Forget Gaza, care about Swat
The Pakistan report card
Thursday, February 12, 2009
by Fasi Zaka
I think it would be absolutely inhuman not to care about the massacre in Gaza, the flagrant violation and cruelty demonstrated by the Israelis. But after talking to an old friend of mine, I can see how someone would be unmoved by the plight of the Palestinians.
A friend of mine called recently from the UK to announce the birth of his son. He was with me in university in Peshawar, and is a most amiable fellow. He is from Swat, and I had a good number of friends from that place during my student years.
The people of Swat are an extremely good looking people, and of a much more demure nature than most Pakhtuns, who are known to be boisterous. Several years after the completion of my education I went to Swat on a research project for the first and only time looking into the value chain of apple growers for the export market. I met many farmers, intelligent family men who were seeing hard times in agriculture but were optimistic about the future. Despite their hardships, they conformed to the gentleman farmer mould. If you had asked me at the time what would be the main concerns of Swat several years into the future I would have said it was the decimation of the population of bees due to pollution that was affecting the pollination of fruit-bearing trees. How wrong I was.
My friend who just had a son is in the UK, working; his wife and newborn are still in Swat. When he called he told me he was going to a protest in London to urge for action in his city. Several of his extended family had been murdered by the Taliban, and others threatened. The beauty of the valley is now irrigated by the blood of its slain innocents.
He asked me with what conscience could Pakistanis protest Gaza and be vocal about the atrocities there while remaining silent on Swat. He is right, it is unconscionable. More than the trouble in the tribal areas and FATA, Swat is problematic because it is indigenous Taliban without the benefit of being close to Afghanistan. When Swat goes, only a matter of time before Peshawar, and ultimately Islamabad too, if not the rest of the country, if the government does not detain these people.
How hard is it to take out a radio station there that Fazlullah uses to terrorise the citizens every night, announcing the roster of targets in his bloody workweek? What are the army and government thinking on this? There is already a report in the press that one of the ministers in the NWFP took out an advertisement in the local papers of Swat asking the Taliban to forgive him. Why is he still in office. The government has been shameless in only lauding Afzal Khan Lala, an octogenarian, the only resistance there is in the valley. Why is the burden of Swat on this old man?
The press has been irresponsible. Many commentators have romanticised the movement. But what is the core of the demands of the Taliban, other than regression of progress? Despite the horrific violence of the Communists, at least they gave their people education and quality healthcare that eventually helped undo the totalitarianism. The only way to undo the Taliban if they ever take over will not be education because there will be none. We will hark back to the days of brutes, leading short violent lives. There will not even be a noble savage amongst us. The moral relativism needs to end. They are massacring the people of Swat; the people live in terror every day while the army and the government watch on.
The Taliban have already issued their hit list to the media of politicians from the once serene valley. How long before they become even more ambitious and issue death verdicts to members of the legal fraternity, human rights lawyers and media men? Expect that soon. Where we can negotiate we should, no need for loss of life, even if it is enemies of the state, we need to preserve the sanctity of what is living. But sadly, we have moved beyond that phase because of the inaction of the both Musharraf and the current government.
The killing machine that the Taliban have become has created a new theatre of blood lust. They exhume graves of people to put corpses on display, they publicly kill people for minor offences, they fear education and ostracise it, they cut off people's noses and ears. What kind of humanity is that? It's not Islam, that's for sure. It is an aberration.
Of all the coverage I have seen, the best came from unexpected quarters and in a totally different setting. While Hamid Mir is often criticised for being sensationalist, his reporting from Gaza was an unbelievable tour de force of mature and thought-provoking reportage. While surveying the damage in Gaza, he looked at the schools that were destroyed by the Israelis and pondered about Swat and the same that the Taliban manage to do with impunity. Without thinking everyone will denounce Israel, but hesitate to denounce what is happening in Swat. Why?
Gaza has been covered well by the world media and for the first time from both the west and the east there is tandem consternation over Israel, concentrating on it and ignoring our own plight is not sensible. The tragedy of Gaza doesn't need to be replicated in Pakistan. We need to heal Swat, for the people of the valley and as a duty to our fellow citizens. The next generation will not forgive us for our silence.
