![in this photograph taken on january 12 2013 pakistani pedestrians and cars travel down a main street in mingora the main town of swat valley photo afp in this photograph taken on january 12 2013 pakistani pedestrians and cars travel down a main street in mingora the main town of swat valley photo afp](https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/493788-mingoraswatafp-1358149017/493788-mingoraswatafp-1358149017.jpg)
The 2009 air and ground offensive that appeared to have crushed a two-year Taliban insurgency in the scenic northwestern district was widely credited as Pakistan's most successful operation to date against militants.
It was a defining moment when almost the entire country united behind the army as it killed, arrested and expelled hundreds of Taliban fighters who had seized control of the former tourist destination once frequented by Westerners.
But the main town in Swat was plunged back into shock and grief last Thursday when bombers killed 22 people and wounded more than 80 as a Muslim cleric addressed a meeting of the Tableeghi Jamaat preachers’ movement in Mingora.
It was an unprecedented attack on an uncontroversial and widely respected religious organisation with no political agenda.
"People are scared. They even feel unsafe in mosques. This blast has brought severe fear. Now people prefer to pray at home," said Mohammad Zaman, 57, who was visiting a relative wounded in the attack.
Although Pakistan's main umbrella Taliban faction denied carrying out the bombing, there is no doubt in the minds of local residents and of the security services that elements of the Taliban are trying to come back.
"They destroyed Swat and now they are targeting us again, but I ask them: Why? What is our crime?" Zaman said.
It took hours for the authorities to confirm that the explosion, the deadliest in Swat since the Taliban were defeated, was caused by a bomb and not a gas canister.
Three days later, there were still bloodstains on the floor of the centre and the acrid smell of explosives hung in the air.
There are growing fears that the Swat attack is part of a renewed campaign of violence by militants, timed to coincide with the lead-up to general elections due by mid-May.
Pakistan maintains that the leader of the original Swat uprising, Maulana Fazlullah and a band of loyalists escaped into eastern Afghanistan, from where they have staged cross-border attacks.
First there were raids into the neighbouring Pakistani district of Dir, and then last year targeted killings of anti-militancy campaigners resumed in Swat.
In October 15-year-old Malala, a campaigner for girls' education, was shot in the head on a school bus in an attack claimed by the Taliban.
There may be no militants on the streets, as there were four years ago, but a security official confirmed to AFP that they have started to sneak back.
"They have no visible presence but some support in the society, there are some silent sympathisers as they have in other parts of Pakistan," he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information.
The centre in Mingora was a soft target. Preachers told AFP they never imagined they would be a target, so there were no body searches and no searches of bags.
Intelligence officials suspect the bomb may have been hidden in a sleeping bag, and detonated either by a timer or remote control.
"We have foiled several of their attempts. It is a cat and mouse situation. The attack on Malala, targeted killings and the latest blast are part of this game," the security official told AFP.
Life in Mingora had the usual hustle and bustle at the weekend. The markets were crowded, restaurants jam-packed and roads clogged with heavy traffic.
But there are new checkpoints in the suburbs. Soldiers wearing bullet-proof jackets and standing next to machine guns mounted on pick-up trucks search vehicles by hand and with scanners.
"My wife told me not to go to the mosque, because she fears the Taliban will bomb us again," said Fazal Khan, a preacher in the Rahim Abad neighbourhood.
"I'm still going for prayers five times a day, but frankly I feel scared."
A police officer told AFP that several suspects had been arrested for the Mingora attack, but as with Malala's shooting, there is no evidence to charge anyone.
The blast in Swat came on one of Pakistan's deadliest days in years, as two suicide bombers killed 92 people at a crowded snooker club in the southwestern city of Quetta, in an area dominated by Shia Muslims.
In another of a string of attacks Thursday that raised alarm over rising violence in the nuclear-armed nation, a bomb also detonated under a security force vehicle in a crowded part of Quetta, killing 11 people.
