Pakistan: Life in Swat Valley | Pulitzer Center Subscribe Life in Mingora (Swat): Coconut for sale. Image by Shaheen Buneri. Pakistan, 2011. Add this image to a lesson Life in Mingora (Swat).People walking along the main bazaar. Image by Shaheen Buneri. Pakistan, 2011. Add this image to a lesson Life in Mingora (Swat). Floods in 2010 washed away bridges and roads. Image by Shaheen Buneri. Pakistan, 2011. Add this image to a lesson Life in Mingora (Swat). A laborer with his cart. Image by Shaheen Buneri. Pakistan, 2011. Add this image to a lesson Life in Mingora (Swat). The security situation is still fragile. Image by Shaheen Buneri. Pakistan, 2011. Add this image to a lesson Print Published August 5, 2011 Mingora is not only the administrative capital of Swat Valley; it is also the main center of social, cultural and economic activities in the Malakand region.

It’s a beautiful city with moderate weather and tourist attractions. Since the time of the Swat State (1915-1969) tourists from inside and outside the country stayed in Mingora before moving to the upper valleys of Swat. The city is also home to rare Buddhist ruins and stupas. According to 1998 census 175,000 people reside in Mingora. Apart from the local Yousafzai tribe of the Pashtuns (predominantly Muslim), Hindu and Sikh families also live in the city—giving diversity to its cultural life. The rise of the Taliban insurgency in 2007 changed the traditional pattern of life in Mingora. Fazlullah, a former lift operator turned militant commander, launched a pirated FM channel in Mamdheri village, at a distance of barely 5 KM from Mingora. In 2008 his campaign against girls’ education, anti-polio treatments and liberal expressions of life left the city and its residents with serious challenges for their survival.

The Green Square of the city, once the hub of social and cultural activities, turned into a ‘’bloody square’’ where the dead bodies of Taliban opponents, police and civil society workers were hung from electricity poles. The Taliban also killed Shabana, a female dancer from the city’s Banr Street; they threw her body in the main square so that others could learn a lesson. After immense international pressure, Pakistan launched a military offensive against the Taliban in 2009. The conflict between the security forces and the Taliban displaced 2.5 million people from Malakand, of which Swat is a district. The city became a battleground and, by the end of the year, a number of buildings were destroyed. The power supply center had been bombed by the Taliban. The military operation pushed the Taliban to the mountainous area along the Pak-Afghan border close to the upper Dir district and Bajaur tribal agency. The displaced people returned to their homes and complained that in their absence their houses were looted and their properties damaged. (After two years of conflict and instability, Shaheen Buneri visits this area under a fellowship from the Pulitzer Center to report on the post-Taliban social, political, economic and security situation.

These photos, focusing mainly on activities of the residents of Mingora city, were taken during his month-long stay in Swat valley.) Transcript Swat Valley Swat Valley Swat Valley Swat Valley in Pakistan The valley of Swat, famous for its scenic beauty, snowcapped peaks, countless waterfalls and glaciers, water springs and pastures, streams and rivulets, thick woods, glades and glens, natural parks, lakes and dark forests. It is truly labeled as the Switzerland of Asia.. The valley is surrounded by high mountains and bounded by Chitral and Ghizer districts in the North, Kohistan and Shangla districts in the East, Buner district and Malakand protected areas in the South and lower and upper Dir districts in the West. Its altitude varies from 2.500 feet to 7.500 feet. The total area of Swat is 5.337 square kilometers with a population of about 1.250.000. Physical Feature The valley of Swat is divided into two physical regions, i.e., Swat-Kohistan and Swat Proper.

Swat-Kohistan is the mountain region on the upper reaches of the Swat river up to Ain in the south while the whole of south of Ain is Swat proper. Ain is subdivided into Bar (upper Swat) and Kuz (lower Swat). The elevation of the valley at the southern boundaries of the district is over 600 meters and rises rapidly towards the north. There are several mountain peaks ranging from 4500 to over 6000 meters above sea level, mostly covered with everlasting snow. Climate Swat lies in the temperate Zone. The summer in lower Swat valley is short and moderate while it is cool and refreshing in the upper northern part. The hottest month is June with mean maximum and minimum temperature of 33°C and 16°C, respectively. The coldest month is January with mean maximum and minimum temperature of 11°C and -2°C, respectively. The winter season is long and extends from November to March, rain and snowfall occurs during this season. The amount of rainfall received during winter season is more than that of summer season. The highest rainfall recorded during the month of March is about 242 mm.

Flora and Fauna The amount of rainfall and temperature is enough for the growth of vegetation. Beyond the height of 4500 ft, there are vast amounts of forests of coniferous trees that consist of pines, dewdar, dedar, byar etc. In the low land of Swat, the temperature is comparatively high, plants and trees of broad leaves such as poplar, bakyan and willow are common. Swat is also well known for its shooting grounds. Land Utilization and Farm Size The topography of the district is such that not all the land is suitable for cultivation. Total reported area of the district is 506,528 hectares out of which 98,054 hectares (19.4%) is cultivated (Table 2.1). Cultivated area is the sum of current fallow and net sown area. Current fallow constitute the area, which is not cultivated during the year under reference but was sown at least once during the previous year. Net area sown is sown at least once during either kharif or rabi season in a year.