The writer is a Rhodes scholar and former academic. Email: fasizaka@ yahoo.com
Source: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=162093
Showing posts with label swat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swat. Show all posts
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Re: Jamming Swat's FM
Thursday, February 12, 2009
This is with reference to Khalid Rashid's letter on Feb 11 asking why the Taliban's FM transmission in Swat couldn't be blocked. Indeed, the government's claims that it does not have jamming technology are laughable. All you need to jam those transmissions is to put out a stronger signal at the same frequency. If there are any doubts as to whether the government is playing a double game in Swat, then this unwillingness to block the FM transmissions should suffice as adequate proof.
Aqil Sajjad
Boston
Khalid jamming Swat's FM letter.
This is with reference to Khalid Rashid's letter on Feb 11 asking why the Taliban's FM transmission in Swat couldn't be blocked. Indeed, the government's claims that it does not have jamming technology are laughable. All you need to jam those transmissions is to put out a stronger signal at the same frequency. If there are any doubts as to whether the government is playing a double game in Swat, then this unwillingness to block the FM transmissions should suffice as adequate proof.
Aqil Sajjad
Boston
Khalid jamming Swat's FM letter.
Tourism destroyed forever
Feb 12, 2009
I request the newly-appointed Minister for Tourism Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman to play his role in restoring normal life and peace in Swat so that people are able to visit this beautiful area without any fear. The President and PM should personally visit the area and hold parleys with the local stakeholders. The situation in Swat is alarming. In such bad circumstances, the tourism industry is being ruined to the point where it would be unable to serve the local or foreign tourists in future even if the peace is restored. Federal government and the NWFP government both need to pay heed to resolving this issue. -SABA GUL, Islamabad, via e-mail, January 27.
Source: Letter to Nations news.
I request the newly-appointed Minister for Tourism Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman to play his role in restoring normal life and peace in Swat so that people are able to visit this beautiful area without any fear. The President and PM should personally visit the area and hold parleys with the local stakeholders. The situation in Swat is alarming. In such bad circumstances, the tourism industry is being ruined to the point where it would be unable to serve the local or foreign tourists in future even if the peace is restored. Federal government and the NWFP government both need to pay heed to resolving this issue. -SABA GUL, Islamabad, via e-mail, January 27.
Source: Letter to Nations news.
Militants torch school in Swat
Feb 12, 2009
Swat: The militants torched one more school in Odigram area, on the outskirts of Mingora on Thursday. One security personnel was killed and another wounded as clashes between security forces and militants continued in the restive Swat valley. While mortar shells were fired at a security post set up in an agriculture office in Takht Band area. However, no loss of life was reported in the attack. A rocket was also fired at a police station in Matta, killing one security man and injuring another. Besides, one security man was injured when unknown militants attacked a security forces’ convoy with remote-controlled bomb near Kanju Township chowk.
Source: TheNations.
Swat: The militants torched one more school in Odigram area, on the outskirts of Mingora on Thursday. One security personnel was killed and another wounded as clashes between security forces and militants continued in the restive Swat valley. While mortar shells were fired at a security post set up in an agriculture office in Takht Band area. However, no loss of life was reported in the attack. A rocket was also fired at a police station in Matta, killing one security man and injuring another. Besides, one security man was injured when unknown militants attacked a security forces’ convoy with remote-controlled bomb near Kanju Township chowk.
Source: TheNations.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Residents peace-rally in Barikot Swat
Thousands of local residents hold a rally against the ongoing military operations and demanding for peace in the region,in Barikot near Mingora, the main town of Pakistan troubled Swat Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. Pakistan's military has vowed to reinvigorate its efforts in Swat, a formerly peaceful region where Taliban militants have gained ground during 18 months of fighting.
(AP Photo/Sherin Zada)
More pictures:
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On the other side local people continue fleeing the troubled valley.
Swat violence threatens to become all-out war - 05 Aug 08
After a week of intense fighting in the Swat Valley, there seems to be no end in sight to the conflict.
Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder has this report on what is close to becoming an all-out war in Pakistan's troubled north.
Source: Aljazeera
Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder has this report on what is close to becoming an all-out war in Pakistan's troubled north.
Source: Aljazeera
Swat girl student seeks govt's help against Taliban
By SIKANDER SHAHEEN submitted Feb 9, 2009
ISLAMABAD - The brutal reign of Taliban has crippled the life in Swat. It is obligatory on the part of government to rid the masses of Taliban, said a female student hailing from Swat, during a press conference here on Sunday.
Hina Khan, studying in a local educational institution in Swat, said that the dominance of Taliban in the region had paralysed the civic fibre. “From educational institutions to local industry, every walk of life has received irreparable setback, courtesy Taliban!” she opined. “The tourism sector that was the major source of bread and butter for the locals, is dead thanks to the criminal activities of so-called Muslims, known as Talibans,” Hina stated on a bitter note.
As many as 700,000 people out of a total number of 1,700,000 have migrated from Swat. Out of 185 schools, 122 girls’ schools and 63 boys’ schools have been set ablaze by militants, she observed adding, the activities of these militants are in stark contradiction to the teachings of Islam.
Islam orders the Muslims to acquire knowledge, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that acquiring knowledge was an equal obligation on men and women. Hina quoted Holy Prophet’s famous Hadith that’s says “Acquire knowledge even if you have to go to China in its pursuit.”
If our beloved Prophet (PBUH) has laid special importance to acquiring knowledge then who would dare to go against these teachings, she maintained.
Asking for the government’s protection and shelter to be given to dispersed Swat communities, Hina Khan demanded the allocation of quota for the students of Swat in every educational institution of Pakistan.
“It is the duty of the state to provide education and accommodation to the deprived communities of Swat. Boarding facilities must be provided to students,” she suggested while adding countless aggrieved families ought to be rehabilitated by the government.
“Swat is burning, I request the journalist community, government and our higher-ups to project our cause and rid us from the merciless reign of criminals and murderers,” she concluded.
Source: Nations
ISLAMABAD - The brutal reign of Taliban has crippled the life in Swat. It is obligatory on the part of government to rid the masses of Taliban, said a female student hailing from Swat, during a press conference here on Sunday.
Hina Khan, studying in a local educational institution in Swat, said that the dominance of Taliban in the region had paralysed the civic fibre. “From educational institutions to local industry, every walk of life has received irreparable setback, courtesy Taliban!” she opined. “The tourism sector that was the major source of bread and butter for the locals, is dead thanks to the criminal activities of so-called Muslims, known as Talibans,” Hina stated on a bitter note.
As many as 700,000 people out of a total number of 1,700,000 have migrated from Swat. Out of 185 schools, 122 girls’ schools and 63 boys’ schools have been set ablaze by militants, she observed adding, the activities of these militants are in stark contradiction to the teachings of Islam.
Islam orders the Muslims to acquire knowledge, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that acquiring knowledge was an equal obligation on men and women. Hina quoted Holy Prophet’s famous Hadith that’s says “Acquire knowledge even if you have to go to China in its pursuit.”
If our beloved Prophet (PBUH) has laid special importance to acquiring knowledge then who would dare to go against these teachings, she maintained.
Asking for the government’s protection and shelter to be given to dispersed Swat communities, Hina Khan demanded the allocation of quota for the students of Swat in every educational institution of Pakistan.
“It is the duty of the state to provide education and accommodation to the deprived communities of Swat. Boarding facilities must be provided to students,” she suggested while adding countless aggrieved families ought to be rehabilitated by the government.
“Swat is burning, I request the journalist community, government and our higher-ups to project our cause and rid us from the merciless reign of criminals and murderers,” she concluded.
Source: Nations
Beheaded -- not quite
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Swat: On Feb 1, my brother and three other people were picked up by the Taliban in the Shamozai area of Swat. While everybody was praying for their safety and hectic efforts were on for their recovery, one TV channel gave the news that all four had been beheaded! And this was followed by other TV channels as well. However, the next day we experienced a kind of a miracle when they all returned home safe and sound.
