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Operation Rah-e-Nijat (South Waziristan)

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LADHA: Soldier standing on a hill in Ladha town, in troubled South Waziristan, on 21 January 2010. -AFP


SARAROGHA: Soldiers patrol Sararogha, in South Waziristan, on 23 January 2010. -AFP


MADYAN: Burqa clad would-be suicide women attackers� talk with media representatives following their arrest by security forces in Madyan, a town in restive Swat valley, on January 9, 2010. -AFP
 
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Pakistan army has broken the back of TTP | Pakistan Daily

Pakistan army has broken the back of TTP

Written by (Author ) Local, Pakistan Jan 28, 2010

U.S.Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus lauding the Pakistan Army successes in Malakand and South Waziristan regions said that Pakistani Taliban are no longer in possession of the tools of terror that they once had in their eastern South Waziristan stronghold.

“Well, I don’t know that you would characterize it as having defeated the TTP and/or the other elements that are associated with the Pakistani Taliban. But they have certainly set them back very considerably,” he answered while speaking at a US Think Tank when asked if Pakistan has completely defeated the militant movement.

Gen. Petraeus told a gathering of experts at the Institute for the Study of War that it is important that Pakistan’s vital anti-terror strides are recognized.

The Centcom leader noted with appreciation that the Pakistani army has cleared and held Swat Valley, Swat District, the Malakand Division of Northwest Frontier Province and has conducted important operations in Bajaur, Mohmand, and Khyber in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

“And then most recently, of course, about three or four months ago, launched an important operation in eastern South Waziristan, the tribal areas controlled by the extremist element that was led by the former Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in the Fata last year, a very important action. And that has put considerable pressure on, again, the Pakistani Taliban and some of its affiliates.”

In his appraisal, Petraeus noted a strong public backing for Pakistan’s anti-militant operations that emerged following the Taliban’s challenge to writ of the government in Swat valley.

“It has been, I think, of enormous importance that we recognize this important development because until about ten months ago, I think there was generally an assertion by a number in Pakistan that the Pakistani military was being coerced into fighting the U.S. War on Terror,” he said, according to a transcript of the discussion available Tuesday.

He also acknowledged the fact that in dealing with the massive task of clearing and holding an area in the mountainous region and then rebuilding the conflict-hit areas, the available resources remain limited.

“The Pakistani Army and the Frontier Corps have carried out really quite impressive counter-insurgency operations. There are certainly limitations in the resources available to them. There are limitations in the governmental agencies and resources that they can bring to the rebuilding effort because, of course, it’s not just clear and leave, it’s clear, hold, and build, and even transition. And again, the Pakistani military’s approach has been quite impressive.

“So I think all in all, they have shown quite a facility for carrying out these operations, a recognition that you have to hang onto what you fought to clear. You know, the act of taking over that area of eastern South Waziristan, where there was so much infrastructure that contained explosives, IED factories, car bomb factories, and arms and ammunition storage sites, and planning locations, training facilities, all the rest of that-that’s not in their hands now, in TTP’s hands.’

At the same time, the general remarked that the Pakistani fight against militancy is work in progress and additional pressure on other organizations will be helpful to the overall effort.

“So this has been a very significant development, but again, very much a work in progress, to be sure.”
 
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Bajaur: According to ISPR, 7 militants killed, 4 injured in security operation in Salazari.
 
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recent updates

UN envoy to Afghanistan met Taliban, says official
The news, Updated at: 0120 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

LONDON: The United Nations representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, met active members of the Taliban insurgency in Dubai this month for "talks about talks", a UN official said Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, could not say which members of the Taliban were at the meeting but said it was held at the request of the militants.


"The Taliban had made overtures to the Special Representative to talk about peace talks," the official said.

"That information was shared with the Afghan government and the UN hopes that the Afghan government will capitalise on this opportunity."



9 militants killed in Bajaur clashes
The news, Updated at: 2100 PST, Thursday, January 28, 2010

KHAR: Nine militants were killed in fresh clashes with security forces in Bajaur Agency, sources said on Thursday.

While three soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting.

According to sources, fierce clashes took place between security forces and militants in Salarzai’s areas of Malasyed and Chenar, in which nine militants were killed.

On the other hand, a tribal jirga announced to fully back the security forces in Salarzai tehsil.



Four militants killed in SWA search operation
The news, Updated at: 2115 PST, Thursday, January 28, 2010


WANA: Four militants were killed in an action in South Waziristan as part of the ongoing Operation Rah-e-Nijat.

According to ISPR, On Jndola Sector, security forces conducted search and clearance operation and cleared area up to Ziaratzai near Ahmedwamand Tapar Punga near Nanu and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Ziaratzai Top near Ahmedwam and killed 4 terrorists.

On Shakai Sector security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Darakai, Tarakai, Khanzirai, Manzai and cleared number of compounds and cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

Terrorists fired on security forces check post at Tarkai Sar near Ladha which was effectively responded.

Razmak Sector. Security forces are consolidating their positions in the Razmak Sector.

In Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat-Malakand, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Bari Kot, Chakdara and Mam Derai and apprehended 7 suspected terrorists.

Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Allah Dand, Zulam Kot and Mangora and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions.

One terrorist voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Kalakot.

In total 30,768 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.
 
