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Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

Residents say Taliban have mined roads and dug trenches around 200,000 trapped civilians encircled by Pakistani troops



From where these Taliban are getting weapons, can anyone answer this.

well they already had weapons with them before the start of military operation. and they were gettin them from across the border.
 
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some more clips on swat operation

 
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Today I have read a slide on Aaj tv, That son of muslim khan has been arrested while giving an army entry test...

Any news regarding this?
 
Swat operation in new phase, security forces enter into Matta
Updated at: 1250 PST, Sunday, May 17, 2009
SWAT: The security forces engaged in wiping out militants opened a new phase of the operation by marching into Matta town here.

Sources said that security forces quelling some minor resistance took control of the town and set up posts at vintage points and strategic places.

Following security forces advice to Matta residents to vacate the town and move out to safer places by 12.00-noon today, a large number of people had shifted.

Military officials said that Pakistan Army troops marched into the town, while the forces have the cover of gun-ship helicopters. They said that security forces had to face some resistance in the process, as the militants were trying to escape from the scene.
Swat operation in new phase, security forces enter into Matta - GEO.tv


great news........:pakistan:
 
Today I have read a slide on Aaj tv, That son of muslim khan has been arrested while giving an army entry test...

Any news regarding this?

yup. he was giving a test for Airport secutity team. he left his uni (Peshawar university) after ppl came to know that he was the son on Muslim Khan. Muslim khan's relatives also work for GoP in different fields
interestin, isnt it?
 
Operation Rah-e-Haq 4 renamed
ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): The ongoing operation in Malakand by the security forces Rah-e-Haq 4 has been renamed as Operation Rah-e-Rast, said Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas. In reply to a question at a media briefing here Saturday, Major Gen. Athar Abass said that the Operation in Malakand has been renamed and it would be headed by Major General Ijaz.

He said that the Operation was launched only after giving them ample time for negotiations and jolting down the issues. But, lastly, after finding the terrorists not to accept the writ of the government, Security forces resorted to initiate the Operation.

He said the Army troops will remain in the area till the civil administration is placed back to its original hold and positions and the civilian population is returned to their homes and feels safe. “We have to clear the area of terrorists,” he added.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
 
Matta would be under full control by tomorrow: GOC
Updated at: 1500 PST, Sunday, May 17, 2009
SWAT: General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Sajjad Ghani has said that Matta would be taken under full control by tomorrow.

The GOC told in a briefing that the forces entered into the Matta town from three sides, while heavy weapons or air power was not being used at Matta.

He further said that surprise ground attacks were being made in a bid to avoid civilian losses, while stringent actions were being taken against the militants in the city. He said that heavy fighting at Saraisar in the outskirt was also underway.
Matta would be under full control by tomorrow: GOC
 
Intense battles as Pakistan troops move on Taliban
1 day ago

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan's military said "intense' battles had broken out Sunday as it advanced on a key Taliban stronghold in a fierce offensive that has scattered more than a million terrified civilians.

Ground forces entered Matta and Kanju towns in the scenic Swat valley, a bastion of firebrand Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah who is behind a nearly two-year uprising that has devastated the area, security officials said.

Under pressure from Washington, Pakistan's military began pounding Taliban positions in Lower Dir, Buner and Swat districts three weeks ago after the rebels advanced to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.

"Security forces have surrounded and entered the town(s) of Matta and Kanju to eliminate miscreants-terrorists from the area," the military said in a statement.

"Security forces, with the help of the local population, will not only clear, secure and hold the area, but will make sure that miscreants-terrorists are chased and killed to avert any possibility of their return."

Matta is about 25 kilometres northwest of Swat's main town Mingora, where gun-totting Taliban militants have been patrolling the streets in a bloody campaign to extend their control and enforce a harsh brand of Islamic law.

Kanju town is just two kilometres from Mingora's outskirts, signalling an imminent advance on Mingora itself,:tup: where thousands of civilians are believed to be cowering behind locked doors without food, water or medical care.

"At present intense fire engagements are taking place at the outskirts of Mingora," the statement said.

A security official said they had relaxed a curfew and asked residents to leave Matta on Sunday morning.

The interior minister claimed that "more than 1,000 militants" had been killed since the offensive began on April 26, although such tolls are impossible to verify and there is no data yet on civilian casualties .

"The army offensive will continue until the last militant is flushed out," Rehman Malik told a press conference. "The militants are on the run, they will be eliminated at any cost."

The military statement said that 25 Taliban fighters had been killed in the last 24 hours alone.

The northwest was already reeling after the death toll from a devastating car bomb that hit the main town Peshawar on Saturday rose to 12, including four children and two women, a police official said.

The blast ripped through a packed street, leaving severed body parts on the road near an ice cream shop and an Internet cafe.

Many of the tide of refugees fleeing the punishing offensive in swathes of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) had taken refuge from the bombardment in Peshawar, the provincial capital.

Peshawar is the gateway to Pakistan's troubled tribal belt on the Afghan border, where the United States says Taliban and Al-Qaeda extremists have carved out safe havens to plot new attacks on the West.

The UN refugee agency said more than 1.1 million people have fled the fighting and registered with authorities since May 2, in a displacement that officials fear is the worst here since partition with India in 1947.

They join another 500,000 people who fled bouts of fighting between government forces and the Taliban in the northwest last year.

"It is really the worst situation in Swat, the worst I have seen in my life. I have no words to explain it," said Salman Khan -- not his real name -- who arrived in Peshawar from Swat's main town Mingora on Saturday.

Also Sunday, the death toll from a suspected US missile strike in the northwest's semi-autonomous tribal region of North Waziristan near the Afghan border rose to 28, security officials said.

