Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[fatman17]

IDPs’ return to homes will mark military operation’s success: FC IG

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: Frontier Corps (FC) Inspector General (IG) Major General Tariq Khan has said the military operation can be called successful only when the displaced people can return to their homes, a private TV channel reported on Monday.

In an interview, the FC IG said the military operation would be successful when the writ of the government was established in the area. He said “killing a number of Taliban and capturing land would not be a parameter of gagging success” of the military operation.

Link: He said the Taliban had no link with Islam.

He said the FC had 60 tanks, and the number would soon be increased to 70.

He said FC officials were aware of their responsibilities. They did their job by clearing the areas and safeguarding the locals wherever they were sent, he added. He said the Indus Highway was opened for traffic in September last year and the FC and the army established peace in Mohmand Agency, Upper Dir, Chitral, Bajaur and Buner. He said that amounted to an achievement for the FC.

Training: To a question about the FC being trained by US, the DG said, “The FC does not need any such training.” He said the FC officials were trained at the Nowshera Training School.

The FC IG said his force’s capacity should be enhanced by providing them mobile platforms and the latest technology.

 

[ajpirzada]

Army sends gunships to support militia

PESHAWAR ( 2009-06-09 15:02:15 ) :Military sent helicopter gunships to a northwest region Tuesday to support armed villagers who have risen up against Taliban to avenge a deadly mosque blast, an official said.

The militia -- known locally as a lashkar -- were on Tuesday surrounding Shatkas and Ghazigai villages, where militants are believed to be hiding.

Upper Dir borders Swat valley, the centre of a fierce six-week military offensive aimed at crushing a Taliban insurgency.

"Lashkar men are positioned on surrounding mountains and keeping a vigil on the movement of Taliban militants," said a military official who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

He said army helicopter gunships and artillery pounded suspected militant hideouts in Upper Dir, adding: "The shelling was in support of the lashkar."

Government has in the past encouraged the formation of lashkar militias to help the official armed forces in their fight against militants, and say they want to build up and arm such community forces in the northwest.

Up to 1,200 villagers carrying firearms are reported to have taken on about 200 Taliban in a handful of remote Upper Dir hamlets.

AAJ TV : Pakistan Ki Awaz

this is very encouraging. perfect way to deal with these TTP ppl.
let the locals fight where they can while army gives them extra cover.

 

[le_souriceau]

This, may be, is only effective way to wipe out Taliban - using local millitiamen, who knows region perfectly to fight terrorist. Because regular armies are generaly "clumsy" in this sort of operations.

 

[batmannow]

GEO Pakistan
Three more schools blown up in Lower Dir
Updated at: 1422 PST, Tuesday, June 09, 2009

LOWER DIR: Security forces pounded militants positions overnight during ongoing operation against militants in tehsil Maidan of Lower Dir whereas militants blown up three more schools in the area.

According to sources, forces targeted militants’ hideouts with heavy artillery in tehsil Maidan from headquarter Timergira.

On the other hand, militants burnt three more girls’ schools in Maidan. The schools set on fire are government girls’ high school Sangolai, government girls high school Chinar Kot and government middle school Sherkhanai.

Sources said that number of schools blown up by militants during last week have reached to 10.

Meanwhile, curfew has been eased in tehsil Adenzai from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm. The Chakdara market has reopened after relaxation in curfew and people are busy in shopping.

 

[ajpirzada]

this blowin up of schools have become their trademark. best way to make their presence felt.




27 militants killed during 24 hours: ISPR


RAWALPINDI (updated on: June 09, 2009, 15:07 PST): During last twenty four hours, 27 militants were killed and 22 were apprehended in various areas of Malakand, while 1 soldier embraced Shahadat and 9 were injured.

During search and destroy operation in area around Peochar Valley, 14 terrorists were killed and 22 were apprehended, while 6 soldiers were injured. A Tunnel, cache of arms and ammunitions and explosive were also recovered.

