As in any military operation, the SWAT valley does suffer damage but so do the Taliban (the real targets of the Army) whose elimination is top priority in order to keep Pakistan safe from the external threats creating instability within Pakistan. Did we not lose lives in 1965 war against India? Didn't we sacrifice ourselves for the greater good of the Pakistani Nation... We request the residents of Swat to keep themselves safe by leaving the areas where their life may be in danger so that there are minimum civilian casualities and more damage can be done to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Militants. Our Army neither wants to nor is killing its own people! Instead its recovering the land for the people of Swat. The sad faces which Media exploits today; telling we are in fear, we don't have water or schools etc These people wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for Allah's will and our Armed forces who are ensuring the safest possible recovery of Swat. Fear, Water and Electricity are meaningful when people remain alive so remain patient. Remain calm! Do not fall prey to the MEDIA propaganda whose roots lie in "Breaking News Culture" without verification to make money. This media, in-sincere to the Nation and Ummah will be answerable to Allah for mis-leading the masses and creating an air of hopelessness and chaos in Pakistan. Have faith in Allah, he has not abandoned us. Times are tough as they have been before too but its not the end of the World... there are glad tidings and glory for those who remain firm in their faith and trust in Allah till the end of these tough times. Remember our Forces, Muslim Ummah and Pakistan in your dua as it is the strongest of forces with which we can all contribute in this test phase from Allah and please him. "The Pakistani government has lifted a curfew in the Swat valley for a few hours to enable residents to flee the conflict-ridden region. Military officials said Sunday that the curfew, lifted at 0600 local time, gives the residents a seven-hour opportunity to flee the violence-hit region. The curfew has kept thousands of civilians from fleeing the conflict zone. Lifting the curfew and urging the residents to flee indicates that the battle between the army and Taliban militants is likely to intensify in the coming days. The Pakistani army says hundreds of militants had been killed across the valley and its adjoining districts since the military launched a full-scale operation on militants in the region. Islamabad says it will force the militants to lay down their arms. The military's top spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, however said on Friday the operation in Swat was difficult and declined to give a timeline for clearing the valley."

The curfew has trapped tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the violence.
The Pakistani government has lifted a curfew in the Swat valley for a few hours to enable residents to flee the conflict-ridden region. Military officials said Sunday that the curfew, lifted at 0600 local time, gives the residents a seven-hour opportunity to flee the violence-hit region. The curfew has kept thousands of civilians from fleeing the conflict zone. Lifting the curfew and urging the residents to flee indicates that the battle between the army and Taliban militants is likely to intensify in the coming days. The Pakistani army says hundreds of militants had been killed across the valley and its adjoining districts since the military launched a full-scale operation on militants in the region. Islamabad says it will force the militants to lay down their arms. The military's top spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, however said on Friday the operation in Swat was difficult and declined to give a timeline for clearing the valley. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has vowed to continue the offensive against the Taliban in the Swat region until normalcy is restored to the volatile valley. Ron Redmond, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency, said Friday that the recent outbreak of violence in northwest Pakistan has already displaced a total of one million people.