Prolonged Military Operation in Swat

ISLAMABAD, June 6: Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas indicated on Saturday that the army would stay in Swat and adjoining areas for an ‘indefinite period’.

“The army will stay in the area till a sense of security among the people is revived, a credible defence system by law enforcement agencies put in place and the possibility of terrorists hiding in the mountains coming back to launch a second phase of insurgency is obviated. This will not take less than a year,” he told a news briefing.

He said that a proposal for the establishment of a cantonment in the area was under consideration, but a final decision would be taken by the government. About the roadmap for settlement of the internally displaced persons discussed between the civil and military leaderships on Friday, Maj-Gen Abbas said the military operation only brought temporary stability and core arrangements, including revival of civic amenities before repatriation of the IDPs, were necessary for permanent stability.

He said the resettlement plan was being worked out envisaging enhancement of capacity of law-enforcement agencies and increasing police strength by fresh inductions.

“On the heels of the military operation, we would like an administrative follow-up. The administration needs work on a war footing.”

He said that 100 per cent success in unconventional wars could not be achieved in a short spell of time. He pointed out that Swat could not be completely sealed and the miscreants hiding in the valley might group and start terrorist activities.

In reply to a question, he said so far no decision had been taken to launch an operation in South Waziristan. But, he said the army would go there if the government took a decision.

The military spokesman said that Taliban’s Swat chieftain Maulana Fazlullah had been targeted thrice by security forces, but there was no authentic information about his condition.

In reply to a question, he said he had not seen the press conference addressed by a spokesman for Baitullah Mehsud threatening terrorist attacks in small towns across the country. “I would call it an intelligence failure if he spoke at the press conference with a lot of mikes around him.”

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Source: Pakistan Dawn