Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah 'flees Pakistan'
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
One of the most wanted Taliban leaders in Pakistan has escaped to Afghanistan and is planning new attacks on Pakistani forces, he has told the BBC.
Maulana Fazlullah founded the Swat Taliban to enforce a hardline version of Islamic law.
The government at first accepted his demands, but later accused the militants of reneging on a peace deal and sent troops into the valley.
Maulana Fazlullah was said by officials to have been wounded or killed in July.
Threats
"I have reached Afghanistan safely," Maulana Fazlullah told BBC Urdu.
"We are soon going to launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat."
Labels: Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 8:57 AM,
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Rehabilitation after Swat Operation
Friday, September 11, 2009
We are hearing increasingly encouraging reports of a marked change in mindsets and attitudes in Swat. People are quite obviously eager to banish the memories of the Taliban from their minds and have been speaking out about the atrocities committed by them. Several accounts have surfaced of the militants being asked to leave villages and there have been gun battles too between local tribal people and the Taliban. But for some categories of citizens, the shadows of the past still lurk. According to international agencies, women in Swat have still to return to work. Security concerns mean that those who had worked previously have in many cases felt unable to return. This is a particular worry given that there are more households headed by women in the area than ever before. The aftermath of war will always mean an increase in the number of widows and fatherless children. The plight of such families is currently unknown. There must be some attempt to collect data on their numbers and to ensure too that women feel able to take up work once again.
It is a fact too that in Swat the public space for women has been reduced. In the past, in the relaxed environment of the valley, women were free to visit shops, hospitals, tailors and other places on their own. They often did so without donning the 'burqas' imposed by the Taliban. The landscape over the past few years has changed for them. These liberties have been denied. Fear lingers on even after the Taliban defeat. Some report that remnants of the Taliban are still present in towns or villages. Pro-active measures are needed to alter the situation. These women must be restored to their rightful place as equal citizens. Indeed urgent schemes are needed to offer vocational training and other help to these women – and especially to those who must support families. The evil rule of the Taliban was symbolized by their grotesque mistreatment of women. The future will be marked by the degree of ability shown in rehabilitating these women, who make up half of the people of Swat.
source
It is a fact too that in Swat the public space for women has been reduced. In the past, in the relaxed environment of the valley, women were free to visit shops, hospitals, tailors and other places on their own. They often did so without donning the 'burqas' imposed by the Taliban. The landscape over the past few years has changed for them. These liberties have been denied. Fear lingers on even after the Taliban defeat. Some report that remnants of the Taliban are still present in towns or villages. Pro-active measures are needed to alter the situation. These women must be restored to their rightful place as equal citizens. Indeed urgent schemes are needed to offer vocational training and other help to these women – and especially to those who must support families. The evil rule of the Taliban was symbolized by their grotesque mistreatment of women. The future will be marked by the degree of ability shown in rehabilitating these women, who make up half of the people of Swat.
source
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 10:35 PM,
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Pakistan's countless anti terror sacrifices
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has rendered countless sacrifices in fighting the scourge of terrorism and made the world a safer place with it relentless anti-terror endeavor, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani told a gathering of scholars at the Center for Empowered Living and Learning in Denver.
Haqqani highlighted Pakistan’s success in Swat operation in which the infrastructure of the militants has been completely decimated and normalcy restored in the Malakand Division.
He appreciated the United States’ support for the massive efforts Pakistan launched to address the critical humanitarian situation, erupting due to a huge influx of internally displaced persons from the northwestern Swat and other adjoining valleys.
Defeating terrorism, he pointed out, requires not only a military strategy but also policy to win hearts and minds of the local people. While condemning terrorism unequivocally, he said excessive use of force can ignite this menace, rather than eliminating it. He said a successful anti-terror strategy must combine social and political dimensions.
more
Haqqani highlighted Pakistan’s success in Swat operation in which the infrastructure of the militants has been completely decimated and normalcy restored in the Malakand Division.
He appreciated the United States’ support for the massive efforts Pakistan launched to address the critical humanitarian situation, erupting due to a huge influx of internally displaced persons from the northwestern Swat and other adjoining valleys.
