Today . . . some of our relatives from Lower Dir arrived to stay with us for as long as things don’t settle down over there. I felt so sorry to see their horrified, gloomy faces. They were braving the situation until now as no one likes to leave his home but yesterday the gunship helicopters hovered quite low over their homes and fired bombs too that scared the hell out of them and they were left with no option but to leave as soon as the curfew was lifted.
The men are still staying back because they can’t abandon the homes for the miscreant loot and plunder and the Taliban either destroy the houses or use them to seek refuge.
I had never imagined that my own home would become a shelter for the refugees.
From what I hear from the local people one thing is clear that they all loathe
Taliban. So all those including Imran Khan who encourage to hold negotiations with Taliban show shortsightedness because Taliban will never compromise on anything.
Although people right now are with military but as Mohsin Hamid pointed out in his recent article that the Pakistan army will have to choose sides soon. This is our military’s last chance to win the hearts of the people in trouble and who have sacrificed their futrue and properties in this war. If the military failed then I am afraid it might lead us to a greater chaos.
The plight of such people who have become refugees in their own country is truly very sad
By: bigtugboat on May 10, 2009
at 11:38 am
Yes, indeed! I can’t explain the look on their faces. They are shocked, terrified, displaced and above all uncertain about their future.
By: Ayesha on May 10, 2009
at 11:40 am
Very critical situation !!!
“This is our military’s last chance to win the hearts of the people in trouble and who have sacrificed their futrue and properties in this war. If the military failed then I am afraid it might lead us to a greater chaos.”
For that they need our moral support , not the articles like Mohsin Hameed has written. These are our political leaders who need to be criticised. It is just in the news that Imran Khan has arrived at Karachi . He is not there to mobilise people to support military operation in Swat. To remember people who died on May 12, 2007 can give more political gain to him so he is there
…Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has managed to arrive at Faisalabad at the murder of a Prof. in a police encounter but he has no time to visit the refugees camps. Again the matter of political gain …. Cultural minister of Sindh has just inaugurated a cultural ‘festival’ near Kanjer Lake , Sindh….. 
By: Nayni on May 10, 2009
at 12:23 pm
How come you know about the activities of so many politicians?!
Some of them are so apathetic that amazes me…
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:10 am
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Pakistan Need Our Help
With an expected 500,000 people to be displaced from their places of residence, Swat Crisis is termed as largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in recent times. Whether we support the military operation or not, these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) need our help. This page has information about Donations (required stuff, medicines), and links of Charity Organizations in Pakistan and International Charity Organizations.
http://www.chowrangi.com/swat-crisis-internally-displaced-persons-idps-in-pakistan-need-our-help/
PLEASE! Spread the word about it in whatever way you can.
Join Facebook group for helping IDPs
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=77435979213#/group.php?gid=77435979213
By: bilish on May 10, 2009
at 6:36 pm
It pains me to see these homeless people.
Will spread the word…
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:18 am
don’t worry the military won’t fail their strength today outbeats india’s military strength [and india has a much bigger army with much more money] so what are the taliban infront of our army.
anyway i enjoyed your post as it shows the ongoing situation in a different eye.
feel free to check out my post on this; http://d2pak.blogspot.com/2009/05/pakistan-stands-united.html
By: Captain on May 10, 2009
at 7:55 pm
I don’t doubt the capabilities of our military but only if they are sincere to root out this problem
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:11 am
Army can do much, only if they want to. I am dead sure that Army/Govt. is not sincere to resolve the Taliban issue. I suspect that they still think of Taliban being handy when America will back out as soon as their target is achieved.
I have personally felt this in Waziristan’s case. It was not more than a 2 hrs game in 2004 to flush out the so called Pakistani Taliban. They were in the making there, then. The South Waziristan Lashkar took action too against the Uzbeks if you remember, who were thought the roots…
But then Govt. didn’t support the tribal lashkar & Maliks who would supposedly stand … Taliban started killing all such folks, one by one & today, you would find hardly someone who can dare to gather 10 ppl & take a stand…
Mark my words that unless Govt./ Army don’t organize & take the tribal Lashkar in confidence & support, they can do nothing considerable against the Taliban themselves. But I am pretty much sure the Govt. want to prolong this issue as much as possible so that foreign Aid comes… They must be thinking that what if a bunch of people suffer but rest of the country get relief in short term. jiss mein 50% or more goes into their own pockets, enough to buy flats/homes in London/Europe…
I wish they were able to realize the damage in long run… the signs are already there…
By: bmk on May 11, 2009
at 5:35 am
@ bmk .. But I am pretty much sure the Govt. want to prolong this issue as much as possible so that foreign Aid comes… … You’ve hit the nail on the head. You know what, in 2007 the government claimed the Swat taliban as ‘a handful of militants who could be flushed out in days rather than weeks’ but what we saw was the menace spreading in the scenic valley like cancerous cells much to the bafflement of the ordinary Swatis who couldn’t believe how the army was overlooking the emboldened taliban without finishing them off. To add insult to the wounds of Swat was the inability of the authorities to jam signals of the infamous fm radio broadcast run by Fazlullah spreading the venom of militancy and extremism.
