What the combined US & NATO forces failed to achieve despite having abundant military hardware and financial resources, the Pakistan Army has done in Swat to add a glorious chapter in the history of counterinsurgency. The record time within which the operation Rah-e-Rast was accomplished and the IDPs rehabilitated has absolutely startled the world. Thus, the Swat model has come to be recognized globally as a shining example to be emulated everywhere else. That explains why top US and NATO commanders have all subsequently chosen to visit Swat during their trips to Pakistan. They want to learn about the ingredients of this success story so that they could replicate the same in Afghanistan. What these visiting military commanders need to know is that it is the peoples support to the Armed Forces and resolve of the democratic government to establish writ of the sate that has turned the tide against terrorists. The media also played an appreciable role in building the consensus against homegrown terrorism. The elected government also mobilized public opinion in favour of military action, cut down the PSDP to meet the financial requirements of war and developed national consensus against terrorism by taking political parties into confidence. These are the major factors which explain our success in Swat. -AMANAT ALI CHAUDHRY, Lahore, March 4.