Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[RabzonKhan]

Pakistan ups Taliban chief reward

Friday, 29 May 2009

Pakistan has increased its reward for a Taliban chief in the Swat valley to 50m rupees ($600,000, £372,000).

The figure is more than 10 times the original bounty for radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

Officials acted after Pakistani Taliban leaders warned of more bomb attacks in cities in retaliation for a government offensive in the north-west.

Authorities in Peshawar have banned public gatherings a day after at least 10 people died in two separate attacks.

On Wednesday at least 24 people died in a bomb attack in Lahore which targeted a police station and intelligence agency offices.

As fighting continued in Swat on Friday, the army said 28 militants had been killed in the last 24 hours and seven arrested. It said five soldiers and two civilians were injured in clashes.

The figures cannot be independently verified.

Sharia law

Analysts say the Taliban leader is the architect of a nearly two-year uprising in the Swat valley intended to enforce Sharia law.

The price on his head is payable dead or alive, officials said.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told Pakistan's APP news agency that the increase was made to "accelerate the efforts" for his arrest.

Interior ministry officials say Maulana Fazlullah is behind "various subversive activities".

Authorities have offered cash rewards for the arrest of 21 Taliban leaders, including Maulana Fazlullah's spokesman, Muslim Khan.

Adverts listing the men - 18 with pictures - appeared in several newspapers on Thursday.

Top Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud already has a $5m bounty on his head, posted by the US.

Hakimullah Mehsud, Taliban commander for the Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions, told the BBC that the attack in Lahore was in response to the army's operation in the Swat valley.

He warned of further attacks on "government targets" in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Multan and said citizens should "evacuate their cities".

As the city of Peshawar struggled to return to normal after Thursday's blasts, the government in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more people, while restrictions were put on motorists.

All educational institutions in the city have also been closed down. Correspondents say that many people in the city are gripped by fear.

 

[Beskar]

 

[fatman17]

Army clears Peochar Valley

* Troops kill 28 Taliban including 7 commanders, arrest seven
* Forces defuse five improvised explosive devices in Buner

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Troops have taken control of Bahrain and cleared Peochar village in Swat, the ISPR said on Friday as security forces killed 28 Taliban – including infamous commander Khush Mir Khan alias Abu Huzaifa – all over the valley.

“The security forces have successfully secured Bahrain,” said the ISPR in a statement, adding that the army had also arrested seven Taliban from various areas of Swat. The ISPR said five soldiers and two civilians were also injured in exchange of fire.

Some of the heaviest recent fighting took place in Bahrain.

Peochar village: In a cordon-and-search operation, the forces cleared Taliban stronghold of Peochar village. “The army destroyed Taliban hideouts, including a madrassa, and seized 12 UN-registered vehicles,” said the ISPR, adding that four tunnels storing rations stolen from NGOs were also discovered and a ‘huge cache of arms’ confiscated.

Meanwhile in Mingora, troops continued their cordon-and-search operation, cleared Aman Kot and Technical Institute College on Mingora-Kokarai Road and arrested five Taliban.

During a search operation in Dir’s Kalpani area, the army killed six Taliban commanders – Qadir, Noor Hameed, Aftab, Yousaf, Iftikhar and Iftikhar.

IEDs: The forces defused five improvised explosive devices during a search operation around Daggar in Buner. The army killed 13 Taliban hiding in a compound in a gunbattle.

The army said it was continuing relief activities, and had despatched 50 tonnes of ration for 70,000 stranded people in Khawazakhela. Five trucks of rations were also sent to the people of Bahrain and eight to a group of people in Kalam.

Around 2.4 million people have fled fighting as soldiers struggle to wrest back western Swat and two nearby districts from the Taliban, who last month advanced to within 100 kilometres of the capital, Islamabad.

The military says more than 1,200 Taliban and 80 soldiers have died in the onslaught launched in the districts of Lower Dir on April 26, Buner on April 28 and Swat on May 8, but those tolls cannot be confirmed independently.


http:///www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

[fatman17]

Bullet-proof vests show new ways to motivate soldiers

* Psychiatrist says while going to war, special mindset — ideological, inspirational and motivational – necessary for victory

By Iqbal Khattak

MINGORA: A young soldier sitting inside a small communication room waits for a call from his force commander to lead a group of 60 soldiers for action against Taliban in Mingora.

His anxiety changes immediately into a smile as he gets the order to launch the operation hours later. He kisses his walkie-talkie while leaving the room with “good wishes” from junior officers.
“I have led several operations before and am excited about this one,” the officer says. “Death breezed past me several times but has no effect on me.”
“We are going for the kill this time,” says a soldier, wearing a bullet-proof vest inscribed with a Quranic verse meaning “with Allah’s blessings, the victory is imminent”.