Most of the cultivation is carried out in the southern areas of the district consisting of Mingora, Kabal, Barikot, Matta and Khawazakhela. Major portion of the cultivated land in Rabi season is allocated to wheat and maize as the major crop in Kharif season (Table 2.3). Beside this, almost all types of vegetables are produced in the district due to its favorable climatic condition, irrigation water and fertile land. The main source of irrigation is Swat river and its tributaries. The district is also famous for producing quality fruits. A variety of fruits like peaches, apple, pear, apricot, plum, persimmon, walnut, etc. are produced and marketed all over the country. Forestry and Fisheries About 20 percent of the land area of the Swat district is under forest. The government has declared these forests as “Protected Forests” concentrated in the northern areas of Kalam and Madyan. Kail, Spruce and chir are the varieties planted in the south of the district while in the northern and high plains deodar is the most popular variety in addition to those already mentioned.

These forests not only add to the aesthetics of the area but also supply wood for cooking and heating purposes. River Swat, beside the main source of irrigation water for agriculture, also serves as a permanent fishery for the area by providing fish round the year. Mahasher fish is common in lower areas and Trout fish is abundant in upper areas where the water is very cold. Swat Valley travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Swat (pronounced [ˈsʋaːt̪], Pashto: سوات) is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, located close to the Afghan-Pakistan border. It is the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Swat valley is Mingora.[1] It was a princely state (see Swat (princely state)) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until it was dissolved in 1969. The valley is almost entirely populated by ethnic Afghans/Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto.

With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty and is popular with tourists as "the Switzerland of the region" Get in[ edit ] People travelling from down country on their own vehicles can take the Motorway (M-1) and reach Mardan interchange from Islamabad in about one and a half hours after covering a distance of 131 km. From Mardan onwards they can travel via Takh-e-Bai, Dargai, Malakand Pass, Batkhella, Chakdara and finally reach Mingora/Saidu Sharif after covering a distance of 112 km in an additional two and a half hours. The total distance from Islamabad to Mingora/Saidu Sharif is 247Km and it takes around 5 hours with one stop for lunch and refreshments. This route is open for all kinds of traffic throughout the year. Using the above mentioned route from Mardan onwards, the distance from Peshawar to Mingora/Saidu Sharif is 151 km. Total driving time from Peshawar is around 4 hours. For those preferring public transport, travelling in an air conditioned bus service is an option.

There are several bus companies with regular direct service to Mingora from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Mardan. The Daewoo Bus Service operates the most comfortable and reliable air conditioned bus service to Mingora from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar and also provides connecting bus services to the passengers of other major cities such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Abbottabad, Mianwali etc. (For more information about Daewoo Bus Service schedule and fares, please visit their website or call their UAN at 111-007-008). If you are planning to visit Swat valley you may like to check out the “Logistics” section. Get around[ edit ] Swat Valley, especially lower Swat, is a year-round tourist destination. However the main tourist season for Swat begins in spring and lasts till autumn (April to October). April to May is the best time to visit Swat, when the fresh green grass carpet covers the slopes.

June to August is the period when most domestic tourists from the hot plains of Punjab and Sindh escape the scorching summer heat and find refuge in the cool areas of Upper Swat. October-November is the fall season when yellow and golden are the most dominating colors on the backdrop of a clear blue sky. December-March are the winter months; the road beyond Bahrain is snowbound during this time. Safety and Security Conditions in Swat - Swat, known as the Switzerland of Asia due to its natural beauty, has opened its arms for according a warm welcome to tourists as security and peace have been restored and militants have been pushed out of the region by the security forces. With the efforts of the provincial government and facilitation of Pakistan Army, tourists have already started arriving in the area. The area has become more peaceful and secure than some other parts of the country, and included among the safest areas in view of the statistics of law and order. Minor incidents occur in some towns, which can not be used as negation of the real situation.

Pakistan Army has established checkpoints at all entry points and generally the situation in the Valley is now peaceful for tourism Visitors are advised to carry their Passports/National Identity Cards (NIC) with them to avoid inconvenience at the routine security checkpoints established by Pakistan Army and Police department en route. Likewise, foreign tourists should carry their passport and security clearance documents with them. The water available at most places in Swat is not safe to drink, however bottled mineral water is widely available in the towns and even in villages. If mineral water is not available, it is wise to drink bottled drinks or tea. It is also advisable to bring some water purification tablets with you; these are available at chemist shops in all main cities of the country. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Mingora and Saidu Sharif: Important Landmarks are The shrine of the Akhund of Swat, Residence of former Wali of Swat, Swat Museum, Swat Serena Hotel, Archeological remains of the Butkara.

Malam Jabba: (also Maalam Jabba, Urdu: مالم جبہ) is a Hill Station in the Karakoram mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Peshawar, Pakistan. It is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from Saidu Sharif Airport.Malam Jabba is home to the largest ski resort in Pakistan.The Malam Jabba Ski Resort, owned by the Pakistani Tourism Development Corporation, had a ski slope of about 800m with the highest point of the slope 2804 m (9200 ft) above sea level. Malam Jabba Ski Resort was the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counterpart. The resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment. Swat Museum Swat Museum is on the east side of the street, halfway between Mingora and Saidu. Japanese aid has given a facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from some of the Buddhist sites in Swat, rearranged and labelled to illustrate the Buddha's life story.

Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewellery. For the last three years the museum is occupied by Pakistan army and it is not known when they would be leaving it. Miandam Miandam is a small summer resort ten kilometres (six miles) up a steep side valley and 56 kilometers (35 mi) from Saidu Sharif, making it an hour's drive. The metaled road passes small villages stacked up the hillside, the roofs of one row of houses forming the street for the row of houses above. Tiny terraced fields march up the hillside right to the top. Miandam is a good place for walkers. Paths follow the stream, past houses with behives set into the walls and good-luck charms whitewashed around the doors. In the graveyards are carved wooden grave posts with floral designs, like those used by Buddhists 1,000 years ago.

Madyan By the time you reach this small town at 1320 m and about 60 km from Mingora, the mountains have closed in and the valley is almost snug. Here one senses why Swat is so popular among the tourists. There are a lot of embroidered shawls in the Bazars of Madyan.At 1,321 metres (4,335 feet) above sea level,but it is a larger town and has many hotels in all price ranges and some good tourist shopping. Antique and modern shawls, traditional embroidery, tribal jewellery, carved wood and antique or reproduced coins are sold along the main street. This is the last Swati village, offering interesting two-and three-day walks up to the mountain villages... ask in the bazaar in Muambar Khan's shop for a guide. North of Madyan is Swat Kohistan where walking is not recommended without an armed guard. The central mosque at Madyan has carved wooden pillars with elegant scroll capitals, and its mud-plastered west wall is covered with relief designs in floral motifs.

Both bespeak the Swati's love of decoration.For forieng tourest on can help from the link which is owned by Murad Ali Khan Behrain, Swat valley A quarter of an hour past Madyan, the road squeezes through Behrain. Tourists stop to shop or have a look around for beautiful carved wood chairs and tables and other handicrafts. Behrainis are a mix of Pashtuns and Kohistanis. Behrain is ten kilometres north of Madyan and only slightly higher, at about 1,400 metres (4,500 feet). It is another popular riverside tourist resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts. Some of the houses have carved wooden doors, pillars and balconies. These show a remarkable variety of decorative motifs, including floral scrolls and bands of ornamental diaper patterns almost identical to those seen on Buddhist shrines and quite different from the usual Muslim designs. Kalam, Swat valley 2070 m high and 100 km from Mingora, it was the centre of an independent state in the 19th century.

It was later taken by Chitral then given to Swat after partition.Kalam, 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Bahrain and about 2,000 metres (6,800 feet) above sea level, the valley opens out, providing rooms for a small but fertile plateau above the river. In Kalam the Ushu and Utrot rivers join to form the Swat river. Here, the metalled road ends and shingle road leads to the Ushu and Utrot valleys. From Matiltan one gets a breath-taking view of the snow-capped Mount Falaksir 5918 metres (19,415 ft.), and another un-named peak 6096 metres (20,000 ft.) high.

Usho, Swat valley Usho 3 km from Kalam Valley and 117 km from Saidu Sharif Utror, Swat valley Utror 16 km from Kalam Valley and 120 km from Saidu Sharif.Utror valley is situated between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes. The population of Utror is 6888 and the area of the valley is about 47400 hectares. Utror valley is surrounded by Gabral and Bhan valleys on the east, upper Dir district on the west, Kalam valley on the south and Gabral valley on the north. It is 15 km from Kalam, the centre of Swat Kohistan. The altitude of the valley at Utror proper is 2300 meters and reaches to 2900 meters at Kandol Lake.

Ghabral, Swat Valley Gabral valley lies between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes over an area of about 38733 hectares. The population of Gabral is 3238. The valley is surrounded by Chitral District in the north, Utror valley in the south and south west, upper Dir district in the west and Bhan and Mahodand valleys in the east. It is 5 km distant from Utror proper and 20 km from Kalam. The altitude of the valley ranges from 2580 metres at Baila to 5160 metres at Karkaray Lake top.In Utror and Gabral, 44 medicinal plants are collected during the months of May, June, July and August. Only 14 of them are traded to National and International markets while the rest are used locally. A survey by Pakistan Forest Institute concludes that 75 crude herbal drugs are extensively exported and more than 200 are locally traded in Pakistan.

Indigenous people, who have no training in sustainable harvesting, post-harvesting care and storing of medicinal plants, collect 85 percent of these crude herbs from the wild. Spin Khwar Lake Swat valley Pari (Khapiro) lake Pari Lake is one of the lakes in Swat region which is located at a very high altitude in the foot of the tallest peak in the range with a considerable depth. The name Pari or Khapiro is given to the lake due to the widespread belief that the lake is the abode of fairies where they live and bathe in the cool, pure and clear water of the lake. It is located to North-east of Utror valley and can be accessed only by trekking. Trekking to the lake needs endurance and love for nature as the trail is exasperating as well as dangerous therefore, utmost care should be taken while trekking on the narrow bends and turns leading to the lake. The lake is accessible from both Izmis and Kundal lakes. Two ascending tracks lead to this lake from Kundal and Izmis lakes taking almost five hours to reach this roof top of Swat.

The trail is very steep from both sides but the surrounding beauty and eye-cooling green pastures and exotic flowers not only boost the trekker’s stamina but compel him to explore further. Kundol Lake The pastoral valley of Swat has abundance of precious resorts of nature where one can find solace and respite from the never-ending struggle of life. Kundal or Kandolo Lake is one such place here upon which the Maestro of nature has spent extra time and effort to paint. Kundal Lake is situated in the north of Utror valley. One can easily access it from Kalam via Utror from where a link road ends in a green valley called Ladu in the foothills of the lake. You can either hike to Ladu from Utror or take a four-wheeler to ease and minimize your journey. It consumes almost two hours to reach the beautiful valley of Ladu. For the adventurous kind, a walk in the romantic valley will unravel several new mysteries. The people who take temporary residency over here during summer plow the open land and harvest potatoes and turnips, which are famous all over the country for its exotic taste.

