THE CAUSES OF (VIOLENT) CONFLICT IN VALLEY SWAT: POST- 9/11 IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Tabassum Majeed Tabassum Majid is Lecture of Political Science at the Department of Political Science in Islamic College, Peshawar
  • Nasreen Akhtar Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad

Keywords:

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Talibanization, militancy, military operation, religion, Fazlullah, Swat

Abstract

Pakistan has experienced a strong wave of militancy in its tribal areas which augmented a serious conflict between the Taliban and the Pakistan army -Swat was one of the major epicenters where the Taliban had established their writ and challenged the state apparatus. The US war against terrorism and Pakistan’s support against the Afghanistan Taliban gravely affected Pakistan’s Pakhtuns belt which shares its border with Afghanistan. The incident of 9-/11 has left adverse implications for Pakistan- increased militancy and Talibanization in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan responded to all militant factions including TTP in Swat valley where the military operation was started to eliminate the Taliban. This paper attempts to glean into the history of conflict in Swat which eventually engaged the military and the government in responding and eradicating the militant groups from Swat valley.

Author Biographies

Tabassum Majeed, Tabassum Majid is Lecture of Political Science at the Department of Political Science in Islamic College, Peshawar

Tabassum  Majid is Lecture of Political Science  at the Department of Political Science in Islamic College, Peshawar

Nasreen Akhtar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad

Assistant Professor at the Department of  Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad

References

Amin,H. & Lodhi,M.S (Eds). (2017). Pakistan Countering Terrorism: Challnges and Prospects. Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue, International Islamic University.

Azam,M.,& Javaid,U. (2017). “The sources of militancy, Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan, 54(2):189-198.

Ali, I. (2007, December 7). “Pakistan’s Military Offensive in Swat may be Start of Long Campaign,” Terrorism Focus, https://jamestown.org/brief/pakistans-military-offensive-in-swat-may-be-start-of-long-campaign/.

Ahmadzeb, M. (Personal communication, 2012).

Banori, D. Jan. (2009,April 28). “Full-scale Military operation likely in Buner”, The News International, Islamabad.

BBC Urdu Service .(2008,August 8). Muslim Khan ; From PPP to Taliban » https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/story/2008/10/081018_muslim_khan

BBC.(2008,April21).“Top Pakistani militant released,” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7359523.stm .

BBC. (2009, Feburary 16). “Pakistan agrees Sharia law deal,” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7891955.stm

Burns,J.(2001,December 10). “A Nation challenged: The Volunteers; jihad lost Battalions mourned by Pakistani kin”, The New York Times.

Daily Times .(2008, February 9). http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/ print.asp?page=2008127story_7-12-2008_pg1_2

Daily Times. (2008, December7). http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp? page=2008127story_7-12-2008_pg1_2 .

Daily Times. (2009, May2) http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp? page=200952story_2-5-2009_pg1_7 .

Dawn. (2008,June 30). “Militants pull out of talks in Swat,” http://www.dawn.com/2008/06/30/top2.htm

Dawn. (2009, December 27). “Swat Taliban Commander dies of Kidney Failure,” http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/thenewspaper/front-page/19-swat-taliban-commander-dies-of-kidney-failure-729-hh-05.

Freemuse. (2008,June 12). “Fazlullah interview” http://www.freemuse.org/ sw24746.asp .

Hassan, A. (2009, August 30). “Autonomy package for NAs approved”, Dawn.

Hassan, Y. (2009.January 27). “A War on Pakistan’s Schoolgirls”, https://www.opednews.com/articles/A-War-on-Pakistan-s-School-by-Yasmeen-Hassan-090127-506.html.

Haider,S.& Suhrawardy.N.(2002,January 13).”Musharraf bans key militants groups”, Aljazeera

Hussain, K. (2011). “Modes and Scale of Conflict in Pakistan’s Swat Valley (1989-2008), Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies,4, (20): 7-8.

Hadid, D. (2018, June 2). “Once ruled by Taliban, residence of Pakistan’s Swat Valley say army should leave”, NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/06/02/601521263/once-ruled-by-taliban-residents-of-pakistans-swat-valley-say-army-should-leave.

