How ‘Pakistan’s Switzerland’ became Taliban land

War on Terror

02 Feb 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

How 'Pakistan's Switzerland' became Taliban land

At a time when the world's eyes are focused on Pakistan and what it will do about the terrorist hubs in its territory, there are few areas of concern bigger than Swat. The picturesque valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) was once a bustling tourist hub before the Taliban overran the area. Unlike the proxy wars raging in the fringes of Pakistan's territory, Swat is much closer to Pakistan's heartland — a three-hour drive from Islamabad. Radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah's band of footsoldiers have made sure that the place once called 'Pakistan's Switzerland' is now a valley marked by destruction. -- ---- Manjusha Madhu ------ The Pakistani government has "lost control" of the settled district of Swat to the Taliban, a senior politician said. The military is losing the battle that began more than a year ago in the former vacation paradise once known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, according to Haji Adeel, the Senior Vice President of Awami National Party, the ruling party in the Northwest Frontier Province. --- Bill Roggio ------------------------     How 'Pakistan's Switzerland' became Taliban land   Manjusha Madhu Posted: Feb 02, 2009 at 0056 hrs IS   At a time when the world's eyes are focused on Pakistan and what it will do about the terrorist hubs in its territory, there are few areas of concern bigger than Swat. The picturesque valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) was once a bustling tourist hub before the Taliban overran the area. Unlike the proxy wars raging in the fringes of Pakistan's territory, Swat is much closer to Pakistan's heartland — a three-hour drive from Islamabad. Radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah's band of footsoldiers have made sure that the place once called 'Pakistan's Switzerland' is now a valley marked by destruction.   The history   A princely state in NWFP until it was dissolved in 1969, Swat was a famous centre of Buddhism during the Mauryan period. In December 2008, most of this area was captured by Taliban insurgents headed by Maulana Fazlullah and his group Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi. In most places, they have established a parallel Government with their own code of law based on the Shariat. Traditionally the area has been a stronghold of the Pakistan People's Party and the Awami National Party, but the militants are trying to weed out their supporters. Nearly a third of Swat's 1.5 million people have migrated due to the fighting. The present   The area has been under indefinite curfew since January 26. So effective is Fazlullah's army of 10,000 that that the government's influence is now largely confined to just 36 sq km of territory in and around the main town Mingora. His feared — and well-equipped — rebel army reportedly takes its cue from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an extremist organisation headed by Baitullah Masud, the commander suspected of orchestrating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The two came together in the aftermath of a sweeping military operation in 2007 at the Red Mosque in Islamabad that killed many seminary students and clerics.   On December 24, 2008, the militants asked all government and private schools to close down girls' classes by January 15. Education for girls is now banned and more than 172 schools have been bombed or torched. Some 400 private schools have discontinued girls' classes, affecting about 40,000 students. Additionally, 84,248 girl students of state-run institutions are unlikely to attend school fearing the militants, despite the resolve of the local administration to reopen schools on March 1.   CD shops and barber shops have also faced the militants' wrath. The Pakistan army says armed groups have so far blown up or torched 80 video shops, 22 barber shops and destroyed 20 bridges.   Recent incidents   n On January 2, a resident of Swat who sang in weddings and other functions to earn a living was shot through the head by Taliban militants. Shabana's "last wish was granted": they did not slit her throat.   n One of the region's busiest squares is now infamously called "Khooni Chowk". Everyday decapitated bodies can be seen here hanging from poles and trees.   n A report in The News said a schoolteacher, who worked to support her children, was labelled a prostitute by the Taliban, which forced her to wear ghungroos, demeaned her and then killed her.   Fazlullah's voice   In speeches on his personal radio station, Fazlullah propagates his teachings and beliefs. Recently, he released the names of 40 people, including that of provincial ministers, MPs and local government officials, "wanted" by the Taliban.   The government's intervention   There have been numerous reports of indiscriminate firing by the Army, resulting in the deaths of many innocents. It claims to have killed 784 extremists while losing 189 personnel since the launch of the military operation. Recently, the Pakistani Parliament passed a resolution rejecting the ban on female education. Troops have also moved into numerous schools. The Army, which has four brigades in Swat, says it is considering retrieving the situation by securing the main supply routes. However, scepticism abounds.  – PTI URL: http://newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1167 ---   Pakistan 'lost control' in Swat By Bill Roggio December 6, 2008 9:38 PM   The Pakistani government has "lost control" of the settled district of Swat to the Taliban, a senior politician said.   The military is losing the battle that began more than a year ago in the former vacation paradise once known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, according to Haji Adeel, the Senior Vice President of Awami National Party, the ruling party in the Northwest Frontier Province.   The military's inability to quell the Taliban insurgency in Swat has eroded the confidence in the security forces and the government, Adeel said.   "What will be the credibility of the military operation in Swat when houses of ministers are destroyed and their family members are queued up for shooting," he said. "What I see is that the situation has gone out of control of both the federal and provincial governments and the people have lost confidence in the government and the army."   Adeel noted that Swat was outside of the tribal areas along the Afghan border.   The Pakistani military launched an operation to retake the settled district of Swat after Mullah Fazlullah forces overran police stations and paramilitary outposts. The neighboring district of Shangla was overrun by the Taliban in November. More than 200 policemen and soldiers were killed during fighting in Swat in 2007.   The military said the operation to retake Swat would be over by Dec. 15, 2007 and the ski resort would be open for business. The Taliban was driven from Shangla in November and fighting tapered off in Swat in February after the military made some gains. But the government never took full control over the district. The government signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in May.   The military admitted that Swat, Shangla, and other unnamed districts outside the tribal areas are under Taliban control during a briefing to the parliament in October.   Pakistani forces have been fighting forces aligned with Mullah Fazlullah, a radical cleric of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM - the Movement for the Implementation of Mohammad's Sharia Law).   The TNSM is known as the "Pakistani Taliban" and is the group behind the ideological inspiration for the Afghan Taliban. The TNSM sent more than 10,000 fighters into Afghanistan to fight US forces during Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001.   Fazlullah merged with Baitullah Mehsud's Tehrik-e-Taliban, or the movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, in December 2007.   Fazlullah has successfully organized anti-polio and anti-girls' schools campaigns throughout the region. The Swat region has been a safe haven and training ground for the Taliban and al Qaeda.   The fighting has destroyed Swat's tourist industry. Fazlullah's forces have burned down the ski lodge and bombed the lifts.   URL: http://newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1167