Operation Rah-e-Nijat (South Waziristan)

[Abu Zolfiqar]

It was long over due, the recent snow fall made the earlier launched operation to stall as the winter in those areas is very very harsh. The recent sikh kidnapping fiasco, the downing of Cobra and the subsequent deaths in the recovery operation, the downing of Mi-17 last year etc etc are all the events which call for an operation in this area, as many militants have come to hide in these areas.

I believe by end of march or start of april, operation may be launched as winter will be coming to a close and weather would be fair enough for an offensive.

I agree 100%

there always is a hiatus of some sort during the extremely cold winters. As it is, Orakzai is a problem area as far as the insurgency is concerned. A clean-up operation once the weather clears up and the militants attempt to re-arm and settle is in order.

I cannot emphasize how important it is to coordinate fully with the locals. I remember back in 2008 I think it was, the tribes there were cooperating fully with the army.

Any tribes sheltering TTP were being heavily fined and/or having their houses burnt down to the ground. It was decided in Ghuljoo Jirga not to allow anti-peace elements in the area. The area is largely anti-TTP but still the extremists manage to find small pockets of support


Ground intelligence and total collaboration with the locals is a must. I am fairly confident that the Army will be well received there. No anti-state elements shall be allowed to roam freely. Display of weapons in public should also be strictly banned.

It is unacceptable that Sikh community was getting harassed by these anti-Pakistan forces. Special care should be given to them and at least basic security should be provided for them.


Army made lots of gains in past few months, all nation is behind them. Inshallah we will build on and advance those gains until there is normalcy.



it would be nice if the local police would be having access to hundreds of bullet-proof vests which are just sitting in crates at Isloo airport

 

[air marshal]

 

[mshoaib61]

 

[ejaz007]

Qari Zafar’s death a lethal blow to TTP, Qaeda

By Asad Kharal

LAHORE: The reported death of al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s (LeJ) acting chief Qari Zafar in a US drone strike in Miramshah on February 24 has given a lethal blow to both the LeJ, which is invloved in sectarian violence, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Intelligence officials said he was killed in a drone strike on a house in Peerano Killay near Miramshah. Nine other suspected Punjabi terrorists were also killed in the strike. Qari Zafar was reportedly working in coordination with TTP’s key commander Qari Hussain Mehsud, better known as Ustad-e-Fidayeen and a first cousin of Baitullah Mehsud.

Qari Zafar had a bounty of $5 million dollars and was detained due to his involvement in attacks on former president Pervez Musharraf, the American consulate and other terrorist attacks but ran away from the custody of Punjab’s Special Investigation Unit in October 2007. Intelligence sources told Daily Times that Qari Zafar was the mastermind of attacks on a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) office in Model Town Lahore, Marriot Hotel, FIA building and American consulate in Karachi.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[fatman17]

Military operation imminent in Orakzai, Tirah

PESHAWAR: With military officials stating that security forces have taken control of Bajaur agency, an announcement was made by the Frontier Corps commander that an operation was about to be launched in the Orakzai tribal region and the Tirah valley to quash militant hideouts.

FC commander Major General Tariq Khan said security forces were going to launch operations in Orakzai and Tirah very soon.

Militants have been increasingly active in both areas. Recently, militants beheaded a kidnapped Sikh in the Khyber agency’s Tirah valley after his relatives failed to pay ransom.

The Orakzai tribal region, meanwhile, is known as the stronghold of Taliban commander Noor Jamal alias Toofan Mullah who has allegedly been declared as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s caretaker chief.

Details regarding the impending operation are still emerging. — DawnNews
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Military operation imminent in Orakzai, Tirah

two last bastions besides NWA to be 'cleared'

 

[razgriz19]

 

[fatman17]

‘Tip-off led to Mohmand strikes’

* Maulvi Faqir, Ziaur Rehman thought to have been killed in attack
* Rehman Malik says deaths cannot be confirmed until ‘solid evidence’ received

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: Friday’s strike on a heavily-guarded militant hideout in Mohmand was conducted after an intelligence tip-off about the presence of high-value targets, namely Taliban Bajaur chief Maulvi Faqir and Afghan commander Qari Ziaur Rehman, sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

“Security forces received a tip-off about the presence of high-value targets at the site. We used an attack helicopter to completely destroy the fortified hideout,” the official sources said on the condition of anonymity.

Official confirmation of the deaths of the high-value targets – Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and Afghan commander Qari Ziaur Rehman – has yet to come from the authorities concerned.