Aye watan tu salamat rahey was a message inscribed on another soldier’s bullet-proof vest. Such slogans aim at keeping the morale of the soldiers high and motivate them for what many believe is a “decisive battle” for the country’s survival.

Message on the Mingora Force Commander Brigadier Tahir Hameed’s bullet-proof vest says: “Pakistan, hum tum pay qurban”.

“Pakistan Zindabad”, reads another slogan inscribed on the vest of a soldier busy in showing journalists weapons seized from the Taliban.

“We have been given a mission [to eliminate the militants]. We are taking them as enemy,” Brig Hameed says.

Special mindset:
“While going to war, a special mindset — ideological, inspirational and motivational – is necessary for victory,” psychiatrist Iftikhar Hussain told Daily Times.

He said the Taliban were good in using the ideology to motivate children to go on suicide missions. “We have failed on this count.”

The military is now using every occasion to motivate soldiers and to gather public opinion in favour of its latest military offensive in Malakand division.

Martyred soldiers’ funerals are shown live on television channels since the war on terror started in Waziristan in 2003 and a dedicated song acknowledges heroism of the armed forces in defending the country’s borders.

Footage was also released showing commandos shouting Allah-o-Akbar, before being air-dropped into Peochar, a stronghold of Taliban.

 

[fatman17]

Bombs seen stiffening Pakistan’s resolve on Taliban

* Analysts says Taliban trying to undermine state’s determination to fight them, and broad public support the army’s campaign enjoys

ISLAMABAD: A series of bomb attacks in Pakistan aims to undermine the country’s resolve to fight the Taliban but is likely only to strengthen determination to defeat the militants, analysts say.

Pakistan has undertaken its most concerted effort to roll back an expanding Taliban insurgency that has raised fears for the important US ally’s stability, and for the safety of its nuclear weapons.

The army late last month went into action against Taliban who had seized a district only 100 km from the capital after the United States criticised a peace pact as tantamount to abdicating to the Taliban.

This month, the military launched a full-scale offensive to root out the Taliban from their stronghold in nearby Swat.

But the Taliban have responded with eight bomb attacks in towns and cities since late April, three on Thursday in the northwest, a day after 24 people were killed in a suicide gun and bomb attack in the eastern city of Lahore.

Undermine: The Taliban are trying to undermine the state’s determination to fight them, and the broad public support the army’s campaign enjoys, analysts said on Friday.

“This is exactly what the militants are trying to do because they have done it successfully in the past. But things have changed substantially,” security analyst Ikram Sehgal said.

“I don’t think it will undermine the resolve of either the public or the government. They realise that this sort of thing will only escalate if they vacillate any further,” he said. Pakistan signed up to the US-led campaign against militancy after the 9/11 attacks but at best ambivalently.

Pakistan had used these fighters to oppose Soviet occupiers in Afghanistan in the 1980s and later backed the Afghan Taliban. Militants were also used to oppose India in the Indian-held Kashmir.

Pursuit of strategic interests apparently at odds with US aims and mixed messages from the state and media brought muddle.

The Taliban overplayed their hand when, under cover of a controversial peace pact, they denounced the constitution and pushed out of the former tourist valley of Swat towards the capital.

“The Taliban attempt to make their presence felt in an area that a large number of Pakistanis are familiar with, and the way they went about it, the brutality, exposed them and changed opinion,” said Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group think-tank.

“They are no longer considered alienated, disaffected Pakistanis who need to be brought into the fold. They’re looked upon much more as criminals who should be brought to justice.”

The violence the Taliban have unleashed demonstrated the extent of the threat they posed and is steeling opposition, Ahmed said.

“It strengthens the government’s position that the terrorists pose a major threat ... It’s no longer a remote conflict being fought in FATA,” she said.

The state now had to show it can finish the offensive in Swat quickly and wind up the militant networks. “Their main aim is to weaken public opinion, especially in Punjab,” said retired Brigadier Asad Munir, a former intelligence agency officer, referring to Pakistan’s most prosperous and politically important province, of which Lahore is capital.

“You won’t see this now but if the operation is prolonged then things will start changing. They have got to do it in a week or 10 days,” he said of the Swat operation.

Wavering at this stage would dash the hopes of the public and be disastrous, he said.

‘Taliban state’: “If they stop the operation now then prepare yourself for a Taliban state,” he said.

reuters

 

[ajpirzada]

Mingora 'almost' secured, claims army
Saturday, 30 May, 2009 | 04:26 PM PST |
ISLAMABAD: Troops have retaken the largest town in the Swat Valley from the Taliban as the army presses its offensive against militants in the country's northwest, the army spokesman said Saturday.

Government forces had full control of Mingora, though they were still meeting pockets of resistance from fighters on the outskirts of the town, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press.

