12/08/2022
Pakistan’s Swat Valley: From Terrorism to tourism
Locally known as Pakistan's Switzerland due to its snow-capped mountains and lush green landscapes, the valley is a short drive away (153.5 miles) from the capital Islamabad.
Swat, a scenic valley in northwestern Pakistan, was once a Taliban stronghold where TV was banned, public hangings were not uncommon, and girls were barred from going to school. After security operation, the valley is coming back to life and welcoming a steady stream of tourists.
The Taliban, seeking to enforce a crude form of Shariah law in the region, campaigned against girls' education. Schools were destroyed in this period in Swat.
Those were difficult times. Taliban militants had banned girls' education and disallowed women teachers from going to schools.
Pakistan army launched a full-scale military operation against the Pakistani Taliban in 2009 and announced its successful end in 2018.
Traders who left the area during the Taliban era have returned to Swat, and its city of Mingora has once again become a business hub.
Tourists have also made a steady comeback to escape the sweltering summers of the big cities.
According to the provincial tourism department, one million people, including foreigners, visit Swat every year.
📷 Khwaja Saeed Photography & Maxar photography