Battle for Shawal Valley begins.

[nwmalik]

After this, are there any other areas that need to be cleared?

London.
you know who is there.

 

[Neutron]

Read your link once again, Datta khel was mentioned in a passing. No bombing occured. Heck, Ops in Datta khel is mentioned only twice this year with specific term of ""cordon and search operation" which means just before Pre-Zarb e azb, PA used to do limited Ops against TTP

12 militants killed in Datta Khel operation - The Express Tribune

Army major, 5 militants killed in NWA clash



You might find it out, but Datta khel was the only area whose population didn't left during Zarb e Azb operation. Let me find you the news for Peace deal with local Hafiz gul commander in Datta khel

Hafiz gul is in Afghanistan or in Datta khel?

 

[fatman17]

TOP NEWS

Fri Aug 21, 2015

Ground battles flare as Pakistan pushes new offensive against militants

By Saud Mehsud

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani troops pushed deeper into militant-held areas in the North Waziristan region on Friday, launching a ground offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and other Islamist fighters in their last strongholds near the Afghan border.

Since May, the military has stepped up operations in the deeply forested ravines of the Shawal valley, which straddles the regions of North and South Waziristan along the frontier with Afghanistan, and is dotted with militant bases.

Pakistani troops began pushing deeper into Shawal after days of aerial bombing that the army said killed dozens of militants.

"Ground operation in Shawal, North Waziristan begins," the army's chief spokesman, Major General Asim Sali Bajwa, announced on Twitter late Thursday night.

Residents remaining in Shawal said many were desperately looking for a way to flee. "In the last days, there has been heavy bombardment in the area. I'm worried for my children," said Shamal Khan, speaking by telephone from the remote area.

This week's thrust by the armed forces is described as a final clearing of the militants' last hideouts in the valley.

The Pakistani military recaptured most of North Waziristan in an offensive started in June 2014. Before the operation began, the army ordered most civilians to leave. Those in the Shawal valley were permitted to stay.

Another resident, Mir Alam, said local officials didn't tell them to go before this week's bombardment. "Now we are in a hurry to get out, but I have hundreds of goats and more than a dozen family members here," he said.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Muhammed Kurassani denied government claims of dozens of militants killed in the past week. "We have no losses there because the government does not know where we are," he said.

Retired Pakistani brigadier general Shaukat Qadir said he doubted this week's offensive would be the final blow in Pakistan's fight against jihadist militants.

"Every phase will be final, but it's not been ended," Qadir told Reuters, noting that the ideology and recruitment ability of the Taliban and other jihadists remained along with the ability to launch militant attacks.

The Pakistani Taliban mainly fight the Pakistani state with the ultimate goal of establishing their strict interpretation of Islamic sharia as the law of the land.

They are separate from, but allied to, the Afghan Taliban, which is in the throes of a leadership crisis following confirmation of the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.

(Additional reporting by Syed Raza Hassan. Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

 

[Devil Soul]

6 Terrorist Killed and Lt Col Faisal Malik and a soldier martyred in Ground Operation...

 

[Metanoia]

Army, air force to enhance coordination in final phase of Zarb-i-Azb - Pakistan - DAWN.COM


RAWALPINDI: The army and air force have agreed to enhance their coordination in the final phase of the on going operation Zarb-i-Azb against militants in North Waziristan.

The agreement emerged during a meeting between Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman during their meeting at General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) on Monday.

General Raheel vowed to "eliminate terrorists even from the remotest pockets in the area at all cost."

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the progress of ongoing operation in Shawal, North Waziristan Agency was discussed during the meeting.

The air chief vowed to provide full support of air force to army in the ongoing operation against the terrorists in North waziristan and else where.

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

Zarb-i-Azb's final phase is under way in North Waziristan; 14 months after the operation began.

 

[Bratva]

6 Terrorist Killed and Lt Col Faisal Malik and a soldier martyred in Ground Operation...

It's unbelievable only 2 solders got killed. If a CO level soldeir was killed in a fight, rest assured, the fight was bloodied and the casualties on our part 10X

 

[thrilainmanila]

It's unbelievable only 2 solders got killed. If a CO level soldeir was killed in a fight, rest assured, the fight was bloodied and the casualties on our part 10X

do you think there hiding the real casualties?

