Operation Rah-e-Rast (Swat)

[ejaz007]

PM declares all-out war against militants
Friday, May 08, 2009
Gilani orders armed forces to launch operation; says govt not to bow before terrorists; seeks nation’s support; announces Rs 1 bn for IDPs
By Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday ordered the armed forces to launch an operation against the militants and terrorists so as to flush them out completely from Swat and Malakand in order to ensure security, restore honour and dignity of the homeland and for the protection of the people.

“The government will not bow before the militants and terrorists but will force them to lay down their weapons and will not compromise with them,” he said in his 20-minute televised address to the nation on Thursday night.

The prime minister, before addressing the nation, had an extensive discussion with the civil and military leadership. On Wednesday, he held a lengthy meeting with Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani while on Thursday he held crucial meetings with Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman and parliamentarians belonging to Swat and Malakand division. Following these hectic meetings, PM Gilani addressed the nation, announcing the launching of the operation against the militants and terrorists.

In his 20-minute speech, the prime minister also appealed to the nation, political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and all the institutions of the country to lend their complete support to the government and the armed forces for the cause of Pakistan.

The prime minister said the time had come to show unity in our ranks and stand up against those who wanted to make Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal hostage on gunpoint. “The nation should get united and support the armed forces and the government to foil their designs,” he appealed to the nation.

The prime minister also said that one billion rupees had been provided for the rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He said employment would be given to one member of each family that had lost any of its members at the hands of terrorists.

The premier also talked about his government’s seriousness to implement the Nizam-e-Adl agreement, saying that since the day one the government took seriously the situation in Swat and made efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue. “The federal government even respected the agreement signed by provincial government of the NWFP and took this agreement to parliament. “We got a consensus from parliament and after it, the president signed it without any delay,” he said.

The prime minister said for the peace in swat, the government had sustained internal and external pressure but stuck to the agreement. “There was criticism on the government that it took an internal decision on external pressures but the peace deal in Swat proved that it was taken in the best national interest and according to the wishes of people of Pakistan,” he added.

The prime minister said the accord envisaged that after the enforcement of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, militants would lay down arms for the sake of complete peace in the Malakand division. However, he said the militants continued violating the accord, attacked security forces and targeted government installations and buildings. “They started taking hostile actions against the constitution, parliament, democracy and judiciary, which amounted to challenging the writ of the government, necessitating the decisive action,” he added.

He said the militants misconstrued the government’s desire for peace as its weakness. He said the government had decided not to bow down before the terrorists and extremists and would force them to lay down their arms.

He said the government was determined to protect life and property of the people at all costs and there could be no compromise on it. He said aggressive activities of the militants had forced hundreds of thousands of people to migrate from their homes and they deserved our fullest attention.

The prime minister said the country was facing security and economic challenges and both were interlinked. He asked the people to come forward to safeguard the sovereignty of Pakistan. “We would not allow anyone to disrupt peace,” he said and added, “We would not hesitate to offer any sacrifice in eliminating those who are bent upon disturbing peace of the nation.”

He urged the Ulema and Mashaikh to help project Islam’s true spirit. “We have to highlight before the world that there is no place in Islam for suicide attacks and that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood,” he maintained. He said it was a baseless propaganda that Islam was spread through the force of sword.

PM declares all-out war against militants

 

[ajpirzada]

Taliban will be defeated this time

Friday, May 08, 2009
Hamid Mir

Little Malalai Yousafzai was very happy after the peace agreement in Swat between the government and a pro-Taliban cleric Sufi Muhammad three months ago. Twelve-years-old Malalai was happy because she was sure that her school would be open after the peace agreement. About 600 schools and colleges were closed in Swat three months ago due to fighting between the local Taliban and the security forces. More than 200 schools were destroyed in that fighting. I still remember the words of this student of class six who met me in Mingora immediately after the agreement. She said: "Uncle, I want to go back to my school because I want to become a doctor."

She also condoled the assassination of my colleague Musa Khankhel and said that the children of Swat were thankful to the media who were demanding peace from both the government and the Taliban by risking their lives. I assured Malalai that I would come to Swat again and again to make sure that all the female and male students go to the school. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, distributed sweets like many other Swatis after the peace agreement. Peace was a public demand and that was why a liberal and secular party, the ANP, negotiated peace with an anti-democracy cleric.

