Operation Rah-e-Nijat (South Waziristan)

[Janbaz]

Troops advance on Taliban bastions in Hangu, Orakzai

ISLAMABAD: Thirteen militants and a security person were killed in fierce gun battle in Shahu Khel area in Hangu district on Sunday.

Sources confirmed that seven security personnel were also injured and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Security forces reported taking complete control of the Shahu Khel area in Hangu district from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan after a month long battle on Sunday.

Soon after entering the area security forces imposed curfew in the whole locality and sealed all entry points from tribal Orakzai Agency, sources told Dawn.

Security forces and the police had started search-and-clean-up operation to secure the area for establishing permanent check posts to stop the re-entry of militants, reports reaching here said. The gunship helicopters and jets were flying over the area for the protection of the ground troops.

The TTP had vacated the Shahu Khel area after razing to the ground a whole village including schools, health centres and other offices last month. The militants blew up more than 120 homes after the residents were forced to leave Shahu Khel as a result of daily kidnappings and murders of locals by the militants.

Two policemen were also injured as militants opened firing at a police mobile pick up in Doaba area in Hangu district.

Orakzai operation

Security forces destroyed a communication tower, FM radio station and a training camp of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Kasha and Darha Darh Mamozai areas in Upper Orakzai Agency on Sunday.

The security forces were now marching towards Upper Orakzai Agency to capture important areas which were still under the control of the new amir (chieftain) of TTP, Hakeemullah Mehsud.
Meanwhile, the TTP is reported to have stopped tribesmen in Upper Orakzai Agency from fleeing the area so it could use them as human shields in eventuality of heavy fighting.

However, in the areas which came under heavy attack by security forces women and children were allowed to leave.

Any operation secure the TTP’s stronghold in the tribal Orakzai Agency, would take several days, sources said.

The TTP was concentrating its firing squads at their check posts on the Orakzai border to stop the advancing security forces.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan beheaded a man and his son in Feroze Khel area in Lower Orakzai Agency on charges of spying, officials said. Their dead bodies of Awal Hassan and his son Inayatullah were found in Sam area of the Orakzai Agency.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Troops advance on Taliban bastions in Hangu, Orakzai

 

[Janbaz]

Good to see the targeting of neighbouring agencies where Hakimullah is suspected of hiding.

Tightening of the noose..........

 

[Xeric]

 

[deathfromabove]

 

[TaimiKhan]

Twenty militants killed in Hangu clashes

HANGU: The military took control of the last resistance point in Shahu Khel, leaving seven militants dead and scores of them injured after a gun battle on Monday.

The death toll of militants rose to 20 after clashes with security forces over the control of Shahu Khel in Hangu district. The security forces also arrested 16 fleeing militants and shifted them to an unknown location for interrogation.

The migration of women and children continued from various parts of the Upper Orakzai Agency to safer places in Hangu as militants and security forces were braced for another long encounter in the area.

Large number of troops started consolidating their position in Shahu Khel to target hideouts of banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in Upper Orakzai Agency.

Official sources said that the military had moved in artillery and were establishing a base camp along the border with Orakzai Agency to make more precise strikes at the hideouts of the militants.

This would be the first time that the military’s ground troops would enter any part of the Orakzai Agency in the past eight years if everything went according to plan.

Earlier only gunship helicopters and jets were sent to the area, which pounded the hideouts of militants in bazaars and houses resulting in heavy civilian casualties.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Twenty militants killed in Hangu clashes

 

[TaimiKhan]

No 498/2009-ISPR Dated: November 23, 2009
Rawalpindi - November 23, 2009:


1. South Waziristan - Operation Rah-e-Nijat. In last 24 hours, 9 terrorists have been killed while 3 soldiers were injured. Details of the operations are as follows:-

a. On Jandola - Sararogha Axis. Security forces secured Zinda Narai 1 Km west of Janata and also cleared Borora Narai near Janata, during encounter 1 soldier was injured and huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered from Janata.

b. On Shakai – Kaniguram Axis

(1) Terrorists fired 3 rockets at Asman Manza which was responded effectively.

