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| Return to Pakistan's valley of death | Return to Pakistan's valley of death |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The return to Mingora is fraught for some families By Orla Guerin BBC News, Swat | The return to Mingora is fraught for some families By Orla Guerin BBC News, Swat |
| They left in fear, and many are going back the same way. | They left in fear, and many are going back the same way. |
| The Pakistan government says it is safe for families to return to the Swat valley, and it's paying them 25,000 rupees to do so (£180; $300). | The Pakistan government says it is safe for families to return to the Swat valley, and it's paying them 25,000 rupees to do so (£180; $300). |
| But plenty of those making the journey to the picturesque and formerly peaceful region are not so sure. | But plenty of those making the journey to the picturesque and formerly peaceful region are not so sure. |
| Nineteen-year-old Adnan is one of them. | Nineteen-year-old Adnan is one of them. |
| He says it was hell when he fled two months ago, and it could be again. | He says it was hell when he fled two months ago, and it could be again. |
| "Everyone's scared to go back because they're afraid the fighting might start again," he said. | "Everyone's scared to go back because they're afraid the fighting might start again," he said. |
| After we welcomed [the Taliban to Swat] and showed them love, they committed atrocities Nadir | After we welcomed [the Taliban to Swat] and showed them love, they committed atrocities Nadir |
| But after two months living in a disused sugar mill, he and his relatives were ready to take the risk. | But after two months living in a disused sugar mill, he and his relatives were ready to take the risk. |
| And so were hundreds more families who had been trapped in the same makeshift camp, near the city of Peshawar. | And so were hundreds more families who had been trapped in the same makeshift camp, near the city of Peshawar. |
| We found them queuing to load their belongings onto buses bound for Swat. | We found them queuing to load their belongings onto buses bound for Swat. |
| Camp squalor | Camp squalor |
| Among the crowds was Adnan's father Mohammed - a small, bearded man in traditional dress, clutching a tiny bundle to his chest. | Among the crowds was Adnan's father Mohammed - a small, bearded man in traditional dress, clutching a tiny bundle to his chest. |
| It was his baby daughter, Gulalai, who was born 40 days ago in the camp. | It was his baby daughter, Gulalai, who was born 40 days ago in the camp. |
| He was determined to get her away from the squalor of the camp to the fresh mountain air of Swat. | He was determined to get her away from the squalor of the camp to the fresh mountain air of Swat. |
| Now that we're here, we are scared MohammedReturning resident | Now that we're here, we are scared MohammedReturning resident |
| When space ran out on the buses, the family found a truck. | When space ran out on the buses, the family found a truck. |
| They were waved off by a camp volunteer called Nadir, also from Swat. | They were waved off by a camp volunteer called Nadir, also from Swat. |
| He left a labouring job in Dubai to come home and help those forced to flee. | He left a labouring job in Dubai to come home and help those forced to flee. |
| When asked who was to blame for the chaos and carnage which engulfed Swat, his response was swift. | When asked who was to blame for the chaos and carnage which engulfed Swat, his response was swift. |
| "We blame ourselves because the people of Swat gave the Taliban permission to come in," he said. | "We blame ourselves because the people of Swat gave the Taliban permission to come in," he said. |
| "After we welcomed them, and showed them love, they committed atrocities." | "After we welcomed them, and showed them love, they committed atrocities." |
| Others here point the finger at the government, which signed a href="/2/hi/south_asia/7891410.stm">controversial peace deal with the militants in February. | |
| The agreement backfired, allowed the Taliban to tighten their grip on Swat and expand into the neighbouring district of Buner. | The agreement backfired, allowed the Taliban to tighten their grip on Swat and expand into the neighbouring district of Buner. |
| The authorities are trying to prevent Taliban fighters slipping back into Swat, with the displaced. | The authorities are trying to prevent Taliban fighters slipping back into Swat, with the displaced. |
| There are checkpoints on the narrow roads that snake into the valley, and the href="/2/hi/south_asia/8147019.stm">returning families are registered by troops. | |
| Checkpoints along the route slow down the return | Checkpoints along the route slow down the return |
| It took several hours, under a blazing sun, for Mohammed and his family to reach Mingora, the largest town in Swat - a tourist resort turned battleground. | It took several hours, under a blazing sun, for Mohammed and his family to reach Mingora, the largest town in Swat - a tourist resort turned battleground. |
| But the damage in the town is limited. Troops were under instruction to minimise collateral damage. | But the damage in the town is limited. Troops were under instruction to minimise collateral damage. |
| At a local hotel, fish tanks in the lobby were smashed, and there were bullet holes dotting the walls. | At a local hotel, fish tanks in the lobby were smashed, and there were bullet holes dotting the walls. |