There is also a small hut in Ladu where you can take tea and get something for eating. From Ladu it takes almost four hours to reach the lake. Some locals can guide you and even take your luggage if properly paid. The mountains around this small valley are covered with tall cedar and pine trees and meandered by different streams and torrents. The people are friendly and provide you guidance if required. Bashigram Lake Bashigram Lake is situated to the east of Bashigram valley near Madyan. The road to this valley is partly metaled and can be plied by a four by four or any ordinary vehicle. It takes almost forty to fifty minutes to reach this picturesque valley inhibited by simple and hospitable folk. From here, trekking of four to five hours, depending on professionalism and enthusiasm of the trekkers lands you in the realm of a serene and enchanting lake of Bashigram. Spin Khwar (White Stream) Lake Spin Khwar is a beautiful lake hidden in the lap of mountains towards the north of Kundal Lake and east of Utror valley.

The name Spin Khwar has a clear significance as a small white stream in the east flows down to the lake from the surrounding mountains and is a major source of water for the lake. The lake is accessible through two tracks, one from Kundal and the other from Ladu valley. The track from Ladu is comparatively easy to walk and less tiring while the track from Kundal is not only difficult but alarmingly dangerous although it is short and links Kundal and Spin Khwar. Its steepness and dangerous bends needs an experienced trekker and unending physical strength. The grazers in the area have built small huts and a mosque where one can stay but a personal tent is more recommendable as these huts are in a poor condition due to lack of maintenance. Daral Lake Daral lake is situated to the northeast of Sidgai Lake and can be accessed through Saidgai after two to three hours rigorous trekking. The trail to Daral is full of fun and amusement because it runs over sky touching heights of the mountains. As well as this it provides spectacular sights and panoramas for the beauty hungry eyes of nature lovers. A close look towards the south will reveal the long and winding sellouts of river Swat in the horizon.

After walking and trekking for about two and a half hours on bare and naked mountains, the trail starts descending towards the East where Daral Lake is located. The Taliban once ruled Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Now peace has returned. - The Washington Post The Taliban once ruled Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Now peace has returned. The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! In Pakistan’s Swat Valley, a reprieve from fear View Photos Residents are flocking to entertainment outlets whose presence would have been unthinkable a short time ago. Caption Residents are flocking to entertainment outlets whose presence would have been unthinkable a short time ago. April 24, 2015 Men enjoy a 3-D motion ride at a theater in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. As security improves, residents are visiting entertainment outlets in a part of the country where the Taliban once executed men for shaving and women for dancing.

Mian Khursheed/For The Washington Post By Tim Craig May 9, 2015 Follow @timcraigpost MINGORA, Pakistan — Here in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, known for gorgeous sunsets and the calming sound of river rapids, there has been plenty of misery over the past decade. First, Pakistani Taliban militants swept into this conservative part of northwestern Pakistan, killing more than 2,000 people. Then Pakistan’s army showed up to battle the Taliban, forcing 1.5 million residents to flee their homes. And even after soldiers regained control and residents returned, the 2012 shooting of schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai was a reminder that life here remained cruel and unpredictable. But now, with security finally improving, residents are releasing years of stress by flocking to new shopping and entertainment outlets whose existence would have been unthinkable when the Taliban was executing men for shaving or women for dancing. “Before, we were very scared of them.

Our education system was totally down, because when you would go to school, every morning there would be a man lying with his head cut, thrown by the Taliban on the road,” said Arsalan Khan, 25, a resident of this midsize city. “Now, we can just focus on how to live normally.” Though the residents of Swat have long been more educated and wealthier than those in many other rural areas of Pakistan, the changing lifestyles here offer a glimpse into how quickly an area can start modernizing when fears of Islamist militants fade. Abdullah, 20, waits for customers at the Minnie Minors outlet on April 25 at a market in Swat Valley. (Mian Khursheed/For The Washington Post) Even before the Taliban gained effective control over this area in 2007, the mountains that tower over this agricultural region served as a barrier to technology and social changes. But residents say that isolation is quickly being replaced with demand for new haircuts, music, movies and fashion styles. “We now want to dress like the people of Punjab,” said Abid Ibrahim, 19, referring to the eastern province that includes Lahore, often referred to as Pakistan’s most progressive city.

“We want to make ourselves look like models, and with the hairstyles from magazines like developed people.” Ibrahim was at an amusement and gaming center called Motion Rider, which opened in Mingora in February. Life-size posters of a soldier in U.S. military combat gear and European soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo hang on the walls, and customers play Xbox games on big-screen televisions. The main attraction is a 3-D movie theater where seats move in sync with the action on the screen. On a recent visit, patrons were watching “Into the Forest” — a psychedelic ride in which viewers dodge neon trees, bees, butterflies and giant mushrooms. “Everyone had been very depressed, but now people just want to have fun,” said Syad Imad, 36, who owns Motion Rider. Several new Pakistani clothing chains from major cities have also opened in the past year. One store sells women’s jeans, even though most women in Swat wear a burqa or cover their faces with a headscarf when they appear in public. Still, residents say the mere presence of women out shopping, unescorted by male relatives, is a sign of progress.