One can well imagine the agony that I and my family members had to undergo when the electronic media 'broke' the news of their having been beheaded. At the very least, there should have been some verification before the story was run. Surely, a freer media brings with it added responsibilities.
Wg-cdr Bahre Kamal
Peshawar
Source: TheNews
Swat: On Feb 1, my brother and three other people were picked up by the Taliban in the Shamozai area of Swat. While everybody was praying for their safety and hectic efforts were on for their recovery, one TV channel gave the news that all four had been beheaded! And this was followed by other TV channels as well. However, the next day we experienced a kind of a miracle when they all returned home safe and sound.
One can well imagine the agony that I and my family members had to undergo when the electronic media 'broke' the news of their having been beheaded. At the very least, there should have been some verification before the story was run. Surely, a freer media brings with it added responsibilities.
Wg-cdr Bahre Kamal
Peshawar
Source: TheNews
Attacks imperil girls' education in Swat Valley
The Pakistani government says that more than 120 girls' schools have been burned down or attacked in the Swat Valley region.
It is estimated that at least 50,000 students have been affected in a region where only 27 per cent of women can read of write.
Video:
Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiJS9FII_Vc
Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports.
It is estimated that at least 50,000 students have been affected in a region where only 27 per cent of women can read of write.
Video:
Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiJS9FII_Vc
Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports.
Jamming Swat's FM
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I simply fail to understand as to why an illegal radio station cannot be jammed. With a full-fledged organisation like PEMRA and signal corps of our army, it is unbelievable that Mullah FM Radio cannot be jammed. I tried to look up Google and found hundreds of sites which explain jamming methods for FM radio.
Some of these are at
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_jamming
http://www.shoutcast.com/genre/jam
http://www.instructables.com/id/radio-jammer
Khalid Rashid
Rawalpindi
I simply fail to understand as to why an illegal radio station cannot be jammed. With a full-fledged organisation like PEMRA and signal corps of our army, it is unbelievable that Mullah FM Radio cannot be jammed. I tried to look up Google and found hundreds of sites which explain jamming methods for FM radio.
Some of these are at
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_jamming
http://www.shoutcast.com/genre/jam
http://www.instructables.com/id/radio-jammer
Khalid Rashid
Rawalpindi
Monday, February 9, 2009
2 children killed as shell hit a house in Matta
Feb 09, 2006
SWAT: Two children were killed when a shell hit a house in tehsil Matta of Swat whereas indefinite curfew imposed yesterday remained continued throughout the district. Source said two children were killed when a shell fell on their house in Chaparyal area in tehsil Matta. Meanwhile security forces hit militants’ positions in Matta, Charbagh and Kabal. No loss of life was reported in the action.
SWAT: Two children were killed when a shell hit a house in tehsil Matta of Swat whereas indefinite curfew imposed yesterday remained continued throughout the district. Source said two children were killed when a shell fell on their house in Chaparyal area in tehsil Matta. Meanwhile security forces hit militants’ positions in Matta, Charbagh and Kabal. No loss of life was reported in the action.
Shelling over civilian areas & curfew continues in Swat
SWAT - At least nine persons were killed and 14 others, including a security man, injured on Sunday in forces’ ongoing operation against militants in Swat Valley.
Moreover, curfew was imposed in the troubled areas of the Swat Valley for an indefinite period.
source:http://www.nation.com.pk/
Pictures:
Pictures of displaced people from Charbagh and other affected areas are temporary settled in Mingora Wadudia High school.
Migrant's shoes
Migrant kids playing in a school which currently is a home for evacuated peoples from war zones.
Showing migrants woes.
Civilian killed in forces’ ongoing operation against militants in Swat Valley.
Injured are rushed to hospitals.
Unfamiliar with curfew? This is how it look likes.
Moreover, curfew was imposed in the troubled areas of the Swat Valley for an indefinite period.
source:http://www.nation.com.pk/
Pictures:
Pictures of displaced people from Charbagh and other affected areas are temporary settled in Mingora Wadudia High school.
Migrant's shoes
Migrant kids playing in a school which currently is a home for evacuated peoples from war zones.