Defeating terrorism, he pointed out, requires not only a military strategy but also policy to win hearts and minds of the local people. While condemning terrorism unequivocally, he said excessive use of force can ignite this menace, rather than eliminating it. He said a successful anti-terror strategy must combine social and political dimensions.
more
Labels: Swat Operation, US Pakistan Relations, War on Terror
posted @ 10:38 AM,
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Restoration of normalcy in Swat
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Just as some semblance of normal life had begun to return to the battered city of Mingora, a suicide bomber has shown it is too soon for people to abandon the shroud of fear they have carried everywhere with them for months. Fourteen policemen died in Sunday’s attack on a police station. Following the blast the NWFP information minister has acknowledged that there is still some way to go before terrorism is vanquished. The suicide attack in Mingora, days after a similar attack on security forces in Khyber Agency, goes to confirm fears that the Taliban are anxious to show that they are not a defeated force. Indeed, their new young commander will be eager to demonstrate he is no less ruthless and no less effective than his predecessor. He undoubtedly realises too that the resumption of such attacks may be the only way to hold together a force in danger of fragmenting.
One question that arises is whether an important opportunity has been lost. There were analysts who suggested that the Taliban should have been gone after in Waziristan immediately after the drone attack that took out Baitullah Mehsud. Others hold that such premature action may have been unwise. It is impossible to say if there is one correct answer. But what is needed now is a serious assessment of the task that still lies ahead. The Taliban for the present remain a group that is largely intact. The recovery of pre-teen would-be suicide bombers in Swat suggests that they have planned meticulously and that dozens more boys may be preparing to carry out suicide missions in other places. If there are too many suicide bombings in the coming months, the myth that the Taliban are invincible will be resurrected and this will make the task of inflicting a final defeat on them all the harder.
source
One question that arises is whether an important opportunity has been lost. There were analysts who suggested that the Taliban should have been gone after in Waziristan immediately after the drone attack that took out Baitullah Mehsud. Others hold that such premature action may have been unwise. It is impossible to say if there is one correct answer. But what is needed now is a serious assessment of the task that still lies ahead. The Taliban for the present remain a group that is largely intact. The recovery of pre-teen would-be suicide bombers in Swat suggests that they have planned meticulously and that dozens more boys may be preparing to carry out suicide missions in other places. If there are too many suicide bombings in the coming months, the myth that the Taliban are invincible will be resurrected and this will make the task of inflicting a final defeat on them all the harder.
source
Labels: Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 11:18 PM,
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Swatis celebrate liberation from militancy on Independence Day
Saturday, August 15, 2009
MINGORA, Aug 13: People of Swat celebrated their liberation from militancy with patriotic fervour on Thursday on the eve of the Independence Day.
Men, women and children in festive mood thronged the main bazaars of Mingora and other towns in the valley with youths waving national flags and raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan.
Slogans of ‘Pakistan Fouj Zindabad’ and ‘Taliban Murdabad’ were also raised whenever people came across a convoy or passed through army posts.
more
Men, women and children in festive mood thronged the main bazaars of Mingora and other towns in the valley with youths waving national flags and raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan.
Slogans of ‘Pakistan Fouj Zindabad’ and ‘Taliban Murdabad’ were also raised whenever people came across a convoy or passed through army posts.
more
Labels: Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 4:38 PM,
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Mass burials in Swat
Friday, August 14, 2009
THE unearthing of mass graves is always a grim reminder of just how ugly wars can be. The shock is even more profound when the discovery is made nearer home. A fact-finding mission of the HRCP to Swat has come across eyewitnesses who speak of mass burials in the valley which has witnessed bloody battles between security forces and Taliban militants in recent weeks. In a report released on Wednesday, the HRCP pinpoints many other aspects of the conflict to indicate just how serious matters remain in Swat. The human rights commission warns against rights violations by the security forces who are still conducting an operation against militants in the troubled parts of the Frontier. It takes note of the hardships faced by the displaced who are now returning home to resolutely resume their lives after the trauma of living in camps and other places. The key word in the HRCP media release, however, is “transparency” which underscores the importance of granting greater freedom to the media to make as complete a discovery of the facts as possible.
more
more
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 12:58 PM,
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IDPs' Journey Back Home Begins Today
Monday, July 13, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Monday, July 13, 2009
PESHAWAR: Spending more than two months in camps after the commencement of the military operation in Malakand Division, over two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are set to return home from today (Monday).