Malalai was back to her school within few days of the peace agreement in Swat. Peace was not in the interest of the Taliban but they never opposed it due to immense public pressure. They were sure that President Asif Ali Zardari would not sign the agreement due to American pressure. Despite all the pressure, President Zardari signed the agreement in April last month when it was endorsed by parliament. Once again sweets were distributed all over the Swat valley. Local people were dreaming to enjoy total peace in their valley. Unfortunately peace lasted just for few weeks. The Taliban sabotaged the agreement by kidnapping some police officials in the Buner area because the government was trying to establish its writ.

The majority of the people in Pakistan never cared about the US disliking the agreement, but they were annoyed when the Taliban violated the agreement. Many Swatis and Buneris, for first time, demanded action against the Taliban. Military action against the Taliban was started one week ago. This time local people are not supporting the Taliban. Thousands of people are migrating from Swat and Buner to safer places. The Taliban are in panic because the locals are not ready to become their 'human shield" in the name of Islam. This is the first defeat of the Taliban. Local schools and colleges are once again closed but this time majority of the locals are not blaming the security forces or the government for their problems; they are blaming the Taliban. This is the first time after 9/11 that all the political parties in Pakistan are condemning the Taliban with a loud voice. It's a golden opportunity, to make this broad-based political consensus into a grand national counter-terrorism policy.

President Asif Ali Zardari met President Obama and President Hamid Karzai on May 6 in Washington. The three leaders agreed to make a joint strategy against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. But still, there is a problem. The majority in Pakistan do not see Washington as part of a solution. From what one reads in newspapers, sees on private TV channels and hears from political pundits and analysts, most view Washington as part of the problem. They think that growing militancy in Pakistan is a reaction to US presence in Afghanistan and drone attacks in the tribal areas. US military adviser David Kilcullen admitted recently that drone attacks had killed about 700 Pakistani civilians and killed only 14 terrorists. He said they should be called off. Many Pakistanis think that America is interested in Pakistan only to the extent that it wants to use the latter's territory as a safe supply route for NATO forces in Afghanistan and that once its agenda is complete, it will again abandon Pakistan. Many Pakistanis view the US as a bigger threat than the Taliban because they fear the US is after their nuclear programme. They think that the Taliban cannot take over Pakistan and they cannot steal our nuclear weapons. It is only US which could conspire to take the control of the Pakistani nuclear weapons with the help of India and Israel. There were no Taliban and Al Qaeda in 1989, they say. And they also cite the infamous Pressler amendment and the sanctions imposed on Pakistan as a result of its passage in the US Congress.

Having said that, the Pakistanis want to defeat the Taliban but at the same time they want to get out of America's influence as well. They would like to defeat the Taliban with a Pakistani strategy, not with a "US plan". They dislike Talibanisation and they also dislike the Americanization of the world. US forces are present in Afghanistan for the last eight years but there is no peace there. On the other side, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been much successful in defeating terrorism over the last few years. Pakistan can learn more from Saudi Arabia and Iran than US.

President Zardari and Karzai will meet Iranian President Ahmadinejad Tehran on May 19. Iran has recently built a long wall on its borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan to stop illegal movement of militants and smugglers. Pakistan and Afghanistan can learn a lot from Iran and they must agree to establish a proper border on the 2,500-kilometers-long otherwise porous border which allows easy movement for both the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Also the grand cleric of the Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah will soon visit Pakistan and he is likely to tell the Pakistani people that suicide bombing is not permitted in Islam. Such a statement will be more helpful than US dollars for Pakistan. The time has come for Pakistan to come up with a strategy to defeat the Taliban with the help of friends in the east. And the ironic thing is that Pakistan's friends in the west will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this success.

It is time that President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani called a national conference on security where they should invite all political leaders and other stake-holders. They should reach a consensus on how to tackle and defeat terrorism, get it approved from parliament and then implement it as soon as possible. This policy will give a moral and political boost to our security forces. This policy should also reject US drone attacks on Pakistani territory outright.

The truth is that our security forces have already given the Taliban a tough time to in the last one week. I hope that they will clear all the major towns and cities of Swat valley in the coming few days. After defeating the Taliban in Swat, we have to concentrate on other areas and start huge development work in our tribal areas. Our American friends have killed hundreds of innocents in these areas, now we have to give them schools and hospitals to win their hearts and minds.

