Military Buildup In Swat Valley Signals Pending Clash Between Government, Taliban

July 22, 2008 12:51 p.m. EST

SWAT, Pakistan (AHN) - Fresh contingencies of Pakistani security troops are arriving in the picturesque Swat Valley in what looks like a clash between government and Taliban forces. The troop buildup in northwest Pakistan occurred after the Taliban became frustrated about the government's failure to implement its latest peace agreement.

After signing a peace agreement with North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on May 21, SWAT Taliban groups in Swat repeatedly accused the government of not implementing the agreement.

Muslim Khan, a Taliban spokesman said Tuesday that the Taliban reserved the right to fire back at government troops if the provisions of the agreement were not followed and Taliban members immediately released.

"We have assigned 50 militants with an important task, and they are ready to attack security personnel and government buildings when we get a green signal from Baitullah Mehsud, chief of Pakistan Taliban Movement (TTP) in South Waziristan Tribal Agency," Khan told reporters at the Mingora Press Club via telephone.

Local people fear another military action against militants will further destabilize the region and will force more people to migrate to other parts of the province.

"I fail to understand that on one hand authorities hold peace talks with the militants and on the other they take military action in which mostly civilians are killed. So far more than 300 civilians have been killed in the conflict between militants and military," Sher Alam, a civil society worker in Mingora Swat told AHN.

Supporting his comrades in Swat Valley, Baitullah Mehsud, commander in chief of TTP warned the NWFP government to step down. He said that although the government had made committments to do its part adhering to the peace agreement, it had failed to release Taliban fighters.

The warning created waves in the NWFP government and it summoned NWFP cabinet Ministers meeting on Monday to debate the situation.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, NWFP minister of information rejected the Taliban warning and said that the government would continue to function along with the people's aspirations.

"We are still bound by our commitment of continuing peace talks with Taliban in Swat valley but if they are not ready for the talks then they have to face a stern military action. At all costs we have to uphold writ of the government," he maintained.

Colonel Nadeem, a military spokesman in Swat told reporters that heavy contingents of security forces have been deployed in different parts of the upper Swat valley to establish government authority and discourage militant activities.

Military sources said that in the next few days, a second phase of the military operation will be undertaken against Fazlullah militants.

Swat is a prime NWFP tourist spot located 162 km (97 miles) from Peshawar, the capital. The area become a Taliban hub when Maulana Fazlullah, a firebrand cleric discouraged girls education and anti-polio drops to children by delivering fiery speeches on his pirated FM Radio station.

At the end of 2007 president Parvez Musharaf sent 25,000 security forces to the valley to fight Fazlullah militants and restore peace to region. The military operation dismantled Taliban headquarter along the river close to Mingora town, however in the recent past they again started bombing girls schools, tourist spots, security personnel and public places.

Zia-ud-Din Yousafzai, secretary of Swat Schools Association, said that over the last few months militants have burnt down 68 girls' schools. Thousands of children are suffering from acute psychological trauma due to the prevailing uncertainty in the area.

"Hundreds of parents have stopped sending their daughters to school due to fear of Taliban backlash," he added.

Taliban spokesmen argue that the schools were burnt so they could be used as military bunkers.

After the February 18 landmark general elections in Pakistan, an alliance of Pakistan secular political parties defeated a six-party religious alliance in NWFP, promising to bring peace to the region.

Awami National Party (ANP), a Pashtun nationalist party in the province while pursuing the policy of reconciliation and socio-economic development, entered into a pact on May 21 with Taliban groups in the Swat district.

The United States strongly criticized the peace process. It said the process would help regroup and strengthen Taliban insurgency and create chaos in neighboring Afghanistan.

Political observers believe that the peace pact was signed to create permit the government to refresh and plan a policy to counter the insurgency now threatening major cities in the province. Some critics, however, claim that the political government was reluctant to take military action in fear of losing their vote.

Maulana Fazlullah had the opportunity to extend his operations to upper Swat valley and establish Shariah courts where decisions are now being delivered on personal feuds and to resolve people's issues based on the Islamic religion.