Cuirassier
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Our fight against terrorists over the past decade or so has seen many battles, operations, setbacks and outcomes.
The fight had already begun by 2004 under Op Al Mizan, but in those days people's views were largely skeptical on the military operations. The army didn't enjoy popular support and it was seen as a unholy war by most or you can say a decent chunk of our society. Eventually there was a ceasefire, and overall morale in the fauj was low, also contributed by unrest in Balochistan.
The government faced increased support for the militants from the people, and after Op Silence(in which 9 SSG and 2 Rangers were KIA as they cleared the complex, neutralizing 84 militants and capturing 50+), even more backlash was faced, which highlighted the lack of support for the govt and army in their dealing with the militants. Army and FC suffered many losses as the TTP under Baitullah Mehsud had struck several outposts, capturing several and forcing army into battle. SSG HQ at Tarbela was hit, and Waziristan as a whole had erupted with firefights. In Mir Ali alone it is estimated that some 175 militants and 47 troops were killed in the course of 4 days.
Meanwhile, the plague swept into Swat Valley, which was the first major place apart from FATA to be hit with militancy. PA launched a brigade level Op Rah e Haq, after TNSM, a local militant outfit, had overrun the town from paramiltary and police. Resulting fighting caused about 400 militants dead at the loss of 15 troops. The district was back in military control.
But the fight wasn't over like that.
TNSM has slowly reentered Swat and soon the Govt had to 'negotiate with terrorists' by signing a very controversial peace deal with the militants, allowing Sharia Law in Swat and Malakand. The army's efforts were wasted.
Meanwhile the TTP had gathered in the vital Bajaur Agency under the notorious Faqir Mohammad, and under the command of MajGen Tariq Khan, using PAF and FC support.
Op Sherdil was a significant success, probably the first solid one for the army in FATA, as the agency was cleared while 1,500 militants were neutralized at the loss of 97 servicemen.
But throughout the country the overall situation was even more chaotic than before. Marriot Hotel was bombed, a Lt.Gen was assassinated and fighting for NATO supply line in Khyber Agency had begun. Airstrikes were getting common as the armed forces realized the magnitude of the threat and worked out on a proper COIN strategy.
2009 was perhaps a very important year in a sense that the public started to realize the enemy they were facing and how it's campaign of suicide terror had paralyzed lives across the country.
The TTP in Swat violated the peace treaty and started ransacking government buildings and destroying schools in their area of domination. Violence was their weapon and their only cure too.
Finally in late April of 2009, PA launched Op Black Thunderstorm in order to dislodge TTP from Buner Lower Dir Swat and Shangla districts. This Op was a joint effort from all arms (army-airforce-navy) and involved paratroopers securing strategic locations and eliminating TTP hideouts. Op RaheRast was launched in May to secure main Swat from the TTP and included the heaviest fighting seen. SSG was heavily used in both operations, 4 of their men had been captured and executed by the TTP, thus they took revenge by many ways(hehe). The operations were very risky considering the dense defences and urban combat involved and were praised from all quarters as in the end Pakistan had succeeded with a great margin.
Some 1475 Ts and 128 soldiers were killed in Op Black Thunderstorm while about 2088 Ts and 168 soldiers were killed in Op RaheRast.
These defeats fractured TTP capability to directly threaten mainland Pakistan and they were to remain refrained to the Tribal Areas thereafter.
In the same year, Op RaheNijat was launched to clear South Waziristan from TTP and I believe it was quite a deal that they continued with this Op in the same year as the Armed Forces had already seen much combat in Swat and outskirts. Despite the harsh terrain and challenges the armed forces cleared the agency after a long fight, from June to October. 619 Ts and 83 soldiers had been killed. The resolve and confidence of the armed forces was solid and there was no longer any preferences for good and bad Ts, or maybe there were some generals remaining, like the late SSG GOC had spoken of before being assassinated.
The threat of the TTP still remained. Suicide bombings and attacks were still the norm.
In 2010-11, after a year of training, Orakzai and Kurram were cleared with massive success, as the forces eliminated some 2750 Ts at the loss of 88 men.
Still attacks weren't ending, rather getting sophisticated.
PNS Mehran was attacked by a 15 man strong Al Qaeda team, killing 10 naval officers and damaging/destroying Orions, but eventually killed by efforts of the SSGN.
In 2013 as elections approached, clashes occurred in the notorious Tirah Valley, where the bloodiest fights were seen.
In the end some 160+ Lashkar-e-Islam fighters and 40+ troops were killed.
Many people believe that Gen Kayani was suggested to clear North Waziristan, the major tribal agency that acted as the TTP/IMU base for operations for several years. But it was delayed in fear of losses as the area was heavily infested with IEDs and fighters.
After PML-N came into power, the Govt again chose to negotiate with the TTP for peace as it wanted end to the violence without military action. But these type of people are not civilized enough for peace, and the only way to deal with them was to put them to the sword.
After the Jinnah Airport attack in June 2014, the military under the new COAS Raheel Sharif started Op Zarb-e-Azb, initially in NWA but then spread across the country, in an attempt to break the backbone of the militants once and for all.
