MINGORA: Pakistani helicopter gunships blasted Taliban positions in the militants’ Swat valley bastion on Saturday while a curfew blocked residents from joining hundreds of thousands who have already fled the fighting.
Pakistan's army went on a full-scale offensive on Friday after a government go-ahead to flush out violent militants from the Islamist stronghold, a former tourism centre. The military said late on Friday 143 militants had been killed over the previous 24 hours.
Fighting had already picked up earlier in the week, triggering a mass civilian exodus from the battle zones in recent days, but concerns are growing about the fate of those still trapped and unable to move because of a curfew.
‘We are feeling so helpless, we want to go but can't as there is a curfew,’ said Sallahudin Khan by telephone from Mingora, Swat's main town.
‘We tried to leave yesterday after authorities relaxed the curfew for a few hours, but couldn't as the main road leading out of Mingora was literally jammed with the flood of fleeing people,’ he said as gunship fire boomed in the background.
Helicopters targeted militant hideouts in Mingora on Saturday after insurgents fired rockets at a military base in the town, military officials said, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties on either side.
Swat's top administrator, Khushal Khan, told Reuters the curfew would remain in force throughout the day, although he said could be a break at some point later so those who wanted to go could leave.
The UN refugee agency has said a ‘massive displacement’ is underway. Citing provincial government estimates, it said on Friday up to 200,000 people had left their homes over recent days with another 300,000 on the move or about to move.
They join 555,000 people displaced from other areas because of fighting since August, the agency said.
Many of the displaced stay with relatives or friends or find shelter on their own, but aid agencies and officials fear if the situation is protracted they will join tens of thousands in camps, further straining resources.
‘If the conflict lasts longer, then we expect those living outside camps to come to the camps and that will be a huge problem,’ Khalid Khan Umerzai, an official in North West Frontier Province, said this week, citing funds shortages for care.
The military's top spokesman, Major-General Athar Abbas, said on Friday that while government forces were determined to eliminate militants in Swat, the operation was difficult. He declined to give a timeline for clearing the valley.
While Swat is not next to the border analysts fear it could also become a base for Afghanistan insurgents as well as for efforts to destabilise nuclear-armed Pakistan's government.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, in talks in Washington this week, assured US President Barack Obama of Islamabad's commitment to defeating al Qaeda and its allies.
Up to 15,000 troops have been pitched against between 4,000 to 5,000 battle-hardened militants in the valley, where residents say insurgents hold sway in most parts.
‘In my area, there is no government, it's all Taliban,’ said Ibrahim Khan, a farmer in the militant stronghold of Matta town. ‘They are in full control.’
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a press briefing on Friday that the operation will continue till its logical conclusion and complete elimination of extremists from the area.
He said the security forces had made some advances. He said the militants were on the run and trying to block the exodus of innocent civilians by preventing their departure through coercion, road blocks and making the people hostage.
Answering a question, he said the approximate number of terrorists in Swat was around 4000 and they had also recruited young people from the area without giving them any choice. He said most of them had been provided with arms.
He said 12,000 to 15,000 armed forces personnel were taking part in the operation.
He brushed aside the impression that the operation in Swat had been launched under US pressure and said ‘We analyze the threats keeping in view of the national interest and not on the dictates of external powers.’
General Athar Abbas said the militants in Swat were predominantly from the area, but they included militants from across the border and few Tajiks and Uzbeks. He said drug money coming from Afghanistan was the biggest source of finances received by the militants who also generate funds by kidnapping for ransom.
Giving an update on the security situation in Swat, he said Khawazkhela and Chamtalai area had been secured by the security forces. He said one soldier lost his life while five militants were killed during the operation. Fire exchange took place at Matta Police station and 13 militants were killed. Militants loc at Takhtaband, Qambar Top and Iqbal advocate house were attacked resulting into killing of 10 militants and injuring twelve.
He said militants training camps on the mountain strong holds, ammunition dumps and command and communication centers have been targeted through precision strikes.
The military spokesman said militants’ resistance in Buner had considerably reduced. However, they were maintaining their positions at Sultanwas and Pir Baba.
Today a preliminary operation was launched in Kalapani area, where six militants have been killed and two have been arrested. The operation to clear Sultanwas was in progress and soon militants position in Sultanwas will be eliminated.
He said search and Cordon operations are continuing in Lower Dir and militants’ hideouts were being attacked.
He said the militants abducted over 100 individuals, killed 30 security forces personnel, carried out four suicide and eight improvised explosive device attacks, looted six banks, destroyed three police stations and one grid station and damaged two schools after the peace agreement.
No comments:
Post a Comment