Security Forces conducted cordon and search operation and secured village Darmai in Sakhra valley.

Terrorists fire raided at Kalpanai check post, resultantly 1 soldier embraced shahadat. During exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists at Uchrai Sar 3 soldiers were injured.

Whereas Lashkars in upper Dir secured 4 villages and killed 13 terrorists. Presently Lashkar is surrounding village Shatkas and Ghazigae to flush out terrorists from the area.
27 militants killed during 24 hours: ISPR : Business Recorder | LATEST NEWS

 

[fatman17]

Gates seeks $700m for Pak counterinsurgency fund

* Defence secretary says next 18 months key to victory in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday sought congressional support for $700 million for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) for 2010, as part of a massive $130 billion request for overseas contingency operations for Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

“This programme will be carried out with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and will complement existing and planned State Department efforts by allowing the CENTCOM commander to work with Pakistan’s military to build counterinsurgency capability,” he said, testifying before the defence subcommittee of the Senate appropriations panel.

Gates told lawmakers Pentagon was seeking funding for the PCCF and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme and “asking for this authority for the urgent circumstances we face in Pakistan for dealing with a challenge that simultaneously requires military and civilian capabilities.”

Afghan victory: Also, both Gates and Mullen told the Senate Appropriations panel that they were more optimistic now than in recent months about efforts to combat the Taliban along the Pak-Afghan border and the next 12 to 18 months would tell whether war in Afghanistan was being won.

Gates emphasised that he did not mean the Afghan campaign would achieve success in that time, but rather that officials hoped to “see a shift in the momentum” by then. agencies

 

[fatman17]

Taliban armed themselves after Nizam-e-Adl: General Ijaz

* Swat operation commander says Taliban using civilian population of Swat, Mingora as human shields

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The Taliban started to arm themselves against the army, and gathered a large cache of explosives and ammunition after parliament decided to enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand Division, Major General Ijaz Awan has said.

In an interview with a private TV channel, one of the commanders of the Swat operation said the Taliban had made Mingora their base and then advanced towards Buner and other adjoining areas. He said the Taliban in Swat and Mingora had planned to fight the military in Mingora city and use the local population as a human shield. He said the two areas became increasingly important to the Taliban due to their heavy populations.

To questions, he said the Taliban were scared to face the army, and felt that the only way they could win was by using the civilian population as shields. This had restrained the security forces from using heavy weapons to avoid collateral damage, he added.

He said the Taliban had set up fortified positions on mountains, and had dug tunnels for their residence and for storing arms and ammunitions. He said the Taliban had very sophisticated weaponry, including some high velocity weapons belonging to the US Army. He said the army had captured 100 Taliban from the area under his control during Operation Rah-e-Rast, adding interrogation had revealed the positions of several caches of arms and explosives and important hideouts. He said the fighters were generally between 18 and 20 years old, but the suicide bombers ranged from 13 to 17 years old.

 

[fatman17]

Editorial: State of Taliban aggression

As the chief of army staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Kayani, visited Mingora on Monday, there was random news about the state of Taliban aggression, leading one to believe that the chief of the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Baitullah Mehsud is under pressure. The ongoing reaction of the people of Upper Dir against the Taliban interlopers has led to the elimination of 14 of them, including their Afghan commander, while the houses of 13 others were burned down. On Monday, too, another 21 Taliban were reportedly killed.

Disenchantment is setting in among the latter-day Taliban who joined Baitullah’s enterprise simply to fulfil their dreams of a “pure Islam” to transform society into some sort of imagined utopia. After perceiving that the Taliban were on the run, a Taliban chief in Peshawar has also denounced Baitullah’s policies: “Whatever Baitullah Mehsud and his associates are doing in the name of Islam is not a jihad, and in fact it is rioting and terrorism”. This “realisation” has come after the military operation in the Malakand-Swat region and, above all, after the formation of a national consensus against the TTP.