And now back to little Malalai, whom I just spoke to again on the telephone just a little while ago. She has migrated to Peshawar from Swat like thousands of other Swatis. The total number of internally displaced people may reach half a million in the coming days. All journalists also left Mingora on May 7 anticipating street battles between the Taliban and the security forces. It will be a great challenge, not only for the government but the whole of Pakistan. All of us have a responsibility to look after our brothers and sisters leaving the troubled valley because they have sacrificed, not only to save their own lives but to save the future of Pakistan.

Many people are disappointed but little Malalai is not. She told me on the phone: "Uncle, don't worry, we will win this time, I will be back to Swat again, I will go to my school again, I will become a doctor one day and I will change the fate of my people".



The writer works for Geo TV. Email: hamid.mir@geo.tv

Taliban will be defeated this time

 

[ajpirzada]

Is there a English-language transcript available?

no not yet. only the last one min of the speech is in english which was meant to be for international community.... will let u know if i come accross one with english sub-titles

 

[ajpirzada]

Is there a English-language transcript available?

following is the text (not exactly similar but closest possible i could find) of PM speech.. i did post it in another thread as well but i guess it will be better if i do it here too

Govt summons military to quell militancy, terrorists. PM Address.
ISLAMABAD, May 7 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza GilaniThursday announced summoning of the army to crush militancy andterrorism in Swat and Malakand with an iron hand and vowed to establish the writ of the government at all costs. Addressing the nation on radio and television Prime MinisterGilani said time had come to take serious action against themilitants who had disrupted peace and tranquility in parts of NWFP. "Army is being called in for upholding the sanctity and nationalintegrity, for elimination of militants and to ensure security ofthe people," Prime Minister Gilani said.
"We will not bow before extremists and terrorists ... we will safeguard the interest of our people and the nation," Gilani said and added that the decision to summon the armed forces has been taken after due deliberations and consultations with all the stakeholders.

Prime Minister Gilani appealed to the nation, the civil society and the media to stand united and support the government and the armed forces of the country to fulfill their patrioticobligations. "The time has come when the entire nation should stand united and support the government and the army against those who were bent upon hijacking the Pakistan of Quaid e Azam and Allama Mohammad Iqbal." Gilani said the understanding reached after the Nizam‑e‑Adl regulation was that the militants will lay down their arms, bring complete peace to these areas, there would be no violence or attacks on civil and military forces or property. Unfortunately, he said, it did not happen and in Swat and Malakand division violation of the deal by the militants led to forced eviction of hundreds and thousands of people from their houses. "Several army check posts were attacked and many who helped the security forces to bring peace fell victim to their barbarity,"Gilani said. The Prime Minister said the government fully understands that innocent and unarmed civilians are under threat. Girl students are being forcibly stopped from attending educational institutions, private and public property is being taken over and destroyed, personnel of security forces are being attacked, shameful acts are being committed against women. He said those opposing the militants' way of life were being labelled as infidels, and were trying to extend their fear and influence to other areas. "Such acts are being committed in the name of Islam that are bringing shame to the Muslims," the prime minister said. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the militants had started taking steps against constitution, democracy, parliament and media. "These can be rightly termed as a direct challenge to the writ of the government, which it will never allow," the prime minister said. He said the activities by the militants have reached a point where the government was compelled to take a decisive and extreme step against them. The Prime minister announced a sum of Rs one billion in aid for the welfare and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons. He said one person from a family that lost one of its members at the hands of the militants would be provided government job. He appealed to the ulema and the religious scholars to present true image of Islam across the world and convey the message that there was no place for suicide bombings in this religion. Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood and directs good treatment with the non‑Muslims, he said. "There is no place for force and excess in Islam," Gilani said and added that it preaches good behaviour with women. The Prime Minister said Islam is a complete code of life and dismissed the impression by its opponents that the religion was spread through force. He appealed to the nation to understand the critical situation and stand united in larger national interest for country's solidarity and integrity. He appealed to all international powers to financially assist the government in rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons and to increase the capability of its law enforcement agencies. Gilani said the nation was rightly concerned about the situation in Swat and Malakand division. He said the patriotic people who think about the honour and security of the country know that the government adopted a policy of reconciliation and consensus which produced positive results. The Prime Minister said the government always sincerely took into confidence the political forces and democratic institutions "as it is our belief that solution of all issues lies in this kind of thought and action." The Prime Minister referred to the campaign for restoration of judiciary on March 16 when all matters were settled peacefully through the policy of reconciliation. "We promoted the policy of reconciliation and consensus as we knew that we can triumph in the civilized world and international community by taking the path of democracy. And we can face the challenges through unity and protect our freedom and sovereignty by rising to the occasion." Gilani said the government fully realises that at this time the nation was facing two challenges, one was national security and other economic progress. He said both were interlinked as the country can only progress if the law and order was satisfactory. " Against this backdrop, the situation in Swat is the focus of our immediate attention and its resolution has become imminent," he added. The Prime Minister said as always on the issue of Swat, the government was working with sincerity, patience, reconciliation and farsightedness. "From day one it was our effort that this issue should be resolved peacefully," he said adding, "we preferred the path of negotiations and talks. What more can there be proof of the government's sincerity and pro‑Islamic attitude that we extended all cooperation for the implementation of the Nizam‑e‑Adl regulation." Referring to the peace deal signed by the NWFP government in Swat, Gilani said the federal government had respected the agreement. He said that the matter was taken to the parliament where there was complete unanimity and the President signed it without any delay. The prime minister said consultations were held with the political parties on the issue and the government respects their cooperation. The Prime Minister pointed out that at that stage the government was facing internal and external pressure but it did not take that into account and continued its policy of reconciliation in the larger interest of the nation and in view of the cultural needs and demands of the people of Swat. Prime Minister Gilani said peace was the top most priority of the government and vowed that there would be no compromise on Pakistan's independence and sovereignty. "We will not hesitate from rendering any sacrifice and ensuring prosperity and bright future of the nation and will eliminate all those elements who have tried to destroy the peace in our country."
Gilani sought Allah Almighty's blessings to protect this country and said the nation wants to get rid of price hike, loadshedding, unemployment and other social ills.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Govt summons military to quell militancy, terrorists. PM Address.

