As my last post stated there has been success in Dir as our Armed Forces killed and flushed out all the militants from that region. After that success the military started another operation in Buner to expel the militants, and now that operation is also successful. The Army killed around 50 militants, killed 2 high value targets [HVT], burned 2 collections of militant arms, and also rescued 18 frontier corp personnel out of 70 who had been abducted. Bravo to our Armed Forces! If this goes on then our country will finally get rid of the miscreants who have been disturbing our nation for more than 8 years. The article is below, be sure to check it out for more detail.
ISLAMABAD, April 29 (APP)‑ Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas on Wednesday said that 50 militants including two High Value Targets (HTV) have been killed in the on‑going operation in Buner area. “Qari Quresh and Maulvi Shahid are HVT and are included among 50 militants who have so far been killed in the operation that started on Tuesday,” he said while addressing a media briefing at ISPR Rawalpindi. Principal Information Officer Shabir Anwar and a senior officer from the Interior Ministry Mr Mazari were also present in the briefing.
He said one FC personnel embraced shahadat while three others sustained injuries in the operation. “We have been able to manage release of 18 personnel who were earlier kidnapped by the militants from the area,” he said.
However, he said 52 personnel are still in the captivity of the militants.
He said that during the operation two major dumps of arms and ammunition were also destroyed.
Gen. Athar said that the FC and Pakistan Army have been mandated by the government to restore the writ of the government and “we will make every effort to achieve the target.”
He said that militants who call themselves “Taliban” were given ample time by the government after implementation of their demands and exercised all political means to avoid any extreme option. “Launching of anti‑militant operation was opted as a last option to restore writ of the government as the militants in the area had hostaged a large number of peace‑loving people,” he said.
He said in line to avoid collateral damage, the troops are being dropped to surround the militants. He said this new strategy has been adopted in line to save the lives of the civilians who are being used as human shield by the militants.
Giving latest update, he said that up till now the area of Daggar has been evacuated from the clutches of militants and the District Coordination Officer has been air lifted to sit in his office. The communication link between the local police and FC troops has been restored.
He said that the troops are facing high level of resistance in Ambala area which mostly comprised over mountains and hilly terrain.
Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said the areas including Sultan Wala, Nawagai and Pir Baba Ziarat are still in the control of militants.
He urged the media to avoid operating in the area and not to release any footage which may harm the cause of the operation. He said “We are operating in the area where the situation is highly volatile and any carelessness could cause collateral damage to the civilians or the forces operating in the area.”
He expressed sympathies on the incident whereby a reporter of Aljazeera TV came under cross fire and received wounds. His two other colleagues survived and are being evacuated from the area to maintain their security and safety, he added.
He said that a reporter of a newspaper was released after issuing a warning that he had revealed highly sensitive information through his news report which ultimately provided an opportunity to the militants to make hostage to 70 personnel.
Divulgence of any such report which may jeopardise or endanger the lives should be avoided at all costs, he added.
During the briefing the tapes carrying statements of two youth who fell victims to the alluring statements of the militants and were being prepared to commit suicide attacks were also run. They both were arrested from the same place but hailing from different areas.
He said that both are being investigated and further details would be available in the due course.
Answering a question, he said that the militants are getting arms, ammunition and other assistance through Afghan border. He said around 60,000 troops are deployed there but the whole length of the border mostly comprising hilly terrain cannot be sealed off completely.
To another question, he said the agreement of government with Taliban in Swat is still intact and expressed the hope that things may improve after the installation of “Darul Qaza”.
The official of Interior Ministry added that the militants have yet not surrendered as was agreed upon earlier.
When his attention was drawn towards allegations of “double game” he said that the damages caused to the Security Forces of the country speak louder themselves. Such allegations are baseless and unfounded and had this true our security forces would have not inflicted damages of such a level.
He dispelled the impression that there was some lack of coordination among different government organizations operating in the area, he said all the departments and organizations are working in full coordination to carry out anti‑militant operation.
On the subject of using FM Radio by Fazal Ullah in the area, he said that the transmission of higher frequency station has been jammed while efforts are in hand to jam the transmission of low frequency channel.
He said the government is in full control of the situation.
No words today, too proud of my nation's Armed Forces to put it in words. =]
DIR: Security forces killed at least 46 militants in a ground and air operation against Taliban in the troubled Lower Dir on Monday, the military said.
After a stiff encounter with the militants, the security forces have regained the control of Lal Qila and flushed out the militants from Maidan valley, district Lower Dir.
According to security sources, reportedly 46 militants were killed in last two days operation including their important commanders Maulana Shahid and Qari Quraish. The operation has been code named as "Toar Tander-I"
Before start of this operation by security forces, District Lower Dir was in a state of lawlessness. Militants were constantly attacking the security forces and government official and had closed the roads for movement of government and FC convoys.
The militants were involved in the killing of DPO Dir along with other policemen, ex District Nazim Alam Zeb and killing of 11 kids with toy bomb.
They were also abducting law abiding citizens at will and asking for huge ransom to their advantage.
In this backdrop, on the request of provincial government and people of Dir Frontier Corps NWFP launched operation Toar Trander-I on April 26.
On the first day of the operation three major encounters were carried out by FC with militants between Islamdarah and lal Qila. The final encounter was at Lal Qila and surrounding areas in which Maulana Shahid and his associates were engaged and overcome.
The militants used heavy weapons including mortars, snipers and PRG-7. Security forces were supported by Armour, Artillery and Aviation.Troops of the Frontier Corps fought with courage and caused immense damage to the militants. On April 27 search and cordon operation were conducted in Maidan Valley.
