Title Pakistan Forest Digest Issue 01- A4 - Pakistan Research Group

SDPISustainable Development Policy Institutespread even wider. However thereis clear difference between thetwo. The Taliban used to cut downthose trees and orchards whoseowners were their enemies or weresupporters of the government intheir view. Later when theyrealized their insensitivity to thetrees they made announcementsabout ban on cutting trees throughtheir broadcasts. On the other handmilitary officials do whatever theywant. They simply issue verbalorders without thinking about itseffects and results. Theannouncements of cutting down orpruning of trees under the pretextof security are made with theapproval of the high militaryofficials or the military official atpost uses his own discretion.If the military is presentin Swat not for thesafety of the people andtheir assets but toprotect themselves onlyand everything else issecurity risk for themthen this attitude is giving rise tomany questions and doubts.Pakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010