In Bajaur, where the Tehreek-e Nifaz-e Shariat-e Muhammadi (TNSM) of Sufi Muhammad was adopted as the guiding light of a local faction, the Taliban are treating it in a manner that differs from past practice. On Monday they took 100 members of the TNSM hostage, including the local chief, after “differences between the Taliban and the TNSM intensified”. But one must realistically assess the growth of TNSM influence in Bajaur. The TNSM movement had affected Bajaur in the 1990s but its appeal was greatly increased only after the success of warlord Fazlullah in the adjacent Malakand region. Now, with the retreat of the Taliban, however, TNSM influence is being rolled back. The linkage with the TTP is therefore coming under pressure. Inside TNSM, too, the transition from acquiescing in the savagery of the Taliban to non-acceptance of the “un-Islamic” practice of killing Muslims is being completed. Now TNSM is becoming a problem for Baitullah’s warriors as a non-military adjunct whose leader Sufi Mohammad has considerably lost his charisma as the saintly symbol of revolt against the state of Pakistan. There are reports also that factions of the Taliban are refusing to fight against the army.

Baitullah’s boasting about how his TTP is going to spread the warfront and take the fight into Punjab and Sindh is being put to the test of reality. There is no doubt that the jihadi network dependent on mosques and madrassas in Punjab is ready to carry out his orders, but the suicide-bombers have to be prepared in South Waziristan by “specialists” like Qari Hussain and then sent down to the target areas with “minders”. But the gradual but significant increase in the capacity of the administration to anticipate attacks and go for the suspects is showing results in Punjab. On Monday, the Sargodha police arrested three members of the Tehreek-e Taliban Punjab and seized from their possession eight kilograms of explosive material, two suicide jackets and a Hiace vehicle.

The TTP’s earlier “success” in Punjab was owed to a number of factors. The foremost factor was the jihadi militias of long gestation that had fought the war in Afghanistan and Kashmir with the patronage of the Pakistani state. But when the Taliban revolted against the state, these organisations made the conscious decision to join them rather than just fade away after the state no longer needed them against India. The other factor was that of “empowerment” of the small-time cleric who began to “imitate” the intimidatory policies of the Taliban by “supplementing” their threat. All that is now in retreat, as the state, backed and pushed forward by the “national consensus”, has begun to hit back.

This is not to downplay the capacity of the TTP to stage aggression. As it retreats in the face of the military operation, more spectacular events should be expected. The war is for the long haul and Pakistan cannot afford to become complacent about its ability to tackle the likes of Baitullah Mehsud. That ability is still limited given the warlord’s resources, entrenchment in certain regions and the “external” support that is on offer to him. But Pakistan has completed the first lap — that of the will to fight back — and will need a lot of international support when its army enters South Waziristan some months ahead and takes a look at the international face of terror and its complex support system.

daily times

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Across the border?​

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A massive manhunt for key Taliban has been intensified after the death of two TNSM leaders who were thought to be in government custody. Their murder is thought to be a message from Maulana Fazlullah, who is being reported to have made it across the mountains to Paktia in Afghanistan with some key aides. Meanwhile, at home, the offer of head money for key Taliban figures has appeared prominently in newspapers. So far none of those on the list have been handed in. Whether this will in time happen is still to be seen. Similar offers have not worked in the past, in part because of the fear the Taliban use as their primary weapon. People need to be convinced that the Taliban will never return to wreak vengeance