(2) During encounter at Karam, 2 soldiers were injured while 1 terrorist killed.

c. On Razmak – Makeen Axis

(1) Security forces cleared Golden Top west of Pash Ziarat, Tabai Sar and consolidated their positions around Lakhi Ghund and Bunker ridge. During encounter 8 terrorists have been killed.

(2) Terrorists fired 4 rockets at Litta Sar, which was responded effectively.

2. Swat – Malakand – Operation Rah-e-Rast

a. 5 terrorists voluntarily surrendered themselves to security forces near Tiligram and Alamganj.

b. security forces conducted search operation at Kuza Banda, Hazara, Karakar Post and Shapankai and apprehended 4 suspects.

3. Relief Activities.14,402 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.

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[Barrett]

A lot of people are now having the same feelings, if PA asks for volunteers, i bet we will see thousands or should i say hundred thousands of people coming up to face this menace.

Will certainly be one

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

well -- we should leave the job to the soldiers. They are doing what they do best.

We should focus on non-military aspects, such as working with NGOs; volunteer work; etc.

a lot needs to be done in these areas.

It's frustrating that Army is often having to do the work that government should be doing.

Let us just hope for the best. Inshallah this too shall pass.

 

[Janbaz]

We should focus on non-military aspects, such as working with NGOs; volunteer work; etc.

a lot needs to be done in these areas.

It's frustrating that Army is often having to do the work that government should be doing.

Let us just hope for the best. Inshallah this too shall pass.

Hopefully our PM is right when he said that Waziristan and Malakand will be turned into examples of rebuiling.
Let's hope they succeed for the future of our Pakistan.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Inshallah brother......

once all this nonsense ends, I can see Pakistan becoming the next UN of countries.

Inshallah.

 

[fatman17]

The War in Waziristan: Operation Rah-e-Nijat - Phase 1 Analysis

By Frederick Kagan, Reza Jan, Charlie Szrom

November 18, 2009

The Critical Threats team has prepared a briefing analyzing the ongoing ground operation in Waziristan following the conclusion of its first phase and the end of major combat operations.
The briefing looks at the timeline of events leading to the operation, the Pakistani force breakdown, the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) structure and key players, the role of other players, the details of the fight on each of the three fronts on a week-by-week basis, an analysis of the factors contributing to the military's quick progress, a breakdown of the thee main phases of the operation, a look at recent militant attacks conducted outside the theater of operations and polling data analyzing Pakistani public opinion regarding militancy and the military operation one month after its commencement.


Key Conclusions


Pakistan has occupied the TTP’s territory in South Waziristan through a methodical advance that adopted lessons from previous operations in the NWFP and FATA and denied propaganda victories to the enemy.


TTP resistance, while initially relatively strong, melted away under the military’s advance, partially because the TTP did not adapt to the military’s new, successful tactics.

The TTP and its allies have been more successful in conducting terror attacks across Pakistan than in resisting the advance in Waziristan, although attacks outside NWFP and FATA and attacks directly targeting civilians have decreased in recent days.

The Pakistani public strongly supports the operation in Waziristan; support for strong action against the extremists in Pakistan spiked after increased militant activity in Swat, Buner, and neighboring areas in the NWFP in spring 2009.


After the Pakistani forces have finished clearing the territory in Waziristan, the hold and build phases will begin, the outcome of which will determine the long-term success of Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Deliverance). The Pakistani military plans to use the winter for its reconstruction phase, after which it plans to repatriate the Mehsuds into South Waziristan and withdraw from the conflict zone.

 

[air marshal]

Two terrorists apprehended in operation Rah e Nijat

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): During the last 24 hours, security forces have apprehended two terrorists in Operation Rah e Nijat in South Waziristan.

According to ISPR press release, on Jandola Sararogha Axis, security forces apprehended two suspects from village Zinda near Janata and recovered arms and ammunition. Security forces recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from Khawasai and Hisar Rogha near Janata.

Security forces carried out consolidation of their positions at Sein near Sararogha. On Shakai Kaniguram Axis, security forces commenced search operation at Spinkot and surrounding areas.

Security forces conducted search operation at Khuni Mor and Madijan.
On Razmak Makeen Axis, security forces carried search operation at Pash Ziarat Fort, Kam Narakai and cleared 40 compounds and defused 8 IEDs.

Terrorists fired 6 rockets at Lakki Ghund near Pash Ziarat which was effectively responded.