Abrar Ali, 20, adjusts clothing on display at the Chen One outlet at a Swat Valley market. (Mian Khursheed/For The Washington Post) “I am very optimistic about the future of Swat,” said Iffat Nasir, an activist and school principal, who added that female enrollment in school is increasing steadily. “I see Swat becoming a very modern place.” Some analysts are less certain, noting the area still lags in expanding rights for women, tempering the influence of Islamic schools, known as madrassas, and reinvigorating tourism. And they say advances in Mingora and other population centers are not reflective of far-flung areas in the 3,300-square-mile valley, home to about 2 million people. “It’s still not back to what it was pre-Taliban times,” said Zebunnisa Jilani, who founded the Swat Relief Initiative, a local aid group.

But, she added, “I’ve been to a lot of Pakistan, and I now think Swat is one of the safest places.” Tucked in the Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges, Swat has been referred to as the “Switzerland of Asia” because of its alpine forests and chilly streams. Even after Pakistan was partitioned from India in 1947, Swat remained a semiautonomous state and was governed by a royal family for another two decades. At that time, the valley was known as a moderate, tolerant area with good schools and roads and an efficient justice system. But after Swat was incorporated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 1969, it, like many other areas of Pakistan, began feeling the pull of Islamic fundamentalism. In the early 2000s, as a majority of Pakistani voters began supporting conservative Islamist political parties, a young radical named Maulana Fazlullah began using radio broadcasts to organize in the area. He aligned with the Pakistani Taliban in 2007. Over the next two years, the Taliban gained effective control of much of Swat.

It banned dancing, parties and music shops, and warned barbers not to shave beards. Residents who disobeyed were often executed, including one woman who was hanged in Mingora for dancing. The Taliban also destroyed more than 400 schools. In 2009, amid growing concern that the Taliban could sweep into the capital, Islamabad, a four-hour drive from Swat, the Pakistani army ordered residents to leave so it could fight the militants . Most were allowed to return home three months later, but the army kept tight control over movements in the area for years. But the shooting of Yousafzai , who was 15 at the time, showed the dangers that remained despite the military presence. Yousafzai, who had publicly urged girls to return to school, survived and now lives in Britain. Fazlullah is now the top leader of the Pakistani Taliban, though he is believed to live in Afghanistan. There have been about 50 murders in Swat over the past four years, according to Inamur Rehman, chief of the Swat peace committee. He said most attacks are directed at politicians or law enforcement officials.

There hasn’t been a major bombing in the valley in about three years, Rehman said. As violence has lessened, cultural shifts have become easier to spot. The traditional loose-fitting tunics and pants worn by men — called shalwar kameez — are getting more colorful. More women are wearing pants under knee-high dresses, according to local retailers. Al-Khaleej Barbershop, located about a mile from where Yousafzai was shot, now uses Western models for its window advertisements. “Fewer and fewer here are keeping beards,” said college student Hazrat Bilal, 20, who waited an hour for a spiky haircut on a recent Saturday morning. “For haircuts, mostly we are taking inspiration from [soccer star] Ronaldo and Justin Bieber.” At a video store nearby, employee Khan Muhammad said more than 40 video and music stores had been forced to close or sell only religious-themed movies when the Taliban was in control. Now, he said, the American “ Fast & Furious ” movie series starring Vin Diesel is the top-seller. In the evenings, Mingora residents once again flock to the banks of the Swat River to watch the sunset.

As they gaze across, they see Fazlullah’s home town, Mam Dheri, on the opposite shore. “Some people still feel the past trauma,” said taxi driver Hussain Ali, 32, as a cable car traversed the river, carrying passengers between the two cities. “But slowly but surely, they are coming out of fear.” Haq Nawaz Khan contributed to this report. Read more: Sharia law comes to the Swat valley | openDemocracy Sharia law comes to the Swat valley Ghazal Mahtab 6 March 2009 Subjects: Pakistan in chaos About the author (This week's shooting of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore reminded Pakistanis of the extent to which their country is under attack by Islamist extremists. With terrorist strikes in the country's major cities becoming an increasingly common phenomenon, liberal and secular Pakistan has been shaken to the core by a Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked tribal insurgency that is spilling out of control from the country's rugged borderlands in Afghanistan. But one of the sharpest wake-up calls was delivered not by the bomb or the gun, but by the pen.

In February, the provincial government of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) reached an agreement with insurgents in the Swat valley, winning a ceasefire in exchange for allowing elements of sharia law to be imposed upon the region. Already, Islamists have moved to ban education for girls, the culmination of a bombing campaign against girls' schools. That the Swat valley - a picturesque tourist hotspot not far from the capital Islamabad - is now in the firm grasp of Islamists is a measure of Pakistan's plight. Ghazal Mahtab reports from the Swat valley on life under the Taliban. A version of this piece was published in Afghanistan Monitor . - Editor's note) The recent "peace deal" agreed on 16 February between the NWFP provincial government and the Taliban-linked militant group Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi ( TNSM ), "Movement for Enforcing Mohammad's Sharia Laws" has sent shockwaves across Pakistan. Although the federal government supports the deal as part of "efforts to bring peace and negotiated settlement" to the region, many Pakistanis worry that under the cover of negotiations the NWFP is being converted stealthily into a safe haven for al-Qaeda, the Taliban and their social mores.

