With outside observers barred from getting near the fighting, it is difficult to accurately assess the effectiveness of the operations against the Taliban, the Voice of America said on Saturday.
Some “independent observersâ€, it said, believe the Pakistani army might be exaggerating success and that some of the Taliban could have slipped out of the area.
Communications to affected areas of Swat and surrounding areas have been cut, and the army is not allowing journalists into the conflict zone. To assess what is going on, military analysts are looking at the tactics and results achieved in military operations in Bajaur Agency. That operation began last year and the army said the tribal agency was cleansed of Taliban three months ago.
Shaun Gregory, head of the Pakistan Security Research Unit at the University of Bradford, said the army’s tactics in Swat and adjacent areas mirror the so-called standoff tactics used in Bajaur.
Gaps: “When I look at what’s going on in Buner, in Dir, in Swat, it looks to me pretty similar. They’re using a lot of artillery, a lot of helicopters, a lot of air strikes, they have more troops on the ground, and I know there has been quite heavy fighting in one or two areas… But, broadly, you’re seeing the same thing – a lot of towns and villages destroyed, significant population driven out. It therefore does not surprise me that they have left gaps, if you like, in terms of what they’re trying to do,†Gregory said.
United States Army War College’s Larry Goodson said the fleeing Taliban did not appear to be heading to the Tribal Areas. “The exits were allowed to be open and guys were able to filter on out. And I think we’re seeing the same out of Swat right now. And there have been rumours that not all of that filtering out has been back out to the west to Bajaur and Dir and those areas, Mohmand, but have been in some parts east and north.†Heading east would place at least some of the Taliban fighters in areas adjoining the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
Gregory said Chinese concern about a possible threat to the highway was as much of a factor in Islamabad’s decision to take on the Taliban in Swat as was US pressure.
“If they were to interdict the KKH,†Larry Goodson said, “the Pakistani government would then have to engage them much more seriously than they had done previously in Waziristan Agency or Swat or Bajaur.â€
via Daily Times, May 24 2009,
Adnan Arshad Mansoori May 26, 2009 at 8:34 am
Sometimes I get astonish to see the Strategy of Wart Against Terror as Just few days ago RM on the floor of Senate clearly stated against Indian & American that they are the providers of Sophisticated Arms, Ammunition & assistance in Monetary Terms, it is supposed this is covered with TRUTH the same PPP Government is allied with India & America in this so called W.A.T rather standing at Front Line State, and the same Elite of PPP has forced to the Armed Forces of Pakistan to join this W.A.T. on the other hand the DENTONIC President of Pakistan has been issuing the various statements in favor of India since very first day of his presidency.
Is there any LOGIC existing among the elite of PPP?