the importance of education in Pakistan's Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) in the hope that it will deliver the desired results.
US National Security Advisor Steve Hadley
inaugurated the USAID-funded school in Khyber Agency last year underlining
America's efforts to change the tribesmen's mindset.
However, the Government Degree College in
Mir Ali town of North Waziristan is a breeding ground for anti-American feelings
with students supporting local Taliban fighters, sources told Daily Times
on Tuesday.
More than 15 students of the college were
killed in fighting the US forces in Afghanistan and in military action in
North Waziristan, a fourth year student of the college told Daily Times.
The last student of the college to be killed
in action was Abdul Wasit when a house was bombed near Mir Ali on December
1 in which Al Qaeda's top commander, Abu Hamza Rabia was also reportedly killed.
"Pro-jihad feelings are high among students," the student said.
"Young students in particular are inspired by jihad and they praise the
activities of local militants against Pakistani security forces and Americans
in Afghanistan." The number of pro-jihad students is on the rise, the
student said.
"Students in favour of jihad and local
are about 60 or 70 but what is disturbing is that this minority is dominating
the majority," he added.
Since the federal government did not extend
the Political Parties Act to FATA it gave Islamic parties an edge over liberal
and democratic forces to sway local population and students were no exception.
The main political party functioning in the
region was the nationalist Awami National Party.
In December, a musical programme was organised
to welcome new students but local militants warned students not to run the
programme.
"We are not studying for the sake of
getting some government job. We are here to become educated members of the
Islamic movement. I think the Taliban need educated members," a pro-Taliban
student told Daily Times.
A senior teacher at the college said that
at least one in four families had lost a member to 'jihad' and the youth were
inspired by the tribesmen against forces fighting the Taliban in Pakistan
and Afghanistan.
"The tribal youth are the biggest casualty
of the war on terror in FATA. As you know the best education one can get is
at home and there is no tribal family without pro-jihadi sentiments,"
the teacher told Daily Times.