Since 2007, the Pakistan military has been battling insurgents in the Swat valley, a former tourist hotspot in the northwest of the country , not far from the Afghan border to the west and the capital Islamabad to the east. Under the deal, the government will implement elements of sharia law in the region of Malakand in the NWFP, an area which includes the Swat valley. The military's presence in the area will also be toned down, with troops redeployed to designated camps and forts. Politicians argue that the deal has the consent of the people of the region. Information Minister Sherry Rehman claims that "the public will of the population of the Swat region is at the centre of all efforts and it should be taken into account while debating the merits of this agreement." But critics argue that a majority of local people in Swat are against the deal, despite demonstrations mobilised by the deal's Islamist proponents in its support. The costs of compromise Residents of the valley remain vulnerable to intimidation and violence by the militants that has drastically curbed public life, especially for women.

Describing the education of girls as "un-Islamic", militants in Swat have destroyed 191 schools including 122 for girls since 2007. Eventually, on 24 December 2008, Maulana Shah Dauran, a Taliban spokesman, announced that girls' education would be outlawed in the valley from 15 January and issued a warning that all girls' schools would have to be closed by the set deadline. According to retired Lt. Gen. Hamid Nawaz, a former Interior Minister and Defense Secretary, "People in Swat are living in fear of militants and they have no other choice but to praise the accord." Maulana Sufi Muhammad , who negotiated and sealed the sharia law enforcement deal in Swat with local government officials, is the founder of TNSM. The movement, however, is now headed by his son-in-law, the religious cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, known as " Maulana Radio " for his illegal nightly FM station, broadcasting his latest fatwas (religious edicts), preaching extremism, and defending Taliban actions.

Sufi Muhammad sent thousands of Pakistani militants to Afghanistan to fight American forces alongside Taliban insurgents after the US invaded the country in 2001. He was arrested by security forces in Pakistan in 2002 and TNSM was banned by the government, but he was released last year after agreeing to "renounce violence" and help work towards peace in the region. Under the peace deal the government will introduce a sharia-based judicial system in parts of NWFP, including the Malakand division, home to around three million people. The system, as the NWFP chief minister pointed out in a news conference, would be run by the same judicial officers, under the same procedural laws, as elsewhere in the country. According to the government, the only Islamic content in the law is the nomenclature, with the substitution of English titles for courts and officials with Arabic ones (e.g. changing title from "judge" to "qazi") Sharia in the "picturesque" valley On the ground, the evidence points to a much darker picture. Islamists in the valley remain bent on imposing harsh interpretations of sharia on women and public activity.

The sharia makes it compulsory for women to cover themselves from head to toe in public and be accompanied by an immediate relative when venturing outside their homes. Though sharia in its original scriptural form doesn't directly proscribe women from schools or from working, modern interpretations can bend sharia in a particularly chauvinist direction, barring women from public life and education. The outlawing of women's education by the Taliban in Swat combined with threats to "cut the throat of any girl above seven years old who was not veiled on the street" is part of such a harsh interpretation of sharia. At the same time, sharia law formalises and enforces the tribal and traditional beliefs in the society to an extent that one hardly can distinguish between a requirement of sharia and a tribal custom. The requirement for men to wear traditional clothes (the "shalwar kameez"), grow beards and wear caps when outside their homes brings religious authority to traditional social habits. Taliban militants ordered men in Swat to grow beards by 25 January and wear caps when outside, or face potentially gruesome punishments, such as risking having acid thrown at them. Barber shops in different areas had been ordered to stop offering shaves to customers.

Under sharia and its interpretations, entertainment is strictly limited. Since 2007, Taliban radicals in Swat have targeted and burnt down CD, TV, computer and music shops. Those in the entertainment industry shared the fate of the shops; a dancing girl, Shabana, who defied the Taliban's ban on entertainment and dancing was murdered, and her bullet-ridden body - strewn with bank notes, CDs of her dance performances and pictures from her photo album - was discovered in the centre of Mingora, the main city in Swat. The sharia laws also sanction public executions for convicted murderers and adulterers and amputations of those found guilty of thefts. Not a solution The "peace deal" between the NWFP provincial government and TNSM has been greeted with concern and reservations by NATO, British and American officials. Western officials remember in particular how the Waziristan Accord of 2006 allowed Taliban and other Islamist fighters the chance to re-group and re-arm in the rugged borderlands, safe from the intervention of the Pakistani government. According to Lt. Gen.

Hamid Nawaz, the accord reflects the government's growing "weakness and helplessness." Since the insurgency began in the valley in 2007, more than 1,200 policemen, civil servants and Swat residents have died in shelling by the army or from attacks sanctioned by the Taliban. Tens of thousands of residents have fled the conflict, swelling Pakistan's already large ranks of internally displaced people. The deal has also reminded many Pakistanis in the country's main cities of the increasingly precarious position of liberal rights and values in the country. Critics have condemned the deal, accusing the government of surrendering to extremist elements by allowing local leaders in northwestern region to introduce sharia law which, they fear, will stoke more violence in the long-run and lead to Talibanisation of Pakistan.

