Swat Valley is a region in north Pakistan which is sometimes referred as the ‘mini Switzerland’. But if the landscape may allow this part of Pakistan to be associated with the Europe country, its war status does not. Swat Valley is still an area of conflict in which Pakistani armed forces try to resist insurgences from Taliban fighters. The Swat Valley Conflict has started in 2009 although this part of Pakistan witnessed fights between Pakistani forces and Talibans since 2007. Read on valleyswat.org and find out more interesting info about the Swat Valley Conflict and what has this meant for the innocent inhabitants of this region of the world.
Swat Valley Fighting has begun a long time ago. In the 1990s the Swat Valley Conflict started as a result of the actions of Sufi Mohammad, a cleric figure who tried to impose sharia law on the basis of arms. Mohammad was arrested but this did not end the Swat Valley War. In 2007 the Swat Valley Conflict took another turn when the son in law of Mohammad called his men to arms to try and impose the Muslim law. He conducted a military assault on the red Mosque of Islamabad. He even used illegal radio to spread his message. This FM radio became known later on as Mullah Radio.
The Swat Valley War continued when the Pakistani government decided to deploy armed troop in the area. The Pakistan armed forces tried to restore control and put an end to the Swat Valley Fighting with the help of artillery and gunship helicopters. The Swat Valley War was put to an end in 2007. But even if peace was agreed on the basis of a settlement, this peace has been torn apart a year later. In 2008 the fighting started all over again and the militants unleashed a reign of terror. This conflict killed hundreds of militants, soldiers and civilians. It is estimated that about 1,200 people were killed in the area since 2007 and that about 500,000 people have fled to other countries. This basically meant that the militants remained in control of what used to be the most visited part of Pakistan.
The Pakistani government, in an attempt to end the Swat Valley Conflict and finally assure peace to its citizens, has offered to impose sharia law in this valley and the neighboring areas. Yet, the insurgents refused to give up their guns unless the government halted its offensive and basically let the militants keep on ruling the valley.
Swat Valley used to be, until the fire started in the area, the most visited part of Pakistan and inevitably the region from which tourism produced money for the government. Yet, the war has driven tourists away and has made the life of the civilians a living hell.
Swat Valley Fighting has begun a long time ago. In the 1990s the Swat Valley Conflict started as a result of the actions of Sufi Mohammad, a cleric figure who tried to impose sharia law on the basis of arms. Mohammad was arrested but this did not end the Swat Valley War. In 2007 the Swat Valley Conflict took another turn when the son in law of Mohammad called his men to arms to try and impose the Muslim law. He conducted a military assault on the red Mosque of Islamabad. He even used illegal radio to spread his message. This FM radio became known later on as Mullah Radio.
The Swat Valley War continued when the Pakistani government decided to deploy armed troop in the area. The Pakistan armed forces tried to restore control and put an end to the Swat Valley Fighting with the help of artillery and gunship helicopters. The Swat Valley War was put to an end in 2007. But even if peace was agreed on the basis of a settlement, this peace has been torn apart a year later. In 2008 the fighting started all over again and the militants unleashed a reign of terror. This conflict killed hundreds of militants, soldiers and civilians. It is estimated that about 1,200 people were killed in the area since 2007 and that about 500,000 people have fled to other countries. This basically meant that the militants remained in control of what used to be the most visited part of Pakistan.
The Pakistani government, in an attempt to end the Swat Valley Conflict and finally assure peace to its citizens, has offered to impose sharia law in this valley and the neighboring areas. Yet, the insurgents refused to give up their guns unless the government halted its offensive and basically let the militants keep on ruling the valley.
Swat Valley used to be, until the fire started in the area, the most visited part of Pakistan and inevitably the region from which tourism produced money for the government. Yet, the war has driven tourists away and has made the life of the civilians a living hell.
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