OPERATION SHERDIL - BATTLE FOR BAJAUR

 On 28 Sep 2008, COAS, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani while talking to command elements of Army and FC in Bajaur Scouts Operations Room at Khar, termed 'Operation Sherdil' a watershed operation, both for the Army and Pakistan.  

Operation commenced on 6 Sep 08, coinciding with Defence Day. Operation Sherdil as it unfolded turned out to be a large scale Battle for Bajaur. (former DG ISPR Major General Asif Gahfoor was then commanding his unit, 87 Medium, as a Lt Col)

 Though the Operation was launched by 26 Brigade on 6 Sep, significance of 6 Aug 08 cannot be overlooked, as the day triggered a series of events which led to re-orientation of 26 Brigade towards Bajaur. Therefore in actual sense Operation Sherdil had begun on 6 Aug 08. 

Plan for the Operation Sherdil comprised following two stages:- 

 • Stage-1. Immediate opening and securing of Main Supply Route (Road Munda - Nawagai) 

 • Stage -2. Clearance of valleys from militants' control.

At the start of Operation Sherdil, Taliban strength in Bajaur was estimated to be between 7000-9500. Major groups were:- 

• Maulvi Faqir Mohammad (Naib Ameer of TTP) led the largest group comprising around 3000-4000 militants.  

• Qari Zia-ur-Rehman (an Afghan national) had second biggest group with a strength of around 1500 - 2000 militants including Afghan, Uzbek, Chechen and Arab fighters. 

• Maulvi Abdullah had an estimated strength of around 400-500 militants.  

• Pervez had the smallest group of around 100-150 militants at his disposal. • Naimat Ullah had around 300-400 militants. 

• Ali Rehman had an independent group of 200-300 individuals by the name of Lashkar-al-Islami.  

• Salar Masood had a semi-independent gp, functioning under umbrella of Maulvi Faqir Muhammad having 100-150 pers. 

 • Misc smaller gps under independent comds like Maulvi Inayat ur Rehman, Attaullah Usman, Qari Latif, Najib and Shah Faisal had 600-1000 Fighters. 

On 2 Mar 10, in a befitting finale, Maj Gen Tariq Khan held a press briefing for local and foreign media at Abbas Markaz, Damadola and announced end of major military operations and defeat of militants in Bajaur. Operation Sherdil set the pace and stage for future operations against terrorist in erstwhile FATA and peace in Pakistan. In total 163 soldiers embraced Shahadat and 607 were injured during this operation. Source: A MEMOIR BY MAJOR GENERAL ABID MUMTAZ (He commanded 26 Brigade during the operation).