 

[ajpirzada]

damn it..... is this true??? or has there been any confusion

Pakistan offensive kills 140 militants in 24 hrs
Posted 43 minutes ago

Pakistan's top military spokesman says more than 140 militants have been killed during a full-scale offensive against Islamist extremists during the last 24 hours.

"The army is now engaged in a full-scale operation to eliminate miscreants," Major General Athar Abbas told a press briefing.

"They are on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area.

"During the last 24 hours approximately over 140 militants have been killed in different areas."

It was impossible to confirm the death toll independently, given the ongoing operations across three districts - Swat, Buner and Lower Dir - in north-west Pakistan where the military has launched offensives to crush Taliban militants.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has re-imposed a curfew on the restive Swat valley, making it difficult for thousands of people to escape the fighting there.

The humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders, has pulled out of the area saying the fighting has made it too difficult to operate as a neutral body.

The organisation's co-ordinator for Pakistan, Brice Delevigne, says it was the only group supporting the hospital in the main town of Mingora.

"The problem is from both sides you are suspicious in the sense that constantly you have to convince them that you are an independent neutral organisation, medical organisation," he said.

"In the sense that from one side they think that maybe you transport military material, from the other side they think that maybe you have a suicide bomber inside the ambulance then it's constant negotiation with both parties."
Pakistan offensive kills 140 militants in 24 hrs - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[PAFAce]

who cares about IM the DIM - stick to cricket I say! what!

Wow. I didn't expect that from you, sir. I hope it was a joke.

 

[ajpirzada]

143 militants killed in Swat: General Athar ​

ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Pakistan Army and security forces have killed as many as 143 militants in Swat Valley during last twenty four hours as a full‑fledged operation has been launched to clear the area of militants, said Director General Inter Services Public Relations Major General Athar Abbas on Friday.

“So far, 143 militants have been killed in last twenty four hours while security forces have suffered seven shaheed and twelve injured,” DG ISPR informed media at a news briefing.

He said around 4000 militants are active in Swat area and majority of the militants is from Swat but there are also some Uzbek and Tajik.

The militants, he said have also been provided weapons but some of them also without weapons.

In his opening statement, Athar Abbas said, the operation would continue till the objectives are achieved.

“Operation will continue till we get rid of the militants. We would take it to culmination with the help of the Army and the people,” he added.

