Kabal Tehsil

Kabal (Urdu and Pashto: کبل) is a town in Swat District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan located 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Mingora city. The old name of kabal was Chendakhwara. It is the tenth largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 82nd largest in Pakistan by population

2. Kabal
3. Bara Bandai
4. Kuza Bandai
5. Kanju
6. Hazara
7. Bar Abakhail
8. Kuz Abakhail
10. Deowlai
11. Shah Dehrai
14. Totano Bandai

Kabal Tehsil تحصیل کبل کبل تحصیل‎
Town
Kabal Tehsil Show map of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Kabal Tehsil Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 34°47′N 72°17′E / 34.783°N 72.283°E / 34.783; 72.283
Country	Pakistan
Province	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
District	Swat
Government
• Tehsil Chairman	Saeed Ahmad Khan (PTI)
Elevation	845 m (2,772 ft)
Population  (2017)^[1]
• Tehsil	420,374
• Urban	118,103
• Rural	302,271
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)

Kabal Town is located at 34°47′N 72°17′E / 34.783°N 72.283°E / 34.783; 72.283 at an altitude of 845 metres (2,772 ft).^[2]

There is an 18-hole golf ground, surrounded by calm, lush greenery and cricket, football playground, a cricket academy, Rock wall climbing facility, Basketball & lawn tennis court

Nearby settlements include the villages of Kotlai and Akhun Kalai.

Security challenges

Pakistan experienced a resurgence of terrorist attacks on high-security sites after a period of calm. The article chronicled the major attacks that took place between 2013 and 2023, targeting military bases, airports, government buildings, and educational institutions. It outlined the attack methods, casualty numbers, and responsible groups. The article emphasized the effect of terrorism on Pakistan's security and the government's counter-terrorism measures.^[3]

According to a report by a local think-tank, Pakistan saw a 51% increase in terrorist attacks in one year after the Afghan-Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021. The report states that 433 people were killed and 710 were wounded in 250 terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The UN warned of foreign terror groups taking advantage of the situation in Afghanistan.^[4]

Civil unrest

After years of suffering and losses, the locals began to protest against the law enforcement agencies and local government resulting into violent riots and resistance from the government.

Following these incidents, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, a movement for the rights of Pashtun people in Pakistan, called protests in different areas of Swat, including Kabal Tehsil.^[5][6]

Manzoor Pashteen, the PTM leader, stated that the movement's demands for peace and justice for Pashtuns in Pakistan were constitutional rights. He accused the government of denying these rights, particularly in the tribal areas, and criticized the use of force against PTM's peaceful protests.^[7]

Government considered their protests as violent and unlawful behavior against the state, and began to desist forcefully.^[8][9] PEMRA suspended the license of a private news channel due to their coverage of an opposition politician's press conference. The move was widely criticized by journalists and opposition parties as an attack on press freedom, and the channel's staff held protests against the suspension.^[10] Two government officials were held in allegations of involvement with PTM.^[11]

Government efforts to stop terrorism

Police and paramilitary forces established security posts in the Matta and Kabal tehsils of Swat district to prevent terrorist activities. The posts were placed strategically, and their personnel were responsible for manning them. The government aimed to enhance the security situation in the region through this initiative.^[12]

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan, opened a police command and control centre in Swat to improve the security situation in the district. The centre helped the police and law enforcement agencies better handle security challenges and provide a more coordinated response to threats.^[13]

Qalagay Road

Government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf took necessary steps in order to maintain situation in those areas, and formulated plans for development projects to encourage local and non-Pakistani visitors for tourism.^[14]

The construction of roads, bridges, and hotels in Swat gave a boost to tourism in the region, as per local officials. The new infrastructure made it easier for visitors to explore the scenic valley, which was home to ancient Buddhist ruins and a rich cultural heritage.

Villages

• Mahak-

References

1. (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2018-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
2. "Falling Rain - Location of Kabbal".
3. Dawn.com (2023-02-19). "2013-2023: Timeline of terrorist attacks on high-security sites in Pakistan in the past decade". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
4. Desk, NewsDrum. "Pak records 51% rise in terror attacks in one year after Afghan-Taliban got power in Afghanistan: Report". www.newsdrum.in. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
5. Khaliq, Fazal (2022-09-30). "'We want peace': Swat residents take to streets in Matta against wave of militancy". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
6. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2018-03-27). "Hundreds respond to protest call by Pashtun movement". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
7. Correspondent’, Our (2023-03-14). "PTM chief says demanding peace our constitutional right". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
8. Shaheen Buneri (2018-04-26). "Pashtun Campaigners Complain Of Hurdles Ahead Of Protest In Pakistan". RFE/RL. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
9. "PTM activists in Belgium stage protest against Pakistani soldiers firing on their leaders". ANI News. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
10. Khaliq, Fazal (2022-10-24). "Connecting the dots: What really went down in Swat". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
11. "Two Pakistani lawmakers held after protests by rights activists". Reuters. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
12. Khaliq, Fazal (2022-09-21). "Security posts set up in Swat's Matta, Kabal tehsils". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
13. News Desk (2022-06-01). "CM inaugurates police Command, Control Centre in Swat". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
14. "Construction in Swat boosting tourism". Daily Times. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-16.