Re: Tourists back in Swat
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\11\story_11-7-2010_pg7_7
Army’s approval rating and challenges in Swat
By Iqbal Khattak
Until before the start of the “decisive” military operation last year, the army’s approval rating in Swat was not good. Locals were attributing all the previous military operations since the third quarter of 2007 and until May 2009 to the rise of terrorism in their district.
Now the situation appears to have changed drastically. They all look at the military for a solution to their problems ranging from security to road construction to help in reviving the tourism industry.
The change in hearts and minds of the people of Swat comes after the army conducted Operation Rah-e-Rast against the Mullah Fazlullah-led Taliban in May last year, with a high degree of success for the first time. This success has not come without a high price that the military has paid in terms of the loss of lives of its soldiers and officers. “We are all looking at the army for a solution to our problems,” villagers in Kuza Dureshkhela were heard as saying during informal chat on the situation in the district. Same words for the army are quite common in Swat these days. Not only the villagers, but also the people attached to the tourism industry have the same feelings.
A visit to the district after a gap of six months gave a feeling of improvement in security on the ground, as many checkpoints beginning from Swat’s jurisdiction at Landaki checkpost have been handed over to the civil administration. The military has made itself available as a back-up force and has allowed the community and regular police to take charge of the security.
With police taking charge, it gives an added feeling of security to the local population and it also puts the capacity of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies to test, as to what deficiencies they have to overcome.
While travelling through the district, one can see some reconstruction taking place. Residents point to the fact that it has been done mainly by the military. In some cases, the military has used its own money, while in others, it has played the role of a supervisor to ensure timely completion of projects. Construction of Ayub Bridge near Mingora is a case in point.
The number of refurbished or reconstructed schools for girls and boys is small. And they too were built by the army with its own budget.
Brigadier Zubair generated donations from the local community to build a six-room primary school for girls in Runial area. This demonstrates the fact that the military knows the people need quick results. An eye-catching park on the roadside is a gift for the children of Fatehpur Union Council, by the military. There is a dearth of parks for children in Peshawar.
The destroyed schools on the roadside are a reminder of the recent Taliban-linked violence. Girls and boys are getting education in tented schools in the hot summer. It makes one believe that the provincial government is doing little and this delay is taking civilians closer to the army.
Affected residents have not yet been compensated for damages done to their houses, despite all the paperwork that had been completed a long time ago.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has visited Swat 12 times in the last eight months, showing personal commitment to rebuilding the lives of the people of Swat, but he appears to not have the resources to undertake reconstruction projects at the earliest.
The pledges made by Islamabad and the international community to share the cost of the reconstruction have not yet translated into real-time action. Swat residents have pinned great hopes on the army’s permanent stay in the district as the federal government has already sanctioned a garrison there.
They believe with a cantonment in their district, more development will take place in Swat. They think “good army-run schools will open up, nice shopping malls will be constructed and tourism will flourish with a good road network” in the district.
People are expecting more from the military than the civil administration, as all powers and resources to tackle terrorism are at its disposal.
The residents “are sharing information” regarding the Taliban with the military more than they share it with police.
Public expectation from the military to deliver more and on fast track is growing. However, to meet these expectations there is a need for huge money – around one billion US dollars – to rebuild Swat. Till now, the money arrival is snail-paced, making all worry. However, this situation will have serious consequences for the army in particular. If reconstruction pace does not pick up or pledges remain just pledges it will make the army as “occupational force” in the eyes of Swat people. And it appears the army has also realized what likely scenario will build if the required money is not made available for reconstruction and interests in early completion of small projects suggests there is need on part of the army to do something than happening nothing. For army, best option to keep public confidence going in it is to work for tourism revival. If it happens it will bail out the military, as all required money for the reconstruction looks a distant cry in present global recession period.
Once security problem is over and Swat also rebuilt, the military will need to address fundamental issue of cycle of violence involving landlords and landless people. The military and the government can find no better time than now to integrate Malakand into mainstream administrative and judicial systems of the country to deny any space to people like Sufi Muhammad or Mullah Fazlullah in future. If Malakand is reintegrated into mainstream country Operation Rah-e-Rast will really mean it for Pakistan.
great to hear that, may all of Pakistan recover out of this disease and all rats be sent to their holes or crushed.