In an interview with the SAMAA news channel, Brigadier Mahmood Shah, the ex-chief of security in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (an autonomous region along the border with Afghanistan), termed the deal merely a "temporary relief" and "not a solution to long-lasting peace." He pointed out how similar agreements had been made in the past in neighbouring areas (like the Waziristan Accord), but all they did was allow the militants to breathing room to regroup and to re-arm. Speaking to Geo news, Iqbal Haider, former Federal Law Minister and prominent human right activist, said that "the document signed by the NWFP government and Sufi Muhammad does not include one word about restoring peace... the document is unlawful and extra-constitutional." Haider insisted that "truth will be sifted from falsehood soon and the people will know that such types of accords will not get rid of terrorism, religious fanaticism and extremism." Nevertheless, Pakistan's beleaguered president, Asif Ali Zardari "defended" the deal and stated that use of force alone will not solve Pakistan's problems. A "multi-pronged strategy, which includes economic program, force, and dialogue" has to be used.

The Pakistani government insists the deal should be seen in a "positive manner". Senior provincial minister Bashir Bilor said, "Our condition for accepting their demand was that they establish peace. We are hopeful; with the cooperation of Sufi Mohammad, we will restore peace." Islamabad has the difficult task of spinning the deal to its western allies. While Pakistan's federal government and the NWFP provincial government have stated that "establishment of complete peace is imperative for the implementation of the accord", NATO has described the accord as a "negative development". "We should all be concerned by a situation in which extremists would have a safe haven." said James Appathurai, a NATO spokesman. "I do not want to doubt the good faith of the Pakistani government, but it's clear that the region is suffering very badly from extremists and we would not want it to get worse". Jennifer Wilkes, the spokesperson of the British High Commission in Pakistan, echoed such doubts. "We have concerns. Previous peace deals have not provided a comprehensive and long-term solution to Swat's problems.

Britain wants the current peace deal to end violence, not create space for further violence." Such arrangements "need to be clear, robust and monitored long-term, and include enforceable measures on cross-border movement to tackle cross-border militancy" in Afghanistan. But the geopolitical exigencies of the deal will be lost on the residents of Swat, who face the prospect of living under the sway of fundamentalists. We encourage anyone to comment, please consult the The Swat Valley of Pakistan - Cush Travel Blog Cush Travel Blog You Are Here: CushTravel > Asia > South Asia > Pakistan > The Swat Valley of Pakistan The Swat Valley of Pakistan June 15, 2016 By Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment When Alexander the Great trudged around the India- Pakistan area on his travels, one of the rivers he crossed was the Suvastu, which many now identify as the Swat. This river is yet extant and is the source of irrigation for a big part of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The valley area has long been divided into two parts, so Swat has two valleys, the Upper Swat Valley and the Lower Swat Valley.

Both are of great interest to tourists in this part of the country, and for a lot of reasons. This is a place rich with both historic and natural treasures, after all. Breathtaking Swat Valley in Pakistan As far as historic wealth goes, it is hardly a surprise that Swat’s valleys are bursting at the seams with artefacts, ruins, and other remains of impressive age. From the records of Alexander the Great’s passage through the area, we are assured that settlements were already existent here as early as the 3rd century BCE. This was a major set of Buddhism in the area for some time as well, which means that Buddhist sites and excavations abound. Indeed, some archaeologists have noted Swat to have so many sites of importance to Buddhism in the region that it would be no exaggeration to say that people going on digs in the area were at one time simply tripping over more sites as they combed the land. To give you an idea of the sheer density of Buddhist sites here, a single area of about 160 square kilometres has been recorded to yield well over 400 locations marked as Buddhist ruins.

Hinduism is well-represented too, as the Hindu Shahi rulers were defeated only in the year 1000, and had several centuries of ascendancy before that. This means that there are a great many Hindu sites, primarily in the form of ruined temples, that may be found in the area. The rulers of Swat also built several forts, the ruins of which may be found around the towns today. Some rulers’ buildings are better preserved, of course, especially those of more recent provenance. Take the Sufid Mahal Marghazar, a white marble mansion that used to be occupied by the person ruling the valley There are definitely many places to go to in the Swat Valley. Shoppers had best go to the Madyan and Behrain towns, which are at end of the valley right up against the mountains. These are great for picking up souvenirs and all sorts of local handicrafts-as well as possibly make off with a lucky find at the antique shops, as artefacts are not unheard of in the shops here. And if you want to do something a bit more sporty-say hiking, trekking or even skiing-the mountains are right there for you to explore too.

The biggest ski resort in the country, Malam Jabba, is actually in Swat and is set in the Karakoram Range, just over 300km from the country’s capital. Swat Valley is most often visited by those simply seeking the peace and tranquillity of the location, though. People come here to be spared the summer heat of the lowland cities. Fishermen come to pursue the trout in the valley’s lakes, which include Kundol Lake, Pari Lake, Bashigram Lake and the more difficult-to-reach Spin Kwar and Daral. Whatever your reasons for heading over to this part of the country, it shall certainly be difficult to regret the decision afterwards, given how many have ended up becoming enamoured with the place after only a day or two spent in this idyllic cradle of culture and serenity.

Malala did not deserve Nobel Peace Prize, say residents of her Swat Valley home - Telegraph Malala did not deserve Nobel Peace Prize, say residents of her Swat Valley home Little sympathy for Malala Yousafzai in her Pakistani hometown as she misses out on Nobel Peace Prize Pakistani girls attend class at a school in Mingora, a town in Swat valley Photo: AFP By Ashfaq Yousufzai, Mingora, and Rob Crilly, Islamabad 1:10PM BST 11 Oct 2013 The announcement that the Nobel Peace Prize would go to chemical weapons campaigners was met with a mix of schadenfreude and indifference in the Pakistani town where Malala Yousafzai lived and almost died. Many residents of Mingora, in the heart of the Swat Valley, feared a win for the schoolgirl’s high profile campaign against the Taliban could have provoked revenge attacks. Shoiab Khan, who works in a local bank, said the right decision had been made. “She doesn’t deserve it at all,” he said, adding that there was widespread opposition to her efforts to get girls into school, a campaign many believed was being orchestrated by shadowy foreign forces.