The convoys of the IDPs would be streaming in the beautiful valley amid tight security arrangements, backed by military gunship helicopters. The security is aimed at avoiding any untoward incident during the IDPs’.
More
PESHAWAR: Spending more than two months in camps after the commencement of the military operation in Malakand Division, over two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are set to return home from today (Monday).
The convoys of the IDPs would be streaming in the beautiful valley amid tight security arrangements, backed by military gunship helicopters. The security is aimed at avoiding any untoward incident during the IDPs’.
More
Labels: IDPs, Malakand Operation, Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 8:38 AM,
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PM Announces Return Date of IDPs
Friday, July 10, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 10, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced that the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Swat and Malakand would start from Monday (July 13).
“The Special Support Group has been asked to prepare the schedule for the return of IDPs and all-out measures would be adopted for their safe return to their homes. The Army will remain in these areas to keep an eye on the terrorists,” he said while addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister House.
More
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced that the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Swat and Malakand would start from Monday (July 13).
“The Special Support Group has been asked to prepare the schedule for the return of IDPs and all-out measures would be adopted for their safe return to their homes. The Army will remain in these areas to keep an eye on the terrorists,” he said while addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister House.
More
Labels: IDPs, Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 9:16 AM,
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IDPs face discrimination, can’t access aid, says Amnesty
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, July 04, 2009
ISLAMABAD: More than two million people who have fled fighting in north-western Pakistan do not have access to aid distributed in official displacement camps, the Amnesty International (AI) warned on Friday. Ethnic Pashtuns, who have fled fighting also face discrimination from host communities, said the AI, as it called on the Pakistani government to ensure that ethnic Pashtuns fleeing to other provinces of Pakistan are not discriminated against.
According to a release, Asia-Pacific Director of the Amnesty International Sam Zarifi said: “As the fighting expands to North and South Waziristan, a displacement crisis that the government had said would last only for weeks looks set to go on for months, with no relief in sight for the millions of displaced people.”
Source
ISLAMABAD: More than two million people who have fled fighting in north-western Pakistan do not have access to aid distributed in official displacement camps, the Amnesty International (AI) warned on Friday. Ethnic Pashtuns, who have fled fighting also face discrimination from host communities, said the AI, as it called on the Pakistani government to ensure that ethnic Pashtuns fleeing to other provinces of Pakistan are not discriminated against.
According to a release, Asia-Pacific Director of the Amnesty International Sam Zarifi said: “As the fighting expands to North and South Waziristan, a displacement crisis that the government had said would last only for weeks looks set to go on for months, with no relief in sight for the millions of displaced people.”
Source
Labels: Amnesty International, IDPs, Swat Operation
posted @ 11:36 AM,
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Normalcy returns
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, July 04, 2009
MINGORA: Police have taken the control of Mingora as normalcy returned to the city in the wake of operation Rah-e-Rast and people thronged bazaars to get daily-use items on Friday.
Also, security forces demolished 10 more houses of militants in Sangota and Bara Bandai areas of Swat Valley. The authorities have also started registration of the residents who were left behind during the operation in the city. The teams continued the registration of the people of union councils Naway Killay, Faizabad and Amankot in Wadoodia Hall of Saidu Sharif. The officials said the registration of the people of other union councils would also follow.
Police sources told The News that the force had taken control of the city and patrolled all its major streets and localities. Water supply and other facilities have also been restored. There was a great rush of people in the bazaars as curfew was relaxed from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, enabling the city dwellers to buy daily-use items. Security forces also continued action against militants and demolished eight houses in Sangota.
Source
MINGORA: Police have taken the control of Mingora as normalcy returned to the city in the wake of operation Rah-e-Rast and people thronged bazaars to get daily-use items on Friday.
