Swat: From Tourist Heartthrob to Taliban Target! Is the GOVERNMENT doing ANYTHING in the RIGHT Direction?

It was July 2007, when the local taliban leader in Swat Maulvi Fazalullah along with his militants took control of the natural tourist heaven in Pakistan known as Swat.

The road to Matta in Pakistan’s scenic Swat Valley is lined with white flags. These flags are not signs of surrender, however, but a plea for peace that terrified locals fly from cars and buildings.

Since last one year this beautiful place which is bestowed by ALLAH to have a lot of natural beauty has been converted into a battle ground. The ongoing war between the security forces and the local talibans has not only affected the economy of the country but also has taken away the peace of Swat for which it was known for.

As tension between security forces and local Taliban is increasing day by day, more than 50,000 people have fled the Taliban-controlled areas. Many areas of this tourist paradise look like haunted places. More than 500 hotels and restaurants have closed down in the last two months. Schools have been closed in all Taliban-controlled areas. Security forces have converted many restaurants and shopping plazas into trenches.The economy of Swat, dependent on tourism, had collapsed.

The Taliban’s grab for the Swat Valley, which used to be a popular honeymoon destination, was the Islamists’ first real incursion into Pakistan proper.

But the question is what is it leading to? Is the government doing anything in the right direction?

The concern of majority of the Pakistanis is that if Taliban can take control of Swat which was considered to be a major tourist attracting place then they can easily reach peshawar and other adjoining tribal areas.

Can Pakistan afford to lose its North Western region like it did in 1971 by letting go of eastern Pakistan?

The answer to this question is definitly negative but it is a reality which is haunting even the children of Pakistan because with current state of affair no one is sure what will happen tomorrow!