How Pakistan won the Asymmatrical War...?

 "Major Military Operations Undertaken by Pakistan Army against AL Qaeda and it's affiliates after 9/11"

1. Operation Al Mizan (Justice/Balance) 

 It is a blanket reference to all military actions, deployments and operations undertaken between 2002 and 2006 in which approximately 70,000-80,000 troops participated. Al Mizan was conducted in the tribal areas (mostly South Wazirisyan) to flush out the foreign fighters of Al Qaeda who has escaped to the tribal areas after US invasion. During this time, a number of dialogues were held, and peace deals were cut with the militants with a view to stabilize the situation, minimize civilian casualties and salvage those fighters who would still listen to reach. 

2. Operation Rah e Haq 1 and 2- Swat (2008)

 In the end of 2007, Pakistan Army commenced a series of military operations against the Taliban in Swat which were sporadically spread over the next two years. These included Raah e Haq 1 (October-December 2007), Raah e Haq 2 (July 2008) and Raah e Haq 3 (January 2009).

3. Operation Toor Tunder - Buner, Lower Dir and Shangla (2009)

Operation Black Thunderstorm or Toor Tundar was launched first in Lower Dir, then Buner and later into other areas in April 2009. The operation was successful and militants were flushed out from the entire area. Foreign fighters including Libyan and Syrian had also been caught in the area. 

4. Operation Raah e Raast - Swat (May 2009) 

 It began in May 2009 with operations in the town of Mingora, Malam Jabba, Peochar and Bahrain. A large number of security forces including Naval forces participated in this operation. Taliban leaders including Muslim Khan were captured while Fazlullah was wounded in airstrikes but later managed to escape and became the leader of TTP. Operation was a complete success. Militants were defeated and 2 million displaced people were brought back to their homes safely.

5. Operation Sherdil - Bajaur Agency (Sept 2008)

Bajaur, though the smallest of the agencies was significant nonetheless as a major route to Afghanistan passed through it from the location of Loisam. Taliban had captured Loisam in Aug 2008. Opertion was launched by FC under the command of Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj Gen Tariq Khan, an officer known for his courage and for transforming FC into a potent force. FC was supported by troops under the leadership of Commander 11 Corps Lt Gen Safdar Hussain. Lashkars especially the Salarzai tribe actively took part in the fight. Bulk of the area was cleared and the important town of Damadola was finally wrested from the Taliban control. The operation led to the death of around 1000 militants. 

6. Operation Zalzala- South Waziristan Agency (2008-09) 

The operation Zalzala (earthquake) was launched after the collapse of the Sararogha peace deal b/w government of Pakistan and Baitullah Mehsud b/c of the capture of Sararogha Fort by Taliban. 

It was launched in Jan 2008 as part of Op Tri Star in which FC, Army's 14th Division and PAF elements participated. Militants were attacked at various points including Spinkai and Kotkai. One of the key targets was Qari Hussain Mehsud who was training suicidal attacks. 

7. Op Sirat e Mustaqeem- Khyber Agency (2008) 

While militancy was not new to Khyber agency, yet TTP had never established a foothold in the area. Khyber agency previously saw skirmishes on the Deobandi-Barelvi lines. Prominent groups included Lashkar e Islam (LI) led by Mangal Bagh Afridi, Amr Bin Maroof Wa Nahee Anil Munkir led by Haji Naamdar and Ansar Ul Islam (AI) led by Qazi Mehboob. With the passage of time, LI and AI turned on each other and bloody feuds ensued. Tauheed ul Islam also joined against Lahkar e Islam. TTP also aligned forces against LI to gain control of the area for its own use. Mangal Bagh rose to prominence through the use of FM radio transmissions and kidnapping of businessman for ransom. 

These incidents caught the attention of federal forces which responded swiftly. The operation culminated in the signing of a peace deal in which LI accepted the government's writ in the Bara area. 