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Four terrorists killed in operation Rah-e-Nijat

ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (APP): During the last 24 hours, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Ziaratzai Top near Ahmedwam and killed four terrorists in operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan. In Jandola sector, the security forces conducted search and clearance operation and cleared area upto Ziaratzai near Ahmedwamand Tapar Punga near Nanu and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Similarly in Shakai sector, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Darakai, Tarakai, Khanzirai, Manzai and cleared number of compounds and cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

The terrorists fired on security forces checkpost at Tarkai Sar near Ladha which was effectively responded. In Razmak sector, the security forces are consolidating their positions.

The forces conducted search and clearance operation at Bari Kot, Chakdara and Mam Derai and apprehended seven suspected terrorists in the operation in Malakand.

The Security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Allah Dand, Zulam Kot and Mangora and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions.

One terrorist voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Kalakot.
As many as 30,768 Cash Cards have been issued among the displaced families of Waziristan.
 
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‘Army has broken terrorists’ back in Swat, Waziristan’

By Sajjad Malik

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army has broken the back of terrorists in Swat and South Waziristan, once considered the command and control centres of the Taliban, Mangla Corps Commander Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed said on Thursday.

Addressing a passing out batch of elite police force trained in counter-terrorism by the army’s commandos, Ahmed said, “Be rightly proud of the standard of training, which you have achieved from an army which has successfully broken the back of terrorists in Swat and South Waziristan.” Emphasising the need for a united action by all law enforcement agencies of the country in the fight against militancy, he hoped that police would maintain the level of their marksmanship, physical fitness and mental alertness in the time of need.

He said he was confident that the special anti-terrorism training would go a long way in improving the standard of the police force
 
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Pakistan Security Brief - January 28, 2010

More rumors surface about Hakimullah Mehsud’s death; gunmen attack a NATO supply convoy in Karachi; US drones absent over North Waziristan; explosion in Balochistan kills three; Filipino terror suspect most likely not killed in North Waziristan drone strike; allegations of ANP disruption in Swat election.

More unconfirmed rumors are circulating about Hakimullah Mehsud’s condition following a series of drone strikes earlier this month. One rumor suggests that Mehsud succumbed to injuries sustained in the January 14 attack in Shaktoi village. Another rumor indicates he was wounded and is receiving care at his father-in-law’s home in Mamozai village in Orakzai Agency, which may have been shelled by helicopter gunships on Tuesday. The TTP still denies Mehsud has been killed or injured.[1]


Tribesmen in North Waziristan have reported the skies clear of US drones for the first time in months. Locals have said that in the past two days they have not seen any drones flying overhead.[3]

A bomb explosion in the Jaffarabad district of Balochistan has left three people dead and eight others injured. Police are currently investigating the blast, which occurred at a restaurant in the town of Sohbatpur.[4]

Reports now indicate that a Filipino terror suspect believed to have been killed in the January 14 drone strike in North Waziristan is most likely still alive. A Philippine military official stated he is ‘99-percent’ certain Abdul Basit Usman is still in the Philippines and added that Usman was sighted in the southern part of the country last week.[5]
 
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At least 44 militants killed in fighting: Officials

Friday, 29 Jan, 2010

Twenty-one militants were killed Friday, following 23 killed in the two preceding days, govt officials said.

KHAR: Pakistan security forces battled militants close to the Afghan border Friday in fighting that has killed 44 suspected insurgents over the last three days, a government official said.

There was no independent confirmation of the fighting or the identities of the dead in Bajur, a tribal region where al-Qaida and Taliban have long had a presence.

The Pakistan army launched a major operation in Bajur against the militants in 2008 that it claimed had cleared the area of militants, but clashes have continued since then.

Abdul Kabir, the top-ranking official in Bajur, said several troops had been injured in the fighting in the Slarzai area. He said the clashes began Wednesday when troops began helping a council of tribal elders in evicting Taliban from the area.

He said 21 militants were killed Friday, following 23 killed in the two preceding days.

Pakistan has launched a series of offensives against militants in the tribal areas, pushing them back in some areas.

But Western countries want the army to continue pressing the fight because Taliban fighters in Afghanistan use the region as base from which to attack Nato and US forces. -AP
 
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So where are the TTP now exactly? From what I gather, they are scattered all over the place - Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai, Kyber. Any specific area they are concentrated in?
 
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So where are the TTP now exactly? From what I gather, they are scattered all over the place - Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai, Kyber. Any specific area they are concentrated in?

Well wherever they are or were concentrated, their arses are being fired upon. PA is not giving them any room to maneuver or settle down.

The are now scattered everywhere and trying their best to get to a safety zone.
 
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So where are the TTP now exactly? From what I gather, they are scattered all over the place - Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai, Kyber. Any specific area they are concentrated in?

Taliban seek new base areas:

January 25, 2010: A large group of Taliban attacked an army checkpoint near the Afghan border (200 kilometers southwest of Peshawar). After the gun battle, at least 15 Taliban were dead, along with two soldiers. The Taliban are trying to reestablish new base areas along the Afghan border, and to do that they need control of the roads. Thus the need to chase away the police/army checkpoints. The security forces have responded by building these checkpoints with an eye towards defense. Some of them look like little forts, and all are manned by personnel who are aware of their vulnerability to attack by hostile tribesmen. Meanwhile, the Taliban are having a rough time of it. Most full time Taliban had to scatter to their villages for the Winter. There, these Taliban are more vulnerable to arrest, and often no longer getting paid. While most Taliban survived the government offensive of the last few months, the Taliban bureaucracy and infrastructure took some major damage. The Taliban has far less combat power than it did a few months ago.
 
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"....the Taliban bureaucracy and infrastructure took some major damage. The Taliban has far less combat power than it did a few months ago."

Thats some good news!!The Taliban are in for a big ride to hell!
 
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