Op ZeA received great praise by the people as they had seen what the terrorists had done, and finally the civil-military junta was on the same page.
Pakistan Army had learnt from it's past experiences and this time the assault was tremendous, utilizing PAF and SOF under the strategy of Seek Destroy Clear Hold.
MI and ISI were to seek, PAF and SSG were used to destroy and clear and army was used to hold.
By October of 2014, 1145 militants and 60 soldiers were KIA in ZeA and in the end, some 2500 militants and 131 offrs and jawans had been martyred in NWA.
It took two years for the whole operation to end, as the agency was vast and the infestation was on a very large scale, thus the army needed time to clear all pockets, such as Shawal Valley, plus the IEDs present took a large toll on the troops.
SOF performance was brilliant and this was perhaps the best execution of an operation against the TTP and allies.
PAF,SSG, SSGN and SSW were used in a very effective manner and this operation deserves applaud from all corners. The TTP retaliation in APS Peshawar was intended to weaken our resolve but instead the move backfired and as Op ZeA progressed, for the first time since several years, terrorism started to drop.
Considering the Op was nationwide it helped in the fracture of Pakistan based militants and from then onwards it is safe to say that we had the upper hand.
Bombings and attacks did occur still, as now militant centre of ops had shifted cross border into Afg where the situation was poor, large areas being under insurgent control and influence.
In 2017 Op Rad ul Fasaad was launched after a series of reoccurring attacks which were conducted with the help of sleeper cells across the nation.
Intel Based Ops were chosen as a mean to eliminate such threats and till date the Op is ongoing. Rad ul Fasaad has again stabilized the situation and once again terrorism incidents are on the drop.
In the summers of 2017, perhaps the last major land offensive was conducted by PA SSG and LCB in the isolated Rajgal Valley as a continuation if Op Khyber.
90 kms were cleared till the border opp. Nangarhar , and this time the enemy was affiliated with IS.
Op Khyber 4 relied largely on Special Forces and as a result success was achieved swiftly. 52 Ts were neutralized,32 were injured, some were captured, at the loss of 2 soldiers.
Pakistan Armed Forces development of new strategies to deal with this unconventional threat have been greatly successful and i believe that our War on Terror is a prime example of victory against such threats and ideologies, not possible without the solid resolve of our jawans and offrs, and sacrifices of the nation as a whole.
The threat still lingers on though, as long as they survive cross border we are still vulnerable. As long as the ideology remains we can't let our guard down.
But then, how can we eradicate this mentality and be civilised, by all means?
The fight had already begun by 2004 under Op Al Mizan, but in those days people's views were largely skeptical on the military operations. The army didn't enjoy popular support and it was seen as a unholy war by most or you can say a decent chunk of our society. Eventually there was a ceasefire, and overall morale in the fauj was low, also contributed by unrest in Balochistan.
The government faced increased support for the militants from the people, and after Op Silence(in which 9 SSG and 2 Rangers were KIA as they cleared the complex, neutralizing 84 militants and capturing 50+), even more backlash was faced, which highlighted the lack of support for the govt and army in their dealing with the militants. Army and FC suffered many losses as the TTP under Baitullah Mehsud had struck several outposts, capturing several and forcing army into battle. SSG HQ at Tarbela was hit, and Waziristan as a whole had erupted with firefights. In Mir Ali alone it is estimated that some 175 militants and 47 troops were killed in the course of 4 days.
Meanwhile, the plague swept into Swat Valley, which was the first major place apart from FATA to be hit with militancy. PA launched a brigade level Op Rah e Haq, after TNSM, a local militant outfit, had overrun the town from paramiltary and police. Resulting fighting caused about 400 militants dead at the loss of 15 troops. The district was back in military control.
But the fight wasn't over like that.
TNSM has slowly reentered Swat and soon the Govt had to 'negotiate with terrorists' by signing a very controversial peace deal with the militants, allowing Sharia Law in Swat and Malakand. The army's efforts were wasted.
Meanwhile the TTP had gathered in the vital Bajaur Agency under the notorious Faqir Mohammad, and under the command of MajGen Tariq Khan, using PAF and FC support.
Op Sherdil was a significant success, probably the first solid one for the army in FATA, as the agency was cleared while 1,500 militants were neutralized at the loss of 97 servicemen.
But throughout the country the overall situation was even more chaotic than before. Marriot Hotel was bombed, a Lt.Gen was assassinated and fighting for NATO supply line in Khyber Agency had begun. Airstrikes were getting common as the armed forces realized the magnitude of the threat and worked out on a proper COIN strategy.
2009 was perhaps a very important year in a sense that the public started to realize the enemy they were facing and how it's campaign of suicide terror had paralyzed lives across the country.
The TTP in Swat violated the peace treaty and started ransacking government buildings and destroying schools in their area of domination. Violence was their weapon and their only cure too.
