Return of militancy: Army launches operation in Swat – again
Just as the region seemed to have returned to ‘normal’, clashes between security forces and suspected militants erupted in the Bishban area on Monday.
According to Swat media spokesperson Colonel Arif Mahmood, a search operation by security forces has been under way for the past five days after receiving reports of militants in the area.
In fresh encounters with militants echoing the 2009 Swat military operation, security forces, assisted by a local lashkar, killed one militant. One member of security forces was also killed while two people from the local defence committee were critically injured.
The search operation against militants has entered its fifth day. Security forces have now imposed a curfew in the area.
In a separate incident, local police have arrested a high-profile militant commander in the Kanju area of the town of Kabal, identified as Paye Mohammad. He was wanted in connection with various ‘anti-state activities’. Mohammad was also allegedly involved in recruiting teenage boys for the Taliban in the area.
Security forces, after launching a search operation against suspected terrorists, claim to have killed five men earlier during the operation, including two militants on Sunday. As a result of the search operation, thousands of tourists spending their Eid holidays in Malam Jabba were trapped in the area. Since the clashes started, security personnel have beefed up security on all entrance and exit checkpoints. Tensions heightened in the region after a suicide attack attempt, targeting a mosque in Kabal, was foiled by security agencies.
Earlier, in accordance with the supposed return of harmony to the region, the army had, perhaps prematurely, organised a 20-day-long ‘Peace festival’ in June. Area Commander Brigadier Salman Akbar, who inaugurated the festival, had stated that the celebrations indicated that ‘normalcy’ had returned to the valley.
In April, Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Asif Yasin Malik had announced that the security situation in Swat had improved drastically. The ‘peace’ that appeared to have returned to the region followed a massive counter-insurgency operation carried out by the military in May 2009, known as Operation Rah-e-Rast. The operation was hailed as one of the most successful army operations the country had seen in its history.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2011.
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@ shah Zalmay Khan
you rightly cleared the actuall facts.@MUNIB: @vasan: Pakistan Army did its job WELL and "With Great Professionalism". Hundreds of Army Officers & Jawans sacrificed their lives in "Operation Rah-e-Raast" whilst the "Armchair intellectuals and critics" were shivering with fear in their air-conditioned rooms. Now, the intellectuals come out of their serenity and criticize the army for some sporadic terrorism incidents occuring at intervals of weeks (and that also were actually foiled by the forces and lashkar"). Army brought peace to the area but the follow-up phase failed i.e. rehabilitation was not carried out by the civil authorities. And for that, the federal as well as KPK govt should be asked. @ MUNIB: What is the talk of 600 Billion? Defence Budget is 500 Billion (out of 3000 Billion federal budget) which goes to numerous heads like Defence production (70+ Billion, Operations in FATA & KPK (80+ Billion), Pensions (70+ Billion) etc. What is left for the three armed forces (including FC KPK & Balochistan, ANF, Coast Guards etc) is less than 250 Billion. It amounts to only 7-8 % of Pakistan's federal budget. So next time you come out with some outrageously exaggerated figures, please double-check your data. I bet the 250 Billion going to armed forces is the only portion of your national budget that has at least some accountability mechanism (even if internal). What happens to the rest of the 3000 Billion is all "NRO & Wiki-Leaks".
those who doubt and criticize the performance of Pak Army are state enemies, agents of our enemies. this country lives because Pak Army never hesitates to give its life for it. Pak Fauj Ko Salam.
Previously taliban had taken over the state, army successfully wrestled the control over the area. Such minor incidents are bound to continue for some time.
@Ali Mir Because the police and civil administration don't have a 600 billion budget. Now i ask you, why were PAK ARMY with such a budget failed to defend PNS Mehran from few terrorists in Karachi ?
I hope this operation is not pointing towards another long battle with militants in Swat?
Army did an excellent job in clearing Swat of the militants in 2009.
My question is why did the police and civil administration not follow up and take control.?
Though Pak army claimed to have conducted a successful operation in Swat valley and cleared this area from terrorists but it was flawed in many ways. The army could not kill or capture the main leaders of this outfit and most of the terrorists managed to melt away to the safe havens of NW or Afghanistan to fight another day. With their infrastructure still intact they regrouped and started their terrorists activities against civilian and military targets once again. However in 2009, Pak army unlike Indian army had little experience in counter-insurgency operations but two years period is a good enough experience for any professional army to employ known COINS tactics to achieve total victory which they are very much capable of against this formidable outfit.
Army should engage political forces to restore and maintain peace. Armed confilcts may last for decades with no results. Militants need to be pushed back with increased patrolling of area.
ha ha ha : This is the success story of Swat boasted in many newspapers by the Pak army and their supporters about their so called "Clean up" operations in Swat. When will Pak army come clean on facts about their success/surrender to these militants.