Mingora suffers minimum damage

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Iqbal Khattak

MINGORA: Deserted streets and empty houses were a common sight in Mingora city, which looked more like a ghost town, but what was surprising was the less than expected collateral damage during the military operation against the Taliban in Swat and surrounding areas.

“My house is safe,” screamed Swat journalist Rashid Iqbal moments after a M-17 army helicopter landed with journalists onboard visiting the city, up to 70 percent of which, a military commander said, had been secured from Taliban control.

Fewest journalists believed the city would have avoided as much destruction during the operation when the Taliban were reported to have taken positions atop most important buildings and covering the streets with landmines to deny free movement to security forces.

“I thought half of Mingora city would be razed to the ground in the operation, but it is 95 percent safe,” the Swat journalist said after visiting his home.

Buildings at three places in the city were completely or partially damaged during the action. Electricity wires had been damaged at certain points, but widespread destruction to civic infrastructure, as was expected, was not to be seen.

Fear of widespread looting proved wrong as goods placed inside shops were seen untouched. Even shops with damaged shutters saw no looting, as food items were seen untouched.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_34