Winning Hearts in Combat Zone: The Story of Dewagar, North Waziristan

[Signalian]

Winning Hearts in Combat Zone: The Story of Dewagar, North Waziristan​

Dewagar is the border town of Tehsil Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan. This valley comprises six villages with a population of approximately 3500. The area has remained a hotbed of insurgency, disrupting civic facilities and the rural economy. To relieve the population, Pakistan Army is reaching out to restore their confidence and uplift the community.

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Winning Over the Population
In militancy-prone areas, population’s trust is a deciding factor. In Dewagar, the population was won over through enhanced interactions and providing relief in many spheres. Every social segment was engaged, including tribal elders, widows, youth, and kids, which helped in understanding the needs of each segment.

Revival of Education
Educating youth is the best long-term way to expose twisted terrorist ideologies and block their potential recruitment. There were four Government Boys Schools in Dewagar, and all were non-functional due to absentee teaching staff.

The Local Army Unit made considerable efforts to revive education in the area. After liaison with government’s education authorities, all four schools have been revived. Five hundred seventy-five boys are studying with substitute teachers. There was no school building for girls in the area. Three girls’ schools have been established with an intake of 151 girls. These schools have been established as evening shift schools in the same building as boys’ schools to provide equal opportunities to girls in the area. Amongst these, Dewagar Public School is an iconic project established with the support of Commander 11 Corps. Distance Learning Initiative was introduced, and an Islamabad-based M. Phil teacher was hired to provide quality online education to tribal kids through smart classrooms. Technology Literacy Corner has been established to provide computer education to kids.

Moreover, a state-of-the-art Montessori Playroom has also been established. Nine boys were selected and sent to Formation Boys Hostel in Miranshah for the provision of quality education. In total, 726 boys and girls have been enrolled in schools of Dewagar, thus raising the literacy rate from the previous 2 percent to 20 percent.

Health Facilities

The best WHAM (Winning Hearts and Minds) is helping people in times of their suffering. There were two Government Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Dewagar, and both were non-functional due to the absence of requisite facilities and staff. In order to provide essential medical services to locals, Army Welfare Clinic, Dewagar was established in February 2023. The Regimental Medical Officer of the local Infantry Unit has been deputed to check and treat the patients daily. Pakistan Army is purchasing requisite medicines for the clinic. Local chromite contractors also donate medicines as a part of community service. Since the inauguration, 750 tribal men, women, and kids have been treated at Army Welfare Clinic.

---

---

Functioning of Water Supply Scheme

Water is a very basic and essential amenity, especially in the tough terrain of North Waziristan. Water Supply Scheme (WSS) of Kadi Khel village was non-functional due to a dispute over monthly contributions. A few low-income families had been unable to pay that amount for the last two years. Pakistan Army paid for those families, repaired a few broken accessories, and made this WSS functional for the complete village. One more WSS has also been approved under the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and will be implemented shortly.

---

---

Chromite Exploration

In order to promote business in the area, chromite mining in the area was operationalized, which had been stalled due to security concerns since 2014. Starting in November 2022, over 1715 chromite tons were excavated worth Rs. 257 million. Chromite excavation has given a fillip to many associated businesses and has created 500 direct and indirect jobs. Locals get a direct tribal share of chromite besides working as laborers in the mines.

Youth Engagement

The youth was actively engaged through concerted efforts. Many sports events were organized, besides establishing cricket, football, and basketball grounds in Dewagar. Cricket matches of the Pakistani team during the T20 World Cup were live screened in Dewagar to engage the tribal youth.

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Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Imran Khan is a Command and Staff College Quetta graduate. The officer has vast experience in low-intensity conflict (LIC). He is currently commanding an Infantry Battalion in North Waziristan.

Winning Hearts in Combat Zone: The Story of Dewagar, North Waziristan

Dewagar is the border town of Tehsil Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan. This valley comprises six villages with a population of approximately 3500. The area has remained a hotbed of insurgency, disrupting civic facilities and the rural economy. To relieve the population, Pakistan Army is reaching...

www.hilal.gov.pk

 

[TaimiKhan]

Bro, dont mind but these kind of posts / articles are not gonna work and make the PA win back its respect which they lost thanks to Bajwa and then Asim Whiskey.

