Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[Elmo]

Makes it all the more important to launch such operations and take out the likes of Fazlullah quickly.

Yes, but the operation has to go somewhere. The operations in Mohmand, Khyber and Bajaur have still not been "officially" called off by the army — on paper the operations are still on.

In Mohmand, which is supposed to have been cleared of these extremists, skirmishes still take place. Till last week, there were reports of the Taliban abducting young men — one was beheaded and left to rot on the border tehsil of Ambar.

Same is the case in Bajaur, where the Political Agent recently asked the IDPs to return. Only the men have — most of the displaced families' women and children are still at camps.

As for Khyber, the number put by the military is less than 30. It is otherwise "cleared" of these extremists (the army only took action last Nov/Dec after attacks on the Nato depot). How difficult is it to rout out 30 militants?

On top of that we have operations in Dir, Buner and Swat... the list is never-ending.

The army's use of force is justified, but I would want to know what it is using with the power vested in it? There has to be some accountability.

 

[IceCold]

You are right, even amongst the educated lot and even in Lahore here i see entirely conflicting point of view amongst all my associates.

Some even pretend that nothing wrong has been done by any party except GOP which to them is following US orders, actually the statements of US government should have been more concealed and diplomatic in order to avoid giving ammunition to this school of thought.
Also it certainly helps the pro Taliban lobby when a major operation is launched and President is in foreign land with the US reps...it certainly should have been avoided but alas we are not the most perceptive people in our actions.

All i hope for is quick elimination of Taliban strongholds and commanders to ensure that the civilian population moves back and some sort of normalcy is restored.

What we can do is to donate maximum to various funds in order to ensure that the civilians are cared for.

Much has to do with the timing this whole thing started. If Zardari would have not been in the US and with issuing statements such as India not a threat, it was obvious for the people to see it with a shaky eye.

 

[Hellfire]

Well as All-Green has pointed out, i think a reason for this is because of the timing of the whole thing from the starting of the peace deal and sharia implication over to the operation and president sb in US calling taliban and not India as the greatest enemy, it was obvious that people who might have joined the government bandwagon are now looking towards it as an US agenda being followed on. The timing couldnt be worse and Zardari should have been more carefull while opening his mouth. In the end it the public opinion which will matter and if God for bid, turns against the GOP then all that we have fought for and laid precious lifes of our soldiers will go in vain.

But IceCold dont you think that Prez has just ensured Pakistan gets the best backing in terms of diplomatic and economic sense as also its forces get the necessary equipment to wage war against probably the greatest threat you have at the time? India has been around for as long as you and yet the situation is same, you are there in your own lands, we are in our own ...... and no amount of ill will can change that. But this threat is something that can destroy your nation from within?

Thats what I meant that GoP has made a mess of the situation by not proactively preparing the nation for a war. They made peace in the first place, giving a tag of legitimacy to the whole cry of TTP for its demand knowing full well that the underlying reason for TTP's call was ill will to the GoP.

Pakistan does sport a fashionable, modern and progressive society still (this is my view from my personal interaction with Pakistani Friends) and is in fact a model for an Islamic nation with secularism ingrained into its basic ideology so far. The agenda of TTP from onset has been the hijacking of this very system to distort it in the name of religion and destroy the fabric of society. And until and unless the elite and intelligentsia of Pakistani Society actively take up the causeit was bound to be a mess.

Still I think PA has to also augment its information campaign substantially from present briefs of PRO-ISPR. Yet it can not do much if GoP is still not willing to take up the issue at a larger scale and re-educate the society and people.

 

[Hellfire]

Yes, but the operation has to go somewhere. The operations in Mohmand, Khyber and Bajaur have still not been "officially" called off by the army — on paper the operations are still on.

In Mohmand, which is supposed to have been cleared of these extremists, skirmishes still take place. Till last week, there were reports of the Taliban abducting young men — one was beheaded and left to rot on the border tehsil of Ambar.

Same is the case in Bajaur, where the Political Agent recently asked the IDPs to return. Only the men have — most of the displaced families' women and children are still at camps.

As for Khyber, the number put by the military is less than 30. It is otherwise "cleared" of these extremists (the army only took action last Nov/Dec after attacks on the Nato depot). How difficult is it to rout out 30 militants?

On top of that we have operations in Dir, Buner and Swat... the list is never-ending.

The army's use of force is justified, but I would want to know what it is using with the power vested in it? There has to be some accountability.