Showing migrants woes.
Civilian killed in forces’ ongoing operation against militants in Swat Valley.
Injured are rushed to hospitals.
Unfamiliar with curfew? This is how it look likes.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Taliban aim at kids' schools in the Swat Valley
REPORT: Once a flourishing tourist destination, today the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan lives in fear of the Taliban. Despite the Pakistani army's presence, the Taliban terrorise the valley by burning down schools.
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wHMjIF3lyw
Periodic fire continues in Swat
Friday, February 06, 2009
Periodic fire continues in Swat SWAT: The periodic firing continues in different parts of Swat as banks, courts and offices remained closed despite curfew break.
According to Swat media center, curfew would be relax from 6: 00 am to 6:30 pm in Shakardara and Charbagh areas and in Mingora from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Trade of fire continued between security forces and militants in sensitive parts of Swat. All banks, courts and government offices are remained closed.
Meanwhile, 13 security men sustained injuries during last night suicide attack in Mingora police station are under treatment in Saido Sharif hospital among which six are reported in critical condition.
Periodic fire continues in Swat SWAT: The periodic firing continues in different parts of Swat as banks, courts and offices remained closed despite curfew break.
According to Swat media center, curfew would be relax from 6: 00 am to 6:30 pm in Shakardara and Charbagh areas and in Mingora from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Trade of fire continued between security forces and militants in sensitive parts of Swat. All banks, courts and government offices are remained closed.
Meanwhile, 13 security men sustained injuries during last night suicide attack in Mingora police station are under treatment in Saido Sharif hospital among which six are reported in critical condition.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Taliban in control of Pakistan's Swat Valley - 02 Feb 09
Taliban in control of Pakistan's Swat valley
Despite the presence of thousands of troops, the Taliban remains firmly in control of Swat in Pakistan's northwest. Policemen and common people have been beheaded in the streets, men lashed and schools burnt down under Taliban justice.
Taliban kidnap, free 30 security men
Taliban freed 30 security personnel in the insurgency-hit Swat valley after they gave written undertaking that they would quit government jobs, a Taliban spokesman said Wednesday. The claim could not be officially confirmed.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said that armed militants surrounded a police station at Barikot area late Monday night and Taliban captured the station after 24-hour exchange of firing. He said that Taliban seized 30 security men after taking control of the police station. Khan said that Taliban blew up the police station.
A kidnapped FC man Shahnawaz said that the security men in written undertaking agreed to quit police job. He said they would soon formally resign.
Locals also confirmed fighting and blowing up of the police station. However they said they were unaware of the seizer of the security men. The army-run media center and District Coordination Officer avoided commenting on the incident.
The security forces continued shelling of the positions of suspected militants overnight and Wednesday, forcing a large number of people to flee.
The authorities have set up temporary camps for the displaced people but the people have complained of lack of facilities. The army has stepped up offensive against the militants in Swat over the past week.
Source: http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=3835&ad=05-02-2009
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said that armed militants surrounded a police station at Barikot area late Monday night and Taliban captured the station after 24-hour exchange of firing. He said that Taliban seized 30 security men after taking control of the police station. Khan said that Taliban blew up the police station.
A kidnapped FC man Shahnawaz said that the security men in written undertaking agreed to quit police job. He said they would soon formally resign.
Locals also confirmed fighting and blowing up of the police station. However they said they were unaware of the seizer of the security men. The army-run media center and District Coordination Officer avoided commenting on the incident.
The security forces continued shelling of the positions of suspected militants overnight and Wednesday, forcing a large number of people to flee.
The authorities have set up temporary camps for the displaced people but the people have complained of lack of facilities. The army has stepped up offensive against the militants in Swat over the past week.
Source: http://www.thefrontierpost
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A few pictures
A Hotel Near Kanju Bridge blasted by taliban because it was serving as a base camp for the military
Kanju Bridge collapsed by bomb blast by taliban. It was an important bridge for connecting Mingora city with Kanju.
Taliban Destroyed Qambar School.
Taliban Destroyed Qambar School.
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