Days before Faisal Shahzad happened, Pakistan government and army declared Bajaur tribal agency as “conflict free zone”. And also claimed that terrorists have been eliminated from picturesque Swat valley as well. International media was taken to Swat for a first hand feel of the ground scene.
But reports from ground zero say the Taliban have staged a come back in the valley in strength by April 20 itself. The Islamist insurgents are indulging in their favourite past time – killing the supporters of the government, TV channel, Aaj Kal ,reported quoting police and locals.
Amongst the victims are ANP leader Sajjad Khan and his two associates. They were assassinated on April 13. Two days later, on April 15, leader of Dheri peace committee, Alamgir Khan, and leader of Kuzabandi peace committee, Beharmand Khan, were shot dead.
Gunmen attacked the house of a journalist, Imran, who works for a private TV and a news agency, and his sister at Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur on April 14.
Gunmen attacked the house of a journalist, Imran, who works for a private TV and a news agency, and his sister at Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur on April 14.
Both were critically injured while another journalist,Noor Muhammad, who was present at the house during the attack, narrowly escaped.
Imran’s father, Muhammad Ibrahim Jan, a journalist himself, (he was secretary general of Tribal Union of Journalists) was shot dead while covering militants’ activities in Inayat Killay near Khar.
So much so, unprecedented security arrangements were seen when Chief of Army, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani visited Swat and Bajaur on April 21 to take stock of the situation. A large contingent of troops were deployed to cover every inch of the area on the General’s route while four helicopter gunships were engaged in aerial surveillance. Addressing a jirga of Chieftains and Maliks, Gen Kayani declared that the government would not allow any one to challenge its writ and take law into his hands. The Army, he said, would remain in Swat until complete peace was established. He asserted that the army would set an example by eliminating the terrorists with the help of people in a short period. Analysts see in Gen Kayani remarks a direct admission that the Taliban have not been completely wiped out. Militants are maintaining a low profile.
If this is the case in Bajaur, which has been declared a ‘conflict free zone’ amidst much fanfare, the situation can be said to more daunting in other areas of FATA like Khurram and North Waziristan.