Better to remove oneself from political engineering and this resign of terror and let the ppl of Pakistan select their leadership.

 

[Reichmarshal]

The hearts n minds war ......PA has been badly bruised n if this trend continues then the writing is on the wall for PA

 

[kingQamaR]

The whole war and terror episode has been a complete and utter disaster from the invasion of Afghanistan to the present Pakistan’. Incompetence abounds from the highest echelons of PAKISTANI MILITARY governments involved to those Pakistani military GENERALS An investigation should be ordered into every minute of every day of anyone involved in the planning, of this carnage war on our Pakistani tribal belt by our own criminals!!

 

[Sayfullah]

I was talking to someone from tribal areas a few days ago. They said TTP flags are everywhere nowadays. Even once considered “settled” areas now have TTP. TTP carry out many attacks in a day but it doesn’t go reported. They’re back in their pre zarb e azb position now.
Idk where pak army is “winning hearts and minds” but tribal areas are increasing falling to TTP and the locals are increasingly seeing PTM as the only option.

You can live in your bubble and say everything is ok just like you did 2 years ago when everyone was crying TTP is regrouping. Don’t be surprised when their once again only 60
Kms from Islamabad because your ego didn’t allow you to except Pak Army is losing in the “hearts and minds” game.

 

[TheSolution]

These articles with nothing to show for them in practice are useless. This is why no one takes these Pak Faujis seriously.

In 2019 you had something to show and everyone wanted to hear what you were saying, same thing here, all talk no action.

Secondly these duffers think we are still in 1960s/1980s, but we live in the age of social media, word spreads faster through society than ever before and it is near impossible to stop the spread of information.

The whispers on the streets know the reality and no number fudging and heroic speeches will work. Only through showing and feeling physical results.

 

[hussain0216]

I was talking to someone from tribal areas a few days ago. They said TTP flags are everywhere nowadays. Even once considered “settled” areas now have TTP. TTP carry out many attacks in a day but it doesn’t go reported. They’re back in their pre zarb e azb position now.
Idk where pak army is “winning hearts and minds” but tribal areas are increasing falling to TTP and the locals are increasingly seeing PTM as the only option.

You can live in your bubble and say everything is ok just like you did 2 years ago when everyone was crying TTP is regrouping. Don’t be surprised when their once again only 60
Kms from Islamabad because your ego didn’t allow you to except Pak Army is losing in the “hearts and minds” game.

The locals were ALWAYS involved,, the PTM is just the TTP, it's the same thing, the locals are involved with both

Everything else is just bullshit and lies

The fundamental fact is this,, that area didn't become a crap hole full of fassad, suddenly in the last decade or two

It's been the same since the 1940s and before



If you make the excuse of generals, soviets, Afghan jihad etc

That how do you explain the constant monkey shit and conflict coming out of that areas pre 1980s?




We give to much excuses and leeway to the tribal idiot's,, ohhh they are misunderstood that's why they bomb things.

No, they are backwards donkeys, that's why they bomb things, that's why their is constant fassad from that area and those people

Let's stop making excuses

Post fall of Afghan Republic, their was ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FALLOUT

This is it,, now between pressure on Afghanistan, border security, operations and deaths of the yahoos we are going to have a period of conflict in the tribal areas and we will need to up our game and kill a lot of TTP supporters and members


Their can't be the old let's keep a few thousand of them in custody,,we need to eradicate them

PTM is the flip of the TTP and always have been, the same goals via different methods

 

[mangochutney]

They’d kill yous with there bare hands if they could .

 

[hussain0216]

They’d kill yous with there bare hands if they could .

Absolutely, your talking about people who are little more than jaanwar, who can't see beyond ethno-stupidity, it's in their nature

Their will ALWAYS be conflict their and only a crackdown will bring limited peace, and the cycle of violence will always ebb and flow increase and decrease but never end BECAUSE THE LOCALS ARE INVOLVED

That's why the violence will never end because your not fighting a terrorist group, your fighting a terrorist AREA full of jahils waiting to join groups and terrorists

 

[Mirzali Khan]

They’re back in their pre zarb e azb position now.

