Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[muse]

But this should also allow Pakistanis a moment of clarity -- who is it that is playing politics with IDP issue? Of course, politicians. WHY? Mostly because of the poltential to effect the course of their careers.

Who can deny that any Pakistani has the right of movement anywhere in Pakistan? Of course, Politicians.

In this moment of clarity perhaps Pakistanis will see that great champion of the constitution, the best Chief Justice money can buy, as being active against the politicians who by their attitudes reveal once again, what they really care about.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistani Taliban: We'll avoid combat in Swat city

By ASIF SHAHZAD, Associated Press Writer Asif Shahzad, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago

ISLAMABAD – The Taliban urged civilians Monday to return to the main town in Pakistan's Swat Valley, promising they won't attack security forces battling insurgents there but stopping short of calling the move a cease-fire.

The army has already ruled out halting its operation in the valley, saying such an announcement was a sign that the outnumbered insurgents were "staring defeat in the face."

Pakistan began the month-old offensive against militants in Swat and surrounding areas after they ignored the terms of a cease-fire. U.S. and other Western allies have hailed the operation amid worries the country was not doing enough to root out militancy.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan the militants' decision to stop attacking troops in Mingora town was made out of concern for the safety of civilians and property.

"I would like to appeal to the people of Mingora to get back to their homes and start their routine life as we will not fire even a single shot," Khan said.

Asked if that meant a cease-fire, he added, "No, this is not like that. Our aides will remain there in Mingora, but we will not attack, we will not fire shots."

The army says it secured several major intersections in Mingora. Many of the extremists were fleeing Mingora for Kabal, a town to the west, but security forces are trying to secure that locality as well, an army statement said Monday.

Troops also have secured Malam Jabba — the site of a ski resort that militants wrecked last year — which the army said the Taliban were using as a training center and logistics base.

The army statement Monday afternoon said in the previous 24 hours, four suspected militants were killed and eight were arrested in the valley, while six security personnel were wounded.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the militants "have started using ploys to escape. They are now remembering the civilians whom they used to behead and decapitate."

He said the operation in the city would go on as planned. Commanders have said they aim to eliminate the militants in the valley and on Friday said any form of cease-fire was highly unlikely.

The military says about 1,100 suspected insurgents have died so far in the offensive. It has not given any tally of civilian deaths, and it's unclear how it is separating noncombatants killed from militants. Residents fleeing the region have reported dozens of ordinary Pakistanis killed in the fight. Journalists have mostly been barred from reporting there.

Close to 1.9 million civilians have fled the valley and surrounding districts, but up to 20,000 remain in Mingora.

Most of the refugees are staying with families or friends, but more than 160,000 are in relief camps just south of the battle zone. Some fear the generally broad public support for the military campaign could drain away if the refugees' plight worsens or if the army gets bogged down too long.

send them to hell - no cease-fire!

 

[Owais]

Troops secure control of Malam Jabba: DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD (updated on: May 25, 2009, 17:51 PST): The security forces on Monday defused landmines in a large area of Mingora after strengthening their positions in the restive valley of Swat, DG ISPR, Major Ather Abbas said on Monday.

According to the DG ISPR, forces have secured control of Malam Jabba, Sohrab Chowk, Green Chowk and Haji Baba areas after intense clashes with the Taliban militants, Some 20 militants have been killed in skirmishes.

Curfew has been imposed in the district since last 12 days resulting in shortage of edible items in the operation-hit area, Ather Abbas said.

 

[rokhanyousafzai]

there was a large function in dublin yesterday for the people of swat and my parents went now ur all wondering what the hell are u tellin us for but my father talked to alot of people from swat and he was amazed that they said that fazullah had bought in uzbek tajik afghan but weirdest of all they all said hindus and that they had truckloads of money and were buying the poor for 7-8000 rupees a month. They were also going to peoples houses and forcing them to marry their daughters to the taliban even if they were already married and best though was the overwhelming suppourt for the army and anger towards the taliban this is all what he was told by the people of swat there so i dont know if its all true or can be verified but these people have relatives and some of them have kids there so its preety reliable

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

send them to hell - no cease-fire!

