
High in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province, the Swat Valley has long been an idyllic vacation destination, just 100 miles from the country’s capital, Islamabad. But Swat is also not far from the border with Afghanistan, and in the past two years, Taliban fighters have moved into the region. Joined by local insurgents, they have formed a new “Pakistani Taliban” that is trying to take over the region.
In October 2007, these Taliban forces launched an offensive, overrunning 60 towns in the Swat Valley and declaring a jihad or “holy war” against the U.S.-backed government of President Pervez Musharraf.
“I’ve come here to understand how this valley became a terrorist haven,” says FRONTLINE/World reporter David Montero, as he goes into a region that is now off-limits to most journalists. Once the crown jewel of Pakistan’s tourism trade, Swat is a battleground. The hotels are empty, the buildings pockmarked by bullets.
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March 3rd, 2008 at 1:32 am
i hate musharaf , he is a mother f… really
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 am
I went to Swat in 1998. A year before Mush Kutta came. It was a nice place and it was a good decision when I look back.
The people who have yet to see Swat, cannot do that. God knows how long it will take for things to become normal again!! Lets hope that Mush leaves us alone. That will be a step in the right direction.
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 am
west could own musharaf kai kirai kai fauji but the place called pakistan. for montero info.pakistani talibans are the local tribal people, not the afghan talibans. since pakistan came into being swat possess sharia there. so these false oct 07claims have no meanings. i am more than sure that tourism cannot be important as compare to human life that rent an army has taken; what an idiotic approach to invoke lies. moreover, how about a program on israel’s open illegal invasion of Palestine and the massacre, if not then how about kashmir, the invaded lebanon 80s territory.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 am
Watching this video was very painful experience for me. I have travelled Swat and other Northern areas of Pakistan. Believe me it was like a heaven on earth but now looking this heaven becoming a living hell is really horrific. The people of swat are extremely hospitable and peace loving. I hope things improve but i dont know how this is gonna happen.
God help us
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 am
Where is that Fazlu guy getting enough money to build a gigantic school like that? it must have cost millions..
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 am
Well I think politicians like Maulana Diesel is to be blamed. PML Q all these nine years were trying to make themselves, their own interest and Mush strong. The Q government has nurtured MQM in sindh, Diesel and his allies like falal ullah in Peshawar and punjab was already in the hands of Chories…… What have we gained in the last 9 years????? thanks to Mush just to be in power he played hell with Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Its all lies against swat and the people of swat. In fact Mush is playing his part in a strategy made by USA to destabilize Pakistan and take it to the point where they could easily disintegrate it. Were they not aware of Mullah fazlullah when he started his FM radio, how from out of the blue Taliban came to swat and launched jihad against the government. There was a party called TNSM known to all and his leader is in jail. Through out there struggle they never resort to terrorism and suicide bombing then why and how all of a sudden they did all this, its blatant lie and nothing else. People of swat are really peaceful and are good in education as well.
I pray to Allah (Swt) to give us strength and courage to say NO to US policies and her political and economic hegemony. And May Allah (swt) give us understand of his Deen and grant us khilafah Rashida, so that to protect the ummah from the brutal aggression and to uphold his Deen and dominate it over all other false Ideologies
Regards
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 am
Its all lies against swat and the people of swat. In fact Mush is playing his part in a strategy made by USA to destabilize Pakistan and take it to the point where they could easily disintegrate it. Were they not aware of Mullah fazlullah when he started his FM radio, how from out of the blue Taliban came to swat and launched jihad against the government. There was a party called TNSM known to all and his leader is in jail. Through out there struggle they never resort to terrorism and suicide bombing then why and how all of a sudden they did all this, its blatant lie and nothing else. People of swat are really peaceful and are good in education as well.
I pray to Allah (Swt) to give us strength and courage to say NO to US policies and her political and economic hegemony. And May Allah (swt) give us understand of his Deen and grant us khilafah Rashida, so that to protect the ummah from the brutal aggression and to uphold his Deen and dominate it over all other false Ideologies.
Regards
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
@Revivalist
Somehow I do agree with you on a lot of things,even though many would not.
BTW missed your analysis for the last few weeks.
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
IN THE NAME OF AL-MIGHT GIVE PAKISTAN BACK TO PAKISTANI.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Democracy as a system of governance and interest representation demands respect
for dissent and opposition. It recognizes the principle of majority rule and guarantees, protection of minorities. Democracy also builds faith in electoral contestation to gain public office and gives legitimacy to political parties as primary instruments for acquisition and transfer of power from one set of individuals to another.
