North Waziristan has once more stumbled into the military-militant crossfire. For over the weekend, a new and little-known group going by the name of the Shura Waziristan made its presence felt. By reportedly distributing pamphlets throughout the area; warning tribal elders and others to cut all ties with the security apparatus. The Shura is allegedly headed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, one-time North Waziristan Taliban chief; a man who has spent the last decade and more making and breaking deals with the Pakistani state. For this is the tragedy of the North Waziristan tribal agency; it has been on the receiving end of military action on and off since 2005. More recently was Operation Zarb-e-Azb some four years ago. Yet almost as soon as victory had been declared came the recognition that sleeper cells still existed. Thereby prompting the need for a ‘clear up’ offensive in the form of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. That the latter is still ongoing today raises important questions about the efficacy of bullet and bombs alone. This must be answered by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Not least because he ultimately did a U-turn on his long-held position that the Army could not go in and essentially open-fire on ‘our own people’. To be sure, his was not a lone voice in the run-up to Zarb-e-Azb. Much of civil society felt the same way; even going as far as to sign a petition registering collective opposition to the use of force. Khan, however, flipped flopped when he felt that the Taliban were not serious about talking peace. All of which poses a conundrum of sorts for the Centre. Especially considering that it has pledged to do what is needed to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table; even as the latter has yet to down arms and continues targeted violence against the Kabul government. Yet when it comes to the goings-on across the western border the general consensus reached by all stakeholders dictates that a negotiated political solution is the only way to secure the quagmire; including a reconciliation process whereby the Afghan Taliban ultimately comprise part of the post-conflict regime. Indeed, this is a position that Pakistan has held from the offset. So what makes the situation at home different? Who gets to determine which militant groups are to be mainstreamed and which are to face the barrel of many guns? Resolving this will be a litmus test for the Khan regime in terms of proving its true independence. It is hoped that he is up to it. * Published in Daily Times, September 9th 2018.