Besides Swat, he said in Lower Dir, a swift operation was launched at Lal Qila after a group of militants attacked security personnel and 10 militanst were killed in encounter, including Kafayatullah, son of Sufi Muhammad.

He said one security personnel died and five miscreants were killed during operation in Khawaza Khela/Chamatlal. On Thursday, the militants attacked a police station in Matta area and during fire exchange, 13 miscreants were killed.

Similarly in Takhtaband and Qambar Top and Iqbal Advocate’s house, 10 militants were killed and 12 injured.

He said in Khawaza Khela, militants killed the brother of UC Nazim. One security personnel was killed in rocket attack on Circuit House Mangora.

He said the resistance was dying down in Buner; however, they are holding their positions in Sultanwas and Pir Baba.

He told media that on Friday, a preliminary operation was launched in Kalapani area where six militants have been killed and two arrested.

“Yet, the forces may take some time to clear the areas. These are populated areas, the militants have taken some local people as hostage and the forces are avoiding collateral damage,” he said.

He also mentioned Thursday’s action in Lower Dir area in which ten people including Kafayatullah, son of Sufi Muhammad was killed when the security forces retaliated to rocket attack by militants on FC post.

“Today, again militants were hiding in a compound in Maidan Area have been attacked and 15 militants have been killed including two important commandos,” he added.

Athar Abbas said, miscreants continued unlawful activities even after the peace deal and enforcement of Nizam‑e‑Adl in Malakand and Swat areas.

He said the operation would lead towards Sultanwas and Pir Baba, but they are cautious to avoid collateral damages.

To another question about making 100 policemen hostage by militants at Mangora police station, he said, local commander is well aware of the situation. He is deciding on it as regular army and FC jawans are also present there.

He said the people have realized that even after accepting their demand of enforcement of Nizam‑e‑Adl, the miscreants continued unlawful activities.

“Local people had demanded cessation of hostilities by miscreants. The government is speaking from high moral grounds. All measures are aimed at avoiding collateral damage,” he stated.

Replying to a question about Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Athar Abbas said, figures available with us show that so far 64,000 IDPs have got themselves registered at Mardan and Swabi camps.

When asked about duration of the operation, he said, “No timeline could be given at this moment. It is a difficult operation, it is a counter insurgency operation. Determination and resolve is there.”

“Military would not only clear and secure the area but also remain there until peace is restored and the civil administration takes over, normalcy returns and the writ of the government is established,” he said.

Responding to another query, he said, predominantly, the majority of militants and their leadership is from Swat. But, some people are also from across the border.

He said training camps have been hit in different areas and reports of the damage are being collected. Exact casualty figure would also be given later as the present figure was based on intelligence reports.

He said one division army was already present there and some fresh enforcement have been sent to area with the task to clear the area of miscreants and restore the civil administration.

To another question about US response to Pakistan’s request for the provision of modern equipments, Athar Abbas said, these equipments could enhance capability and efficiency of the forces. “We would like to have such equipment to save the lives of our jawans and suffer minimum losses.”

He said the security forces at Afghan borders are alert and vigilant to intercept any support coming from across the border. “The roads and other pathways within Swat are also being fully guarded to intercept supply of arms and ammunition to militants,” he added.

Athar Abbas said solid evidence about across‑the‑border involvement have been provided to respective governments by the Pakistan government.

To a question about funding of the militants, Athar Abbas said, “Major source of funding is drugs. According to estimates of 2007, these militants were getting ten per cent of the total drugs smuggling money worth US$ four billions.”

Kidnapping for ransom, lot of charity money and availability of funds by hostile intelligence agencies are in addition, he said, adding, “From this, you can assess how much funding was available to them.”

He said at present, 12000 to 15000 security personnel are engaged in operation. Forces are also present in other areas to meet any backlash of this operation.

He said main mission of the forces is expelling and eliminating militants. Reconciliatory efforts did not work due to high handedness and militancy approach. By now the operation goes on and what should be the next, the government will decide.

To a question about setting up of training camps by militants despite the presence of security forces, he said, these camps were established when the military was not offensive.

He said the Air Force only struck the training camps in the mountainous areas and not in plains only to avoid collateral damage. He avoided to go into details of the operation as he stated, it could more benefit the others.

He said the militants plant improvised explosive devices, sometimes they use pressure cookers. Such devices are planted somewhere and are detonated with remote control.