The military launched a major offensive one month ago in the Swat Valley and neighbouring areas to oust Taliban who were extending their control over the northwestern region.

The campaign is strongly backed by Washington and the government's other Western allies, who see it as a test of the government's resolve to fight extremism in the country.

'As far as Mingora city, security forces have taken over,’ Abbas said. ‘There are still pockets of resistance. They are on the periphery of Mingora city.’

Government troops have been advancing steadily into the Swat region, bombarding towns from the air and fighting house-to-house with Taliban gunmen.

The fighting has caused more than 2 million people to flee the region, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.

More than 160,000 people are taking refuge in sweltering refugee camps south of the battle zone, while the rest are staying with relatives or relying on goodwill from local residents.—AP
DAWN.COM | Provinces | Mingora 'almost' secured, claims army

 

[ajpirzada]

we are gettin closer everyday......

like it is said above
nasrun minAllah hi wa fathun qareeb
'With Allah's blessings, victory is imminent'

 

[ajpirzada]

Offensive imminent in Charbagh as army asks residents to leave
Saturday, 30 May, 2009 | 02:46 PM PST |
PESHAWAR: Security forces Saturday warned residents of the northwestern town of Charbagh to leave the area ahead of a possible attack on militants there, officials said.

The warning was made in leaflets dropped by helicopters on the town, 20 kilometres north of Swat, the area where the army launched a full-scale operation against militants on May 8.

‘Residents were advised by the leaflets to evacuate the area,’ a senior military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He said ‘this has been done to avoid collateral damage ahead of a possible military operation in Charbagh town,’ a Taliban stronghold.

Commandos this month attacked Peochar valley, a stronghold of Mullah Fazlullah, who has led a Taliban uprising to enforce sharia law in Swat, but it was not immediately clear how much of the area remained under militant control.

Another security official confirmed that leaflets had been dropped in Charbagh ahead of a possible ground and air offensive.

‘There are intelligence reports about the presence of a number of important Taliban commanders in the area,’ he said.

However, he did not give further details, citing security concerns.

The official said that residents had begun leaving the Charbagh area, which has population of 20,000-25,000.

Some of the heaviest recent fighting seems to have taken place in Bahrain, in northern Swat valley, where security forces said Thursday they had killed nine militants, in fighting that left two soldiers and two civilians wounded.

Around 2.4 million people have fled the area, as soldiers struggle to wrest western Swat and two nearby districts back from the Taliban, who last month advanced to within 100 kilometres of Islamabad.

The military says more than 1,200 militants and 80 soldiers have died in the onslaught, launched in the districts of Lower Dir on April 26, Buner on April 28 and Swat on May 8, but those tolls cannot be confirmed independently.

There has been little official word on any civilian casualties during the offensive. — AFP

DAWN.COM | Provinces | Offensive imminent in Charbagh as army asks residents to leave

 

[Neo]

Army clears Peochar Valley​

* Troops kill 28 Taliban including 7 commanders, arrest seven
* Forces defuse five improvised explosive devices in Buner​

RAWALPINDI: Troops have taken control of Bahrain and cleared Peochar village in Swat, the ISPR said on Friday as security forces killed 28 Taliban – including infamous commander Khush Mir Khan alias Abu Huzaifa – all over the valley.

“The security forces have successfully secured Bahrain,” said the ISPR in a statement, adding that the army had also arrested seven Taliban from various areas of Swat. The ISPR said five soldiers and two civilians were also injured in exchange of fire.

Some of the heaviest recent fighting took place in Bahrain.

Peochar village: In a cordon-and-search operation, the forces cleared Taliban stronghold of Peochar village. “The army destroyed Taliban hideouts, including a madrassa, and seized 12 UN-registered vehicles,” said the ISPR, adding that four tunnels storing rations stolen from NGOs were also discovered and a ‘huge cache of arms’ confiscated.

Meanwhile in Mingora, troops continued their cordon-and-search operation, cleared Aman Kot and Technical Institute College on Mingora-Kokarai Road and arrested five Taliban.

During a search operation in Dir’s Kalpani area, the army killed six Taliban commanders – Qadir, Noor Hameed, Aftab, Yousaf, Iftikhar and Iftikhar.

IEDs: The forces defused five improvised explosive devices during a search operation around Daggar in Buner. The army killed 13 Taliban hiding in a compound in a gunbattle.

The army said it was continuing relief activities, and had despatched 50 tonnes of ration for 70,000 stranded people in Khawazakhela. Five trucks of rations were also sent to the people of Bahrain and eight to a group of people in Kalam.

Around 2.4 million people have fled fighting as soldiers struggle to wrest back western Swat and two nearby districts from the Taliban, who last month advanced to within 100 kilometres of the capital, Islamabad.