The ISPR has stated the war against the militants will not be over until the top leadership is eliminated from the scene. This makes sense, although it is arguable if death is necessary to ensure this. The possibility of a Taliban return to Swat will continue to hover in the air until the news comes in of Fazlullah's capture, or his body is brought to Imam Dehri. We had previously pointed out that the links between militancy in Afghanistan and Pakistan could impede this; that key leaders could escape across the border to get away from growing heat from the army. This indeed is what has happened now. Steps are needed to ensure key figures do not now evade justice and bide their time until they see it fit to launch another assault on northern territories that have for the moment been wrested from their grasp. For this we need cooperation with Kabul. The long Pak-Afghan border, criss-crossed by mountain routes that the militants have repeatedly used, is difficult – some say impossible – to patrol. But somehow it needs to be plugged and escape routes through it blocked off. Pakistan's all-out effort to tackle the Taliban needs to be supported by a similar effort in Kabul. One would expect the Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke to spend a little more time on this key strategic area, rather than focusing on our courts, the chief justice and other matters that have nothing at all to do with the US. Pakistan's leaders must ensure Washington's attention is turned in this direction without further delay and then intelligence we must have on Taliban movement shared so that the net around them can be tightened on both sides of the troublesomely porous Durand Line.

Across the border?

 

[Neo]

Pakistan shows new vigor in fight: Holbrooke​

WASHINGTON (June 10, 2009): The US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan said on Wednesday he had noticed a dramatic change in Pakistan's attitude toward fighting extremists during his visit there last week.

Richard Holbrooke told reporters he believed Pakistan's leadership was strong enough to win the fight against the Taliban, a change in tone from earlier this year when the incoming Obama administration was skeptical about Islamabad's resolve.

"What I saw in Pakistan on this trip was a slow emergence of a consensus behind the government's actions," Holbrooke said. "Everywhere there was a dramatic change in attitude from my previous trips because of the outrages of the Taliban," he added. "All of us are impressed by the military's actions in the recent weeks."

The Pakistani military launched an offensive in the Swat valley in May, heartening US officials and other allies who had feared the nuclear-armed country could slide into chaos.

"Everyone recognises that instability in Pakistan poses a threat to everywhere else," he added.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Muhammad Anis adds from Rawalpindi: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday said that 23 more terrorists were killed in various areas of Swat, Malakand and Dir while terrorist commander Waliullah handed himself over to the Army.

It said two soldiers embraced Shahadat and 12 others, including two officers, were injured during the operation. In Swat, security forces launched a search operation to secure the area from the Kabal Camp to the Kabal village.

One soldier was martyred and 11 others, including two officers, were injured when terrorists fired a rocket at the Kabal Camp.Terrorists also struck at Bariam Bridge near Matta, leaving one soldier dead, it said.

Terrorist commander Waliullah surrendered to the Army at Besham. The forces repulsed an attack by terrorists at Banmani Sar, resulting in the killing of six terrorists.

Security forces secured Shalkosar top and Shalkosar Kandao in Peuchar. Fierce fire fight took place between security forces and terrorists, resultantly in the killing of 16 terrorists southeast of Shalkosar top.

In Dir Upper, reports said the local Lashkar has moved closer to terrorists at Shatkas and Ghzigay villages. An intense exchange of fire is taking place there. Reportedly, 50 terrorists from Dir-Kohistan side came to support the terrorists at Shatkas, who were engaged by the Lashkar and forced to run away.

Terrorists demolished two government high schools at Sherjanay, Sangolay village and Chinar Kot in Maidan area of Dir Lower. The terrorists also demolished a bridge near village Kalpani at Lal Qila, Maidan.

The Army is also continuing relief activities as 31 paramedics, including eight specialist doctors, moved to Mingora by helicopter. Another four trucks of ration and non-food items were distributed among the stranded people of the Swat Valley in Mingora.

In Malakand Agency, security forces conducted a search operation at Batkhela and during an exchange of fire one terrorist was killed. Security forces also recovered a cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and communication equipment.

Security forces also secured Gat Khela and Jawar area of Buner. The ISPR said from 600 to 800 terrorists have reached Janikhel, which falls in Frontier Region of Bannu. “Janikhel is the staging area of all the militants operating in DI Khan, Bannu, Kohat and Peshawar and so far 600 to 800 terrorists have reached there from Miramshah and Razmak.