8. Op Daraglum and Bya Daraghlum- Khyber Agency (Dec 2008- Sept 2008) 

Khyber agency contained the strategic Khyber pass and the Pak-Afghan route passed through it. Increased presence of miscreants in the area who plundered the NATO supplies forced the GoP to launch another operation.

9. Operation Brekhna -Mohmand Agency (Sept 2009) 

The Operation Brekhna was launched in late 2009 to flush out the miscreants of TTP from the Mohmand valley which bordered the Kunar province of Afghanistan after a number of suicide attacks and kidnappings. The op was undertaken in four phases: in the first phase the area was cleared of the militants, in the second phase displaced people were brought back to the agency, in the third phase peace committees were established, and in the final phase confidence building measures were taken. By the end of the year, 80% area had been cleared of enemy positions. 

10. Operation Rah e Nijat - South Waziristian (Oct 2009) 

 Mid-2009 saw successes in Swat. Taliban were on the run. To accrue maximum advantage from the prevailing environment, it was decided that Op Raah e Nijaat (Path to deliverance) needed to be launched in SWA.  Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur were sidelined through peace deals. Leaflets were dropped as part of a psychological campaign, carrying messages from religious authorities to denounce the so called jihad. PAF lead the operation through air strikes and troops of 11 Corps and FC participated in the ground offensive. Offensive was launched from three directions i.e Razmak, Jandola and Shakai. Heavy fighting occurred at Kanniguram, thought of as the HQ of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike on 7 Aug 2009. He was replaced by his cousin, Hakeemullah Mehsud. 

11. Op Khwakh Ba De Shum - Orakzai and Kurram Agency (2010) 

 Op Khwakh ba de shum (You will come to know/like me) was launched initially in Orakzai agency on 23 March 2010 and later in Kurram Agency. 11 Corps, FC and PAF participated. Op was successfully concluded by Jan 2011. 

12. Operation Koh e Sufaid - Kurram Agency (June-Aug 2011) 

Pakistan Army launched Operation Koh e Sufaid (White Mountains) in June 2011, aimed at regaining control of the Tal-Parichinar road. Ground offensive was preceded by PAF sorties.  Around 40,000 troops of 11 Corps and FC participated under the supervision of Commander 11 Corps Lt Gen Asif Yaseen Malik. Lashkars of the Musazai tribesmen also participated in the op against TTP. A significant development before the op was the defection of Fazal Saeed, Taliban commander from TTP and formation of his own faction, Tehrik e Taliban Islami Pakistan (TTIP), denouncing ops against the state of Pakistan and diverting his fighters against the US forces in Afghanistan.
The operation was completed by mid Aug 2011. Approximately 200 militants were killed by the end of this campaign. 

13. Operation Tri Star - South Waziristan Agency (2011) 

It was launched on 13 July 2011 in Janata Valley of SWA where the terrorists had occupied surrounding heights and had setup training camps. 

13. Operation Zarb e Azb:

Pakistan military had launched Operation Zarb e Azab (Strike of the Prophet's sword) six months before the APS attack in 2014 aimed at eliminating the scourge of terrorism in totality. The success of this operation finds few parallels in modern history.

  Operation Zarb e Azab was launched in North Waziristan after Gen Kayani had channelised the terrorists of TTP by clearing Swat and six agencies of erstwhile FATA in a series of military operations from 2008 onwards. Miran Shah and Mir Ali were cleared within a month. 

 Within 2 years, 4000 sq kms of area was cleared from the terrorists in North Waziristan Agency. 243 tons of explosives enough to make one Improvised Explosive Device (IED) per day for the next 17 years was seized. 7500 bomb factories were shut down. 

 

992 sanctuaries were wiped out. 3500 terrorists were killed and 19000 Intelligence Based Operations were carried out. 567 welfare projects were undertaken by the military along with the provision of intimate support during rehabilitation of 61% of IDPs in two years time. 

As a result, there was a decrease in terrorism within the country by 40-50 percent. Arguably, Op Zarb e Azab is likely to be landed into counter insurgency textbooks internationally. It showed light at the end of a very dark tunnel. 

Reference: Fighting Demons by Mian Nadir