Operation Rah-e-Rast

Swat, Khayber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan

16 May 2009 – 15 July 2009

Presented ByEhsanullah Zafar

Arsal SyedKhawaja M. Abdul Rahman

Contents

• Introduction to Swat• Operation Background• Operation Execution• Operation Outcome• Challenges after opt.• Current Situation

Introduction to Swat

• History• Geography• Nomenclature• People

Introduction to Swat

• History• History began 2000 years ago. Old name “Udyana” and later

“Suvastu”• Settlers and Budhists lived peacefully for years• Peace ended in the 11th century AD• Arrival of Mahmud of Gazni then Dilazak and later Yusufzais • In 19th century Akhund Sahib came to control• Valley began to be ruled under peaceful Muslim laws• Peace ended with death of Akhund Sahib• 1850 Syed Akber Shah • 1914 Syed Abdul Jabar shah• 1917 Mian Gul Abdul Wadood

Introduction to Swat

• Geography• Swat• Shangla (East)• Lower Dir (West)• Upper Dir (West)• Gilgit Baltistan (North)• Buner (South)

Introduction to Swat

• Geographical Features• The area of Swat is 4000 sq. miles • The population of Swat is about 12,50,000• Its height is not similar but varies from 2500ft. to 7500 ft. above sea level.• Sky High Mountains, Valleys and natural sceneries.

Introduction to Swat

• Nomenclature• Word ‘Swat’ is the distorted shape of Aswad (black)• Mountains are covered with thick forests, which

appear in sight as black therefore, it was called Aswad

• Two tribes the Swati and Dalazak settled here• As Swati was a larger tribe, therefore this area is

called as Swat.• The present name ‘Swat’ was composed

Introduction to Swat

• People• Pakhtuns• Innocent • Illiterate• Unemployed• Livestock

Operation Background

• First Battle of Swat (October 25,2007 – December 8,2007)

It is known as operation Rah-e-Haq carried out in Swat and Shangla, KPK. This was against Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Sharit-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) of Mualana Fazalullah and Sufi Muhammad Strength of Pakistan was 3-5 thousand personnel. Militants were about 1,000.

• Peace Treaty (February 16,2009)This treaty was between KPK Govt. and TNSM. Ceasefire was observed, impose of sharia law and court in Malakand and Swat.

Operation Background

• International ReactionIt was criticized by U.S. and western countries. Amnesty International and Human Rights Organization had there own reservations.

• Militant AdvancementThey advanced in 97km (60 miles) radius of Islamabad till Shangla. Our Silk Route was in danger. International Concerns and pressure on Government.

Operation Background

• Violation of TreatyGreat violence began to take place in Swat. Security Situation got very poor. Life of people became reserved. Large scale militant activities in the area. Changes in sharia law made things more complicated.

• Operation Black Thunderstorm (April 26, 2009 – June 14,2009)

The operation took place in Swat, Buner, Lower Dir and Shangla. It was against TTP and TNSM. Maulana Fazalullah and Sufi Muhammad were the key suspects. The mission was led by Lt. Gen. Masood Aslam and Air Marshal Hifazat Khan. SSG, 50th Airborne Division, 9th Infantry Division, 25th Squadron Night. 30,000 to 45,000 soldiers and 5,000 militants were engaged. 3.4 million civilians were displaced. There were three phases of this operation, Attack on Lower Dir (April 26, 2009), Buner Assault ( April 30, 2009) and Operation Rah-e-Rast.

Operation Execution

• Introduction to Opt. Rah-e-Rast• Migration of citizens• Battle of Mingora• Expansion of Operation• Capture of militant commanders• End of Operation

Introduction to opt. Rah-e-Rast

• Second Battle of Swat(16 May - 15 July)• Span of execution(2 Months)• Belligerents• Commanders• Units involved• Strength• Causalities

Migration of Citizens• 2009 refugee crisis in Pakistan• No. of citizens migrated• Strain on country’s economy• Refugee camps

Mardan,Nowshera,Swabbi• Shifting of refugee

Abbotabad,Mansehra• Facilities in camps

UNICEF• Chinese and UN’s help

Luo Zhao Hui => yousaf raza$1millionMasood Khan => $5.4 millionUN => received 1/3 of $150 million

• UN’s estimate1.6 million of 2.2 million refugees

Battle of Mingora

• Start of battle(23rd May)• Large scale migration

2 lac=> 10-20 thsnds• Street fights

key intersections,three squaresgreen square(bloody square)

• Spirit of Army(24th May)• Achievements(27-30 May)• Casualties

286 militants killed

Expansion of Operation

• Malam Jabba• Qambr Bazar• On May 29• Amankot• TIC on Mingora Road• Peochar village• Town of Bahrain(North of swat)

Capture of Militant Commanders• Rumors about Sufi Mohammad(June 4, Ammandara)• Hit in two air strikes(Imam Dehri)• Two aides=> Maulana Alam & Ameer Izat khan• Aides were killed(June 7)• September 11,2009• Muslim kahn and 4 other TNSM commanders were captured near

Mangora.• Hayatullah Hamyo(TTP Commander) captured in orangi town

karachi(January 11,2010),wherehe was keeping low profile by working in PTCL…..

• End of Operation(15th July 2009)

Operation Outcome

• Government’s writ restored• Area cleared from militants• Many militant commanders captured or killed• Extremism eradicated• Failure to capture or kill Maulana Fazalullah• Security Improved• Image of Pakistan Improved• Morale of Armed Forces became high

Challenges after Operation

• Guerilla Wars• Rehabilitation of refugees• Security• Police training• Hidden militants

Current Situation

• Life of people• Role of Army• Security situation• Development works• Tourism Activities

Contact: khabdul007@gmail.com