Agreed - If Muslim Khan has such concern for the people, then he should surrender and encourage the others to do the same.

I wonder if large scale desertions from militant ranks are behind forcing this choice of not engaging in Mingora - I don't for a second believe that its out of concern for the residents.

If true, where will the militants regroup now?

Last time its was in Peochar, which is under assault now. So is Kabal, and most of the other major Taliban areas.

To paraphrase the DG ISPR, 'the people talking about 'concern for the residents of Mingora' are the same ones who were beheading and mutilating them earlier'.

F'n Takfiris.

 

[fatman17]

Agreed - If Muslim Khan has such concern for the people, then he should surrender and encourage the others to do the same.

I wonder if large scale desertions from militant ranks are behind forcing this choice of not engaging in Mingora - I don't for a second believe that its out of concern for the residents.

If true, where will the militants regroup now?

Last time its was in Peochar, which is under assault now. So is Kabal, and most of the other major Taliban areas.

To paraphrase the DG ISPR, 'the people talking about 'concern for the residents of Mingora' are the same ones who were beheading and mutilating them earlier'.

F'n Takfiris.

AM pls read my post above on mullah nazeer.
these thugs are going to retreat to waziristan where 15,000 militants are preparing for the final battle. they will leave stragglers in swat, buner, bajaur, dir, momand just to create problems for the security forces.

their ranks are breaking and we need to blow this thing wide apart!

they are on the run - make no mistake about it but the final result will not come out until the IDPs return to the aforementioned areas and the civilian govt/admn starts doing its bloody job instead of "narray bazi" on talk shows and media breifings!

 

[fatman17]

Indians Fighting In Swat - WARNING: Disturbing Pictures - Plz Don't Read Beyond Text If Offended By Nudity/Gruesome Images

i could not post this - apparantly there is a blog run by zaid hamid and asher qureshi.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Indians Fighting In Swat - WARNING: Disturbing Pictures - Plz Don't Read Beyond Text If Offended By Nudity/Gruesome Images

i could not post this - apparantly there is a blog run by zaid hamid and asher qureshi.

Sir, it was posted already in its own thread in the Strategic affairs section.

There is a video on the same in the multimedia section.

The thread was closed for, among other reasons, repeated references to 'small Indian willys' lol:

 

[fatman17]

Sir, it was posted already in its own thread in the Strategic affairs section.

There is a video on the same in the multimedia section.

The thread was closed for, among other reasons, repeated references to 'small Indian willys' lol:

sorry my bad!

 

[rokhanyousafzai]

Agreed - If Muslim Khan has such concern for the people, then he should surrender and encourage the others to do the same.

I wonder if large scale desertions from militant ranks are behind forcing this choice of not engaging in Mingora - I don't for a second believe that its out of concern for the residents.

If true, where will the militants regroup now?

Last time its was in Peochar, which is under assault now. So is Kabal, and most of the other major Taliban areas.

To paraphrase the DG ISPR, 'the people talking about 'concern for the residents of Mingora' are the same ones who were beheading and mutilating them earlier'.

F'n Takfiris.

the taliban are very good politicians just take a look at this video

this is how they operate and this is how we are in this mess to some degree the people of swat are responsible for not coming down hard on them and their suppourters when they were first influencing swat. Musharraf didnt take it seriusly and the whole time he was in power did nothing but defend them as if it was a question of his integrity

 

[kidwaibhai]

the taliban are very good politicians just take a look at this video
7GMUoxwHOIY[/media] - Taliban support in Pakistan's Swat Valley - 11 Nov 07

this is how they operate and this is how we are in this mess to some degree the people of swat are responsible for not coming down hard on them and their suppourters when they were first influencing swat. Musharraf didnt take it seriusly and the whole time he was in power did nothing but defend them as if it was a question of his integrity

i dont think that is fair people of swat are not like the people of the tribal areas. they are not that martial in their everyday life as the people in the tribal areas. the taliban keep talking about sharia and who in pakistan would oppose what they are saying so this is another ploy. as far as the video goes this was before the peace deal and people had some hope that the taliban would give up arms this obviously did not happen but know the people of pakistan have seen there real face and that is why there is so much support for the military operation.