When asked about action against Sufi Muhammad and Baitullah Mehsud, he said, the operation has been started keeping in view the national interest. “There may be some effects, for which we have already prepared contingency plan. By now, the forces have been given the task of operation in Swat,” he said.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )


it appears our army has learned from last time. they are tryin their best to avoid collateral damge which is really important if we want to win this war

 

[ajpirzada]

Yesterday the army dropped leaflets across the Swat valley, urging residents to reject the Taliban. "There are people who want to create panic in the country and destroy it. Do you want that?" said one such flyer, which also quoted a verse from the Qur'an about "the day of judgment".

An estimated 4,000 militants were operating in Swat, said Abbas, including some child soldiers who had been forcibly recruited. The Taliban were funded through the drug trade, kidnapping and money from Afghanistan, he said.

Analysts said the military's early goal was to "decapitate" the Swat Taliban by killing their leader, the charismatic cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who is thought to be hiding in nearby mountains, or a senior lieutenant. "The military wants to eliminate one or two senior people from Fazlullah's group to raise the morale of their troops and show they mean business," said Zaffar Abbas, a senior editor with Dawn newspaper. "But it won't be easy."

Swat residents flee as Pakistani army declares full-scale offensive against Taliban | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[Solomon2]

Thank you, ajpirzada. Although the government is fighting now, I am disappointed. Reading the speech it appears to me the Taliban still have ample opportunity to negotiate a solution, if they wish. The Taliban will be around for decades to come.

Too bad the PM couldn't go all the way and vow to eliminate the Taliban entirely; instead, he put the burden the clerics. Gilani emphasized consensus. Why doesn't he feel strong and confident enough to take a moral stand by himself?

 

[wild peace]

This is a brave decission from on going goverment ,
now we all have to stick with it.These bastards waste alot of time ,money & very precious lives of pakistani people ,Now hammer them deep.
INSHALLAH WE ALL TOGETHER CUT THEIR ROOTS AND THEIR HEADS.

 

[PAFAce]

Too bad the PM couldn't go all the way and vow to eliminate the Taliban entirely; instead, he put the burden the clerics. Gilani emphasized consensus. Why doesn't he feel strong and confident enough to take a moral stand by himself?

Because, as you said, the Taleban will be around for a while, even if they are defeated in Swat and have no power whatsoever. Closing all doors this early is not a good strategy. If the Taleban are willing to surrender on our terms, well, isn't that a win? Limiting casualties is still a priority, and the longer the battles go on the more casualties there will be.

Ofcouse, it will take some effort to convinve the Americans of the importance civillian casualties. It seems those are an afterthought for them, as evident from recent events in Afghanistan

 

[wild peace]

Thankyou...solomon2.
You are absolutely right about PM ,but we all have to consider that diplomaticly goverment uproot the militants.Now alongwith ALLAH's help and nations backing armed forces will clean this mess.INSHALLAH

 

[wild peace]

Thank you PAFAce.It is really glad to see that still we have handsome amount of good guys who are thinking positive like you.But now utilize this option after handsome hammering ..

 

[Salahadin]