Nah no way.

Pre Zarb-e-Azb, TTP was controlling large swathes of territory and made all of FATA a no go zone.

But yeah I agree with you they have strengthened.

 

[Goritoes]

Winning not only hearts and minds but also grabbing, ops I mean winning land as well... all due to offering Fajr ki Namaz, their sucksess is amazing.

 

[Sayfullah]

Nah no way.

Pre Zarb-e-Azb, TTP was controlling large swathes of territory and made all of FATA a no go zone.

But yeah I agree with you they have strengthened.

Idk but the person I was talking to said they see white flags almost everywhere now. Much of Tribal areas is still a no go zone.
I think by pre zarb e azb time he meant like TTP has a presence in all pre zarb e azb areas now again plus areas which were considered “settled” even before zarb e azb, not necessarily they carved it out to be like their own territory.

The locals were ALWAYS involved,, the PTM is just the TTP, it's the same thing, the locals are involved with both

Everything else is just bullshit and lies

The fundamental fact is this,, that area didn't become a crap hole full of fassad, suddenly in the last decade or two

It's been the same since the 1940s and before



If you make the excuse of generals, soviets, Afghan jihad etc

That how do you explain the constant monkey shit and conflict coming out of that areas pre 1980s?




We give to much excuses and leeway to the tribal idiot's,, ohhh they are misunderstood that's why they bomb things.

No, they are backwards donkeys, that's why they bomb things, that's why their is constant fassad from that area and those people

Let's stop making excuses

Post fall of Afghan Republic, their was ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FALLOUT

This is it,, now between pressure on Afghanistan, border security, operations and deaths of the yahoos we are going to have a period of conflict in the tribal areas and we will need to up our game and kill a lot of TTP supporters and members


Their can't be the old let's keep a few thousand of them in custody,,we need to eradicate them

PTM is the flip of the TTP and always have been, the same goals via different methods

With this type of attitude you certainly aren’t gonna “win hearts and minds” of anyone.
Let’s not ignore the fact that Pakistan continued the same old British colonial system and laws for tribal areas up until very recently which neglected the whole tribal areas. The state has always treated it like a “buffer” between Pakistan and Afghanistan so don’t expect locals to not resent the state for its neglection of the area.
Btw I’m not supporting locals who support TTP
b saying it’s the job of the state to ACTUALLY WIN hearts and minds. If you’re not interested in that then might as well make it independent or else it’ll be a never ending war.

 

[TheSolution]

If you’re not interested in that then might as well make it independent or else it’ll be a never ending war.

Independence of any one region would trigger a domino effect of everyone demanding it, it will sit constantly in mainstream politics as a solution to every other person's problems.

At that point you're basically surrendering Pakistan itself lol, it wouldn't survive another Bangladesh-like scenario, whether you give territory willingly or unwillingly. (It's also extremely cucked mentality given how even Pajeets sustained Kashmir through brutal insurgencies and international pressure yet we fold easily.)

In my opinion, tribal regions will take decades to slowly normalise, I don't mean it in a racist way but they live an incredibly regressive sort of ancient lifestyle and extremely conservative than any place on Earth, violent feuds between own tribes, hate everyone not part of their community, think they have the right to kill woman for simply stepping out the house without their permission (I don't mean to sound like a feminist but it's brutal), etc. It's going to take decades just to get them caught up even a small amount and there will be issues along the way.

 

[Mirzali Khan]

Idk but the person I was talking to said they see white flags almost everywhere now. Much of Tribal areas is still a no go zone.
I think by pre zarb e azb time he meant like TTP has a presence in all pre zarb e azb areas now again plus areas which were considered “settled” even before zarb e azb, not necessarily they carved it out to be like their own territory.

We made so many gains and then let it go all away.

What a rot of an institution. I wonder what Raheel Sharif must be thinking.