 

[Abdullah S.]

It's unbelievable only 2 solders got killed. If a CO level soldeir was killed in a fight, rest assured, the fight was bloodied and the casualties on our part 10X

Not necessarily. We have many officers in the army who like to lead from the front, like shaheed Lt Col Haroon Islam who was trying to do some reconnaissance on the front line himself before the Lal Masjid operation

 

[A.M.]

Inna lillah e wa inna aleiha rajiun

 

[Metanoia]

I was checking the Google Maps...Shawal Valley is located in South Waziristan yeah?

 

[Dr Gupta]

Most of the insurgents are hiding away in civilian areas and will regroup later when the operation ends, this is the problem with militants as they not stupid as we like to believe. The fight will take years but the real battle is in cities like Lahore and Punjab where the idealogy stems from.

 

[Metanoia]

Most of the insurgents are hiding away in civilian areas and will regroup later when the operation ends, this is the problem with militants as they not stupid as we like to believe. The fight will take years but the real battle is in cities like Lahore and Punjab where the idealogy stems from.

That is a problem...but a different kind of problem. As you said that the insurgents are not stupid...therefore not only do they have sleeper cells, fund collectors, recruiters, and logistics in the urban areas but they also have territorial ambitions. Currently the focus is more towards dislodging and freeing the captured territory from these insurgents.

People don't realize this but for a few years Pakistan's border actually changed....we had lost the entire FATA and Swat Valley to the militants.

I don't know if I am partly right, absolutely right or absolutely wrong...but according to my own understanding the primary driving force and proponent for a separate territory on Pakistani soil were the IUM and other foreign terrorist group under their umbrella. IUM were not only well trained and motivated, but they were also very strategic in their planning and thinking.

 

[Dr Gupta]

That is a problem...but a different kind of problem. As you said that the insurgents are not stupid...therefore not only do they have sleeper cells, fund collectors, recruiters, and logistics in the urban areas but they also have territorial ambitions. Currently the focus is more towards dislodging and freeing the captured territory from these insurgents.

The operation so far has been fantastic in results but it is one thing sweeping and gaining the territory and another thing keeping it secured and free from the returning militants. There needs to be a long term plan where the various tribes are involved and investment made in schools, damaged infrastructure etc. We have been fighting naxalites in Indian jungles for years but the real problem is poverty as they see the 'state' trying to take their farming land and offer them very little in compensation. The real battle is educating the youth so they do not join insurgents but that will take 20-30 years.

 

[Metanoia]

The operation so far has been fantastic in results but it is one thing sweeping and gaining the territory and another thing keeping it secured and free from the returning militants. There needs to be a long term plan where the various tribes are involved and investment made in schools, damaged infrastructure etc. We have been fighting naxalites in Indian jungles for years but the real problem is poverty as they see the 'state' trying to take their farming land and offer them very little in compensation. The real battle is educating the youth so they do not join insurgents but that will take 20-30 years.

Definitely true...poverty is the leading cause of everything to be honest. The last thing you would expect a poverty stricken person to do is to be a patriot or loyal. This is especially the case if there is an utter absence of a national identity as well. If my information is correct...there are plans for a couple of cantonments in the area with other development plans as well for the FATA region. Perhaps we'll finally see FATA coming into mainstream Pakistan? Let's see.

First and foremost Pakistan needs a proper national identity and simultaneously good economy which can provide opportunities. Otherwise every decade or so every tom, dick and harry will keep on playing with Pakistan.

 

[Dr Gupta]

Definitely true...poverty is the leading cause of everything to be honest. The last thing you would expect a poverty stricken person to do is to be a patriot or loyal. This is especially the case if there is an utter absence of a national identity as well. If my information is correct...there are plans for a couple of cantonments in the area with other development plans as well for the FATA region. Perhaps we'll finally see FATA coming into mainstream Pakistan? Let's see.

First and foremost Pakistan needs a proper national identity and simultaneously good economy which can provide opportunities. Otherwise every decade or so every tom, dick and harry will keep on playing with Pakistan.

That is a big challenge, I think Turkey managed it very and Jinnah was a fine leader too but these days India and Pakistan has the same family rulers like Gandhi, Zardaris and Sharifs.