Hundreds of Shia Muslims have protested for days in Quetta, refusing to bury their dead until the army guarantees security for the minority community.
"The situation in the country is at its worst," said Auranzeb Khan, a pensioner whose leg was fractured in the Mingora attack. "We thought the situation was getting better in Swat but again some people want to disturb the peace."
COMMENTS (16)
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blackwater anyone?
Unless Pakistan launch an offensive strike against Taliban inside AF-PAK region, there will be no peace. (as border is a joke)
@p r sharma: Mr Sarma, If you dont know the difference between Afghan and Pakistani TAliban, you need to go back and read.
@US Centcom.. Why don't you look at the thousands of people killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the years by US forces.. I feel sorry for you that You are just looking at one side of the picture.
@ Indains... A single Muslim Pakistani solider is enough for your 10-100, You don't ever think about attacking our country.. And stop your biased language against Pakistan..
Dear Adnan,
It is important to keep in mind that the U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan are all victims of terrorism. The terrorists are trying to destabilize the region by conducting acts of terror on both sides of the border. We cannot over emphasize the importance of cooperation between our nations. The terrorists would certainly wish to see us part ways for the sake of achieving their deadly objectives. It is in our best interest to remain unified against our common enemies. Our government officials continue to meet to address our shared concerns. We are confident that we can overcome any obstacles or challenges by combining our strength.
Ali Khan, DET, United States Central Command www.Centcom.mil/Ur
@Shabbar Rizvi: army has no guts to eliminate those groomed by them few years back and in this shyness they will continue get own personals killed for how long they take bitter action with own hands nobody else can do that or know about them.
Don't expect that you are safe if you are a sane minded Sunni in Pakistan. You need to unite with the Shias to get to the bottom of this mess. Who are these forces causing all the problems and what are their real motives.
@Adnan: " Why Pakistan doesn’t protest to Afghanistan as people from there are trying to destabilize Swat again…Shout in international media against the Afghan Govt so people may know who is behind it.' The problem is that there will be similar protest from Afghanistan against Pakistan that Pakistan has given safe sanctuary to Taliban in North Waziristan and else where to attack Afghan forces, premises, civilians and what not. . Hope you understand the problem.
The Army has been pulling a fast one on its citizens for many years. They have been claiming to clear area x, y, z etc but everyone knows it to be a hoax from subsequent events that happened there. By now everyone should have been wiser knowing they are not interested in killing their own creations and protege because they have plans to use them to keep Politicians and their opponents on a tight leash. So what if a few innocent lives are lost in National interest, seems to be their logic. A frog needs to get out of the well to get a clearer view of what is happening inside it, I believe.
That photo is beautiful. Really good natural beauty.
@Adnan: Please read as below: Why Pakistan (India) doesn’t protest to Afghanistan (pakistan) as people from there are trying to destabilize Swat (Kashmir) again…Shout in international media against the Afghan (Pak) Govt so people may know who is behind it.
You reap what you sow!! You get the same what you do to others!! That's justice of Allah! Its only the hatred towards India which is making Pak people blind.
Look at their audacity. They cannot even fight a rag tag TTP and now talk of taking on India. Their physiological assessment suggests they are beyond salvage.
Finally, someone remmembers that there were human beings killed in Mingora as well over the last week. I know that it's important to bury the dead quickly but I really wish these people had protested with their dead or at least had a protest in Islamabad otherwise there will be no action against the criminals & thugs who do these bomb blasts. We need a final operation against the criminals hiding in the tribal areas so that these bomb blasts can stop. May Allah bless the dead of Mingora and Quetta. Ameen.
Why Pakistan doesn't protest to Afghanistan as people from there are trying to destabilize Swat again...Shout in international media against the Afghan Govt so people may know who is behind it.
Not only SWAT, Taliban could take over entire country now
with an article like this you people are only morally boosting anti national forces to further carry out civilian bombings. Please show some maturity dont put these murderers into limelight which they demand heavily especially and specifically in Swat.