Also, security forces demolished 10 more houses of militants in Sangota and Bara Bandai areas of Swat Valley. The authorities have also started registration of the residents who were left behind during the operation in the city. The teams continued the registration of the people of union councils Naway Killay, Faizabad and Amankot in Wadoodia Hall of Saidu Sharif. The officials said the registration of the people of other union councils would also follow.
Police sources told The News that the force had taken control of the city and patrolled all its major streets and localities. Water supply and other facilities have also been restored. There was a great rush of people in the bazaars as curfew was relaxed from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, enabling the city dwellers to buy daily-use items. Security forces also continued action against militants and demolished eight houses in Sangota.
Source
Labels: Military Operation, Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 11:33 AM,
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Terrorists slaughter 18 injured colleagues
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The News International, Wednesday, July 01, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Security forces on Tuesday stated that the militants in the Biha Valley of Swat had slaughtered 18 of their own wounded comrades, as they could not be moved out along with the retreating miscreants.
“It has been reliably learnt that during the clearance of Biha Valley, 18 wounded terrorists, who could not be taken to safety, were slaughtered by their own people on orders of their commanders,” an ISPR statement said on Tuesday.
More
ISLAMABAD: Security forces on Tuesday stated that the militants in the Biha Valley of Swat had slaughtered 18 of their own wounded comrades, as they could not be moved out along with the retreating miscreants.
“It has been reliably learnt that during the clearance of Biha Valley, 18 wounded terrorists, who could not be taken to safety, were slaughtered by their own people on orders of their commanders,” an ISPR statement said on Tuesday.
More
Labels: Military Operation, Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism, War on Terror
posted @ 3:19 PM,
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Terrorism claimed over 3,000 lives in tribal areas
The News International, Wednesday, July 01, 2009
PESHAWAR: Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) secretariat has issued the report of monetary and human losses done by terrorism and extremism in the tribal areas.
A 21 pages report revealed that more than $2 billion damages were done by terrorism in tribal areas.
Tribal areas suffered most as compared to other parts of the country. More than 3,000 people were killed in tribal areas during terror activities. Bajaur Agency was the worst hit area where 600 people were killed. The wake of terrorism claimed five hundred lives Kurram Agency, South and North Waziristan. The number of people wounded in terror incident is over 3,000.
More
PESHAWAR: Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) secretariat has issued the report of monetary and human losses done by terrorism and extremism in the tribal areas.
A 21 pages report revealed that more than $2 billion damages were done by terrorism in tribal areas.
Tribal areas suffered most as compared to other parts of the country. More than 3,000 people were killed in tribal areas during terror activities. Bajaur Agency was the worst hit area where 600 people were killed. The wake of terrorism claimed five hundred lives Kurram Agency, South and North Waziristan. The number of people wounded in terror incident is over 3,000.
More
Labels: IDPs, Military Operation, Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 3:09 PM,
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Selling the war
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The News International, Thursday, June 25, 2009
While the showing of photographs of 54 dead militants by the ISPR director-general is a welcome step in that it helps remove some of the questions that are increasingly cropping up surrounding the death toll inflicted by the military operation on the militants in Malakand and Swat, it would be fair to say that an information and credibility gap has opened up on this very sensitive matter. If the general public is to continue supporting this war of ours then they need to know a lot more about it than the currently is the case. There is no independent verification of the death toll or even of the injuries inflicted upon the Taliban and in the context of the recent and not-too-recent past where official claims were often found to be otherwise, leaving the general public rightly sceptical, it would be in the fitness of things for more such information to be passed on to the public and the media. Also, and one needs to say this, slightly paradoxically, people in the UK may be better informed about out war than we are, courtesy of a recent investigative programme on the BBC's flagship Panorama show. The BBC team were given access that out own media personnel have yet to get, and were able to spend time on an active frontline. Their report makes compelling viewing and raises questions which are just beginning to be addressed by those who brief our media every day. We wonder why the same access is not being offered to local news and media organizations.
