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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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7

Taliban Surrenders in Swat

Maulana Fazlullah either surrounded or arrested as Pakistani offensive continues

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(Newser) – A Taliban-controlled pirate radio station announced the militant group's surrender in the Swat Valley, after yet another key leader was said to have been arrested by the Pakistani military, the Telegraph reports. Though some reports claim that Maulana Fazlullah is surrounded by Pakistani forces, sources tell the Telegraph that he has already been arrested—but that an official announcement will not be made until early next week.

Speculation that Fazlullah was apprehended began to circulate after Pakistani security forces released his wife and children from custody after 4 weeks of detention. Pakistani forces have struck deep in the heart of the Taliban-controlled Swat valley since May, killing hundreds of militants and displacing more than 200,000 civilians.

Pakistani security forces display ammunition allegedly recovered from Taliban activists who surrendered in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Pakistani security forces display ammunition allegedly recovered from Taliban activists who surrendered in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Abdullah Khan)
A soldier of Pakistan Amy ties blindfold to an alleged Taliban activist who surrendered with others in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
A soldier of Pakistan Amy ties blindfold to an alleged Taliban activist who surrendered with others in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Naveed Ali)
Pakistan Army soldiers patrol in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Pakistan Army soldiers patrol in Kanju, near Mingora, capital of Pakistani troubled Valley of Swat, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Naveed Ali)
In this government ad on Pakistan's The News issued on Thursday, May 28, 2009, shown are mug shots of militants, among them the radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, top right, in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In this government ad on Pakistan's The News issued on Thursday, May 28, 2009, shown are mug shots of militants, among them the radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, top right, in Islamabad, Pakistan.   (AP Photo/The News)
Pakistan soldiers examine the site of suicide bombing at a checkpoint near Batkhela, a town of Pakistan's Malakand district, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.
Pakistan soldiers examine the site of suicide bombing at a checkpoint near Batkhela, a town of Pakistan's Malakand district, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Abdullah Khan)
A Pakistan soldier stands guard close to the site of suicide bombing at a checkpoint near Batkhela, a town of Pakistan's Malakand district, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.
A Pakistan soldier stands guard close to the site of suicide bombing at a checkpoint near Batkhela, a town of Pakistan's Malakand district, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Abdullah Khan)
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7 comments
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Nwambe
Sep 13, 09 12:36 PM CDT
Now, the question becomes - Would Pakistan have been able to act without the international community's intervention, or were they able to subdue the Taliban because of the support of international forces? Also, will they be able to maintain this momentum? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
dax
Sep 13, 09 12:49 PM CDT
The pressure placed on the Taliban by the U.N./U.S offensive and the drone attacks, surely contributed. Pakistan had the materiel and logistic capacity to challenge the Taliban, but lacked the political will. The international community helped prod that political will.
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JimW
Sep 13, 09 1:53 PM CDT
I agree with all that, but you can bet what REALLY prodded them was the fact that enemy was right on their front doorstep. Reply
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gogo
Sep 13, 09 1:59 PM CDT
Does this mean the Taliban surrendered, or it just surrendered the valley? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
emptycalm
Sep 13, 09 2:03 PM CDT
definitely just in the valley.
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