Dera Ismail Khan:
It is Pakistan's biggest offensive against the Taliban - one that has unleashed a wave of deadly revenge attacks across the country.
With the Pakistani army pounding Al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in South Wazirsitan, thousands of people have become refugees in their own country.
Over two and a half million people have fled the war. And as they pour into the neighbouring danger-laced district of Dera Ismail Khan, each has a harrowing story to tell.
"If we side with the Taliban, the army will shoot us. If we agree with army, the Taliban will torture us. What do we do, where do we go," asks a distressed businessman. "Both my house and my shop are damaged. It's the same with our women and children damaged," he adds.
The army has claimed victory in most of the strongholds despite heavy Taliban resistance. But victory has come at a cost - hundreds of civilians have been killed in the crossfire.
"I had a business and shops worth Rs 35 lakh. It was all destroyed in one day, because of the bombings by jet fighters. If the army wants to eliminate the Taliban, it can within minutes - but it just does not want to. They do not want to eliminate the Taliban, because there are bigger players who have an interest in this. Most women have become widows, some have lost brothers, others fathers and wives. And what will we do with these tents? We have to bear lathi charges and humiliation to get them," relates Inamullah, one of the refugees.
So far, none of the international relief agencies - including the Red Cross - have been allowed access to South Waziristan. Nevertheless, those fleeing Taliban-controlled areas are happy that Taliban rule will end.
"We are happy that the army is coming, but it shouldn't be like this. They should have evacuated us beforehand," says a refugee.
The government has allocated Rs 2.5 billion to support the Internally Displaced People (IDPs), but not everyone is getting this aid.
"Those without ID cards cannot register themselves for non/food items. The 62 families that did not have ID cards were referred them to NADRA for identification formalities.," explains. Khalid Fayyaz, FIDA's Chief Operating Officer.
Security is also an issue. Authorities fear that fleeing Taliban fighters may have blended themselves with the IDPs.
"Dera Ismail Khan is at a crossroads, as the Indus Highway goes through here and we are next to tribal areas like Balochistan. We have to be vigilant for militants coming in through Punjab or other tribal areas," says Commissioner Mohammad Humayun.
The local administration has succeeded in keeping peace in Dera Ismail Khan, and local NGOs have taken over the job of distributing food and non-food items to the displaced.
With journalists and NGOs being denied access to the conflict zone, the war in South Waziristan is being called an invisible war. The people of South Waziristan remain caught in the crossfire.
With the Pakistani army pounding Al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in South Wazirsitan, thousands of people have become refugees in their own country.
Over two and a half million people have fled the war. And as they pour into the neighbouring danger-laced district of Dera Ismail Khan, each has a harrowing story to tell.
"If we side with the Taliban, the army will shoot us. If we agree with army, the Taliban will torture us. What do we do, where do we go," asks a distressed businessman. "Both my house and my shop are damaged. It's the same with our women and children damaged," he adds.
The army has claimed victory in most of the strongholds despite heavy Taliban resistance. But victory has come at a cost - hundreds of civilians have been killed in the crossfire.
"I had a business and shops worth Rs 35 lakh. It was all destroyed in one day, because of the bombings by jet fighters. If the army wants to eliminate the Taliban, it can within minutes - but it just does not want to. They do not want to eliminate the Taliban, because there are bigger players who have an interest in this. Most women have become widows, some have lost brothers, others fathers and wives. And what will we do with these tents? We have to bear lathi charges and humiliation to get them," relates Inamullah, one of the refugees.
So far, none of the international relief agencies - including the Red Cross - have been allowed access to South Waziristan. Nevertheless, those fleeing Taliban-controlled areas are happy that Taliban rule will end.
"We are happy that the army is coming, but it shouldn't be like this. They should have evacuated us beforehand," says a refugee.
The government has allocated Rs 2.5 billion to support the Internally Displaced People (IDPs), but not everyone is getting this aid.
"Those without ID cards cannot register themselves for non/food items. The 62 families that did not have ID cards were referred them to NADRA for identification formalities.," explains. Khalid Fayyaz, FIDA's Chief Operating Officer.
Security is also an issue. Authorities fear that fleeing Taliban fighters may have blended themselves with the IDPs.
"Dera Ismail Khan is at a crossroads, as the Indus Highway goes through here and we are next to tribal areas like Balochistan. We have to be vigilant for militants coming in through Punjab or other tribal areas," says Commissioner Mohammad Humayun.
The local administration has succeeded in keeping peace in Dera Ismail Khan, and local NGOs have taken over the job of distributing food and non-food items to the displaced.
With journalists and NGOs being denied access to the conflict zone, the war in South Waziristan is being called an invisible war. The people of South Waziristan remain caught in the crossfire.
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