The Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (English: Operation Righteous Path), was a Pakistan Army operation in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The operation was commenced on June 28, 2008, and was halted by the Army on July 9, 2008, after liberating Bara Tehsil from the terrorist.[7] On July 9, 2008 another operation, codenamed Zarbe-Kaleem, was launched in Hangu district.[8]
The Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (English: Operation Righteous Path) was launched by Pakistan Army's 40th Infantry Division. Prime ministerYousaf Raza Gillani's government had ordered the Pakistan Army to launch an operation against the Taliban forces in the tribal district of Khyber Agency. According to the Prime minister, the operation was aimed at the Mangal Bagh, a Taliban commander, and was launched as last resort.[7]
The 40th Infantry Division carried out aggressive military campaigns against Tehreek-e-Taliban Lashkar-e-Islam and its rival, Ansarul Islam. The troops were forwarded to Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency where LeI headquarters were located.[9]
The immediate trigger for the operation was two incidents of kidnapping which occurred in Peshawar on the June 21, 2008. Militants abducted six women from the city's posh Hatband neighborhood on allegations of involvement in human trafficking, and a group of 16 Christians, including two priests, was abducted in broad daylight during a prayer meeting. The Christians were released following hurried negotiations between the government and Islamist groups in the region.[10] Both kidnappings were perpetrated by the Islamist group Lashkar-e-Islam, which was the target of Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem in Khyber Agency.[7]
During the weeks of fighting, the 40th Infantry Division had taken control of a key town and demolished the LeI's military infrastructure. During the operation, two militants were reported to be killed while one soldier was also killed in operation. The military had removed the elements of the LeI organization. As result of the operation, Pakistan was able to secure government control in Khyber.[1]
^Abbas, Hassan. “Reforming Pakistan's Police and Law Enforcement Infrastructure.” United States Institute of Peace, 2011, pp. 13. This report discusses Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem as successful in disrupting militant networks in Khyber Agency in 2008.
^Fair, C. Christine. “The Militant Challenge in Pakistan.” Asia Policy, no. 11, 2011, pp. 110. doi:10.1353/asp.2011.0010. This journal article analyzes Pakistan's counterinsurgency operations, including the gains made in Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem in 2008.
^ Javaid, Umbreen, and Musarat Javed. “Pakistan’s Fight against Terrorism.” Defense & Security Analysis, vol. 32, no. 1, 2016, pp. 56. doi:10.1080/14751798.2015.1127155. This article provides an overview of Pakistan's counterterrorism operations, referencing success in Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem against militants.
^Khan, Ismail. "Pakistan’s Offensive Against the Taliban." CTC Sentinel 2.6 (2009): 2. Web. This journal article mentions the 2008 Sirat-e-Mustaqeem operation driving militants from Khyber.
^Yusuf, Moeed. “Conflict Dynamics in Pakistan.” United States Institute of Peace, 2 Oct. 2012, p. 4. This report analyzes conflict in Pakistan, noting Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem as a significant 2008 counterinsurgency victory.
Pakistan
TNSM
Al Qaeda
PM Yousaf Gillani
M.Gen. Tariq Hayat
