ISLAMABAD: The arid and rocky terrain of South Waziristan stood out as I peeked out of the cabin window of the helicopter. The vast emptiness of the valley below appeared both impressive and hostile.
It was not a routine excursion; over two dozen journalists, both local and foreign, were on their way to Wana where terrorists of Fitna Al Khawarij attacked the Cadet College there.
The visit was arranged by the ISPR for journalists to witness the damage caused by the suicide bombing and subsequent engagement of security forces with the terrorists.
The attack on 10th November at Cadet College Wana did evoke painful memories of December 16, 2014 attack on APS Peshawar.
As we disembarked from the military chopper upon arrival in Wana, a tense cold air greeted us.
We headed straight to the college and as we reached the entrance, the scene that we saw was nothing short of mayhem. The gate was destroyed by the suicide blast, with sharpnels lodged in the walls.
The axle of the vehicle used in the bombing was still lying around along with a destroyed rickshaw, a motorcycle and a lot more twisted metal.
Approximately 100 meters from the entrance was the administration block where three Khawarij hid under the cover of dust that rose following the blast.
They aimed for the area housing the cadets – more than 500 of whom were present at the time of the attack.
The administration block housed the office of the principal and other staff members. No room of this building was left intact as the main battle took place there. Shards of glass and window panes were scattered all over the place.
The attack took place at a time when students were busy in their evening drills.
Shafqat, a first-year student, told Pakistan TV that the college administration had put them through drills for an event like this, but it still came as an unwelcome surprise, especially for the younger cadets.
Haider, another cadet, said soon after the blast, the drill masters rushed them to their houses where they remained confined for as long as the operation continued.
When reports of the attack reached the top military command, there were specific orders: "no student shall be harmed, come what may".
According to Col. Tahir, commandant South Waziristan Scouts, who led the operation, eliminating the terrorists was not the difficult part, ensuring the safety of students was.
A separate plan was devised for the evacuation of cadets while another team of army commandos engaged the Khawarij who were holed up in the admin block.
No student or teacher was harmed in the attack and a major tragedy was averted. The tragedy of APS Peshawar was not allowed to be repeated.
Outside in the lush green lawn, in stark contrast to the barren landscape of the valley, sat the Maliks of Wana. Concern was clearly written on their faces. The terrorists had crossed a red line which was never crossed even during the worst times in Wana.
Irfan Ullah Khan, a respected elder, whose eyes revealed more than his words, said: “Let me remind you, the people of Wana are no cowards, they are fighters and they have been braving these terrorists for almost two decades now.”
He further said even during the worst times, terrorists spared educational institutions because children of the locals studied there and terrorists could not afford to offend them.
Irfan Ullah Khan's hopes of peace and security were anchored in the presence and professionalism of security forces. Despite being concerned, he appeared strong and willing to fight along with security forces for peace in his city.
Four terrorists were killed by the security forces, while three soldiers and two civilians embraced martyrdom. As many as 12 people were injured during the attack and subsequent operation by security forces.
According to Brigadier Asif, all attackers were Afghans who remained in touch with their contacts in Kabul during the entirety of the attack.
Peace in the tribal belt has been disrupted once again after a temporary lull. The security forces are back fighting the terrorists they threw out just a few years ago.