Islam, N.(2018,June 23). “The Rise and Fall of Mullah Fazlullah”, The News Week.

Khan, A.(personal communication 2012). A counselor of Gulibagh Union Council in 2004-2008,Swat.

Khan, M. A. (2009, March 3)). “A Profile of Militant Groups in Bajaur Tribal Agency,” Jamestown Terrorism Monitor, http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=34729&tx_ttnews[backPid]=26&cHash=cce9e6a8f9 .

Khan, N. I. (Personal interview 2012). Expert on TNSM.

Khattak, D. K. (2010). “The Battle for Pakistan: Militancy and Conflict in Swat Valley”, Mew America Foundation, Counter Terrorism Strategy Policy Paper, 4 (7).

Khattak, D. (2008, May 22).“Govt, Swat Taliban sign peace deal”, Daily Times, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?date=5%2F22%2F2008 .

Khan, H. (2009,December 1). “Suicide bomber kills ANP lawmaker,” Dawn.

Khan, I. (2009.September 12) “Swat Taliban mouthpiece, top commander captured,” Dawn,

Khan, J.A. (2007,October 25). “Forces launch operation in Swat,” The News International,

Khan, K. (2007, April 21). “Exclusive: An interview with Maulana Fazlullah,” http://www.valleyswat.net

Kronstadt, K. A. (2010,June 1). “Pakistan: Key Current Issues and Developments”, Congressional Research Service, 18-19

Lodhi, M. (2009,October1). “The impact of Afghanistan”, https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/impact-afghanistan-pakistan-executive-summary-dr-maleeha-lodhis-testimony.

Luras,H.,&Aziz,K. (2010). Swat: Main causes of the rise of militancy, Policy Brief,pp.1-4

Khaliq,F. (2016,November 7). “Iconic Budha in Swat valley restored after nine years when Taliban defaced it”, Dawn

McCoy,T. (2014, December 17). “Mullah Radio: The radical broadcaster leading the Taliban’s war on Pakistani schoolchildren”, The Washington Post,

Musharraf, P. (2006). In the line of fire: A memoir. Simon and Schuster.

Noreen. ( personal interview 2020,December).

Orakzai, R. (2007,December 5). “Taliban hikmat amli tabdeel, Matta fauj kay pass,”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2007/12/printable/071205_swat_update_zs.shtml.

Orakzai, S. B. (2011). “Conflict in the Swat Valley of Pakistan: Pakhtun Culture and Peace building theory-Practice Application”, Journal of Peace building and Development, 6.(1): 42.

Noor.U.H. (2009). “Secret Details of Swat Peace Accord”, IPRI Fact file, April.

Peter, G. (2010). “Crime and Insurgency in the Tribal Areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan”, Harmony Programme (the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point): 59

Rizwan, K. (Personal interview 2020 December). A local resident revealed during interview with the authors- he lost his family members during Taliban’ control in Swat.

Rehman.Z.U (2014, September). “Swat: an unquiet calm, Dawn.

Rahi, F. R. (2011). Aour Swat JaltaRaha (and the Swat has been Burning): Mingora Swat: Shoaib Sons, 197-198.

Saddique, Q. (2010). “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: An Attempt to Deconstruct the Umbrella Organization and the Reasons for its Growth in Pakistan’s North West”, Danish Institute for International Studies, DISS Report.12: 7.

The News International (2009 July 14). “Swat Taliban declare permanent ceasefire,” http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=20552.

Waraich. U. (2009, August 3). “Refugees head home after army scatters the Taliban”, Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ asia/refugees-head-home-after-armyscatters-the-taliban-1766564.html .

Downloads

Published

2022-03-24

How to Cite

Tabassum Majeed, & Nasreen Akhtar. (2022). THE CAUSES OF (VIOLENT) CONFLICT IN VALLEY SWAT: POST- 9/11 IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN . PAKISTAN, 59(2), 34–54. Retrieved from https://pscjournal.pk/index.php/pakistan/article/view/68