News Editorial: Taliban takeover of Swat was supported by establishment insiders

[TalibanSwatter]

The News - Editorial

There can be few more heartening sights than the bustling bazaars of Mingora during the Independence Day celebrations. If ever we needed an indicator that things had changed for the better, this was it. The curfew was relaxed; people were out on the streets celebrating – for the first time in three years, more for some – what the Taliban never allowed them to celebrate. Pakistani flags flew from rooftops, bunting laced the streets and in another sign of change women were outdoors celebrating as well. Reporters from private TV stations had been invited in by the army in a surprisingly well-judged PR exercise, and smartly dressed policemen got themselves interviewed. Public buildings and private houses were festooned with lights and children strutted their stuff on-stage at the Wadoodia Hall in Saidu Sharif. The Swat valley at last had something to celebrate.

None of this would have been possible were it not for a determined and sustained effort by the armed forces, who remain in strength as guarantors of the still-fragile peace. We have sustained substantial casualties, military and civilian, in the fight to win back the Swat valley and nothing will bring back the dead or ease the grief for those who have lost loved ones. Holding the ground that has been retaken is not going to be easy and anybody who thinks that the Taliban are beaten is deluding themselves. Their leadership in Swat survives, they still have their supporters and donated money continues to arm and supply them. The police we see today in Swat have yet to properly re-establish themselves, and they need the breathing-space afforded by the military to rebuild both their own confidence and to establish the trust of a wider public. That this peaceful and beautiful place, one of our premier tourist destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists, was allowed to degenerate into an enclave of barbarism that spawned a foul brood of butchers; is a national disgrace.

Make no mistake, be not deceived, the takeover of Swat and elsewhere had support in the upper echelons of the establishment, in some political parties and elements of the media both print and electronic The takeover of Swat was not spontaneous; it was carefully conceived and brilliantly executed.

Today, we have rolled back the forces of darkness, but it has been a tough fight and we have paid dear. Let us hope that next years celebrations in Swat will be of a year of rebuilding, development, and a re-kindling of the flame of moderation and peaceful coexistence.

 

[TalibanSwatter]

Clearly, the 'upper echelons of the establishment' is alluding to elements within the military top brass. That explains why the military seemed to drag its feet earlier in the year despite the request for effective military intervention articulated at the time by the ANP government. I just hope Gen Kayani has weeded out the khaki scoundrels who have been shamelessly propping up the fascist thugs in Swat for their own power-hungry agenda.

This indicates that we are our own worst enemy - while we tend to always blame outsiders for our troubles, the insiders are the one wreaking the most havoc.

 

[Slides]

Calm down, they're talking about the Malakand commissioner and his cronies. And you forgot to mention that peace plan was supported by ANP up to the end. Maybe you would have liked the army to invade NWFP without informing the provincial government?

That would have ended well like it did in 71.

 

[Bill Longley]

what an armyphobic editorial

utter bull ****

hundreds of army and FC men died before operation rah e rast

do you think army and government is stupid
about news and jung group
all of us know what ****** capitalist they are
they sell any thing which bring them benifits
the biggest example is their commercial intrests in india

come on and think from ur own mind

 

[TalibanSwatter]

what an armyphobic editorial

utter bull ****

hundreds of army and FC men died before operation rah e rast


come on and think from ur own mind

Your argument is weak - you are assuming that just because soldiers died previously, there can be no duplicity within the military establishment. We all know about Musharaf's policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds vis-a vis the Taliban. It is only under General Kayani's leadership that a distinct break has been made from the policies of the past.

I suspect the establishment insiders alluded to in the editorial have been marginalized to some extent since April of this year when Gen Kayani gave the green light for action.

about news and jung group
all of us know what ****** capitalist they are
they sell any thing which bring them benifits
the biggest example is their commercial intrests in india

So now the News group that famously stood up to the dictatorial antics of Musharraf inspite of all the threats hurled its way, and that supported the fight to restore the CJ has turned into the evil capitalist empire...or is it pro-US? Come on dude - get real!

 

[Patriot]

Actually Army wanted to go in swat in 2004/5 but then MMA government stopped Army..

 

[TalibanSwatter]

Calm down, they're talking about the Malakand commissioner and his cronies. And you forgot to mention that peace plan was supported by ANP up to the end. Maybe you would have liked the army to invade NWFP without informing the provincial government?

That would have ended well like it did in 71.

Thanks for bringing that up - I should point out the ANP request for intervention was repeatedly made before the peace deal was struck. However, the military seemed paralyzed at the time, and did not take any action.

The crooked Malakand comissioner is just a frontman - the people behind him are the ones with the real clout. And its fair to say I'm not referring to folks in the civilian government.

 

[Patriot]

Dude enough with consipiracy theories.How much anti Army people were in 2005 and 2007..just tell me how many people supported Army action back then?Everyone was anti Army in those days.Army would have commited suicide by going in those days.The peace agreement helped us immensley by giving army popular support of people.

