Caring for and rehabilitating IDPs - Reinforcing the counter-terrorism response

The successful military operation against militants in Swat and Malakand Divisions resulted in the restoration of peace, and law and order in that region by August 2009.
Throughout this time, the People's Government simultaneously tackled a gargantuan challenge of caring for millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing the conflict in Swat and Malakand Divisions, and subsequently rehabilitating them back in their homes in the shortest possible time.
The military Operation Rah-e-Rast against terrorists conducted during May-August 2009 caused the largest mass exodus of IDPs in recent history. Approximately 2.5 million people left their homes in Swat and Malakand seeking shelter in various parts of the country, to escape from the conflict. The vast majority of the IDPs took shelter in schools and other public buildings, with host families or in rental accommodations.
The People's Government was confronted with the twin challenges of looking after these IDPs and clearing up the area of terrorists so that early rehabilitation of IDPs could be managed to win the hearts and minds. Had the situation not been handled wisely, it could well have developed into a major humanitarian crisis.
The People's Government mobilised all physical and human resources in looking after the IDPs. To provide shelter and other basic amenities, the Government set up Ð through the Special Support Group constituted by the Prime Minister for this purpose -- approximately 30 camps in NWFP, which hosted varying numbers of IDPs through the duration of the military operation.
Following successful results of Operation Rah-e-Rast, around 1.6 million IDPs have returned to their villages in Swat and Malakand Division. As a result of the returns, 13 camps have closed down, while another 17 still remain open in NWFP.
The military and humanitarian successes achieved during Operation Rah-e-Rast and the political ownership of the war empowered the People's Government to subsequently launch Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path of Deliverance) on October 17, 2009 in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) in a bid to flush out terrorists from FATA.
By and large, although the number of terrorist attacks and the resulting casualties increased in 2009, the Government's military response inflicted heavy damage on the terrorists networks and infrastructure in FATA and adjacent areas:
'After the Taliban violated the Nizam-eÐAdl Regulation, 2009 in Malakand Division, the Government adopted a consistent policy of non-reconciliation with the militants and conducted five major military operations of these, Operation Rah-e-Rast was the most successful, which not only restored the writ of the Government in Malakand Division but also dislodged the militant infrastructure from the area. Compared to 313 operational attacks conducted in [2008], 596 operational attacks were launched by the security forces in 2009. During the year, 12,866 militants were arrested including 75 al Qaeda and 9,739 local Taliban and militants belonging to other banned groups and Baloch insurgents.
The ongoing Operation Rah-e-Nijat against terrorists holed up in SWA is a logical extension of the People's Government's committed fight against terrorists who are challenging the writ of the State. The case of SWA, however, is different from Swat and Malakand. In SWA, we have not seen any public demand which the Government is not willing to address. On the contrary, since coming to power in 2008, the People's Government has placed the political, economic and human development of FATA as its priority.
But SWA and its people are being held hostage by very dangerous terrorists who reject Pakistan. They want to tear FATA away from the body politic of our country, and create a criminal state of their own. The Government has engaged these elements since 2004 in peace talks, but they have always violated peace agreements. The People's Government has a stated policy of holding dialogue with only those elements who surrender their arms and do not challenge the writ of the state.
But today, they have declared an open war against Pakistan and its people. They are attacking State institutions and public places, killings thousands of innocent Pakistani people and soldiers on a daily basis. In this situation, why should the Government hold talks with these terrorists? Furthermore, what should the talks be about? To cede SWA and FATA to terrorists?
The people of Pakistan want terrorism to be eliminated from their homeland. They want the rule of law, peace, stability and security, which the People's Government is obliged to provide, and which it will do so at any cost. Operation Rah-e-Nijat is ongoing and will only conclude once the Government's national security objectives are met.