The ISPR said the terrorists were planning to strike at different places in the NWFP. According to reports, security forces have engaged suspected terrorist locations at Janikhel with heavy fire and clearance operation in the area of Zaidi Akbar Khan is in progress.

30 militants killed in Bannu: ISPR

 

[niaz]

For the benefit of Hon Members, I copy further correspondence with the Dr H Nizamani of Canada whose article was posted earlier.


Dear Niaz Sahib,

Thank you for your detailed reply. We'll agree to disagree, however, it may turn out that we agree more than we disagree. You've raised number of points that mention unsavory character of self-proclaimed custodians of Islam in Pakistan. I've put my very comments on those points within the text below. My article, and I'll repeat, was not an analysis of the Taliban's politics. IT was about the reasons which are provided for the military action. IT doesn't mean, as I mention in my piece, that I think the Taliban type of force can be tackled exclusively through non-violent means. People like me have been anti-Taliban when they were darlings of the GHQ. And I am still against the Taliban version of the society and their method of politics.

________________________________________
From: SNiaz@emailsrvc.com
To: hnizamani@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Your article; On war and its justifications
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:06:37 +0400
Dear Dr Nizamani,

I am a Pakistani, no more no less. I have seen Pakistan since her birth 1947 and am therefore fully conversant with of all of the happenings that you quote. It pains me deeply whenever I see Pakistan in trouble.

There are too many politicians and Taliban apologists around in Pakistan and abroad who are trying to confuse the issue by disguising the plain truth that Taliban and allied extremists parties (including sectarian parties such as Lashkar Jhangvi and SSP) have a single point agenda, which is to take over Pakistan by force and convert it into a hypothetical medieval state. This has nothing to do with Islam; it is purely a grab for power with the intention of imposing a dark age Pashtun tribal culture on rest of the population with brute force because they would never succeed thru ballot box. You obviously don’t see it that way.

CAN YOU FIND A PASSAGE IN MY ARTICLE WHERE I HAVE SAID WHERE I HAVE SAID THAT THE TALIBAN DON'T BELIEVE IN THEOCRATIC STATE AND THAT METHODS ARE PEACEFUL? I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT IN MY PIECE.

Firstly, in the last elections it was the secularist parties such as PPP and ANP that won from Swat; if TSNM had come to power thru elections, your argument would have sound bases. It is therefore incorrect to assume that there is a broad based public support in Swat for Taliban or TNFSM Taliban have taken over thru force of arms.

SAME AS ABOVE. WHERE IN MY PIECE HAVE I WRITTEN THAT THE TALIBAN HAVE POPULAR SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF SWAT?

Secondly, TTP as well as Fazlullah of Swat and Sufi Mohammed’s commander, Muslim Khan declared in an interview that their aim is to take over Pakistan. ANP leadership claims that Fazlullah asked them to oppose action in Swat, let them capture Punjab and they would allow ANP to form Pakhtunistan. When ANP were negotiating with Sufi Mohammed they had men with suicide jackets sitting either side of them!

For the sake of peace, ANP government went ahead and reached an agreement. Fazululah however did not keep his promise to disarm claiming that Islam gives everyone right to arm themselves. It is therefore an incorrect premise that simply because Taliban/Swati extremists are refusing to accept Pakistan constitution; they are being punished for it. Taliban don’t believe in Pakistan at all and totally ignore to accept writ of Pakistan government despite elected ANP government bending over backwards to avoid bloodshed.

However, in the typical manner similar to all Taliban apologists, ignoring all else, you were comparing it with the Martial Laws and saying the Swatis are being single out for their disobeying Pakistan constitution. Nothing can be further from the truth.

I DIDN'T, AND WOULDN'T USE, TERMS AS SWATIS. I DIDN'T FOCUS ON DISOBEYING OF THE CONSTITUTION ALONE. I LISTED THREE COMMON REASONS USED FOR THE MILITARY ACTION.

