The army was employed in Swat in November 2007 by Gen Musharraf to check growing militancy. It succeeded in restoring order and enabling the interim government to hold general elections on 18 February 2008. It was however prematurely withdrawn by the ruling ANP led government in NWFP in March 2008 soon after the general elections in which the ANP won maximum seats from Swat and Malakand Division. The army had to be brought into Swat again in July 2008 for the second time when peace deal in May could not last and security situation began to deteriorate and the writ of the civil administration and police having collapsed.
Situation became so bad that elected members of ANP and PPP could not visit their constituencies since they had been subjected to death threats. Some had also been eliminated. No sooner the military gained an upper edge over the militants in Swat in February 2009 and pushed the hardcore militants to the farthest end of the valley, Swat deal was inked between the Frontier government and Maulana Sufi led TNSM on 16 February. Fazlulah led Taliban readily agreed to the terms and conditions of the agreement since they were in a precarious situation and badly needed time to rest and refit. The army was told the second time to give up its gains and withdraw to give peace a chance. The parliament passed a unanimous resolution in favor of peace accord and president Zardari inked it much to the chagrin of USA, India, Afghanistan, western world, MQM and the liberal class within. The government stood its ground despite immense internal and external pressure.
Return of peace to war-torn Swat was rejoiced by the people of the valley who had fled to safer areas and suffered great deal of hardships. They returned to their homes amidst high hopes that this enchanting valley of peace and tranquility would never again be subjected to bloodshed and destruction. They were happy that with the introduction of Nizam-e-Adl, their long ordeal of injustices would end and inexpensive and speedy justice would be available to them at their doorsteps.. Hardly had they begun to settle down and the towns began to hustle and bustle with life and business activity, the Taliban once again started flexing their muscles. Not only they refused to surrender their arms as promised, they carried out several violent acts against security forces and also resorted to kidnappings. These acts were ignored in the larger interests of peace, hoping that soon they would abide by their commitments and ensure peace in the region.
In fact, while the people of Swat were celebrating restoration of normalcy and the government was crowing over its achievement, the militants were hectically engaged in recouping their lost munitions from Afghanistan, collecting funds from their mentors, reoccupying and strengthening their strongholds, and carrying out fresh recruitment. While the security forces withdrew most of their check posts, the Taliban did not reciprocate. A stage came that members of Taliban escorted administrative vehicles of the security forces to avoid being fired upon by miscreants.
Some of the strongholds of militants that were further fortified were Mingora, Malam Jabba, Dagger, Matta, Khwazkhela, Bandai, Charbagh, Winai Baba, Namal, Kanju, Takkhtabnd, Loisar, Chamtali, Barikot, Odigram, Banai Baba Ziarat, Kabal, Matta, Shahderi, Akot, Shahdara, Pir Killay, Qambar and many others. A dominating area on the hilltop of Peuchar was converted into the command HQ of Fazlullah and extensively reinforced with the help of underground tunnels, bunkers and elaborate communication system. Having prepared the defensive network based on towns, villages and mountain tops in Swat, it was decided to extend its perimeter of security towards adjoining districts of Buner and Lower Dir and later on keep extending its influence. Some of the known Taliban commanders appointed in Malakand Division are Afsar Hameed and Maulana Khalil in Buner; Maulana Shaid and Ziauddin in Lower Dir. In Swat, Maulana Fazlullah with his deputy Maulana Shah Duran, his spokesman Muslim Khan, Sirajuddin, Mufti Bashir got stationed in Peuchar; Ibne Ameen and his brother Ibne Aqeel in Matta Tehsil; Akbar Hussain, Ghazi, Said Rehman, Rashid Lala, Osama and Farooq in Mingora.
Things came to a head when the militants resorted to strong-arm tactics in Lower Dir and in Buner. People had to flee to escape the wrath of vandalizing militants most of whom were Tajiks and Uzbeks. No amount of pleadings by the ANP leaders made any impact on Sufi who was otherwise miffed on not being consulted on appointment of Qazis and formation of Darul Qaza (appellate court). Playing of a video tape of girl flogging coupled with uncanny statements by Sufi, intensification of propaganda campaign and threatening statements by US top leaders brought matters to a boil. On 26 April an army operation was launched in Lower Dir on express orders of PM Gilani and at the request of NWFP government. Areas where resistance was offered by militants included Maidan, Kumbar, Hayasarai, Kaladag, Zamdara, Lal Qila, Akakhel, Nanbati, Kalpani, Chakdara. Although the situation was brought under control, small-scale subversive activities in the form of improvised explosive devices, roadside bombs, and rocket attacks are still continuing. Large number of militants were killed and the remnants of Taliban have now agreed to vacate Lower Dir and displaced families have started to return.
The militants dug their positions in Buner and converted towns of Ambela, Nawagai, Swarai Cheena into strongholds.. These strongholds were cleared by troops after three weeks of fierce fighting. Dagger, the district HQ of Buner and Sultanvas which was the main HQ of militants were also retaken by security forces. The army chief visited Buner on 21 May to see for himself the ground situation and to buck up the morale of troops. He has been regularly visiting all the hotspots. Normalcy has returned and inflow of IDPs has commenced from 17 May onwards.
On 8 May, the army troops re-entered Swat valley for the third round and the battle is still continuing because of built up areas, indiscriminate mortar and rocket firing by the militants and using civilian houses as bunkers, mining of roads and putting barricades to prevent the civilians from moving out and to use them as human shield. Some 15-20,000 people are stranded in Mingora city, which is the district HQ of Swat valley. Battle is going on in Mingora, cordoned off from four sides. Several areas have been wrested from the militants and in next few days this important city where the militants had planned to give the decisive battle would be taken over. Banai Baba Ziarat, the highest point in the area, Fizagat, Watakai and Qambar, north of Mingora city has also been cleared of the presence of militants; some are moving towards Kabal. The local commander of Taliban has now agreed to vacate Mingora since his fighters have begun to desert and their morale is down. Another hill resort Malam Jabba, that was being used as a training centre and logistic base by the militants has been secured. Troops have been para-dropped in Peuchar and the HQ of Fazlullah has been effectively surrounded and the ring is being tightened. Suspected targets in neighboring districts of Upper Dir, Malakand Agency and Shangla were also engaged. People are marooned in Bahrain, Kalam and Madian in upper Swat, but they have decided to confront the Taliban and are being supplied with food items through air drops.
In the face of non-stop drive of the security forces and making series of gains and taking hold of several important strongholds, the militants have started to flee after shaving their beards and long hair in the guise of IDPs. Leftovers are vacating towns and occupying positions on mountains. One of the local commanders in Swat by the name of Ibne Aqeel sent distress signals to Baitullah Mahsud to send them urgent reinforcements of Uzbeks and Tajiks from North and South Waziristan since they were fast losing their strongholds and had suffered huge losses. This message sent in Pashto was intercepted by army signalers. About 4-5000 militants are operating in Swat out of which 1100 have been killed. The troops are in full cry and their morale is sky high because the whole nation is behind them. Jamaat-e-Islami, JUI-F, Tehrik-e-Insaf and Saad Rafiq from PML-N are whining to end military operations but they are scoffed at.