 

[TalibanSwatter]

Actually Army wanted to go in swat in 2004/5 but then MMA government stopped Army..

fair enough - but lets not forget there has been a mullah-military nexus for the last two decades. The long-standing relationship between elements in the Army and mullah factions such as the pro-taliban Jamaat Islami is no secret.

While the Army under its current leadership has clearly chosen a progressive path, it is highly unlikely that the Swat Taliban could have gotten away with all the mayhem for so long without having support from certain elements in the military establishment over the last few years.

Some people speculate that there have been two factions in the military - a pro-taliban bloc that is rapidly losing strength, and the more mainstream faction led by Gen Kayani that is currently calling the shots.

 

[seekers]

If you can't judge the enemy,than you can't honour friendship.

our nation under mullah control still confuse about the people who offer prayers but cut the head of Muslims and impose their own shariah with guns.
we people had never learn from history.when someone recall their mind,they name it secrterism, extremism...
They are still confuse over their prayers and shariah imposing intentions.
They have killed thousand of innocence people in terrorist attack but still exploiting one lal masjid event.

Unfortunately Our country have no sincere friend in Muslim or non-Muslim global world because of our confused attitude on terrorist issue.

 

[waraich66]

If you can't judge the enemy,than you can't honour friendship.

our nation under mullah control still confuse about the people who offer prayers but cut the head of Muslims and impose their own shariah with guns.
we people had never learn from history.when someone recall their mind,they name it secrterism, extremism...
They are still confuse over their prayers and shariah imposing intentions.
They have killed thousand of innocence people in terrorist attack but still exploiting one lal masjid event.

Unfortunately Our country have no sincere friend in Muslim or non-Muslim global world because of our confused attitude on terrorist issue.

Do you think we also need Kumini.

Then who will up root corruption from society which is more dangerous then talaban terorism?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Clearly, the 'upper echelons of the establishment' is alluding to elements within the military top brass. That explains why the military seemed to drag its feet earlier in the year despite the request for effective military intervention articulated at the time by the ANP government. I just hope Gen Kayani has weeded out the khaki scoundrels who have been shamelessly propping up the fascist thugs in Swat for their own power-hungry agenda.

This indicates that we are our own worst enemy - while we tend to always blame outsiders for our troubles, the insiders are the one wreaking the most havoc.

Your analysis of the events is wrong.

Go back to the first Rah-e-Haq operation in Swat, right before the 2008 elections. The army had cleared most settled parts of Swat after a hard slog and casualties, and Mullah FM had retreated to his mountain hideouts, much like he and the remainder of his men are believed to have done now (except that this time the Army removed Peocher Valley from the list of places he could go to).

It was the political parties, the PPP, ANP, PML-N, that ran on a platform of 'end the military operation, give dialog a chance' and basically oppose any policy initiated by Musharraf. It was the political parties, led by the ANP in NWFP, that called for and enforced the ceasefire in Swat in 2008, and enacted a 'peace deal' that reversed all the gains the Army had made in the months leading up to that time.

That 'peace deal' was the the one that caused the most significant strategic loss from a military standpoint, because not only did the Swat Taliban get a respite from the pounding they were receiving, but they were also able to link up with Baitullah Mehsud's TTP and receive funding, material support as well as trained fighters from elsewhere.

And it is incorrect that the ANP was calling for the Army to help via military operations - Gen. Athar Abbas and other Army officials clearly stated in various interviews that the Army was under specific orders to not initiate military operations unless attacked first. That is why you heard of stories such as a attacks in a field close to an Army base or checkpoint and the Army doing nothing, because the Army soldiers were not being attacked and therefore the RoE were not met.

Place the blame for the Army not acting and the frittering away of the clear military advantage we had in the beginning of 2008 where it belongs - on the mindless, point scoring politicians who ran their entire campaigns on an anti-Musharraf and anti-Military force/pro-dialog platform.

To their credit, they did exactly what they told the electorate they would.

The Army is being made the scapegoat in Swat because the very same media, including Geo and Jang, the Sharif Brathran and the ANP were all baying for the Army's blood for 'killing its own people'. It's still a bit much for them to accept that they, and not the Army, played the biggest role in Swat's deterioration post 2008.

 

[Slides]

Thanks for bringing that up - I should point out the ANP request for intervention was repeatedly made before the peace deal was struck. However, the military seemed paralyzed at the time, and did not take any action.

The crooked Malakand comissioner is just a frontman - the people behind him are the ones with the real clout. And its fair to say I'm not referring to folks in the civilian government.

Wrong, no request for intervention was made, ANP was on fast track to do a jarga which was supported by most people to who if you remember at that time were still sympathetic to TTP and the Nizam-e-Adal demands.

 

[TalibanSwatter]

Your analysis of the events is wrong.

