PESHAWAR, June 23: Internal differences within terrorist organisations, surveillance by law-enforcement agencies, arrests and deaths of militants are among reasons making militants to quit militancy and weakening militant groups, according to experts.

“Some of the militants voluntarily withdraw from their organisations because they can’t tolerate hardships that one suffers by joining militant groups,” Brig. Saad Mohammad, former Pakistani defence attaché in Kabul, told Dawn.

In some instances, militants withdraw because they get tired of leading a life as a fugitive. “Deep-rooted fears infect them as they lead the life of a fugitive, making some to give up the militancy,” said Mr Saad.

A recent case in point is that of Ilyas Shinwari, a Khyber Agency-based Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan commander who surrendered on May 31, 21012.

An official of the Landi Kotal sub-division told Dawn that Shinwari surrendered out of fear of arrest. “His brother and father – also associated with terrorists – were arrested some time back, making him vulnerable,” said the official.

A local tribal jirga (council of elders) negotiated his surrender, said the official.

Shinwari was wanted by the Khyber Agency administration in several cases of attacks on oil tankers that his men destroyed in the area.

Besides, he was alleged to be a key financier of Abdullah Aezam Brigade, a militant outfit. He was also involved in kidnapping for ransom cases.

In 2008, Haji Abdul Maalik, a TTP local commander in Adaizai tribal area, near Peshawar, abandoned militancy after police arrested him in a crackdown.

“After his (Maalik’s) arrest, we negotiated a deal with him convincing him to secure his freedom in exchange for giving up militancy,” said Dilawar Khan, head of a strong Aman Lashkar (peace force).

Maalik and his son, who had also been arrested, chose freedom, said Khan. Later, they joined the Aman Lashkar and fought against Taliban.

“Maalik was made Aman Lashkar head, causing severe blow to the Taliban,” Dilawar told Dawn. In a reprisal suicide bomb attack, Taliban assassinated Maalik in 2009 near Peshawar.

About the militants’ reasons for withdrawal, Brig Saad said some of them gave up militancy because they didn’t have that character in their personality. “They feel guilty, their conscience does not allow them to continue, making them to return to their normal life,” said Saad, a security expert.

The weakening position of terrorist groups, according to Saad, also at time plays a role in drifting away the militants. “Seldom anybody stays on a sinking boat,” he said, adding “it’s in the tribal society’s psyche.”

“The terrorists leave their groups when they see that they are losing.

Militant groups, said the ex-military officer, acted like military units as far as their discipline was concerned. They worked as closely knitted units and are governed by discipline, he said.

“If a militant is not happy about any particular issue or has a disputes with his colleagues, it undermines the organisation’s unity,” said Saad, adding “in many instances the disputes go deeper because of weaknesses on the leader’s part, making the group members to run away.”

Leadership weaknesses and internal disputes have left several al-Qaeda associated groups divided, making the militants to vanish rendering the groups ineffective.

“One third of the 130 militant groups that exist in Federally Administered Tribal Areas have become non-entities,” Ashraf Ali, director, Fata Research Centre, an Islamabad-based think tank, told Dawn.

Internal disputes, he added, caused dents to several TTP groups in Fata. “Only the major groups survive, small outfits become non-entities as the disillusioned militants abandon militancy.”

In Bajaur Agency, militant commander Wali-ur-Rehman’s entire group surrendered (some time back) after negotiating a peace deal with the local authorities, according to Mr Ali.

Similarly, TTP’s Mohmand Agency chapter became non-existent after its chief Abdul Wali alias Umer Khalid ran away after most of his group members deserted him due to a military crackdown against them in 2008-09, he said.

In Orakzai Agency, he added, infighting between Nabi Mullah and Mullah Toofan, two rival commanders, had eventually benefited the government.

“In several instances, infighting rendered the militant groups weakened, forcing them to enter into negotiations with the authorities,” said Mr Ali.

He said that Taliban foot soldiers usually got dejected once their leaders entered into negotiations with the authorities.

“The more committed among the militants who join militant organisations to fight against foreign troops or those with a criminal background stick around despite internal disputes,” said Mr Ali.