Previously the constitution was abrogated thru usurpation of power by a single person with no threat to Pakistan’ territorial integrity.

THIS IS WHERE WE'LL HAVE FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT. IN MY ESTIMATION A SINGLE PERSON CAN SURELY ATTEMP TO USURP POWER BUT IS UNLIKELY TO SUCCEDD UNLESS THERE IS CREDIBLE BACKING FOR HIS/HER SUCH ACTS. SECONDLY, IF I UNDERSTOOD YOUR ARGUMENT CORRECTLY, IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PAKISTAN'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. EVEN IF WE SHIFT THE GOAL POST AND REDUCE IT TO TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY THEN TWO ISSUES ARISE. FIRST, THE TALIBAN CLAIM TO TURN PAKISTAN INTO AN ISLAMIC STATE NOT BREAK IT UP.SECONDLY, PAKISTAN WAS DISMEMBERED IN 1971 WITH A LONG SIMMERING ALIENATION OF BENGALIS THAT WERE DIRECT RESULTS OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL RULE, LACK OF FEDERATION, AND LACK OF PLURAL POLITICAL SYSTEM.

You have every right to your point of view; however, articles such as yours published in widely read newspapers create doubt in the minds of the ordinary Pakistanis because Taliban have successfully managed to exploit Islam for their nefarious purposes.


This is a war for the survival of Pakistan as a state; I have no idea to which country you belong and whether you deliberately chose to spin the facts to prove your point; in my book you article is bordering on sedition against the state of Pakistan.

ACCORDING TO PAKISTAN'S LAW SEDITION IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. UNFORTUNATELY CRITICAL THINKING IN PAKISTAN HAS BEEN CHOKED USING SEDITION AS PRETEXT. I DON'T THINK IT HAS SERVED THE COUNTRY WELL. AS THAT FAMOUS GUY PUT IT: PATRIOTISM IS THE LAST REFUGE OF.... SO LET'S AGREE TO DISAGREE BUT I WONT JUMP TO ACCUSE PEOPLES' PATRIOTISM BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH ME. BUT THAT'S MY PERSONAL STYLE. SINCE I'M NOT SUPPORTER OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT THE LAST THING I WANT TO SEE IS PEOPLE LAWFULLY HANGED ON THE FLIMSY GROUNDS LIKE 'SEDITION.'

Normal curtsey however demands polite words if nothing else and I sincerely apologize for the rude words in my earlier e-mail. Let us agree to disagree.


Yours faithfully,

Syed Niaz

From: Haider Nizamani [mailto:hnizamani@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 7:05 PM
To: sniaz@emailsrvc.com
Subject: RE: Your article; On war and its justfications

Dear Mr Syed Niaz,

Thank you for taking the time out to read my piece and consider it worthy of your comments.
I think you've misunderstood and/or miscontrued my argument. It could well be because of lack of clarity on my party. I haven't talked of any reason. I have critically analyzed/put into context three reasons that are often cited as the grounds for carrying out the current military action. You've repeated some of them in your belligerent and somewhat impolite email.


Best wishes,
Haider Nizamani, PhD
School for International Studies
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Canada

 

[ajpirzada]

Dir Lashkar pushes Taliban to last hideout

Thursday, June 11, 2009

By Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: The armed villagers fighting the Taliban in the remote Doog Darra area of Dir Upper made advances into Shatkas village after using heavy weapons on Wednesday, destroying several bunkers and killing two more militants.

In another development, the government sacked 31 Levies personnel, 23 in Dir Upper and eight in Dir Lower, for not offering resistance to the militants in May and surrendering their weapons.

Lashkar sources and locals said the use of heavy weapons upset the militants, who were unable to retaliate. “The resistance from the militants waned as they could fire only twice throughout Wednesday,” the sources said.

“The Taliban are now pushed towards their last hideout, situated at the mountain top in Kandao area of Ghazigay,” a resident of Maluk Khwar, a village that previously supported the militants, told The News late Wednesday.