I wish I’m wrong in my skepticism that the whole frontier belt is a victim of a game being played by the mighty power players aiming at achieving various objectives, at the expense of the poor people of the region who’re so ruthlessly expelled from their homes for no fault of theirs.
I strongly wish the objectives of this military operations are consistent with the aspirations of the larger chunk of the Pakistani society. I wish there are no evil desires for the region, of the powers that be!
By: Aadil on May 11, 2009
at 6:38 am
Totally agree with your analysis. And yes, the American generals have been saying the same thing that there seem to be Taliban-sympathizers within Pakistan military.
So it’s all about that military and financial aid? This beggary is shameful beyond words.
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:15 am
Aadil: I am also skeptical about the entire situation. The people of this province have suffered so much and God knows how much more will they have to suffer
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:16 am
The debate that who’s doing justice to this issue and who’s not, should be the secondary thing. The internally displaced people (IDPs) need our help. Politician A fills his pockets or feeds his cronies. Will this get us anywhere? Wake up people!
We will help all those that need us and will held authorities accountable for our concerns.
What are we doing for IDPs?
@Ayesha
A comment I posted yesterday is still awaiting moderation. I wonder, WHY?
By: bilish on May 11, 2009
at 10:30 am
Scroll up… the comment is where it should be!
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 10:45 am
I’m posting a link to a wiki which has updates on all the activities related to IDPs. Please spread the word and help in whatever way you can.
http://pakistan.wikia.com/wiki/Internally_Displaced_People
@Ayesha It wasn’t there.
Thanks anyway
By: bilish on May 11, 2009
at 10:54 am
@ bilish .. I so appreciate your concern. Thanks for sharing the link!
By: Aadil on May 11, 2009
at 11:40 am
The plight of the first arrivals in the camps in Swabi and Mardan is quite pathetic. Coming from a cold area they are specially affected by the hot weather. The camps are pitched in open fields with only tent canvas to fend against the summer sun. Despite claims by officers, there is no clean drinking water, which is what the refugees need in the scorching heat to which they are not used. Children are specially affected by the new conditions but medical facilities are absent at the camps. Registration itself is problematic. Because each family has to be issued a special permit before facilities can be made available, hundreds are lining up in front of a single man registering them and issuing permits. This in itself is suffering…..
All this could have been avoided. The plan to take military action should have included detailed plans of looking after the displaced population. And that could have been prepared in light of the experiences of the Afghan refuge camps and the 2005 earthquake…..
http://aliarqam.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/idps-unwellcome-in-karachi/
By: Aliarqam on May 11, 2009
at 5:41 pm
Anyone can feel all that by just looking at the pictures of refugee camps.
*Sigh*
By: Ayesha on May 11, 2009
at 5:47 pm
Lets hope they return soon to the SAFETY of their homes — I’m hoping things will be better soon, InshaAllah.
God help us all…
Military doesnt want to fail & IS with the people !
By: Cavaliere on May 11, 2009
at 11:21 pm
It’s coming from you so I’ll take your word
By: Ayesha on May 12, 2009
at 11:32 am
who’s fighting with whom?
who’s gonna lose?
who will suffer ultimately?
all the questions are simple with straight forward answers
its cultivation time
By: DuFFeR - ڈفر on May 12, 2009
at 9:20 am
You are right in a way . . .
By: Ayesha on May 12, 2009
at 11:32 am
A large number of people also look at this sad situation this way:
There really was no need for such a large scale and extensive military operation in Swat, Lower Dir, Buner and other surrounding areas. The so-called Talibans were sparsely numbered and could be easily dealt with through a much smaller and quiet operation. The mission against them could definitely be accomplished without ruining the lives of the local people on such a devastating scale. The Pakistan Army is simply destroying the villages of the simple and peaceful people of these areas on the pretext of killing the militants. It is widely believed that the Army is doing so just to obey and please their US bosses.
By: bigtugboat on May 13, 2009
at 4:35 am
Hmm… I believe this issue should have been dealt with 2 years ago when Taliban starting emerging in those areas.
Anyway, now such a large scale operation has been started let’s hope they wipe out all the militants.
By: Ayesha on May 14, 2009
at 10:49 am
hey i m from nepal………jus tell me how india has been a part of this taliban problem in afghanistan and pakistan…can u suggest me some books for the rise of taliban in pakistan,that got the precise information…..??///will be grateful to you….mail @anup_raj25@yahoo.com………..
k
look forward hearing from you
By: anup on May 26, 2009
at 5:49 am
I don’t know about any specific book but if you regularly visit http://www.jang.com.pk and http://www.dawn.com you can check out various articles on daily basis about the Taliban issue.
Many analysts here believe that India might be funding Taliban in Pakistan through Afghanistan.
By: Ayesha on May 28, 2009
at 10:49 am