More
While the showing of photographs of 54 dead militants by the ISPR director-general is a welcome step in that it helps remove some of the questions that are increasingly cropping up surrounding the death toll inflicted by the military operation on the militants in Malakand and Swat, it would be fair to say that an information and credibility gap has opened up on this very sensitive matter. If the general public is to continue supporting this war of ours then they need to know a lot more about it than the currently is the case. There is no independent verification of the death toll or even of the injuries inflicted upon the Taliban and in the context of the recent and not-too-recent past where official claims were often found to be otherwise, leaving the general public rightly sceptical, it would be in the fitness of things for more such information to be passed on to the public and the media. Also, and one needs to say this, slightly paradoxically, people in the UK may be better informed about out war than we are, courtesy of a recent investigative programme on the BBC's flagship Panorama show. The BBC team were given access that out own media personnel have yet to get, and were able to spend time on an active frontline. Their report makes compelling viewing and raises questions which are just beginning to be addressed by those who brief our media every day. We wonder why the same access is not being offered to local news and media organizations.
More
Labels: ISPR, Media War, Military Operation, Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 3:39 PM,
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Strained hosts? (of IDPs)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
One of the most unusual features of the displacement in Pakistan that has been described by the UN as the most rapid, and the most massive, ever seen, has been the generosity extended to the IDPs by ordinary people. Villagers in Mardan district and elsewhere have contributed what they could from their own often meagre reserves, people everywhere have handed over donations in cash and kind, and many people have opened homes to the IDPs. In some cases these people are relatives, but in others they are total strangers. According to humanitarian agencies working for the IDPs, over 3.7 million remain based outside camps. According to the UN, a number of these live in cramped, congested conditions with almost no access to help. While hubs to distribute aid have been set up to cater to IDPs out camps, these are insufficient to meet all needs. Indeed the UK-based Islamic Relief NGO has warned of an outbreak of diarrhoea in some communities due to overcrowding and poor sanitation.
More
Labels: IDPs, Malakand Operation, Swat Operation
posted @ 8:09 AM,
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Taliban on their last legs in Swat
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 23, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Security forces are in the final phase of eliminating terrorist hideouts and camps in Swat, Director-General ISPR Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said on Monday.
Addressing a press briefing here, Athar Abbas said: “In the north, Biha Valley — the last stronghold of terrorists — has been fully secured and in the west, Shamozai area is being cleared. Search operations are being carried out in the secured areas to ensure that they are safe for the return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
More
ISLAMABAD: Security forces are in the final phase of eliminating terrorist hideouts and camps in Swat, Director-General ISPR Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said on Monday.
Addressing a press briefing here, Athar Abbas said: “In the north, Biha Valley — the last stronghold of terrorists — has been fully secured and in the west, Shamozai area is being cleared. Search operations are being carried out in the secured areas to ensure that they are safe for the return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
More
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 9:24 AM,
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The Taliban Diaries
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Daily Times, Pakistan, Saturday, June 20, 2009
COMMENT: Shaukat Qadir
These diaries contain instructions, in exquisite detail, on how to make explosive devices, many with the most innocuous components like sugar, cooking oil (ghee), aluminium, Vaseline, coffee, charcoal, salt and even black seed.
A not very well known fact is that during the Swat operations, security forces captured the diaries of some Taliban leaders, including Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the warlord Fazlullah. I managed to lay my hands on some of them, including a diary of someone who styles himself as ‘Khalid bin Al Walid’, an obvious pseudonym.
More
COMMENT: Shaukat Qadir
These diaries contain instructions, in exquisite detail, on how to make explosive devices, many with the most innocuous components like sugar, cooking oil (ghee), aluminium, Vaseline, coffee, charcoal, salt and even black seed.
A not very well known fact is that during the Swat operations, security forces captured the diaries of some Taliban leaders, including Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the warlord Fazlullah. I managed to lay my hands on some of them, including a diary of someone who styles himself as ‘Khalid bin Al Walid’, an obvious pseudonym.
More
Labels: Swat Operation, Taliban, Taliban Dairies, War on Terror
posted @ 9:50 AM,
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19 militants killed in Bajaur, Buner
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, June 20, 2009
KHAR/PESHAWAR/GHALLANAI: Security forces on Friday killed 15 more militants and injured seven others in a shootout in the Charmang area of Bajaur Agency, while 47 wanted persons surrendered to the authorities in neighbouring Mohmand Agency.
