Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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I’m glad to see local people turning against these terrorists. This is the only way we can defeat them.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution
** Desperate residents of Mingora wait for help as Taliban rob govt, private property

Staff Report*

PESHAWAR: **As armed Taliban continue robbing government departments and private property at random and without fear, residents of Swat believe that a ‘ruthless’ military operation is the only solution to the problem.

“The best approach in this situation is a complete and ruthless military operation,” residents of Mingora city told Daily Times on Thursday. **

Swat district is drifting towards complete anarchy as Taliban are ransacking government and private property and abducting police personnel. The local population does not rule out a fresh military operation against armed groups.

Law-enforcement agencies are vacating police stations as conditions worsen.

“For the last few days, over a dozen policemen have been kidnapped, some from police stations and others from their residences,” said a police official in Mingora, asking not to be named.

Cops vacated the Kalam police station and the Taliban occupied the building, local residents said by phone. “We are worried about our security,” they added.

At the Population Welfare Department in Saidu Sharif, Taliban took away all office furniture and other items, including medicine. It was the second attack on the office in as many days, an official of the department told Daily Times.

“There is absolutely no writ of the state,” he added. “We are at the mercy of these armed groups who have every authority to do anything they want.”

The local population’s anxiety grew with veteran nationalist Pakhtun leader Afzal Khan Lala’s departure from Swat generating rumours that the last symbol of resistance to the Taliban had also ‘surrendered’.

But the man himself denied that he left Swat because of security threats, adding he was going for a medical check-up.

Growing feeling of insecurity among local population and robbing and kidnapping incidents prompted a flag march by the army troops in Mingora city on Thursday and they searched vehicles and people, witnesses said.

Finding the soldiers on the streets brought some hope for the extremely worried residents of Mingora. “Watching troops on the streets gives us a new hope,” said one resident.

All eyes were set on the sky as jet fighters and reconnaissance planes hovered over the city on Thursday. However, these planes disappeared minutes later.

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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

Where are the Taliban supporters now? This is your sharia????

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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

depends on definition of 'ruthless' ...it can be daisy cutters which would be a mess. it should be a strong, well planned and well executed operation with a focus on dsimantling the taleban, not just pushing them back, not putting them in a position for yet more 'peace negotiations' and lets not send those FC banaspati soldiers who end up surrendering half the time. send in the real military. arrest or kill the terrorists and anyone who willingly gives them shelter.

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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

^ yea sadly we have focused on 'managing' them. dunno how long we can continue to do so, enough of the geo political games already. if we're playing a game with anyone using the taleban i say we let them win and just secure our side of the border.

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it is the Shariah Delusion. The Jangli Talibans have brought nothing but misery and despair to the Pukhtoon people, and now they want to bring it to Lahore and Karachi.

DANCE AND MASTI IS ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN....!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

time to toss some bunker busters on these qabaili jungli idiots?

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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

No, time to put enough boots on the ground that you don't kill innocent civilians needlessly.

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We cant be as ruthless as some others and kill 100-200 thousand of our own people. An what bunker busters, I dont think the Taliban have any deep underground bunkers.

It has to be smart and clever to the point of being devious in safeguarding the civilians, and quick enough to let loose the firepower when appropriate.

anyway, we have already tried unabated ruthlessness in East Pakistan and it doesn't work.

showing feelings in Pakistan
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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

exactly, rhetorical question...this has to be much better managed than it has been. and we dont have enough boots on the ground, and most of the boots are the FC folks who seem to surrender every chance they get

Timepass - March 2013
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Re: Locals see ‘ruthless operation’ as only Swat solution

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Swat jirga supports govt action against militancy
PESHAWAR: A 100-member jirga from Swat affirmed its support for the government in curbing militancy, saying that the Taliban could not justify taking up arms after the implementation of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR), APP reported on Friday.

The jirga visited Peshawar to hold a meeting with Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afzal Khan Lala.

The delegation led by Swat District Nazim Jamal Nasir Khan said the NAR had already been implemented in Swat, the Darul Qaza was being established and Qazis were also being appointed. In such a situation, no one, they said, had the right to take up arms or target government installations anywhere in Malakand division. The jirga suggested the Taliban should be dealt with sternly, along with all such elements that wanted to foil the government’s efforts to restore peace in the region. They said the government was justified in taking action against them.

Lala said it was the responsibility of the people of Swat to strengthen the hands of the government in implementing the NAR and the Pashtuns should unite to work for the restoration of lasting peace in the region. app

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Relax on the rhetoric.

people were rooting for Swat peoples' demand to have Shariah, i don't remember seeing supporter*S* of Taliban. learn to distinguish between the two, it will save you alot of generalization.

had the Govt. not done what it did by bringing forth Nizam-e-Adal, the perception would still have been there that Taliban and Swat people are intertwined, and the current opposition to TTP would not be so visible. So i have to say the employed policy has worked, because it now clearly puts TTP under the dim light and shows them for who they really are among the locals. Now the locals may not sympathize with them or give them support under the cloak of 'Shariah Fighters' whereas before the locals weren't sure.

the Govt. did well to alienate and isolate TTP on a broader scale to a point where now the operation(s) will be welcomed by the locals, if they weren't before.

PS: read the article above this post, it supports what i said that even the locals will now voice opposition to TTP because they're shown themselves to be liars and deceivers.

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Once again, my genuine respect for Afzal Khan Lala. Their should be more pashtun leaders like him and less like the shahi “supari” syed of ANP karachi.