Operation Rah-e-Nijat: Difference between revisions
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On June 16, 2009, in the aftermath of the successful victory and recapture of the entire [[Swat valley]], the Pakistan Army began a massive troop build-up along the southern and eastern borders of South [[Waziristan]]. Pakistan was now taking the fight to [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan|Tehrik-i-Taliban]] chief [[Baitullah Mehsud]]'s mountainous stronghold, ordering an expansion of its current offensive against Taliban fighters in the Swat valley. On Sunday night, denouncing Mehsud as "the root cause of all evils," Owais Ghani, the governor of the North-West Frontier Province, said the government has called on the army to launch a "full-fledged" military operation to eliminate Mehsud and his estimated 20,000 men. The crucial battle may prove to be the most difficult that Pakistan's military has faced on its soil in recent years. |
On June 16, 2009, in the aftermath of the successful victory and recapture of the entire [[Swat valley]], the Pakistan Army began a massive troop build-up along the southern and eastern borders of South [[Waziristan]]. Pakistan was now taking the fight to [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan|Tehrik-i-Taliban]] chief [[Baitullah Mehsud]]'s mountainous stronghold, ordering an expansion of its current offensive against Taliban fighters in the Swat valley. On Sunday night, denouncing Mehsud as "the root cause of all evils," Owais Ghani, the governor of the North-West Frontier Province, said the government has called on the army to launch a "full-fledged" military operation to eliminate Mehsud and his estimated 20,000 men. The crucial battle may prove to be the most difficult that Pakistan's military has faced on its soil in recent years. |
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Islamabad's decision to launch the offensive against Mehsud signals a deepening of Pakistani resolve against the militants. The army has targeted the Taliban leader on three separate occasions — in 2004, 2005 and 2008 — but walked away each time after signing ruinous "peace deals" that have only served to embolden Mehsud. But the military appears more determined this time. It also enjoys the backing of a government that has gained public support as the recent wave of terrorist attacks has heightened revulsion against the Taliban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1904905,00.html|title=Pakistan Takes On Taliban Leader Mehsud|last=Waraich|first=Omar|date=16 June 2009|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> |
[[Islamabad]]'s decision to launch the offensive against Mehsud signals a deepening of Pakistani resolve against the militants. The army has targeted the Taliban leader on three separate occasions — in 2004, 2005 and 2008 — but walked away each time after signing ruinous "peace deals" that have only served to embolden Mehsud. But the military appears more determined this time. It also enjoys the backing of a government that has gained public support as the recent wave of terrorist attacks has heightened revulsion against the Taliban.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1904905,00.html|title=Pakistan Takes On Taliban Leader Mehsud|last=Waraich|first=Omar|date=16 June 2009|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> |
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By June 21, at least 46 militants were killed in the South Waziristan tribal region and the Malakand division. Six soldiers, including an Army officer, were killed and 17 soldiers injured in fighting in the Malakand and South Waziristan Agency within a 24-hour period. Another six militants were apprehended, the military said. These were the first known casualties among Baitullah Mehsud's fighters in a new offensive in South Waziristan, where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his other top commanders and Taliban leaders are believed to be holed up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/46-militants-killed-by-Army-in-first-Waziristan-battle/479300|title=46 militants killed by Army in first Waziristan battle|date=21 June 2009|publisher=''[[The Indian Express]]''|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> On June 28, eight militants were killed in Swat and 10 in Waziristan, in operations that destroyed the militants’ command network and led to the seizure of “a huge amount” of arms and ammunition, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told reporters. Sixteen soldiers were killed in action, twelve of them dying near the Afghan border in the North Waziristan tribal area when their convoy was ambushed. Several vehicles were hit in the ambush and another 10 soldiers were seriously wounded.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=ambCAASxl.Ao|title=Pakistan Rejects Talks With Militants Amid Offensive|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|date=2009-06-29|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref><ref name="tehrantimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=197987|title=Taliban kill 12 Pakistani soldiers in ambush|publisher=[[Tehran Times]]|date=2009-06-30|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> |
