Pakistan 'nearing Swat victory'

[Beskar]

Pakistan 'nearing Swat victory'

Sunday, 31 May 2009

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Pakistan 'nearing Swat victory'

Heavy tanks are being used in the army's operations in the north-west
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Pakistan's operation against Taliban rebels in the Swat valley region should be over in the next few days, the country's defence secretary has said.

Syed Athar Ali told a meeting of Asian nations in Singapore that only "5% to 10% of the job" remains.

The army has said it will pursue "hardcore" rebels after recapturing Mingora, the main city in Swat.

Meanwhile, 40 militants were killed in an attack on a Pakistani army base near the Afghan border, officials said.

Officials said four soldiers were also killed in an eight-hour gunbattle at the camp in South Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold.

"Militants came in force and attacked a paramilitary camp and fighting lasted for eight hours," an intelligence official in the region told Reuters news agency.

'Going after leadership'

Having recaptured Mingora, Pakistan's army said essential services were being restored to the city, which was home to 300,000 people before the fighting began.

Doctors had arrived to re-open the main hospital, gas had been restored and mobile generators would help restore the water system, army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said on Saturday.
Government tanks move through Lower Dir, north-west Pakistan, 30 May
Heavy tanks are being used in the army's operations in the north-west

But he suggested it would take at least two weeks to restore the electricity network. Local defence committees would be set up eventually to stop militants returning, he added.

The general said clashes were continuing outside Mingora but the centre of the city was under Pakistani control and troops would now concentrate on tracking down senior and battle-hardened Taliban figures.

"We are going after the leadership and we are going to take care of all the militants in the valley," spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC.

With journalists barred from the area, it is impossible to verify the situation in the city independently.

Some 2.5 million people have fled their homes since military operations began in Swat more than a month ago.

'Better position'

"We have been able to block the major routes and the entries, exit points of the valley," said Gen Abbas.

"So we are in a better position to flush out, to eliminate the main militants, the hardcore militants of the valley."

Troops now have Charbagh, a Taliban stronghold 32km (20 miles) north of the valley, in their sights, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley reports.

Helicopters are said to be dropping leaflets advising residents to leave.

Soldiers continued to patrol Mingora's largely deserted streets on Saturday, securing neighbourhoods and checking houses for booby-traps.

Pakistan has increased its reward for the capture of the Taliban leader in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, to 50m rupees ($600,000).

The radical cleric is believed to be the architect of a two-year uprising in the valley aimed at enforcing Islamic law.

It is thought that the Taliban responded to the military campaign this week with a major suicide bomb attack on the country's second-biggest city, Lahore, as well as bombings in two other cities in the north-west.

The US is giving full backing to the Pakistani operations, which are linked to its own offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, our correspondent says.

 

[ajpirzada]

great news. i guess it will take around 2 3 weeks before ppl start goin back. they need to restore local admnistration along with necessary infrastructure

 

[Beskar]

great news. i guess it will take around 2 3 weeks before ppl start goin back. they need to restore local admnistration along with necessary infrastructure

All in due time ... InshAllah.

 

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Its all over the News in the UK right now.

But there saying here its not really much of a victory because most of the Taliban fighters have fled to other parts of the SWAT valley or escaped with the millions of migrants

 

[ajpirzada]

Its all over the News in the UK right now.

But there saying here its not really much of a victory because most of the Taliban fighters have fled to other parts of the SWAT valley or escaped with the millions of migrants

well accordin to army more than 1100 talibans have died while many injured. many local commanders have been killed. i accept that most of the top leadership has managed to escape. but that is how it has always been with CI operations. ur main goal is that you destroy their infrastructure and make them incapable of carryin out the same activity again and this is wat we have done here. all their ammunition dumps and trainin camps have been destroyed. their local leadership killed. they have no control over any territory. they are hidin.
now i dont know wat this world will call it but for me it is a definate victory

 

[SSGPA1]

Its all over the News in the UK right now.

But there saying here its not really much of a victory because most of the Taliban fighters have fled to other parts of the SWAT valley or escaped with the millions of migrants

Well ofcourse UK and US would say that because they couldn't do the same in Afghanistan!!

 

[Rajkumar]

congrats to pak army . easy part is over.

 

[Captain03]

Its all over the News in the UK right now.

But there saying here its not really much of a victory because most of the Taliban fighters have fled to other parts of the SWAT valley or escaped with the millions of migrants

well that what the world powers are going to say
i mean which world power is going to admit that pakistan is winning the war on terror and it's not?

 

[tamir]

I hope the GoP keeps up their end and helps the returning families build their lives back to normality. Public sentiment can change very quickly.
Example... look at the see sawing public sentiment in neighboring Afghanistan.

 

[SQ8]

I was going to create a new thread, But I found it prudent to post this on every related thread.

If anyone has idea about troop movements to and fro from Swat and Waziristan. I propose PDF members and those they can gather to be present when the troops return at a certain point to welcome them back. Just being there and cheering them or clapping might make a difference and might even boost the general morale as well. Any further appreciation is left to your imagination.

 

[Stumper]

ur main goal is that you destroy their infrastructure and make them incapable of carryin out the same activity again and this is wat we have done here. all their ammunition dumps and trainin camps have been destroyed. their local leadership killed. they have no control over any territory. they are hidin.
now i dont know wat this world will call it but for me it is a definate victory

No, your primary goal was to show, who wears the pants in the country. The Infrastructure although destroyed, can be little hindrance. Your battle wont finish here. Go after the leadership now and Kill the thought.

A job well done indeed.

 

[SecularHumanist]

This isn't finished yet. Many of those Taliban fled like the cowards that they are. They have gone into other areas. You can't just leave them, the army needs to go after the ones that fled. Also they need to kill or capture the leadership. The biggest mistake would be to not go after the taliban that have fled or escaped. The Taliban always regroups and comes back, so it is important to finish them once and for all.

 

[Peace_maker]

Congrats! I think Pak army should find all the top leaders of Taliban else they will regroup again and keep doing bomb blasts.

 

[forcetrip]

The leadership will come once their support dwindles. The militants themselves will give them up once the money runs out.. Keep pounding their cash and arm .. Hopefully they will come out with stones to face a 12 gauge shot in the face ..

 

[aziz raza]

Congratulation to Pak Army and We are in hope that they will achieve their goals inshallah