Go back to the first Rah-e-Haq operation in Swat, right before the 2008 elections. The army had cleared most settled parts of Swat after a hard slog and casualties, and Mullah FM had retreated to his mountain hideouts, much like he and the remainder of his men are believed to have done now (except that this time the Army removed Peocher Valley from the list of places he could go to).

It was the political parties, the PPP, ANP, PML-N, that ran on a platform of 'end the military operation, give dialog a chance' and basically oppose any policy initiated by Musharraf. It was the political parties, led by the ANP in NWFP, that called for and enforced the ceasefire in Swat in 2008, and enacted a 'peace deal' that reversed all the gains the Army had made in the months leading up to that time.

That 'peace deal' was the the one that caused the most significant strategic loss from a military standpoint, because not only did the Swat Taliban get a respite from the pounding they were receiving, but they were also able to link up with Baitullah Mehsud's TTP and receive funding, material support as well as trained fighters from elsewhere.

I agree with your assessment of the consequences of the peace deal.

And it is incorrect that the ANP was calling for the Army to help via military operations - Gen. Athar Abbas and other Army officials clearly stated in various interviews that the Army was under specific orders to not initiate military operations unless attacked first. That is why you heard of stories such as a attacks in a field close to an Army base or checkpoint and the Army doing nothing, because the Army soldiers were not being attacked and therefore the RoE were not met.

Place the blame for the Army not acting and the frittering away of the clear military advantage we had in the beginning of 2008 where it belongs - on the mindless, point scoring politicians who ran their entire campaigns on an anti-Musharraf and anti-Military force/pro-dialog platform.

To their credit, they did exactly what they told the electorate they would.

The Army is being made the scapegoat in Swat because the very same media, including Geo and Jang, the Sharif Brathran and the ANP were all baying for the Army's blood for 'killing its own people'. It's still a bit much for them to accept that they, and not the Army, played the biggest role in Swat's deterioration post 2008.

I disagree with your contention that there was no request by the provincial government for military intervention before conjuring up the peace deal. Several columnists in the local newspapers have referred to the lack of responsiveness by the military at the time. I will try to find some links and post them.

Gen Athar Abbas may be right that the Army at the time was under 'orders' not to respond unless attacked first. However, do not assume that the orders were originating from the civilian government. No one should fool themselves into believing that the Army is subservient to the civilian government in practical terms. We all know what happened when the Interior Minister tried to revamp the ISI reporting mechanism.



News Jang April 2009

ISLAMABAD: There has been tremendous pressure from Washington on President Asif Ali Zardari and ANP President Asfandyar Wali not to enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Swat but the two did not oblige the former for the mere reason that there was no other option available with anyone to bring peace in the valley. The White House was on Tuesday reported as saying that the accord signed by President Zardari placing Swat under Islamic law was against human rights and democracy. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Obama administration believed that “solutions involving security in Pakistan don’t include less democracy and less human-rights.

“The signing of that denoting strict Islamic law in the Swat valley goes against both of those principles. We are disappointed the parliament did not take into account legitimate concerns about civil and human rights.”

Sources in the Presidency confided to The News that Richard Holbrooke, US president’s special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, during his last visit plainly suggested the president not to sign the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation. However, President Zardari did not say either “yes” or “no” to his influential visitor but later the strategy was evolved to seek the will of the people by tossing the Regulation before the National Assembly. These sources said that it was Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, who came up with the idea of democratically tackling the issue. President Zardari, it is said, was under tremendous pressure to derail the Swat peace process in view of Washington’s apprehensions but he did not do that because of foreseeable serious political fallouts as well as possible return of Swat to complete lawlessness and anarchy.

President Zardari knew that in case he dithered from his commitment that he had made with Asfandyar Wali and his party on Swat peace deal, the ANP would not only leave the federal government but would also resign from the Frontier government, thus pushing the country back to a fresh political instability.

Having experienced his last one-year relations full of ups and downs with the PML-N, the president was not ready to repeat the recent history that had badly damaged his reputation in public. He also sounded the Americans that the ANP is a secular party but it had to get into a peace deal with Sufi Muhammad to maintain the writ of the government in Swat and bring peace there. Everyone here knows that there was no other option to secure the lives and property of the people of Swat.

--------------------------------

Going beyond newspaper clips, on a personal note, several family friends in the PPP circle have confirmed the account regarding the ANP's request for comprehensive military intervention before it turned to the Nizam Adl deal.

 

[Durran3]

We all know about Musharaf's policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds vis-a vis the Taliban.

When Musharraf was going full force in WANA he was condemned by the whole political sphere as well as the nation for waging a war against his own people. If Musharraf was somehow allowed to do what he wanted in WANA we wouldn't have the Bajaur or the Swat incident. You can't really accuse of him of running with the Taliban as he was very much against them from the get go. Its these political parties who have a soft spot for the Taliban, people like Imran khan or Nawaz Sharif.