Comments on: Insurgency in Swat – An analysis [II]

By: Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) â€“ An operational assessment | Abdullah Saad

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:03:07 +0000

[...] was in early 2009, when amidst all the doom and gloom; I mentioned that we will re-take agencies one by one. And, since then, you folks have seen that we went on to re-take Bajaur, then Mohmand, Swat, Darra [...]

By: Saad

Saad — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:02:40 +0000

The arrowheads were only meant to point at the areas of conflict, within Pakistan, not their source.

By: Saad

Saad — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:02:00 +0000

The arrowheads were only meant to point at the areas of conflict, within Pakistan, not their source.

By: BENGAL UNDER ATTACK

BENGAL UNDER ATTACK — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:53:06 +0000

Pretty good analysis – I wondered tho’ looking at the map, there were arrows pointing from Jalalabad. Maybe the wish was to state that a hostile neighbour has set up a consulate there which is fuelling the insurgency – in which case you will praise that country’s intelligence arm to high heaven.

Of course some one is fuelling the Taliban. I wish to state several bullet points:

1. British officials covered up evidence that a Taliban commander killed by special forces in Helmand last year was in fact a Pakistani military officer, according to highly placed Afghan officials. Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4926401.ece

2. Major-General Faisal Alavi was murdered after threatening to expose Pakistani army generals who had made deals with Taliban militants. Link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5337881.ece

3. David Sanger’s recent book – Inheritance – states that NSA intercepts have recorded conversations of Gen Kiyani saying Haqqani network is a strategic asset (a point you conceded by stating all intelligence agencies have “contacts”).

4. Taliban wants to bring in Sharia all over Pakistan. Hamid Gul and Osama bin Laden brokered a deal where Nawaz Sharif will bring in Sharia in Pakistan – and boy he was about to deliver it too by 15th Amendment!

5. If Taliban are fighters who are proud of what they are doing and are not would be suicide bombers – why on earth do they hide their faces? Is it because they are current / ex Pak soldiers? That ex-servicemen of Pushtun joined in droves is common knowledge.

So, who is paying Bait Mehsud? Who gains from the Shura of Mujahideen?

By: BENGAL UNDER ATTACK

BENGAL UNDER ATTACK — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Of course some one is fuelling the Taliban. I wish to state several bullet points:

So, who is paying Bait Mehsud? Who gains from the Shura of Mujahideen?

By: faisal

faisal — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:14:52 +0000

i see what un biased research you are following and trying to preach.
P.S 1971 vetrans are all gone home since long, and only one odd is left (if any). too bad you didnt know the service limits of ranks, otherwise u d know.

whatever, my level of ignorance is, at least i am not being foolish to listen to your brand of biased research ONLY. but i’ll happy to know, if you have done some research of your own, rather than quoting the sites etc wrt 1971. I, on my part have at least read 5-6 books on it, which varies my brand of research to a degree more than at least yours on the subject.
anyways, to kill this personlized victimization of each other viewpoint, lets just ignore what you and i believe and May Allah be the judge, when the time comes.Ameen

By: faisal

faisal — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:14:00 +0000

By: Muhammad Ziad

Muhammad Ziad — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:20:01 +0000

You know maliha it is true, that is where i was getting at. There is not a defect in the interpretation of their holy book but in the text itself. Remember what the danish politician said? sadly it is very true. My name is Muhammad, and people take me as a ‘religious’ cleric or a ‘Muslim’ which is ridiculous.
I doubt taliban , tnsm or ttp follows any less of the quran , rather they follow the quran exactly the way it is written. Everyone can make out of the verse don’t befriend jews and Christian. THERE is hardly any interpretation needed for beheading, hanging on the poles and cutting the hands. These acts are described as capital punishments. Go back 1400 years till the late 17th century , these practices were carried out throughout the muslim world.

Just read up the ruling for apostates , or the ruling over missing of a prayer (both punishable to death). How can a muslim write against a muslim when both claim to follow the same book ? what do they mean by misinterpret , why make a mockery out of it?

For i see Pakistani army as equally brutal as others are labeled, perhaps more brutal since it describes itself as ‘civilized’.

As long as religious zealots live peace will not return to this country, yes, declare yourself as an atheist. There is no extreme muslims and moderate muslims,they all are one. Separate yourself from the muslims altogether and then just bomb the remaining. End of story.

By: Muhammad Ziad

Muhammad Ziad — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:20:00 +0000

For i see Pakistani army as equally brutal as others are labeled, perhaps more brutal since it describes itself as ‘civilized’.

By: Maliha Aqueel

Maliha Aqueel — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:47:39 +0000

Thankyou for the article Saad. Very few are looking into the problem, especially not with this angle — as I can see here from the ‘arguments’ posted by Muhammad Ziad. I work for a TV channel, and as I sit there…everyday, I see visuals from inside Swat..Mutta, Mingora, that we will never show to viewers. How Fazlullah and his militants are waging a war of personal gain…ive seen beheaded bodies hanging from trees, their heads stuck on poles…with notes pasted on them, rolled into their noses…”Do not touch the bodies before 11am, or you will end up with the same fate”. Barbaric is a really small word. Our reporter’s sister was killed, a reporter from Geo was killed, and many more have been before. The argument raised by Ziad is very fundamental to Pakistanis … criticise your own state functionary. I understand the origins of these claims, and the truth in them. But there is a problem, it creates even more sympathy for these militants. How can you be sympathetic towards Fazlullah, who says girls can study till grade 4th only? I’m not a Muslim, I belong to no religion. Would you want people like me to be persecuted at the hands of a few bearded men who want to have their way? As I understand the history of Islam, education and other freedoms are somewhat guaranteed. Some of the greatest scholars of hadith were women. The Koranwas preserved by a woman and then handed down. I understand that Islam is sometimes very derogatory to women as well, but not as much as Fazlullah and Sufi make it. Sufi has painted a picture of being a savior as he entered Swat with his peace delegation after the Nizam-e-Adl deal. All Pak Army’s efforts have gone down the drain once again. A fundamental problem is with our media, and its failure to represent these militants for what they truly are — for the fear to not alienate masses, or the ever influential clergy – the likes of which include Qazi Hussain Ahmed (whose only family is a testament to western freedoms, but do not misunderstand me…I’m for freedom and rights of expression–but no one should be hypocritical). The army has returned to barracks, it’s a chance for the TTP to re-group. Athar Abbas has publicly admitted that the last deal allowed TTP to recuperate. There is little hope. But, the state shall prevail. Taliban is a mafia only. Keep writing Saad, we need more people like you to make sense of events for the youth in Pakistan.

Let’s become more influential than the cleric after the Friday prayers who denounces the army, and praises the Maulanas. And, do not be afraid to say what your religion says. Do not think that other can interpret your religion better because they dont shave, or wear their shalwars differently. Make yourself heard. Spread the word. And Zaid, watch Raageh’s documentary (but do not forget that he was embedded with the army). Keep questioning.