The United States has put Pakistan at the heart of the fight against Al-Qaeda, but Pakistan publicly opposes drone attacks, saying they violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment among the populace.
AFP: Intense battles as Pakistan troops move on Taliban



we are closing in guys.
Long live Pak army
and long live Pakistan:pakistan:
 
SWAT is valley ,main achievment will be to capture mountains which is most difficult task, to capture city should not be first priority.
 
Taliban getting money, arms from across the border: ISPR
ISHFAQULLAH SHAWL & SEHRISH WASIF

ISLAMABAD (updated on: May 17, 2009, 02:51 PST): Taliban militants are being provided money and armament from across the border by foreign agencies to destabilise Pakistan, while they are getting terrorists reinforcement from the countries bordering Afghanistan, said Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Athar Abbas, here on Saturday.

In his regular briefing about re-dubbed operation "Rah-e-Raast" (previously known as Rah-e-Haq), General Abbas declined to blame India for Swat insurgency saying, "It is the subject of Foreign Office, which is having feedback from different ministries and I don't want to pass any comment on this issue."

Abbas told media that 27 militants of foreign origin have so far been killed in the fighting. Security forces during the operation carried out air and ground assaults against Taliban and killed 47 militants, while three security personnel were injured, Abbas told media.

He said that the operation is successfully under way in Swat, Shangla and Buner districts of Malakand Division while four militants have been arrested from Hayasirai and Shamozai. Security forces conducted search and destroy operation against terrorist hideouts in village Adai, Ramotai Gato Sar Banda and base of Banai Baba Ziarat.

"Main terrorist leader of Shangla sector, Zaman has been killed in Banai Baba Ziarat. While Sher Alam, another important terrorist leader from Malam Jabba was arrested in Shangla," he said, adding that in Mingora, another important terrorist commander Mukhtar alias Rashid Lala has been killed. Abbas said a militant den was destroyed in Shamozai area by targeting a house where militants were hiding.

"Security Forces are consolidating their positions in Udigram. Biadra Markaz, the stronghold of terrorists on Matta - Durushkhel road has been destroyed," DG ISPR said. Abbas said that intense exchange of fire took place between Security Forces at Makan Bagh, Grid Station, Airport, Ayub Bridge and Baniam Bridge.

To a question regarding the foreign help to Pakistan Army in execution of operation Rah-e-Raast, he said Pakistan Army is fully capable of executing the operation against militants and no foreign help was sought for carrying out the operation. Abbas showed journalists' video footage of militant hideouts and ammunition dumps destroyed by security forces during raids in Swat. "We have destroyed a full-fledged training camp in Peochar valley(this is where the SSG has been sent in), where firing ranges, residences and ammunition dumps were destroyed," he added.

He said forces were getting closer to Mingora, the main town in the district of Swat, to check on militants trying to flee the area, where residents widely expect the military to launch an assault to retake control. Military spokesman said the Army has cleared the area from Khwazakhela to Shangla from militants and it is safe for residents of the area. "People of these areas, forced to live as Internally Displaced Persons in camps, might return to their homes," he added.

To a question about FM Radios being run by militants, Abbas said that militants were using 36 FM radio transmitters in Swat, however, they are able to continue their transmission only for 2-3 minutes as the military is capable to locate and jam their transmission.

To another question, ISPR chief said that it was impossible to confirm such death tolls independently, which would add up to more than 980 militants dead and there has been no official word on civilian casualties since the military launched its offensive last month.

Monitoring Desk adds: Gunship helicopters pounded militants' hideouts in Orakzai Agency, killing twelve people including a miscreant, Aaj TV reported. According to the channel, gunship helicopters fired shells on militants in Orakzai Agency, killing 12 people including a miscreant and injuring 15 others. Injured people were shifted to Hangu and nearby hospitals, the channel added.

Taliban getting money, arms from across the border: ISPR : Business Recorder | LATEST NEWS



i think many important questions have been answered in this article other than the updates on Rah-e-Rast operation
 
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Wish civilians safely
 
Does anyone have a detailed map of the op so far? I saw the three front envelopment map posted by ajpirzada, but I would like more information tha that.
 
...are being provided money and armament from across the border by foreign agencies to destabilise Pakistan, while they are getting terrorists reinforcement from the countries bordering Afghanistan


The use of ambiguity in this circumstance is harming the position of Pakistani security forces and allowing the credibility of it's position to be questioned:

"terrorist reinforcement from the countries bordering Afghanistan" -- to exactly which countries is the General referring to??? My guess, if Pakistan ever dedcide to play this game as professionals, will be Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and East Turkistan Uighur - the usual suspects?

Where is this Money coming from??

No coment about India or U.S --- this ambiguity will allow the political enablers of islamist terrorists to continue to sow confusion among Pakistanis.

Reward Friends, Punish Enemies!:pakistan::pakistan:
 
well they already had weapons with them before the start of military operation. and they were gettin them from across the border.

From across the border India and or from Afghanistan
 
No timeframe for operation’s end: Gen Nadeem

LAHORE: Special Services Group (SSG) head Lt General Nadeem Ahmed has said a timeframe cannot be given for the end of the military operation in Malakand division, a private TV channel reported on Friday.

Talking to the channel at a makeshift hospital in Mardan, Ahmed said the military operation would continue until the Taliban were completely eliminated.

daily times monitor

Gents,

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed is in charge of the rehabilitation and relief work surrounding the fighting the in Swat. He has nothing to do with the SSG which in any case is commanded by a Maj Gen and not a Lt Gen.
 

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