By Asif Farooqi, IOL Pakistan correspondent

ISLAMABAD, October 21 (IslamOnline) - Administrative takeover of the bordering province with Afghanistan by the alliance of religious parties is not likely to affect the anti-terrorism operation continuing against Taliban and Al Qaeda fugitives in the bordering areas, experts say.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMAP), an alliance of almost all the religious outfits of the country, swept the general elections in the province of NWFP and made major electoral gains in another Afghan-bordering Province, Balochistan. With its 49 seats in the Provincial Assembly of 99 in NWFP, MMAP is in a comfortable position to form its government. Whereas in Balochistan, it would need support from other members as it has won 13 out of the total 51 seats and still managed to be the largest party in that province.

MMAP is negotiating with the independent members of the Balochistan Assembly and other smaller groups to form a government there. An alliance with the pro-government Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is also being considered.

The political analysts believe that MMAP would exercise full control over the domestic affairs of the province after gaining support from other members.

However, these analysts and political experts believe that the anti-terrorism operation going on in these two provinces would not be directly affected simply because there is an MMAP government in these provinces.

Over the last year, Pakistan has become the most important U.S. ally in its war against terrorism. From intelligence sharing to housing a fairly large number of U.S. troops on its soil, Pakistan is providing U.S. with the support like no other country in the world. U.S. Special Forces are actively chasing Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives all over the country with the help of local law enforcement agencies, especially in the tribal areas of NWFP and Balochistan. Some of the key Al Qaeda leaders, including top Osama lieutenants Ramzi Ben Al Shibh and Abu Zubaida were apprehended in this country.

Pakistan lent its support to the U.S. as a matter of foreign policy, which in Pakistan is a federal subject. Provinces have no control over the decisions involving foreign policy issues. So practically, there is very little the provincial governments can do to stop this operation. However, if MMAP is also able to form a government in the center, experts do expect a change in Pakistan’s policy towards the U.S. operations in Pakistan. MMAP leaders have made it very clear that they do not want the U.S. forces on Pakistani soil.

Another question relevant to the operation in Pakistani territory is the Pakistani force’s help to the U.S. in searching for al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives. The provincial governments are not likely to intervene in this as the forces involved in anti-terror are under federal control. The Pakistan army and the paramilitary troops are mainly involved in the search in bordering areas. These areas mostly constitute Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) under direct control of the federal government and the provincial government can not exercise jurisdiction in the tribal area.

Moreover, the tribal lords have already supported the Pakistani search operations in these areas and for the first time in Pakistan’s history, the Pakistan army was allowed to search the tribal areas under an agreement with the tribal elders.