SWAT:
There is no chance the Taliban will ever be able to return to Swat where life has returned to normal and the community is busy in reconstructing the social and economic infrastructure. The people of Swat themselves are the biggest block against such a possibility because they have seen the true face of the terrorists.
This was how Maj-Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday, the operation commander of the Malakand Division, summed up the latest developments in the Swat valley which witnessed the ugliest period of its history when the Fazlullah-led militants disrupted its serene environment by challenging the government’s writ. Though it is hard to forget what the people went through during the Taliban rule, the effort to return the valley to its peaceful past is helping people with the army on their side now doing the rebuilding work.
The general told The Express Tribune that peace in Swat was not invisible. “Not only is there perfect peace, but the crime rate is also much lower than the other parts of the country,” he said.
He said that the back of the Taliban had been broken. They could not make a comeback now. “Most importantly, the people of Swat do not want them back. In my view, the biggest obstacle for the Taliban on the Swati people.”
Appreciating the local people for cooperating with the army and making sacrifices for peace, Gen Ramday noted that peace in Swat could not have been possible without people’s support. “Locals provided information about the militants, they formed voluntary lashkars and Jirgas. Now they are cooperating with the civil government and police.” He further said that there was active involvement of local Jirgas against the Taliban.
On Fazlullah, the leader of the Taliban movement in Swat, he said, “We know what his status was two years back and what his present condition is. He is an absconder now in hiding. My suggestion to his companions is to surrender and face the law because the Swati people don’t want them.”
Presently, thousands of militants are in army custody, of whom, Gen Ramday said, “The courts will decide their fate.”
Those who are involved in petty crimes will be deradicalised in training centres to make them productive citizens. “We have already rehabilitated over 300 people who are living peacefully.”
Regarding the army’s role in rehabilitation and reconstruction, he said, “After the successful operation in 2009, the civil administration was in disarray, the infrastructure was destroyed. So the army took control of the situation as the scale of destruction by the Taliban was enormous and infrastructure had to be restored immediately. The army restored bridges, schools and hospitals. After the floods, the federal, provincial and district governments, army and NGOs played very active role.”
Unemployment and illiteracy, according to Gen Ramday, are main causes that breed extremism. To address these issues, we have initiated ‘Swat to School’ project in collaboration with the provincial education department and local elders to enrol children in schools and motivate parents.
On economic stability, he said that tourism is the backbone of Swat, so all the stakeholders, including the army, are working hard to restore the tourism industry. There is a great potential for cultural tourism in Swat and we are trying to revive this sector through ‘Spirit of Swat’ project that will ultimately create job opportunities for the local people. “Kalam is the most attractive tourist resort, so funds for Kalam road have been released and work is being carried out by army engineers to restore it and keep it open throughout the season.”
The army is also working in collaboration with Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation to streamline tourism under ‘Spirit of Pakistan’, in which different activities will be organised for the tourism promotion.
“To give an opportunity to the youth of Swat in army, a recruitment centre will be established in Malakand Division,” Gen Ramday said. He added that some 200 people have already been recruited and more will be inducted.
About the stay of army and construction of cantonments in Swat, he said, “The army belongs to Pakistan and it belongs to Swat. Until the Swati people need us, we will stay here for their safety. A cantonment was the desire of the Swati people. Areas have been identified and soon construction work will be initiated.”
Regarding the families of militants, he said, “We will never punish them [families] and they will be considered normal citizens. Only criminals will be punished according to the law.”
There is no innocent person in our custody, he said. We have proper procedures in the army and if a person is innocent he is released immediately. We are releasing people even these days, and only those involved in serious crimes are being prosecuted.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2011.
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