Finally in late April of 2009, PA launched Op Black Thunderstorm in order to dislodge TTP from Buner Lower Dir Swat and Shangla districts. This Op was a joint effort from all arms (army-airforce-navy) and involved paratroopers securing strategic locations and eliminating TTP hideouts. Op RaheRast was launched in May to secure main Swat from the TTP and included the heaviest fighting seen. SSG was heavily used in both operations, 4 of their men had been captured and executed by the TTP, thus they took revenge by many ways(hehe). The operations were very risky considering the dense defences and urban combat involved and were praised from all quarters as in the end Pakistan had succeeded with a great margin.
Some 1475 Ts and 128 soldiers were killed in Op Black Thunderstorm while about 2088 Ts and 168 soldiers were killed in Op RaheRast.
These defeats fractured TTP capability to directly threaten mainland Pakistan and they were to remain refrained to the Tribal Areas thereafter.
In the same year, Op RaheNijat was launched to clear South Waziristan from TTP and I believe it was quite a deal that they continued with this Op in the same year as the Armed Forces had already seen much combat in Swat and outskirts. Despite the harsh terrain and challenges the armed forces cleared the agency after a long fight, from June to October. 619 Ts and 83 soldiers had been killed. The resolve and confidence of the armed forces was solid and there was no longer any preferences for good and bad Ts, or maybe there were some generals remaining, like the late SSG GOC had spoken of before being assassinated.
The threat of the TTP still remained. Suicide bombings and attacks were still the norm.
In 2010-11, after a year of training, Orakzai and Kurram were cleared with massive success, as the forces eliminated some 2750 Ts at the loss of 88 men.
Still attacks weren't ending, rather getting sophisticated.
PNS Mehran was attacked by a 15 man strong Al Qaeda team, killing 10 naval officers and damaging/destroying Orions, but eventually killed by efforts of the SSGN.
In 2013 as elections approached, clashes occurred in the notorious Tirah Valley, where the bloodiest fights were seen.
In the end some 160+ Lashkar-e-Islam fighters and 40+ troops were killed.
Many people believe that Gen Kayani was suggested to clear North Waziristan, the major tribal agency that acted as the TTP/IMU base for operations for several years. But it was delayed in fear of losses as the area was heavily infested with IEDs and fighters.
After PML-N came into power, the Govt again chose to negotiate with the TTP for peace as it wanted end to the violence without military action. But these type of people are not civilized enough for peace, and the only way to deal with them was to put them to the sword.
After the Jinnah Airport attack in June 2014, the military under the new COAS Raheel Sharif started Op Zarb-e-Azb, initially in NWA but then spread across the country, in an attempt to break the backbone of the militants once and for all.
Op ZeA received great praise by the people as they had seen what the terrorists had done, and finally the civil-military junta was on the same page.
Pakistan Army had learnt from it's past experiences and this time the assault was tremendous, utilizing PAF and SOF under the strategy of Seek Destroy Clear Hold.
MI and ISI were to seek, PAF and SSG were used to destroy and clear and army was used to hold.
By October of 2014, 1145 militants and 60 soldiers were KIA in ZeA and in the end, some 2500 militants and 131 offrs and jawans had been martyred in NWA.
It took two years for the whole operation to end, as the agency was vast and the infestation was on a very large scale, thus the army needed time to clear all pockets, such as Shawal Valley, plus the IEDs present took a large toll on the troops.
SOF performance was brilliant and this was perhaps the best execution of an operation against the TTP and allies.
PAF,SSG, SSGN and SSW were used in a very effective manner and this operation deserves applaud from all corners. The TTP retaliation in APS Peshawar was intended to weaken our resolve but instead the move backfired and as Op ZeA progressed, for the first time since several years, terrorism started to drop.
Considering the Op was nationwide it helped in the fracture of Pakistan based militants and from then onwards it is safe to say that we had the upper hand.
Bombings and attacks did occur still, as now militant centre of ops had shifted cross border into Afg where the situation was poor, large areas being under insurgent control and influence.
In 2017 Op Rad ul Fasaad was launched after a series of reoccurring attacks which were conducted with the help of sleeper cells across the nation.
Intel Based Ops were chosen as a mean to eliminate such threats and till date the Op is ongoing. Rad ul Fasaad has again stabilized the situation and once again terrorism incidents are on the drop.
In the summers of 2017, perhaps the last major land offensive was conducted by PA SSG and LCB in the isolated Rajgal Valley as a continuation if Op Khyber.
90 kms were cleared till the border opp. Nangarhar , and this time the enemy was affiliated with IS.
Op Khyber 4 relied largely on Special Forces and as a result success was achieved swiftly. 52 Ts were neutralized,32 were injured, some were captured, at the loss of 2 soldiers.
Pakistan Armed Forces development of new strategies to deal with this unconventional threat have been greatly successful and i believe that our War on Terror is a prime example of victory against such threats and ideologies, not possible without the solid resolve of our jawans and offrs, and sacrifices of the nation as a whole.
The threat still lingers on though, as long as they survive cross border we are still vulnerable. As long as the ideology remains we can't let our guard down.
But then, how can we eradicate this mentality and be civilised, by all means?