By June 21, at least 46 militants were killed in the South Waziristan tribal region and the Malakand division. Six soldiers, including an Army officer, were killed and 17 soldiers injured in fighting in the Malakand and South Waziristan Agency within a 24-hour period. Another six militants were apprehended, the military said. These were the first known casualties among Baitullah Mehsud's fighters in a new offensive in South Waziristan, where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his other top commanders and Taliban leaders are believed to be holed up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/46-militants-killed-by-Army-in-first-Waziristan-battle/479300|title=46 militants killed by Army in first Waziristan battle|date=21 June 2009|publisher=''[[The Indian Express]]''|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> On June 28, eight militants were killed in Swat and 10 in Waziristan, in operations that destroyed the militants’ command network and led to the seizure of “a huge amount” of arms and ammunition, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told reporters. Sixteen soldiers were killed in action, twelve of them dying near the Afghan border in the North Waziristan tribal area when their convoy was ambushed. Several vehicles were hit in the ambush and another 10 soldiers were seriously wounded.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=ambCAASxl.Ao|title=Pakistan Rejects Talks With Militants Amid Offensive|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|date=2009-06-29|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref><ref name="tehrantimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=197987|title=Taliban kill 12 Pakistani soldiers in ambush|publisher=[[Tehran Times]]|date=2009-06-30|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:58, 17 October 2009
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2009) |
| Operation Rah-e-Nijat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of War in North-West Pakistan | |||||
 Map of North and South Waziristan | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Pakistan United States |
 Tehrik-i-Taliban Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Jama'at al-Jihad al-Islami (IMU splinter faction) Al Qaeda Foreign Mujahideen | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Lt Gen Masood Aslam Maj Gen Khalid Rabbani Maj Gen Ijaz Chaudhry |
Baitullah Mehsud † Tahir Yuldashev † Najmiddin Jalolov † Waliur Rehman Mehsud Hakimullah Mehsud | ||||
| Strength | |||||
|
28,000 troops [1] 500 SSG Commandos [1] |
10,000 militants [2] 1,500 foreign fighters [2] | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
|
1 killed (Blockade)[3] 4 killed, 12 wounded (Offensive)[4] |
146 killed (Blockade)[5] 11 killed (Offensive)[6] | ||||
Operation Rah-e-Nijat is a Pakistani military operation against the Taliban and other Islamist integrist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas that began on June 19, 2009;[7] a major ground offensive was subsequently launched on October 17. It is part of the ongoing War in North-West Pakistan.
Blockade of South Waziristan
On June 16, 2009, in the aftermath of the successful victory and recapture of the entire Swat valley, the Pakistan Army began a massive troop build-up along the southern and eastern borders of South Waziristan. Pakistan was now taking the fight to Tehrik-i-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's mountainous stronghold, ordering an expansion of its current offensive against Taliban fighters in the Swat valley. On Sunday night, denouncing Mehsud as "the root cause of all evils," Owais Ghani, the governor of the North-West Frontier Province, said the government has called on the army to launch a "full-fledged" military operation to eliminate Mehsud and his estimated 20,000 men. The crucial battle may prove to be the most difficult that Pakistan's military has faced on its soil in recent years.
Islamabad's decision to launch the offensive against Mehsud signals a deepening of Pakistani resolve against the militants. The army has targeted the Taliban leader on three separate occasions — in 2004, 2005 and 2008 — but walked away each time after signing ruinous "peace deals" that have only served to embolden Mehsud. But the military appears more determined this time. It also enjoys the backing of a government that has gained public support as the recent wave of terrorist attacks has heightened revulsion against the Taliban.[8]
By June 21, at least 46 militants were killed in the South Waziristan tribal region and the Malakand division. Six soldiers, including an Army officer, were killed and 17 soldiers injured in fighting in the Malakand and South Waziristan Agency within a 24-hour period. Another six militants were apprehended, the military said. These were the first known casualties among Baitullah Mehsud's fighters in a new offensive in South Waziristan, where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his other top commanders and Taliban leaders are believed to be holed up.[9] On June 28, eight militants were killed in Swat and 10 in Waziristan, in operations that destroyed the militants’ command network and led to the seizure of “a huge amount” of arms and ammunition, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told reporters. Sixteen soldiers were killed in action, twelve of them dying near the Afghan border in the North Waziristan tribal area when their convoy was ambushed. Several vehicles were hit in the ambush and another 10 soldiers were seriously wounded.[10][11]