A couple of days ago Chief of Army Staff General Parvez Kayani told the press that the peace deal is just a try to get the taliban to lay down their arms and bring peace to the area and if that is not achieved then the army would take action to protect it's country and it's people. And now Rehman Malik [Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs] stated the same thing. Rehman Malik also pointed out the toy bombing that happened in Dir. Our security forces took action a few days ago on request of the provincial government and people and began fighting the militants in lower Dir. They have taken control of Lal Qila and have killed numerous militants including a top commander. Throughout the fighting one of our brave security personnel was martyred. May God bless his soul and our people remember his sacrifice for his country and most importantly ISLAM. I feel very proud and happy today as things are going on the right track. Below are some articles you can check out if you want more details.
Security Forces Gain Control of Lal Qila
LOWER DIR: Security forces have seized control of the Lal Qila after fierce gunbatlle with militants in an ongoing operation in Lower Dir on Sunday. According to sources, security forces have entered the Lal Qila. On the other hand, intense firing is underway between militants and FC troops at Kala Daag and Islam Pura. Meanwhile, ISPR said in a statement that Frontier Corps have launched operation against militants in Dir on the request of the provincial government and people. Earlier in the day, security forces targeted suspected militants’ hideouts situated in Lal Qila and Islam Pura, killing a large number of militants, including a top commander. While one security personnel was also martyred in the operation.
Handful of Taliban Can't Dismiss State Writ
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik Sunday said operation in Lower Dir is not being carried out on pressure from the US administration and that a handful of Taliban cannot set aside government writ. Talking to Geo News, Malik said that the operation was initiated in Lower Dir on the request of NWFP government and that in it many militants have so far been killed. “The aim of the deal with Sufi Muhammad was to establish peace in the area and if this objective is not achieved then it is of no use,” the Advisor said adding “it was later felt that the agreement was not for peace.” “The militants have shown their hideous face and now they will not be forgiven,” he vowed. He said in the beginning the terrorists used youngsters for executing suicide attacks and now they are killing children by handing them toy bombs. It seems the militants have their own subversive agenda, he observed. The Advisor said the Taliban have no other option left than to lay down arms. If they fail to disarm themselves we will take action, he warned.
Gen Kayani vows to come down hard on militants
ISLAMABAD: As fears of an imminent march of the Taliban militants beyond the Malakand region caused shudders within and outside the country, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday rejected the notion that the peace deal through Sufi Mohammad amounted to giving any ‘concession’ to the armed Islamists, and declared that not only the Army had the resolve to take on the militants but, according to him, ‘victory against terror and militancy will be achieved at all costs’. Speaking at a meeting of top military commanders, including those directly dealing with militancy in Fata and the North-West Frontier Province, at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the army chief acknowledged that doubts were being voiced about the intent and capability of the army to defeat the militants. But, he added, the army ‘never has and never will hesitate to sacrifice, whatever it may take, to ensure safety and well-being of the people and country’s territorial integrity’. This is by far the most direct statement yet by Gen Kayani, or any other military or civilian official, about the prevailing situation and the manner in which it needs to be tackled. The statement came in the wake of reports from Swat’s adjoining district Buner, and later Shangla, of the Taliban march into the area, with clear signs the armed Islamists were trying to spread tentacles under the cover of a peace deal. The army chief’s remarks coincide with reports emanating from the outskirts of Malakand division about movement of the Frontier Corps troops and even military battalions, leaving little doubt that the army is determined to launch yet another major operation, either to eliminate the militants or to at least push them out of Buner and districts other than Swat. However, sources said, a military operation would be launched only after a clearance by the provincial and federal governments. In his statement, the army chief was quite clear about ground realities. He condemned ‘pronouncements’ by outside powers that raised doubts about the future of Pakistan and declared that the militants would not be allowed to ‘dictate terms to the government or impose their way of life on the civil society of Pakistan’. ‘A country of 170 million resilient people under a democratic dispensation, strongly supported by the army, is capable of handling any crisis that it may confront,’ an ISPR press release quoted him as saying. He reassured the people that with their support the army was determined to root out the menace of terrorism. He described the recent peace deal with Maulana Fazlullah’s Swat-based militants as an ‘operational pause’ that was meant to give the ‘reconciliatory forces’ a chance, but declared that it ‘must not be taken for a concession to militants’. Observers here see the statement by the army chief as a clear message to militants to either lay down arms or be ready for another round of battle with the army, which this time probably would be more vigorous. The statement came at a time when the Swat Taliban have made advances to areas adjoining Swat, dashing hopes that the enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl would lead to restoration of peace. Some sources in the security establishment say the army is insisting that since the militants have gone back on their pledge and have even tried to misuse the concessions given to them, nothing short of a public surrender can guarantee a lasting peace in Malakand division. A similar message has been sent to the Buner Taliban through the Sufi Mohammed-led Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi. Concerns were expressed at international level over the Swat peace deal and a possible advance of Taliban to the federal capital. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and federal ministers have indicated in recent days that the Swat peace deal will be reversed and other options will be exercised if the accord did not yield positive results and the wave Talibanisation continued. The COAS praised the army men for continuing to fight under challenging conditions, assuring that safety of the people and the country would be ensured at all costs.
Bala Hisar Fort is one of the most historic places of Peshawar. The word Bala Hisar is from Persian, meaning, “elevated or high fort”. According to Dr. Hussain Khan, the name was given by the Afghan King Taimur Shah Durrani (1773-1793). The Sikhs who conquered Peshawar in the early 19th century named it Samir Garh in 1834 but the name did not become popular. The Fort has been the headquarters of the Frontier Corps since 1949.
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