“What about thousands of children who are here, under the shadow of Taliban and risk their lives every day? Malala’s interviews overseas will not help girls here.” Related Articles 11 Oct 2012 The reaction is commonplace in a country with a complicated relationship with terrorism and the West. Many political leaders prefer to talk about the way foreign hands are to blame for the country’s ills rather than tackling home-grown threats. As a result, analysts say Malala has found herself at the heart of that confusion as she tried to confront the extremists, accused of being a British or American agent and often viewed as a deserving Taliban target. So while the rest of the world watched and waited for the announcement to be made in Norway, it was business as usual in Green Square, Mingora, a place where the Taliban executed their opponents when they controlled the region from 2007 to 2009. Few people discussed Malala unless asked. Iqbal Khan, a hotelier, said the schoolgirl had left the local population at risk of attack. “We all know that secular forces were conspiring against Islam and these forces were using Malala to defame Islam, something in which they would never succeed,” he said.

A day earlier the Pakistan Taliban had renewed its threat to kill the 16-year-old and also warned bookshops not to stock her new memoir or risk attack. The militants overran the town in 2007 and their influence is still keenly felt in this conservative corner of Pakistan, where women are largely expected to stay at home Only her former classmates and teachers at the Khushal Public School in the Swat Valley town of Mingora expressed disappointment. “All her friends wanted to see her winning the award,” Yasmin Begum, a pupil at the school said after learning her friend had not won the award. “I don’t believe my ears, because I was confident after everything she’d been through that she would get the prestigious prize.” Swat Valley Swat Valley Malala's War -- Diary of a Pakistani School Girl Rukhsana Hasib | Posted 12.12.2012 | World 13-Year-Old Pakistani Girl Nominated For International Peace Award The Times of India | Posted 11.21.2011 | Home De-radicalizing The Pakistani Taliban Shehzad H.

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02 Feb 2009 20:22 GMT The Pakistan military launched an operation against the groups operating in Swat in 2007. Fazlullah's supporters have blown up 173 schools, 105 of them for girls, since 2007, Sher Afzal, a Pakistani education ministry official, said last month. 'Out of control' Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the Swat valley, said that decapitated bodies of policemen, left with notes warning authorities, were now a common sight on streets in the area. "It is out of control, because the elected representatives of the people who were promising to bring peace ... disappointed their people when they ran out of the area after their escalation of violence, leaving most of their supporters in the lurch," he said. In depth Video: Taliban sway over Swat "[The people] still need a political administration on the ground." Hundreds of people have reportedly fled the area in recent days, heading for two relief camps opened at schools in and near the region's main city of Mingora. "We are facing a very dangerous situation," Wajid Ali Khan, a provincial minister, said.

"The fighting in the valley has made it almost impossible for civilians to stay there anymore." Up to one third of the 1.5 million population is estimated to have left Swat, which until recently was a prime tourist destination because of its natural beauty. 'Complex situation' Speaking to Al Jazeera, Imtiaz Gul, a Pakistani security analyst, said what prevails in Swat "is a very difficult and complex situation" that will need both a military and political approach to resolve. "It has to be a combination of blitzkrieg, surgical strikes and operations in the Swat valley, backed up by the civilian administration as well as the political leadership," he said. Have you witnessed the violence in Pakistan's Swat valley? Pakistani Taliban Urges Malala To Return To Swat Valley Pakistani Taliban Urges Malala To Return To Swat Valley July 17, 2013 RFE/RL Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai speaks to the United Nations Youth Assembly on July 12 at UN headquarters in New York.

Share Email to a Friend Print A senior Pakistani Taliban militant has urged teenage education campaigner Malala Yousafzai to return from Britain and join a female madrasah in her hometown of Mingora in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. In a 2,000-word letter published on July 17 , Adnan Rashid insisted the Taliban was not against girls' education. Rashid said the Taliban tried to kill Malala last year because the Islamic militants thought the young teenager was "running a smear campaign to malign their efforts to establish [an] Islamic system in Swat." Rasheed said he regretted the shooting, but did not apologize for it. Rasheed said he wished he could have told her to "refrain from anti-Taliban activities" to prevent the attack. Malala was shot in the head while traveling home from her school in Mingora. Last week, on her 16th birthday, Malala said in a speech to the United Nations that the Taliban had failed to silence her. She also called for greater support of universal education for all children.

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, now a UN special envoy on global education, criticized Rasheed for writing the letter while the Taliban continues to attack schools. Rasheed also justified recent attacks in Pakistan on health workers providing children with polio vaccinations, claiming the West is trying to sterilize Muslims. In the past, the Taliban has denied carrying out such attacks. Rasheed was a former Pakistan Air Force officer and jailed for trying to assassinate General Pervez Musharraf. The Taliban set him and other prisoners free last year during a raid on their jail. With reporting by dpa and Channel4.com Related

Question: In which country is the Swat Valley?
Answer: Pakistan