Wishing not to be named for security reasons, he said there was heavy firing all day long in the area and continued even after dusk. “Today, the situation was very tense and volatile. The Taliban could not put up resistance today and retreated towards their last hideout near the Chitral border,” he said and hastened to add that the militants could not escape as they had been surrounded from all sides.

The locals said the Lashkar advanced into Shatkas, one of the militants’ strongholds, and was searching and torching houses. The armed Lashkar, the strength of which jumped to 2,200 fighters from initial 600, torched three houses owned by the Taliban or their supporters in Shatkas, they added.

The locals said the villagers were pounding the houses of the militants with rockets and then set them on fire. Six more houses were also destroyed with rocket attacks, the locals said. A local journalist of Dir, who visited the restive Doog Darra area, said the Lashkar was upbeat about an early victory. He also said the Lashkar had shell-shocked the militants by heavily pounding their positions.

During the attack, the Lashkar killed two more militants in Shatkas area. “I saw five to six bunkers being hit and destroyed. All of them caught fire after the attack in which two militants were reportedly killed,” the journalist said.

Sources in the area said armed villagers were fast closing in on the militants. The aim of using heavy weapons, they said, was to destroy their bunkers, panic the holed up militants and advance into Shatkas and Ghazigay to eliminate them. The strategy seems to be successful as they moved into the village of Shatkas after pushing the Taliban fighters deep into the mountains.

To foil the militants’ bid to escape, the villagers were keeping a vigil on the movement of people and were checking every passing vehicle on the main road from Dir to Sheringal, a town situated near the troubled areas. The locals believe that the militants have suffered heavy casualties during the five-day fighting and were under pressure to escape from the area.

Villagers in Miana said they saw the Taliban digging up a number of graves in Ghazigay. The villagers believed that the decisive fighting might take place in the next two days. The people of Hayagay Sharqi hurriedly formed an armed Lashkar to avenge the killings in a suicide blast at a mosque in this village on Friday last.

Meanwhile, the authorities sacked 23 Levies personnel in Dir Upper and eight in Dir Lower for surrendering to the Taliban without offering resistance. On May 1, the Taliban had attacked a base of the Levies in Paraw area of Dir town and kidnapped 12 personnel besides snatching 70 G-3 rifles.

The people of Hayagay, however, encircled the militants and forced them to release the kidnapped personnel, inviting their wrath.

Similarly, the Levies personnel did not offer resistance when attacked by the militants in Chakdara area of Dir Lower. The militants had destroyed the headquarters of the Levies in the attack. Sources said the matter was probed for one month and it was found that the Levies personnel had showed cowardice by surrendering to the militants.
Dir Lashkar pushes Taliban to last hideout

 

[waraich66]

Dir Lashkar pushes Taliban to last hideout

Thursday, June 11, 2009

By Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: The armed villagers fighting the Taliban in the remote Doog Darra area of Dir Upper made advances into Shatkas village after using heavy weapons on Wednesday, destroying several bunkers and killing two more militants.

In another development, the government sacked 31 Levies personnel, 23 in Dir Upper and eight in Dir Lower, for not offering resistance to the militants in May and surrendering their weapons.

Lashkar sources and locals said the use of heavy weapons upset the militants, who were unable to retaliate. “The resistance from the militants waned as they could fire only twice throughout Wednesday,” the sources said.

“The Taliban are now pushed towards their last hideout, situated at the mountain top in Kandao area of Ghazigay,” a resident of Maluk Khwar, a village that previously supported the militants, told The News late Wednesday.

Wishing not to be named for security reasons, he said there was heavy firing all day long in the area and continued even after dusk. “Today, the situation was very tense and volatile. The Taliban could not put up resistance today and retreated towards their last hideout near the Chitral border,” he said and hastened to add that the militants could not escape as they had been surrounded from all sides.