But, since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power, so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster. Many innocent people are dying every day-week and every month. Because of bombast, suicide attacks and target killing in Pakistan the factual condition is that nothing happened in this world without any reason, the need of the time is to redress the grievances of the people and eliminate the reason.
The right way to reverence to Martyr is to eliminate the causes after the incidents. If we can redress the route cause after the suicide killing, we can save many lives in future. The only way out is the change of system the route cause of all kind of grievances, the time is to empower the Pakistani at grass route level to eliminate the socio-political injustice and strengthen the unity within the society at large, and closing the door for outsiders or intruder to penetrate in our society because of social unrest.
Unfortunately, despite the significance of the democratic elements, only the power full elite are fitted in power and Pakistani are always left at the mercy of circumstances again and again… As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society based on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for real peace and progress in the society. Therefore, Change of socio-political system is inevitable to empower the Pakistani at grass route level for rapid industrial and agriculture development.
See http://www.idp.org.pk
Ilyas khan Baloch
Islamic Democratic party
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I hate this presidential palace. It is higher than the parliament, and looks like a fortress. i want it demolished and a more humane architecture replace it and the parliament. They represent the idiotic fauji mentality .. They also look like WalMart and Target Combined with a 7-screen cinema.
I HATE HATE HATE their architecture.. I want them demolished.. they don’t represent A SINGLE thing about Pakistan or it’s people or it’s culture.. ANY THING .. They are hideous opaque imposing boxes.. just like the foreign proxy governments that rule over us.
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
@ Revivalist
If it is a lie, take your family and live in Swat.
Its people like you who want to turn every Muslim neighbour hood into Afghanistan. These people are so blind that they cannot see what is so obvious. They want us to believe in their imaginery world whereas they don’t believe in something that is so obvious.
There could be exaggeration in the report (which is quite normal in documentaries) but this is far closer to truth than Barbarian Mullah’s claims.
Stop ‘doubling’ your comments to catch more attention.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Pakistan government should have hanged these extremists at the first opportunity. Their delayed action in Lal Masjid, Swat etc is the cause of all troubles.
Maybe they should learn from Syria and Turkey that are very peaceful countries because they just suppress these people right from the start. Sadly, killing these enemies of humanity is the price we have to pay. Mullahs cry for human rights when they are sent to Guntanamo but when they are in charge, they become God Squad and refuse to be bound by any Human rights or Geneva convention. Do such extremists deserve better treatment?
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
@revivalist: you have a tendency to say things in a tedious and round about way bro. Try to be direct and less cryptic if you want people to give less resistance.
Also, I read your comment re: Khilafa and it mentioned that I read some more books. I appreciate that suggestion. My counter suggestion would be that since Hizb-ut-Tahreer has a lot of time on their hands (and obviously no shortage of writers), they convene a constituent assembly of Muslims from all the lands of Future khilafah and compose a constitution which will have rules and regulations on how the Quran and Sunnah (which parts etc) will be created..
I would suggest a graphic like the Iranians have on their website.
I don’t think until there is a tentative constitution of the new state you propose there is any point discussing further as you keep referring interested parties to go read some books which I’m sure will send the reader further on a wildgoose chase into “other books” etc.
BTW, this is how marxists and communists handle questions about their vague system.. they also say things like.. well we beliee in MARX and the rest you have to read Das Kapital .. I think there aren’t more than 100 people who have read Das Kapital and understood it as it’s a scholarly work, but people did manage to create and run an empire based on “it” for about 80 years or so.
So, if you want to work towards a system which will be just, the onus is on you to make efforts to make sure that there will be checks and balances in the system (if you are bent upon it). My suggestion would be to go for democracy and rule of law and justice but I think we all know your opinion of this.
So, if you have a constitution, by all means.. (btw, “Quaran is our constitution” is a cop out .. Quran is not a political document — constitution is something you can refer to in the running of the state and amend through representatives of the people )
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
how the Quran and Sunnah (which parts etc) will be created.
should read
“how the Quran and Sunnah (which parts etc) will be consulted in lawmaking.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
General (Rtd.) Musharaf has taken the country to a completely failed state . Now the Govrnment Machinary (Defecto President /His chamchas likespokesman,caretakerGovt: ,Senate ,Secret services , Intelegence/Agencies,Governors,Police,Judiciary,Nazims,councilars,Arm forces,Sciuts ,F.C ,Rangers , has become a liability for the people of Pakistan.To get Pakistan out of the Emergency ,immediately restore Parliment ,Judiciary with the very first step to remove the most unwanted element “DEFECTO PRESIDENT OR DICTATOR ” .Drastic structural changes in the infra-structure ,step by step , be adopted for the relief of common man ( I condemn the recent increase in prices of oil and Gas , Kerosene/petrolium by Suleman/ a brainless fellow ,which has affected the common man very badly ). Dictators foolish trip to europe should have been avoided .