 

[ajpirzada]

lool.............. they are not gonna fire at security forces
so they are feeling the heat now. i guess they never expected army to get this serious. anyways great news.
this could be a trap as well. if army gets over confident that will lead to some drastic results.
or may be they want to win back ppl support which they know they have lost

 

[ajpirzada]

Afghanistan has no ordinance factory ot any kind of manufacturing of weapons, so who is giving Afghanistan these weapon of such quality. And how come they can cross border so easily when Nato is watching the border like hawks.

well i meant that they are comin through afghanistan. now i dont know wats the origin of these weapons. some are definately US made. there was a report on this as well.

 

[brilTek]

No Cease Fire -- Thats It. They always used pretexts to strenghten themselves. Mangora under seige now, So supply lines are cut.

Either they surrender or wiped out. They brutally killed so many civilians, blown up over 200 schools and on top OUR ARMY SOLDIERS.

Enough is Enough. Time to get rid of them.

 

[ajpirzada]

Security forces secure Malam Jabba
Updated at: 1720 PST, Monday, May 25, 2009
RAWALPINDI: Security forces have taken control of Malam Jabba, the stronghold of militants, after facing a staff resistance, Inter-Services Public Relation reported on Monday.

Maalam Jabba, located on main line of communication connects Swat Valley with Mansehra, was being used as a training centre and logistic base by the terrorists.

According to the ISPR, four militants have been killed in the restive valley after an exchange of fire between miscreants and security forces during the last 24 hours.

While eight terrorists have been arrested and six security forces personnel have sustained injuries.

The ISPR said that operation has started from Kanju to secure Kabbal, where militants have training facilities and fleeing militants from Mingora are gathering there.

Besides, two miscreants were killed and five others arrested by security forces in Peuchar.
Security forces secure Malam Jabba


Malam Jabba, Pir Baba secured by Security Forces: ISPR
MONITORING DESK

ISLAMABAD (updated on: May 25, 2009, 18:42 PST): After stiff resistance, security forces have secured Maalam Jabba, Bacha Qilay the area of Pir Baba, the stronghold of militant-terrorists in Swat, said an update issued on Monday by ISPR on Operation Rah-e-Rast.

“Maalam Jabba, located on main line of communication connects Swat Valley with Mansehra, was being used as a training centre and logistic base by terrorists,” the update said.

In last 24 hours, four militants were killed in various areas of Swat during exchange of fire between miscreants and security forces, while eight others were arrested. Six security forces personnel were injured, during the clashes with terrorists.

Operation from Kanju has started to secure Kabbal, the main stronghold of militants, where militants have training facilities and fleeing militants from Mingora are gathering. Two important strongholds enroute Aligrama and Guljaba have been secured. Security forces are facing stiff resistance.

The troops of security forces have successfully secured Fizaghat and area upto Watakai. During exchange of fire, two miscreants were killed and six soldiers were injured, while one APC of police being used by the terrorists and huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered. Security forces also diffused several IEDs, during the process of swooping.

Security forces resumed operation in Piochar where heavy exchange of fire took place between the security forces and miscreants, resultantly two miscreants were killed and five others were apprehended.

“Miscreants are on the run from the valley. The operation is progressing well.”

Security forces have secured Qambar village and Qambar ridge and consolidating their positions in the town where 6 tunnels were cleared.

Area up to Grid station, Amankot, T. junction in Saidu Khawar has been secured while the security forces have cleared Udigram and conducted cordon and search operation arresting three miscreants.

As far the relief activities for the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) is concerned, the window access to the Army Warehouse Risalpur has been provided to the IDPs for provision of relief goods.

Around 50 tons of ration for the consumption of 80,000 IDPs have been distributed by Army. So far, Army has donated 560 tons of rations out of its daily quota.

Army troops are assisting civil administration for preparation of improvised sheds inside the IDP camps, besides providing medical treatment in the two field hospitals, which are established at Jehanded Society in Benazir Camp. Female doctors who were equipped with Ultra Sound training provided medical treated to 180 female patients in the camp
http://www.brecorder.com/latestindex.php?latest_id=10006


may be they thought we will let them flee this time