Also, security forces killed four militants in Buner district as troops consolidated their positions in the Swat Valley, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Sources said that the militants attacked security forces’ patrolling party near the Pak-Afghan border in the Charmang area of Nawagai Tehsil in Bajaur Agency, killing two soldiers and injuring three others.
More
KHAR/PESHAWAR/GHALLANAI: Security forces on Friday killed 15 more militants and injured seven others in a shootout in the Charmang area of Bajaur Agency, while 47 wanted persons surrendered to the authorities in neighbouring Mohmand Agency.
Also, security forces killed four militants in Buner district as troops consolidated their positions in the Swat Valley, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Sources said that the militants attacked security forces’ patrolling party near the Pak-Afghan border in the Charmang area of Nawagai Tehsil in Bajaur Agency, killing two soldiers and injuring three others.
More
Labels: Malakand Operation, Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror
posted @ 9:08 AM,
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Swat insurgency and inept leadership
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Frontier Post, Pakistan, Sunday , June 14, 2009
Fida Mohammad Shinwari
The military offensive in Swat is portrayed in some Western and Pakistani media as a successful effort to damage Taliban forces. It is, to the contrary, a strategic as well as humanitarian disaster. When that operation began in May President Zardari was in the midst of an extended visit to many countries where he tried to solicit foreign aid to prop up his regime. Ironically Zardari was unable or unwilling to face any of the now millions of desperate refugees.
Read More
Fida Mohammad Shinwari
The military offensive in Swat is portrayed in some Western and Pakistani media as a successful effort to damage Taliban forces. It is, to the contrary, a strategic as well as humanitarian disaster. When that operation began in May President Zardari was in the midst of an extended visit to many countries where he tried to solicit foreign aid to prop up his regime. Ironically Zardari was unable or unwilling to face any of the now millions of desperate refugees.
Read More
Labels: Swat Operation, War on Terror, Zardari
posted @ 9:37 AM,
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Different needs
By Huma Yusuf
Dawn, Pakistan, Monday, 15 Jun, 2009
EARLIER this month, Nafeesa Shah, general secretary of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus, visited IDP camps to distribute relief goods. After meeting with several displaced people, Shah spoke about the plight of IDPs and the gravity of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Frontier province.
What she did not mention were the specific issues that women in IDP camps face. The fact is, a woman’s experience in a crowded refugee camp is markedly different from that of a man in terms of medical concerns, mobility and rehabilitation. This is one crisis in which gender definitely matters.
Read More
Dawn, Pakistan, Monday, 15 Jun, 2009
EARLIER this month, Nafeesa Shah, general secretary of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus, visited IDP camps to distribute relief goods. After meeting with several displaced people, Shah spoke about the plight of IDPs and the gravity of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Frontier province.
What she did not mention were the specific issues that women in IDP camps face. The fact is, a woman’s experience in a crowded refugee camp is markedly different from that of a man in terms of medical concerns, mobility and rehabilitation. This is one crisis in which gender definitely matters.
Read More
Labels: IDPs, Military Operation, Plight of Women, Swat Operation, War on Terror
posted @ 9:34 AM,
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Well-deserved reward
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The News International, Pakistan
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The increase in allowances announced by the president in his late night address for soldiers battling militants is welcome. Those on the frontline deserve every reward that can be offered for their brave role in the effort to save our country. The decision to set up a military cantonment in Swat also makes sense. This may help ensure that the Taliban militants do not one day attempt to make a comeback to a territory they had begun to consider their own. The presence of a cantonment will also help promote development in a part of the country that badly needs it.
Read More
The increase in allowances announced by the president in his late night address for soldiers battling militants is welcome. Those on the frontline deserve every reward that can be offered for their brave role in the effort to save our country. The decision to set up a military cantonment in Swat also makes sense. This may help ensure that the Taliban militants do not one day attempt to make a comeback to a territory they had begun to consider their own. The presence of a cantonment will also help promote development in a part of the country that badly needs it.
Read More
Labels: Military Operation, Pakistan Military, Swat Operation, Taliban, War on Terror, Zardari
posted @ 8:53 AM,
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