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Present state of emergency is leading the remaining country towards further disintegration / civil war .Immediate positive steps are required .
RESTORE JUDICIARY and then PARLIMENT /N.A & P.Assemblies ,Immediately .
March 4th, 2008 at 12:57 am
guys like Fazlullah should be expeditiously dispatched on an express flight to his beloved Virgins in hell. These throwbacks from 7th century are the biggest menace to humanity in general and Islam in particular.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:44 am
It is so sad to see the video. Musharraf destroyed everything in the country just for STAYING IN POWER.
He used these militants in the name of War against Terrorism in the past 7 years. He has been promoting them (may be sponsoring them) to rule and then allow them to escape before the start of the military operation just to tell the west he is the one who is protecting them from “extremists”.
He has destroyed everything in the country and in the end we are left with civilians and army personnel dead bodies. I wish him all the bad. GOD will not forgive him for using/killing innocent people and we will see “the end” very soon.
His downfall is clear after the elections but he is still using “all the tactics” just to stay in POWER.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:18 am
@ 2wise
how come you are allowed on this board again..your anti religious posts were deleted before. dont pretend by fixing anything on religion. i know you are another swine serpent of zionists.
@ optimist
you are not being optimist here. you are speaking like that owais laghari guy. he was justifying the mass murdering in lal masjid and so you are. although i dont need to recall the story but they were on the defensive side( they didnt kill anyone but musharaf killed everyone). please dont refer to syria or turkey. everyone knows how much sold out those places are; where so called hijaab was also not allowed in decades. even one can pray namaz in turkish language.
March 4th, 2008 at 6:20 am
@ Taban khamosh
What is tedious in my post may be you have not understood it properly. I advised you to read authentic books and not just books. As for as the draft constitution of the up coming khilafah state is concern, it is open for all the Muslims and non-Muslims. Moreover we have written books on each system like Economic, social, judicial, ruling system as well as education policy and foreign policy. Which is easily available and you can read it online.
I have said it many time and tried to explain the effective system of checks and balances in Islam as well as exposed the fallacy of checks and balances in Democracy. We have a detail book about accountability in the khilafah state; if you want I will send it to you.
I never said Quran is our constitution and you have rightly said that Quran is not a political document rather I always said Islam is a complete way of life a complete ideology and based on the sources defined by Islam we have extracted a constitution of the up-coming khilafah state, Which is open for any correction, addition or subtraction but based on stronger evidences from the defined sources.
Regards
March 4th, 2008 at 6:21 am
@ Bro Aosaf
Thanks.
Regards
March 4th, 2008 at 6:47 am
@ Optimist
Ahhh you don’t understand simple things. I said its lie that there are militants and foreign fighters in swat. I didn’t say that there is not problem in swat.
The government of Pakistan is party to all what is happening in swat and now a day in Dara Adam khail. That’s way they let these people to create a mess and then they jump to resolve the issue by brutal force. There delay in action shows that they are party to it and are not interested in resolving the issue in the first place.
Guantanamobay, Abu Ghuraib, Bagram and many other secret prisons are the shining signs of your secular, free world. I am very much agree with you that USA is the world most peace loving country and is crime free, that’s why she wants to export these noble norms and ideals of peace to the whole world especially to the Muslim world even if this transition cause the lose of millions innocent lives, its absolutely no problem for them and they can not be called Terrorist or extremists because these are labels made for Muslims alone. These extremists who are opposing US hegemony and brutallity deserve this kind of inhuman treatment. Am I right Mr. Optimist?
Regards
March 4th, 2008 at 11:24 am
*sigh* looks like the propaganda machine is working full time on the western front. we dont need foreign channels to tell us who the good guys and the bad guys are. give our own media freedom to report from these areas freely and the nation will get a clear picture of whats happening there. we have had enough of musharraf and his rent-an-army. no more wars in our country for AMERICA! im pretty sure the bombings happening these days have an american hand behind them, just to put a little pressure on the incoming govt to fight their war, making it seem as its ours.