The locals said the Lashkar advanced into Shatkas, one of the militants’ strongholds, and was searching and torching houses. The armed Lashkar, the strength of which jumped to 2,200 fighters from initial 600, torched three houses owned by the Taliban or their supporters in Shatkas, they added.

The locals said the villagers were pounding the houses of the militants with rockets and then set them on fire. Six more houses were also destroyed with rocket attacks, the locals said. A local journalist of Dir, who visited the restive Doog Darra area, said the Lashkar was upbeat about an early victory. He also said the Lashkar had shell-shocked the militants by heavily pounding their positions.

During the attack, the Lashkar killed two more militants in Shatkas area. “I saw five to six bunkers being hit and destroyed. All of them caught fire after the attack in which two militants were reportedly killed,” the journalist said.

Sources in the area said armed villagers were fast closing in on the militants. The aim of using heavy weapons, they said, was to destroy their bunkers, panic the holed up militants and advance into Shatkas and Ghazigay to eliminate them. The strategy seems to be successful as they moved into the village of Shatkas after pushing the Taliban fighters deep into the mountains.

To foil the militants’ bid to escape, the villagers were keeping a vigil on the movement of people and were checking every passing vehicle on the main road from Dir to Sheringal, a town situated near the troubled areas. The locals believe that the militants have suffered heavy casualties during the five-day fighting and were under pressure to escape from the area.

Villagers in Miana said they saw the Taliban digging up a number of graves in Ghazigay. The villagers believed that the decisive fighting might take place in the next two days. The people of Hayagay Sharqi hurriedly formed an armed Lashkar to avenge the killings in a suicide blast at a mosque in this village on Friday last.

Meanwhile, the authorities sacked 23 Levies personnel in Dir Upper and eight in Dir Lower for surrendering to the Taliban without offering resistance. On May 1, the Taliban had attacked a base of the Levies in Paraw area of Dir town and kidnapped 12 personnel besides snatching 70 G-3 rifles.

The people of Hayagay, however, encircled the militants and forced them to release the kidnapped personnel, inviting their wrath.

Similarly, the Levies personnel did not offer resistance when attacked by the militants in Chakdara area of Dir Lower. The militants had destroyed the headquarters of the Levies in the attack. Sources said the matter was probed for one month and it was found that the Levies personnel had showed cowardice by surrendering to the militants.
Dir Lashkar pushes Taliban to last hideout

Using local pushtoon tribes is good strategy but still we dont know who is master mind behind these talaban movement and from where they getting arms .

 

[ajpirzada]

Over 100 killed as troops target Taliban in Bannu

* ISPR says 600-800 Taliban reach Jani Khel, planning to strike parts of NWFP
* One killed, two injured in Taliban rocket attack

LAHORE: Troops killed more than 100 Taliban during two days of operation in Jani Khel and Baka Khel areas of Frontier Region (FR) Bannu, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.

According to the channel, Taliban commander Sher Alam is among the dead.

Security forces are pounding Taliban positions with gunship helicopters and artillery shells, the channel said.

Taliban: Up to 800 Taliban have reportedly arrived in the semi-tribal area of FR Bannu that borders North Waziristan to fight the army that has started an operation in the area.

“Reportedly 600 to 800 terrorists reached Jani Khel from Miranshah and Razmak. They are planning to strike at various places in the NWFP,” the military said in a press release.

The operation was launched after Jani Khel tribesmen failed to hand over Taliban involved in the abduction of hundreds of students and staff of Razmak Cadet College last week.

Troops moved in on Monday after talks between two tribes thought to be involved in the brazen abduction and political administration broke down.

“Forces pounded the militant hideouts for the whole night and in the morning in Jani Khel tribal area,” local police official Khalil Zaman told AFP. “Authorities have imposed curfew in some areas.”

Rocket attack: Also in Bannu, a man was killed and two others wounded when Taliban fired a rocket at a house, AFP reported. daily times monitor/staff report/afp
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