On June 30, militants ambushed a Pakistani military convoy near the Afghan border, killing a further 12 Pakistani soldiers. Several vehicles were hit and the military said 12 soldiers were killed and 10 seriously wounded.[11] On July 3, a military transport helicopter of the Pakistan Army went down and crashed on the border between Khyber and Orakzai tribal region on Friday afternoon, killing all 26 soldiers on board. The helicopter crashed due to a technical fault.[12][13] On August 5, the United States Air Force carried out a drone strike on Baitullah Mehsud and his family. Mehsud was killed, along with his father in law and his wife.[14]
Second phase
Preparations
After a three-month blockade of South Waziristan and intermittent skirmishes with militants, the Pakistani military announced on October 2, 2009 that it would begin a large-scale operation to wipe out Taliban and Al Qaeda militants in the area. Pakistani officials characterized the impending clash as the "mother of all battles." Prior to the launch of the operation, the Pakistani Army had reinforced their presence on the borders of South Waziristan to two divisions (20,000-30,000 troops) who were facing a heavily entrenched force of 6,000-7,000 militants, including Taliban-allied Mehsud tribesmen as well as Uzbek and Arab foreign fighters affiliated with Al Qaeda.[15]
A meeting, which was attended by the the top civilian and military leadership, gave the go-head to launch a military operation in South Waziristan to eliminate terrorism and extremism on October 16.[16] Members attending included Awami National Party’s Asfandyar Wali Khan, PML-N’s Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Dr Farooq Sattar, Balochistan National Party-A’s Senator Israrullah Zehri, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao of the Pakistan People’s Party-S, Munir Khan Orakzai from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Mian Raza Rabbani of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Pir Sadruddin Shah of the PML-F, Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Amir Haidar Khan Hoti, the chief of the Intelligence Bureau.[16] One report indicated that the offensive had a two month timetable.[17]
Ground Offensive
The Pakistan Army started the campaign with 28,000 troops entering South Waziristan against the Taliban on October 17.[18] The Pakistani Army advanced across South Waziristan from three directions — Razmak in the north, Jandola in the east and Shakai in the west.[18] The Pakistani forces were reported to be moving towards the towns of Makeen, Spinkai Raghzai and Tiarza.[18] Aircraft bombed the area, in order to soften militant hideouts.[19] The invasion was timed before winter weather causes snow to block roads, but that when winter arrives the cold weather would force Taliban forces from their hideouts.[19] The Taliban forces, lead by new leader Hakimullah Mehsud, are estimated to be between 10,000-20,000 along with 500-5,000 Uzbek supporters.[18] The Pakistan army, totaling 28,000, are likely to receive support from Paramilitary groups in tribal areas of South Wazirstan.[18] Dozens of casualties on both sides were reported to have been inflicted as fierce fighting commenced.[18] Casualties are expected to increase as the military move deeper into Taliban territory.[18] Civilians of South Waziristan attempting to leave had difficulty as the military blocked the roads, which were used to transport arms and ammunition to troops.[18] People of the area are migrating to the main town of Peshawar.[20] The communication network was severely affected.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b Wazir, Hafiz (17 October 2009). "Pakistan army starts S.Waziristan ground assault". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ a b Mahsud, Ishtiaq (17 October 2009). "Ground offensive begins in Pakistan al-Qaida haven". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=758
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/17/pakistan.offensive.militants/index.html
- ^ Taliban Casualties:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/17/world/main5392593.shtml
- ^ "Troops make gains in Swat and South Waziristan". Dawn. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Waraich, Omar (16 June 2009). "Pakistan Takes On Taliban Leader Mehsud". TIME. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "46 militants killed by Army in first Waziristan battle". The Indian Express. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Pakistan Rejects Talks With Militants Amid Offensive". Bloomberg L.P. 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ a b "Taliban kill 12 Pakistani soldiers in ambush". Tehran Times. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ "26 soldiers dead as Pak Army helicopter crashes in tribal agency". Asian Tribune. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ "26 killed in military chopper crash". Daily Times. 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ "Mehsud's Rival Tribesman Says Baitullah Killed in Drone Attack". Bloomberg L.P. 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ "Battle for Waziristan looms". Dawn. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ a b Raza, Syed Irfan (2009-10-17). "Waziristan operation given go-ahead". Dawn. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ Siddiqi, Tanvir (2009-10-17). "COAS briefs parliamentary leaders; Terror to end: National resolve; Operation Rah-e-Nijat within 24 hours in SWAT Gilani chairs meeting". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i "Pakistan begins Taliban assault". BBC News. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ a b "Curfew imposed in South Waziristan as troops move in". Dawn. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ "Preperation against militants begins in South Waziristan". Geo.tv. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-17.