Security forces established link up at Marobi Raghazi and defused 10 IEDs during clearance operation.

A checkpost has been established at Dwagare near Kabutarpost.
Security forces also cleared area around Toda China Khula and defused 6 IEDs. Meanwhile, three terrorist voluntarily surrender themselves to security forces near Bishbanr and Mingora in Operation Rah e Rast in Malakand.

Security forces conducted search operation at Kuza Banda and village Zormandai near Palai and apprehended five suspects.

As many as 14,741 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.

 

[Xeric]

AFP: New Pakistan tribal offensive kills 18: paramilitary

New Pakistan tribal offensive kills 18: paramilitary

By S.H. Khan (AFP) – 10 hours ago

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani ground troops and attack helicopters launched a new operation against militants in its lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border on Tuesday, saying they killed at least 18 rebels.

Pakistani paramilitary and army soldiers are pressing a major six-week offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan but Al-Qaeda-linked and Taliban militants pose a major threat to large parts of the tribal belt.

The United States welcomes military action in a region it has branded a safe haven for Al-Qaeda, but has increased pressure on Pakistan to also counter militants who pose a threat to NATO and US troops in Afghanistan.

The paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) said the target of the latest offensive was Lashkar-e-Islam (Army of Islam), a criminal homegrown Islamist group with ties to the Taliban that is stirring up trouble in the Khyber tribal district.

"Eighteen militants were killed and six others apprehended during the operation," said the FC in a statement.

The operation was launched on intelligence information about Lashkar hideouts in Gurguri village, 12 kilometres (seven miles) northwest of Bara, the main town of Khyber which sits on the main NATO supply route into Afghanistan.

The district neighbours the northwestern city of Peshawar, increasingly on the frontline of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked bomb attacks and where seven suicide bombers have caused carnage in the last two weeks.

Gurguri was "secured" and security forces recovered arms and ammunition as well as torture equipment, the statement said.

The operation, code named "Khwakh ba desham" which means I Will See You in Pashto was launched at 6:00 am (0100 GMT) with paramilitary and army troops.

A local security official said at least three helicopter gunships also took part in the offensive and shelled militant hideouts.

Khyber is on the main land and supply route through Pakistan into Afghanistan, where international forces are battling a Taliban insurgency.

But residents slammed the military operations as "cruel," underscoring the challenges facing Pakistan in waging effective counter-insurgency campaigns.

"It is a cruel operation. They are also targeting civilians, which will trigger hatred among the tribesmen," Bara resident, Raoof Khan Afridi, told AFP by telephone.

"All markets are closed and curfew remains imposed," he said, accusing FC men of opening fire at anyone who violated the curfew.

The army launched a similar offensive in Khyber last September after a suicide bomber killed 22 policemen at a border post.

In southwest Pakistan, gunmen torched four NATO vehicles carrying fuel for NATO forces fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, police said.

Further north, authorities imposed a curfew in Khar, the main town of tribal district Bajaur after deadly clashes with the Taliban, officials said.

"The crossfire continued for three hours. Six militants were killed in retaliatory fire," Adalat Khan, a local government official, told AFP.

"Two civilians were also killed and four, including two women, wounded when a mortar shell landed inside a house," Khan added.

Armed with rockets and heavy weapons, Taliban militants also attacked the Bajaur headquarters of the local tribal police, he said.

"Some 50 Taliban launched the attack. Troops retaliated, killing six militants," said a security official based in Khar.

Militants have recently stepped up attacks on security forces and government installations in Bajaur, one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts considered a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked extremists.

The violence has surged since Pakistan launched its offensive in the Taliban bastion of South Waziristan on October 17. Officials say the aim is to distract the army's attention from South Waziristan.

The continued unrest comes despite a six-month operation in Bajaur, which the army declared a success in February.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Pakistani soldiers load relief materials for displaced Waziristani families onto a truck

 

[Stewart1989]

I hope the same thing doesn't happen in Pak as in Afghan. Despite good progress in both SWAT and SWA the terrorists are getting more deadly and desperate. How long will pakistanis stand for this? Long enough to crush militancy - before the tribal leaders begin thinking they have a different agenda? Welcome to the problem the US faces and good luck! Hope it works out better for the PA!