Pakistani army vows to oust Taliban militants

By RIAZ KHAN, Associated Press Writer – 53 mins ago


MARDAN, Pakistan – Pakistan's army vowed Friday to eliminate militants from a northwestern valley but warned that its under-equipped troops face thousands of Taliban extremists who have seized towns, planted bombs made from pressure cookers, and dragooned children to be suicide bombers.
As air force jets roared overhead and gunbattles raged, terrified civilians from the Swat Valley and neighboring districts accelerated their exodus, with U.N. and Pakistani officials predicting 1 million refugees will soon burden the turbulent Afghan border region.
The army formally announced Friday that an offensive was under way. It has drawn praise from U.S. officials alarmed at the Taliban's recent advance to within 60 miles of the capital, Islamabad.
Washington describes the militants as an existential threat to nuclear-armed Pakistan itself, as well as to U.S. chances of destroying al-Qaida or of winning the war against their insurgent allies in neighboring Afghanistan.
"The army is now engaged in a full-scale operation to eliminate the militants, miscreants and anti-state elements from Swat," said Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, chief army spokesman. "They are on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area."
There are doubts about the ability and resolve of the army and the government to sustain the kind of grinding counterinsurgency warfare needed to defeat extremists whose rhetoric resonates widely in a Muslim nation deeply skeptical of U.S. goals in the region.
Abbas sought to counter portrayals of the military as ill-trained, saying that they had learned a lot in eight years of fighting along the border. But he said they need helicopters, surveillance drones and night-vision equipment, which the U.S. is scrambling to provide.
Pakistan's army is fighting to wrest Swat and two neighboring districts from militants who dominate the adjoining tribal belt along the Afghan frontier, where U.S. officials say al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden is likely holed up.
The army announced its offensive after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the government would wipe out groups trying to "take Pakistan hostage at gunpoint." Battles and bombing runs by helicopters and jets have been going on all week.
Abbas said Friday that more than 140 militants and two soldiers had been killed in Swat in the last 24 hours — roughly doubling the number of casualties reported so far.
The latest figure included 100 militants killed in bombardments of remote training camps and arms dumps. Abbas didn't explain how the body count was done. Fighting in neighboring Buner and Lower Dir killed another 31 militants and three soldiers, he said.
Officials say they are unable to confirm accounts from fleeing civilians of innocents killed and wounded by indiscriminate gunfire and shelling. Abbas said troops were advancing slowly to try to minimize such collateral damage.
But the stream of civilians seeking safety appeared to have intensified, leaving Pakistan facing a humanitarian emergency.
The mayor of Mardan, the main district to the south of the fighting, said an estimated 250,000 people had fled in recent days. Of those, 4,500 were staying in camps, while the rest were with relatives or rented accommodation, he said.
On Friday, the U.N. refugee agency said provincial officials had told them 500,000 had fled, were on the move, or were trying to flee. About a half-million have already been made homeless elsewhere in the border region since August 2008, when the army launched its last major anti-Taliban operation in the Bajur border region.
Tens of thousands of people are trapped in Mingora, Swat's main town. Some have accused the Taliban of not allowing them to leave, perhaps because they want to use them as human shields. Others came under attack even as they fled.
Siraj Muhammad, a 19-year-old mechanic among the exhausted multitude who made it to Mardan on Friday, said a shell exploded near people trying to walk to safety, killing two and wounding him, his mother and two siblings.
After struggling on for several miles, they flagged down a truck, joining scores of others escaping over a mountain pass, he said.
"We had a home, we had a family, we had happiness, we had prosperity, and all we have now is tears, fear and a dark future," he said, lying on a plastic sheet in a refugee camp.
Taliban militants seized much of the area under a peace deal, even after the government agreed to their main demand to impose Islamic law in the region.
U.S. officials likened the deal to a surrender. Pakistani leaders said the agreement's collapse had opened the eyes of ordinary citizens to the extremist threat.
Abbas wouldn't say how long it would take to clear the valley of 4,000 or 5,000 militants, including small numbers of foreigners — Tajiks and Uzbeks — as well as Punjabi extremists and tough Waziri fighters.
He said the military was reinforcing the 12,000 to 15,000 troops already in Swat. He gave no details, but he predicted a tough fight against militants who exploited the peace deal to regroup, descend from mountain hideouts and seize most of Swat's towns.
The troops faced guerrilla tactics, including remotely detonated homemade bombs made of explosives, steel pellets and nails packed into pressure cookers, Abbas said. Mines have been laid in Mingora.
Insurgents had forcibly recruited young boys from poor families in Swat, and sent some of them to train as suicide bombers in the South Waziristan tribal region, he said.
"We have seen with the capture of Mingora that the initiative has been taken by the militants," said Nasim Zehra, a fellow of Harvard University's Asia Center and a prominent Pakistani security analyst. "It's obviously an operation that is going to take weeks, or more."
She said strong support from Pakistan's fractious politicians and divided civil society will be vital to the army, whose previous operations have largely failed.
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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad in Islamabad and an AP reporter in Mingora who was not identified for security reasons contributed to this report.

Pakistani army vows to oust Taliban militants

 

[Neo]

Is there a English-language transcript available?

Key Points

*Taliban violated peace deal, foiled government efforts for reconciliation

*No compromise on national sovereignty, no surrender to Taliban

*Rs 1 billion for rehabilitation of the internally displaced families who
had to migrate because of violence in the troubled areas

*Job for one member from each family that lost an earning member to terrorism