The question of clearance is temporarily addressed. The need is to maintain your hold on the ground and that shall entail putting in troops.

Declaration of areas as cleared may mainly pertain to end of multidimensional offensive maneuvers aimed at clearing of the consolidated TTP (now why are they in consolidated formations beats me). However, the situation may not necessarily mean an end to any challenge of govenrment authority in the designated areas

 

[fatman17]

Firefight that is achieving little result!

Beginning with the operation in South and North Waziristan in March 2005, Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber last year and now the one in Malakand Division, yeh chingaari sirf pahlti jaa rahi hai![/QUOTE]

i am quite sure you have a alternate plan in place! if so, please educate us!

 

[PAFAce]

ARMY HAS DROPPED HELIBORNE TROOPS AT PEOCHAR, STRONGHOLD OF MULLAH FAZLULLAH - FIREFIGHT CONTINUES!

Indeed. Geo News below.

Heliborne troops land in Peochar: Army
Updated at: 1212 PST, Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Heliborne troops land in Peochar: Army SWAT: Pakistan army heliborne troops landed at a key Taliban stronghold in the northwest district of Swat on Tuesday, stepping up an offensive against militants, military officials said.

"Army heliborne troops have landed at Peochar," said a military official referring to a sparsely populated hilly area in northern Swat that had been under Taliban control.

He said it was the first time helicopter borne troops had landed in Peochar since the offensive began last week. The area is the abode of chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat Maulvi Fazlullah.

"The operation is right now in progress," added another military official in the northwest region.

On another note, criticism of the operation is primarily politically motivated. People don't want to admit that the GoP has finally done something right, simply because their political party is not in power. It is pretty evident that the operation was brought upon by the Taleban themselves, just listen to what the IDPs have to say. Also, like I've said before, just because Pakistan's goals and US policy have commonality does not make it a "US motivated" move. Lastly, those who say that the operation has made "little progress" need to familiarize themselves with military history and the difficulty of fighting a guerilla war. Progress is being made steadily, though the numbers may be exaggerated. Being a pest will not help anybody, either do something constructive or stop whining.

 

[Elmo]

Firefight that is achieving little result!

Beginning with the operation in South and North Waziristan in March 2005, Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber last year and now the one in Malakand Division, yeh chingaari sirf pahlti jaa rahi hai![/QUOTE]

i am quite sure you have a alternate plan in place! if so, please educate us!

Don't worry fatman 17 I will. Have to log out now. Don't forget the documents you were supposed to send over

Bye.

 

[IceCold]

But IceCold dont you think that Prez has just ensured Pakistan gets the best backing in terms of diplomatic and economic sense as also its forces get the necessary equipment to wage war against probably the greatest threat you have at the time? India has been around for as long as you and yet the situation is same, you are there in your own lands, we are in our own ...... and no amount of ill will can change that. But this threat is something that can destroy your nation from within?

Thats what I meant that GoP has made a mess of the situation by not proactively preparing the nation for a war. They made peace in the first place, giving a tag of legitimacy to the whole cry of TTP for its demand knowing full well that the underlying reason for TTP's call was ill will to the GoP.

Pakistan does sport a fashionable, modern and progressive society still (this is my view from my personal interaction with Pakistani Friends) and is in fact a model for an Islamic nation with secularism ingrained into its basic ideology so far. The agenda of TTP from onset has been the hijacking of this very system to distort it in the name of religion and destroy the fabric of society. And until and unless the elite and intelligentsia of Pakistani Society actively take up the causeit was bound to be a mess.

Still I think PA has to also augment its information campaign substantially from present briefs of PRO-ISPR. Yet it can not do much if GoP is still not willing to take up the issue at a larger scale and re-educate the society and people.

You know na how the thinking of an oridinary person on the street work and specially when we have this kind of relationship with the US where we are not considered a partner nation but a subject to US demands for more aid. This is what happened in this case as well. Zadari could have been more carefull with his words and more so should have told the US same,not to beat the chest where its not necessary. Moreover we have not reached the level of understanding with India, that we start calling India not a threat, you know how will that been seen when you have 60 plus years of hostility with each other.
I mentioned in some other post that we need to set our priorties straight which means that a review should be laid about the whole militant threat and their implication on Pakistan as a whole. If yes the threat is for real then aid or no aid we need to and have to fight this war for our survival the same way we would have done If India would have attacked.
This whole aid thing is really lashing out our image not just internally but externally. We are seen as a proxy for the US agenda and PA as a team of mercenaries which is a very dangerous development because never in the history of Pakistan, PA has been viewed in such a negative way, it was highly regarded as an institution.

