Siege of Lal Masjid

The siege of Lal Masjid ( Urdu : لال مسجد محاصرہ, code-named Operation Sunrise , ) was a confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic militants and the Government of Pakistan . The focal points of the operation were the Lal Masjid ("Red Mosque ") and the Jamia Hafsa madrasah complex in Islamabad , Pakistan . Since January 2006, Lal Masjid and the adjacent Jamia Hafsa madrasah had been operated by Islamic militants led by two brothers, Maulana Abdul Aziz (Halaak) and Abdul Rashid Ghazi . This organization supported the imposition of Sharia ( Islamic religious law ) in Pakistan and openly called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government, lead by its President Pervez Musharraf . Lal Masjid was in constant conflict with authorities in Islamabad for 18 months prior to the military operation. They engaged in violent demonstrations , hate speeches , destruction of property, kidnapping, arson, and armed clashes with authorities. After Lal Masjid militants set fire to the Ministry of Environment building and attacked the Army Rangers who guarded it, the military responded and the siege of the Lal Masjid complex began. The complex was besieged from July 3 to July 11, 2007 while negotiations were attempted between the militants and the state's Shujaat Hussain and Ijaz-ul-Haq . Once negotiations failed, the complex was stormed and captured by the Pakistan Army 's Special Service Group . The conflict resulted in 154 deaths and 50 militants captured. The assault resulted in pro- Taliban rebels along the Afghanistan border nullifying a 10-month-old peace agreement with the Pakistani Government. This event triggered the Third Waziristan War which marked another surge in militancy and violence in Pakistan and has resulted in more than 3,000 casualties .

Haroon-ul-Islam † Abdul Rashid Ghazi † Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi Strength 60,000 soldiers and Rangers 164 SSG commandos 1,300 students 100+ militants Casualties and losses 11 killed 44 wounded 84 killed 50 captured 14 civilians killed , 204 injured The Siege of Lal Masjid ( Urdu : لال مسجد محاصرہ , code-named Operation Sunrise ) was a confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the Government of Pakistan, led by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz . The focal points of the operation were the Lal Masjid ("Red Mosque") and the Jamia Hafsa madrasah complex in Islamabad , Pakistan. Since January 2006, Lal Masjid and the adjacent Jamia Hafsa madrasah had been operated by Islamic militants led by two brothers, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi . This organization advocated the imposition of Sharia (Islamic religious law) in Pakistan and openly called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government. Lal Masjid was in constant conflict with authorities in Islamabad for 18 months prior to the military operation. They engaged in violent demonstrations, destruction of property, kidnapping, arson and armed clashes with the authorities. After Lal Masjid militants set fire to the Ministry of Environment building and attacked the Army Rangers who guarded it, the military responded, and the siege of the Lal Masjid complex began. The complex was besieged from July 3 to July 11, 2007, while negotiations were attempted between the militants and the state's Shujaat Hussain and Ijaz-ul-Haq . Once negotiations failed, the complex was stormed and captured by the Pakistan Army 's Special Service Group . The operation resulted in 154 deaths, and 50 militants were captured. It also prompted pro- Taliban rebels along the Afghan border to nullify a 10-month-old peace agreement with the Pakistani Government. This event triggered the Third Waziristan War , which marked another surge in militancy and violence in Pakistan and has resulted in more than 3,000 casualties.

2007 armed confrontation in Pakistan Belligerents Pakistan Islamic fundamentalist militants Commanders and leaders Lt. Haroon-ul-Islam † Abdul Rashid † Abdul Aziz   ( POW ) Units involved Pakistan Army Special Service Group Civil Armed Forces Punjab Rangers Local militants and foreign fighters Strength 164 Special Service Group commandos 200 militants Casualties and losses 11 killed 44 wounded 91 killed 50 captured 204 civilians injured The siege of Lal Masjid ( ; code-named Operation Sunrise ) was an armed confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the government of Pakistan , led by president Pervez Musharraf and prime minister Shaukat Aziz . The focal points of the operation were the Lal Masjid ("Red Mosque") and the Jamia Hafsa madrasah complex in Islamabad , Pakistan. Since January 2006, Lal Masjid and the adjacent Jamia Hafsa madrasah had been operated by Islamic militants led by two brothers, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid . This organisation advocated the imposition of Sharia (Islamic religious law) in Pakistan and openly called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government. Lal Masjid was in constant conflict with authorities in Islamabad for 18 months prior to the military operation. They engaged in violent demonstrations, destruction of property, kidnapping, arson, and armed clashes with the authorities. After a combination of events such as militants taking hostage the Chinese health care center's female workers and militants setting fire to the Ministry of Environment building and attacking the Army Rangers who guarded it, the military responded, and the siege of the Lal Masjid complex began. The military response was the result of not only pressure from locals but also diplomatic pressure from China. The complex was besieged from 3 to 11 July 2007, while negotiations were attempted between the militants and the state's Shujaat Hussain and Ijaz-ul-Haq . Once negotiations failed, the complex was stormed and captured by the Pakistan Army 's Special Service Group . The government reported that the operation resulted in 154 deaths, and the capture of 50 militants. It also prompted pro- Taliban rebels along the Afghan border to nullify a 10-month-old peace agreement with the Pakistani government. This event led to a surge in militancy and violence in Pakistan which resulted in more than 3,000 casualties in 2008.

2007 armed confrontation in Pakistan Belligerents Pakistan Islamic fundamentalist militants Commanders and leaders Haroon Islam † Abdul Rashid † Abdul Aziz   ( POW ) Units involved Pakistan Army Special Service Group Civil Armed Forces Punjab Rangers Local militants and foreign fighters Strength 164 SSG commandos 100 militants Casualties and losses 11 killed 44 wounded 91 killed 50 captured 204 civilians injured The siege of Lal Masjid ( Urdu : لال مسجد محاصرہ ; code-named Operation Sunrise ) was an armed confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the government of Pakistan , led by president Pervez Musharraf and prime minister Shaukat Aziz . The focal points of the operation were the Lal Masjid ("Red Mosque") and the Jamia Hafsa madrasah complex in Islamabad , Pakistan. Since January 2006, Lal Masjid and the adjacent Jamia Hafsa madrasah had been operated by Islamic militants led by two brothers, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid . This organisation advocated the imposition of Sharia (Islamic religious law) in Pakistan and openly called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government. Lal Masjid was in constant conflict with authorities in Islamabad for 18 months prior to the military operation. They engaged in violent demonstrations, destruction of property, kidnapping, arson, and armed clashes with the authorities. After a combination of events such as militants taking hostage the Chinese health care center's female workers and militants setting fire to the Ministry of Environment building and attacking the Army Rangers who guarded it, the military responded, and the siege of the Lal Masjid complex began. The military response was the result of not only pressure from locals but also diplomatic pressure from China. The complex was besieged from 3 to 11 July 2007, while negotiations were attempted between the militants and the state's Shujaat Hussain and Ijaz-ul-Haq . Once negotiations failed, the complex was stormed and captured by the Pakistan Army 's Special Service Group . The government reported that the operation resulted in 154 deaths, and the capture of 50 militants. It also prompted pro- Taliban rebels along the Afghan border to nullify a 10-month-old peace agreement with the Pakistani government. This event led to a surge in militancy and violence in Pakistan which resulted in more than 3,000 casualties in 2008. Pakistan’s interior ministry says the operation dealt a big blow to what it called Islamic hardliners and that the strong response should teach them a lesson." " [Video Series] The Rise of the Pakistani Taliban ," Global Bearings, 27 October 2011.