 

[Commoner]

Winning Hearts in Combat Zone: The Story of Dewagar, North Waziristan​

Dewagar is the border town of Tehsil Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan. This valley comprises six villages with a population of approximately 3500. The area has remained a hotbed of insurgency, disrupting civic facilities and the rural economy. To relieve the population, Pakistan Army is reaching out to restore their confidence and uplift the community.

---

---

Winning Over the Population
In militancy-prone areas, population’s trust is a deciding factor. In Dewagar, the population was won over through enhanced interactions and providing relief in many spheres. Every social segment was engaged, including tribal elders, widows, youth, and kids, which helped in understanding the needs of each segment.

Revival of Education
Educating youth is the best long-term way to expose twisted terrorist ideologies and block their potential recruitment. There were four Government Boys Schools in Dewagar, and all were non-functional due to absentee teaching staff.

The Local Army Unit made considerable efforts to revive education in the area. After liaison with government’s education authorities, all four schools have been revived. Five hundred seventy-five boys are studying with substitute teachers. There was no school building for girls in the area. Three girls’ schools have been established with an intake of 151 girls. These schools have been established as evening shift schools in the same building as boys’ schools to provide equal opportunities to girls in the area. Amongst these, Dewagar Public School is an iconic project established with the support of Commander 11 Corps. Distance Learning Initiative was introduced, and an Islamabad-based M. Phil teacher was hired to provide quality online education to tribal kids through smart classrooms. Technology Literacy Corner has been established to provide computer education to kids.

Moreover, a state-of-the-art Montessori Playroom has also been established. Nine boys were selected and sent to Formation Boys Hostel in Miranshah for the provision of quality education. In total, 726 boys and girls have been enrolled in schools of Dewagar, thus raising the literacy rate from the previous 2 percent to 20 percent.

Health Facilities

The best WHAM (Winning Hearts and Minds) is helping people in times of their suffering. There were two Government Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Dewagar, and both were non-functional due to the absence of requisite facilities and staff. In order to provide essential medical services to locals, Army Welfare Clinic, Dewagar was established in February 2023. The Regimental Medical Officer of the local Infantry Unit has been deputed to check and treat the patients daily. Pakistan Army is purchasing requisite medicines for the clinic. Local chromite contractors also donate medicines as a part of community service. Since the inauguration, 750 tribal men, women, and kids have been treated at Army Welfare Clinic.

---

---

Functioning of Water Supply Scheme

Water is a very basic and essential amenity, especially in the tough terrain of North Waziristan. Water Supply Scheme (WSS) of Kadi Khel village was non-functional due to a dispute over monthly contributions. A few low-income families had been unable to pay that amount for the last two years. Pakistan Army paid for those families, repaired a few broken accessories, and made this WSS functional for the complete village. One more WSS has also been approved under the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and will be implemented shortly.

---

---

Chromite Exploration

In order to promote business in the area, chromite mining in the area was operationalized, which had been stalled due to security concerns since 2014. Starting in November 2022, over 1715 chromite tons were excavated worth Rs. 257 million. Chromite excavation has given a fillip to many associated businesses and has created 500 direct and indirect jobs. Locals get a direct tribal share of chromite besides working as laborers in the mines.

Youth Engagement

The youth was actively engaged through concerted efforts. Many sports events were organized, besides establishing cricket, football, and basketball grounds in Dewagar. Cricket matches of the Pakistani team during the T20 World Cup were live screened in Dewagar to engage the tribal youth.

---

Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Imran Khan is a Command and Staff College Quetta graduate. The officer has vast experience in low-intensity conflict (LIC). He is currently commanding an Infantry Battalion in North Waziristan.

Winning Hearts in Combat Zone: The Story of Dewagar, North Waziristan

Dewagar is the border town of Tehsil Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan. This valley comprises six villages with a population of approximately 3500. The area has remained a hotbed of insurgency, disrupting civic facilities and the rural economy. To relieve the population, Pakistan Army is reaching...

www.hilal.gov.pk

Sir I need your kind help in carrying out research about TTP. It`s urgent and for academic reasons. Going to be my M.Phil. thesis.

Looking forward to your kind reply.