| But the receptionist beamed at the sight of visitors. "You are most welcome," he said. "Sorry things are a bit uneven." | But the receptionist beamed at the sight of visitors. "You are most welcome," he said. "Sorry things are a bit uneven." |
| Around Mingora the shutters are going up. Schools and businesses are re-opening. | Around Mingora the shutters are going up. Schools and businesses are re-opening. |
| But the town remains tense and the army is still on high alert. It is still facing pockets of resistance in the region. | But the town remains tense and the army is still on high alert. It is still facing pockets of resistance in the region. |
| The militants avoid direct confrontation, according to Major Nasir Khan, military spokesman in Mingora. | The militants avoid direct confrontation, according to Major Nasir Khan, military spokesman in Mingora. |
| "It's a guerrilla war. The terrain is very hostile," he said, glancing up at the hills looming over the town. | "It's a guerrilla war. The terrain is very hostile," he said, glancing up at the hills looming over the town. |
| "But we will take the fight to its logical conclusion." | "But we will take the fight to its logical conclusion." |
| Many doubt that the militants can be eradicated. Back in his modest home, Mohammed looked a worried man. | Many doubt that the militants can be eradicated. Back in his modest home, Mohammed looked a worried man. |
| He sat on a rough-hewn bed, cradling Gulalai in his arms. | He sat on a rough-hewn bed, cradling Gulalai in his arms. |
| "Now that we're here, we are scared," he said. | "Now that we're here, we are scared," he said. |
| "We don't know if the Taliban have left, or if they are still on the hilltops, and could come back." | |
| While the beheadings and the brutality have stopped, at least for now, Swat was terrorised and many bear the scars. | While the beheadings and the brutality have stopped, at least for now, Swat was terrorised and many bear the scars. |
| Trainee Taliban | Trainee Taliban |
| We met five teenage boys who provided harrowing accounts of their time in Taliban training camps. | We met five teenage boys who provided harrowing accounts of their time in Taliban training camps. |
| The boys said they were threatened with death if they tried to escape | The boys said they were threatened with death if they tried to escape |
| The boys are now co-operating with the army. It says children as young as nine were taken for training as informers, fighters or suicide bombers. | The boys are now co-operating with the army. It says children as young as nine were taken for training as informers, fighters or suicide bombers. |
| The boys told us they were among hundreds of children at two separate training camps, established in schools. | The boys told us they were among hundreds of children at two separate training camps, established in schools. |
| "When we tried to escape they surrounded us," said a boy of 16. | "When we tried to escape they surrounded us," said a boy of 16. |
| "They told us that if they caught us, they would shoot us, or cut our throats. | "They told us that if they caught us, they would shoot us, or cut our throats. |
| "They told us that if your parents don't allow you to go for jihad, then you should kill them. But how could we kill our own parents?" | "They told us that if your parents don't allow you to go for jihad, then you should kill them. But how could we kill our own parents?" |
| He said that he and some of the others were taken to the camp by force. | He said that he and some of the others were taken to the camp by force. |
| "We were working in the fields," he said. | "We were working in the fields," he said. |
| "These people came and said: 'Let's go'. I said I didn't want to go. Then they took us. They blindfolded us and loaded us on to a vehicle." | "These people came and said: 'Let's go'. I said I didn't want to go. Then they took us. They blindfolded us and loaded us on to a vehicle." |
| 'Enemies of God' | |
| A younger boy, aged just 13, told us about the daily routine of prayer, physical exercise and brainwashing. | A younger boy, aged just 13, told us about the daily routine of prayer, physical exercise and brainwashing. |
| "We were asked to fight the army, because they are against Islam and they are the enemies of God. That's what they told us," he said. | "We were asked to fight the army, because they are against Islam and they are the enemies of God. That's what they told us," he said. |
| Before the Taliban came, the boys were bound together by a shared passion for cricket. All five were on the same team. Now they are united by worries about the future. | Before the Taliban came, the boys were bound together by a shared passion for cricket. All five were on the same team. Now they are united by worries about the future. |
| They're afraid they could be tracked down and punished by the Taliban. They could also be targeted by some in the local community. | They're afraid they could be tracked down and punished by the Taliban. They could also be targeted by some in the local community. |
| The army is promising rehabilitation for the boys, who are now back with their families. | The army is promising rehabilitation for the boys, who are now back with their families. |
| Their relatives asked us to deliver a message to the outside world - about the urgent need for aid and investment in the Swat valley. | Their relatives asked us to deliver a message to the outside world - about the urgent need for aid and investment in the Swat valley. |
| Otherwise, they warned, the Taliban would find plenty of willing young recruits. | Otherwise, they warned, the Taliban would find plenty of willing young recruits. |