Cannot confirm: Separately, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters at the headquarters of the Frontier Corps in Peshawar that he could not confirm the killing of Faqir Muhammad and Ziaur Rehman until “solid evidence” was received.

“What I can confirm is the killing of Swat Taliban commander Fateh, whose real name is Umer Rehman. His dead body has been found. I can say that it will be a miracle if Faqir and Rehman managed to escape the attack,” the interior minister said after being briefed by FC Inspector General Maj-Gen Tariq Khan.

“An operation is being conducted with great precision against the Taliban,” Malik said, adding that Peshawar was secured after militants were cleared out of Swat.

Sources in Ghalanai, Mohmand’s headquarters, said Maulvi Faqir had visited Qari Ziaur Rehman to settle several disputes arising from organisational matters concerning his leadership in Bajaur on Thursday.

The TTP has surrounded the area, not allowing anyone to come closer – a move often observed to recover dead bodies after such strikes.

Confirmation of the deaths of Faqir and Rehman would deliver the single deadliest blow to the TTP in the ongoing war against terrorism. The strike comes two days after security forces declared victory against insurgents in Bajaur.

 

[fatman17]

Downed chopper was hit by ‘enemy fire’ in Tirah Valley

PESHAWAR: The February 10 crash of a Cobra attack helicopter in Tirrah Valley, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and the gunner, was the result of “enemy fire”, sources in the army aviation said on Saturday. “It was the first gunship helicopter we have lost in action in the eight years of the war against terrorism,” the sources told Daily Times. The helicopter was flying in the Nangrosa area of Tirah Valley when it was reported to have crashed on February 10. “It was the first attack helicopter brought down by militants’ fire,” the sources said. “Nangrosa region in Tirah Valley is a mountainous area and helicopters have to fly low in order to navigate through it. It is possible that terrorists used simple assault rifles or rocket-propelled grenades to attack the helicopter,” the sources said, adding that during investigations, “circumstantial” and other evidence had concluded that the cause of the crash was “enemy fire”. A rescue team, led by Brigadier Hussain, was also ambushed by terrorists. The brigadier was killed in the attack while two junior commissioned officers were injured. iqbal khattak

 

[TaimiKhan]

Downed chopper was hit by ‘enemy fire’ in Tirah Valley

PESHAWAR: The February 10 crash of a Cobra attack helicopter in Tirrah Valley, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and the gunner, was the result of “enemy fire”, sources in the army aviation said on Saturday. “It was the first gunship helicopter we have lost in action in the eight years of the war against terrorism,” the sources told Daily Times. The helicopter was flying in the Nangrosa area of Tirah Valley when it was reported to have crashed on February 10. “It was the first attack helicopter brought down by militants’ fire,” the sources said. “Nangrosa region in Tirah Valley is a mountainous area and helicopters have to fly low in order to navigate through it. It is possible that terrorists used simple assault rifles or rocket-propelled grenades to attack the helicopter,” the sources said, adding that during investigations, “circumstantial” and other evidence had concluded that the cause of the crash was “enemy fire”. A rescue team, led by Brigadier Hussain, was also ambushed by terrorists. The brigadier was killed in the attack while two junior commissioned officers were injured. iqbal khattak

Well i did not wanted to break the story as it was kind of sensitive at that time, but yeah the chopper was downed due to hostile fire, and the culprit was the 12.7mm AA gun.

What happened was that the chopper came into attack in a valley, as it was flying in the valley, a team of hidden enemy 12.7mm team fired at it from the sideways, getting a clear hit at the canopy and its not yet clear, but either one of the pilot got hit or both and damage to the aircraft happened, which brought it down.

The brigadier killed, was at the last moment, when he sat into the helicopter after evacuating the injured, then a stray bullet came and hit him in the neck, which proved fatal.

 

[Xeric]

12.7 mm was not the only culprit....

 

[TaimiKhan]

12.7 mm was not the only culprit....

Yeah Sir, but it did the main damage as it hit the canopy, know a little more details too, but you know can't say all.

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

An attack choper brought down by 12.7mm .. amazing ..!

 

[Xeric]

Yeah Sir, but it did the main damage as it hit the canopy, know a little more details too, but you know can't say all.

Main damage or not, not the point.

We both know what happened, let's keep mum.


P.S. Let them make use of their ingenuity

 

[Xeric]

An attack choper brought down by 12.7mm .. amazing ..!

Last time i checked, Cobras were tolerant to impacts by 12.7mm rounds...

 

[TaimiKhan]

An attack choper brought down by 12.7mm .. amazing ..!

If the rounds hit critical areas, then it can spell disaster for the helicopter.