The military says more than 1,200 Taliban and 80 soldiers have died in the onslaught launched in the districts of Lower Dir on April 26, Buner on April 28 and Swat on May 8, but those tolls cannot be confirmed independently.

 

[Neo]

Taliban’s arms coming from Afghanistan: ISPR​

LAHORE: Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas has said that “many of the Taliban’s arms are coming across the border from Afghanistan ... the US should stop worrying about Pakistan’s nukes and start worrying about the weapons lost in Afghanistan”, a private TV channel reported on Friday. In an interview with a foreign news channel, the ISPR director general said the current conflict in Swat was intricately linked to the situation in Afghanistan. He said that Swat was a political problem, which could only be partially solved by military intervention. He estimated that 10 percent to 15 percent of the Taliban in the Swat valley and its adjacent areas were foreign fighters. He said Mingora could be secured in 48 hours, but it may be “much, much longer” before the area was totally pacified. He also said that there was “no plan, date or time for the launch of an offensive in South Waziristan”.

 

[ajpirzada]

Mehsud phone tapped; directed to attacks in villages


MINGORA (updated on: May 30, 2009, 14:08 PST): Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has ordered his militants to unleash bombings and other terror activities in villages.

According to the sources, the message sent through the wireless phone.

The conversation of Taliban commanders in Swat was also traced, which says that arrival of the army in all regions of Swat left no hiding place for the Taliban in the valley, sources said.

They have decided to quit the region under cover-up to launch militant activities in other areas
Mehsud phone tapped; directed to attacks in villages : Business Recorder | LATEST NEWS

 

[ajpirzada]

25 militants killed in last 24 hours: ISPR
Updated at: 1948 PST, Saturday, May 30, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Twenty-five terrorists including miscreants commander, Abu Saeed Misbah ud Din and Sultan Khan, were killed and 3 were apprehended in various areas of operation in the last 24 hours, Director General ISPR Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said here on Saturday.

One soldier embraced Shahadat and 4 were injured including 1 civilian driver in exchange of fire, he said while giving updates to the media.

The stronghold (training centre) of known miscreants commanders including commander Lal Din, Said Jalil, Mian Said Liaq (training center) were searched and destroyed in Peochar, including training base of MFU and 5 tunnels.

During the operation huge cache of ammunitions and 12 unregistered double cabins and a dumper were recovered.

Security Forces have successfully secured Nawagai and Najigram in Mingora. At Nawagai huge quantity of Arms and Ammunition have been recovered.

DG ISPR said law enforcing operation by security forces is successful due to local public support. The people of Mingora have started pin pointing militants who were trying to pose as innocent citizens.

During the operation, 6 IEDs were neutralized and 1 dead body of miscreant was found.　

Security forces have commenced the operation towards Kalam, Gulibagh and secured area upto Kedam in Bahrain.

A soldier and a civilian driver embraced Shahadat and 2 soldiers were injured due to an IED explosion near Chamtalai.

During security forces search and clearance operation, miscreants fire raided at own troops at Drushkhela and Asharai. Due to effective response by own troops miscreant commander Sultan Khan was killed.

Miscreant attacked Wanai check post as a result 1 soldier was injured.

A low intensity IED exploded in Besham Bazar due to which 1 civilian was injured and later on treated by Army medical team.

During search operation at Kambar Bazar, 6 miscreants were killed in Dir.

On receipt of information of presence of militants at Kulal Dheri a raid was conducted and 10 militants killed.

During search operation security forces arrested 3 Afghanis from Wari Bazar , Upper Dir.

In Buner, miscreants riding in a car opened fire at own troops check post at road junction near Sultanwas. Own troops retaliated and resultantly 6 miscreants were killed.

Security forces on a tip off conducted a raid in surrounding area of Sultanwas. During the encounter, two known commanders Abu Saeed and Misbah ud Din were killed.
25 militants killed in last 24 hours: ISPR - GEO.tv

 

[sohailbutt]

Mehsud phone tapped; directed to attacks in villages


MINGORA (updated on: May 30, 2009, 14:08 PST): Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has ordered his militants to unleash bombings and other terror activities in villages.

According to the sources, the message sent through the wireless phone.

The conversation of Taliban commanders in Swat was also traced, which says that arrival of the army in all regions of Swat left no hiding place for the Taliban in the valley, sources said.

They have decided to quit the region under cover-up to launch militant activities in other areas
Mehsud phone tapped; directed to attacks in villages : Business Recorder | LATEST NEWS

Let em come to my village, we'll beat the crap outta him, ******* D*****bag!

 

[s90]

4 hours ago

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistan military says it has regained control of the largest town in the Swat Valley from the Taliban.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press on Saturday that all of Mingora was now under military control, though troops were meeting small pockets of resistance on the town's outskirts.

Excellent work

 

[Imran Khan]

congs to every pakistani

thanks to our brave forces