 

[Hellfire]

You know na how the thinking of an oridinary person on the street work and specially when we have this kind of relationship with the US where we are not considered a partner nation but a subject to US demands for more aid. This is what happened in this case as well. Zadari could have been more carefull with his words and more so should have told the US same,not to beat the chest where its not necessary. Moreover we have not reached the level of understanding with India, that we start calling India not a threat, you know how will that been seen when you have 60 plus years of hostility with each other.
I mentioned in some other post that we need to set our priorties straight which means that a review should be laid about the whole militant threat and their implication on Pakistan as a whole. If yes the threat is for real then aid or no aid we need to and have to fight this war for our survival the same way we would have done If India would have attacked.
This whole aid thing is really lashing out our image not just internally but externally. We are seen as a proxy for the US agenda and PA as a team of mercenaries which is a very dangerous development because never in the history of Pakistan, PA has been viewed in such a negative way, it was highly regarded as an institution.

Totally agree with you sir


He could have kept that comment off the public records

 

[ajpirzada]

Security forces claim gains in Dir, Malakand
By Haleem Asad and Hameedulah Khan
Tuesday, 12 May, 2009 | 03:45 AM PST | Nine militants were killed after security forces took control of Gulabad and established checkposts there.—AP HIT HARD
Swatis want action, not rhetoric SPECIALS
Battling Taliban: Where does it stop?

TIMERGARA/MINGORA: Several militants were killed or injured on Monday as security forces claimed gains in Dir and Malakand and tightened the noose around militants in Swat district.

Nine militants were killed and several others injured after security forces took control of Gulabad and established checkposts there. After a fierce clash, the security forces took control of the residence of MNA Malak Azmat in Ouch, which was occupied by militants a few days back.

Sources said several militants were killed when helicopter gunships and troops on the ground attacked a government school for girls in Gulabad from where a band of outlaws had been firing on troops. A militant vehicle was destroyed during shelling.

Two civilians were killed when a pick-up carrying vegetables was hit on Badwan road. Eleven civilians were also injured in various parts of Adenzai tehsil.

Troops took control of the Dir-Peshawar Highway and established checkposts at Gulabad and Kharkanai. The armed Taliban had set up checkpoints on the highway and were patrolling from Chakdara to Talash.

They snatched several official vehicles and kidnapped a number of government employees.

Security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, pounded militants’ positions in Gulabad and surrounding areas, residents and official sources said. Troops cleared Osakai, Saproona, Bakandai, Ramyal, Ouch and Gulabad of militants, they added.

‘Militants are on the run,’ the sources said. They had started retreating to Asbanr, a Taliban stronghold, while troops and helicopter gunships were chasing them and some of the militants had fled to Laram and Kotigram, they added.

Main areas of Adenzai tehsil, including Ouch, Badwan, Khadagzai, Chakdara, Osakai, Asbanr and Talash of Timergara, plunged into darkness after an 11,000KV power line was hit by shelling at Chakdara and Osakai.

In Maidan, a soldier was killed and four others were injured during search operation. According to official sources, seven militants were killed in Hayaserai. However, independent sources did not confirm it.

Thousands of people came on the roads to catch vehicles for southern districts after the curfew was relaxed from 4pm in Dir. A large number of people from Adenzai crossed the Chakdara bridge to save their lives.

In Swat, security forces defused several landmines on GT Road in Barikot. Security forces blew up the house of Taliban commander Yousaf during search operation in Barikot.

Militants were offering stiff resistance to security forces in Baynai Baba area in Khwazakhela, where captain Rashid and two soldiers were injured in a clash.

The militants fired three rockets on the circuit house in Saidu Sharif. No casualty was reported in the attack. Jets and helicopter gunships pounded militant locations in Kabal, Matta and Khwazakhela tehsils.

Hundreds of people vacated their homes in Kota and Landaki and crossed into neighbouring Malakand. Caravans of people, most of them on foot because of non-availability of vehicles, were seen crossing Batkhela.

A headless body of a police havaldar was found at the main square in Nawi Kalley.
DAWN.COM | Provinces | Security forces claim gains in Dir, Malakand


Heliborne troops land in Peochar: Army
Updated at: 1212 PST, Tuesday, May 12, 2009
SWAT: Pakistan army heliborne troops landed at a key Taliban stronghold in the northwest district of Swat on Tuesday, stepping up an offensive against militants, military officials said.

"Army heliborne troops have landed at Peochar," said a military official referring to a sparsely populated hilly area in northern Swat that had been under Taliban control.

He said it was the first time helicopter borne troops had landed in Peochar since the offensive began last week. The area is the abode of chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat Maulvi Fazlullah.

"The operation is right now in progress," added another military official in the northwest region.
Heliborne troops land in Peochar: Army - GEO.tv

 

[ajpirzada]

this sendin of troops in fazlullah's town is a great move. once secrity forces have got control of that most of the criminals who had joined fazlullah just for the sake of it will definately leave. It will also serve as big blow to talibans. on the other hand IDPs will get to know that army is serious this time.

 

[ajpirzada]

i think some of the ppl are against this operation only coz of political or some personal reasons. but such ppl are only few and we shouldnt demoralise ourselves at this time. so far i have spoken to ppl from lahore isb karachi and they all are very happy and fully support the military operation. we also know ppl of swat support this operation rather they have declared jihad against these talbans. PML-N, second biggest party, has said that they fully back the military operation. only parties who are not backing are JUI, JUI-F and PTI. now JUI and PTI are not a part of national assembaly while JUI-F we all know about maulana diesel or dont we??

 

[ajpirzada]

Troops heading towards Mingora from two directions : Army ready for house-to-house combat: ISPR

* Maj Gen Athar says army will avoid confrontation if Taliban leave Mingora
* Says elite commandos dropped for advance combat

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: The military is prepared for house-to-house combat to flush out the Taliban from their urban strongholds in Swat.

“We have prepared for house-to-house fighting but if the militants leave Mingora, then we will avoid it,” Maj Gen Athar Abbas said. He said forces were heading towards Mingora from two directions. They would link up before assailing the city in force.

Elite commandos: Officials on Sunday said elite commando troops had been dropped into parts of Mingora for advance combat as the army lifted a curfew to allow thousands of civilians to flee.

After three days of heavy fighting, thousands of people who had been stranded left Mingora. Thousands more, many on foot or donkey-pulled carts, had streamed out of the valley during the curfew.

“Everybody wants to get out of this hell,” said a resident. “Some are driving out while many are just on foot. They don’t know where they’re heading but staying here means death.”

In Mardan, an NWFP government official said 100,000 displaced people were expected to join the 252,000 already there.

The army on Sunday said it had killed at least 180 suspected Taliban over the previous 24 hours. It said at least 140 bodies were discovered in a camp in Shangla.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[All-Green]

army will avoid confrontation if ........
intresting !!

Not more interesting than your one liners which have graced us so far...you are constantly ranting on multiple thread about a pathetic report quoting some anonymous US official who sees PA as a circus act.

 

[shravan]

Taliban command and control system destroyed | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

ISLAMABAD - The ongoing operation code named “Rah-e-Haq-4” being, conducted by the security forces against militants in Malakand region, is making headway successfully, as 52 miscreants have been killed and five got injured in the fresh wave of clashes.
According to ISPR, the security forces also destroyed various hideouts of the militants in various parts of the Malakand region including Kabal, Tutano Banda, Deda Khura, Peochar, Sarbande and Matta, which led killing of 30 militants.
The miscreants raided Kanju Fort of security forces, consequently injuring five personnel.
The security forces also engaged miscreant’s hideouts at Mingora and Peochar area, where 11 miscreants were killed. Two security personnel were injured due to miscreants’ firing at Circuit House Mingora.
At Ayub Bridge, seven miscreants were killed by security forces while the miscreants in their efforts to damage the public and civil property demolished the building of Government Boys Primary School, Fazalabad, Barrikot.
The gunship helicopters of the security forces targeted tunnels and hideouts of miscreants at Qamber ridge where three miscreants were killed while five others got injured.
In a bid to launch an IED by a militant at Chamtalai, the security forces spotted him and shot him down. Miscreants fired mortar shells at Police Station Mingora resultantly four soldiers got injured.
The security forces have cleared the route up to Khawazakhela, while during the clearance of Banni Baba Ziarat, three soldiers embraced martyrdom and three others were injured. Ultimately the security forces took over the control of Banni Baba Ziarat.
In Gulabad of Lower Dir, the security forces resumed cordoning off areas and search operation to clear Haya Sarai area and secured ridgeline on west of Chakdara-Gulabad Road.