Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Two Pakistan soldiers killed in Taliban militants' attack: army

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March, 4, IRNA -- Two Pakistani soldiers were killed when Taliban militants attacked a convoy of security forces in the restive Swat valley in the northwest on Tuesday, posing threat to a peace deal, officials said.

Last month Taliban and the forces announced ceasefire after a cleric Sufi Muhammad struck a deal with the government to set up Islamic courts in the region.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the army was sending reinforcement and taking positions in the hills in violation of the ceasefire.

But the officials said that the forces were carrying drinking water to the forces when the militants attacked the convoy at Ronial area, injuring three soldiers. Two soldiers later died in hospital of wounds, the army said.

The incident again plunged the region into chaos and the people, who were happy over the ceasefire, worried return of violence.

Taliban spokesman said that the forces also arrested four militants on Tuesday, which they described violation of the peace deal.

Meanwhile chief of Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), Maulana Sufi Mohammad, who struck deal with the government on Islamic courts, termed arrest of Taliban activists against the peace deal. He said that the government has violated the peace deal and arrested the Taliban activists.

“Taliban have not violated the deal and they don’t want to disturb it. The government has arrested the Taliban after deal which is unacceptable,” Sufi Muhammad said.
He said Armed forces must inform the peace committee before any movement in the area.

The TNSM chief has set a deadline of March 15 to the government to set up Islamic courts and to release Taliban prisoners.

Meanwhile Taliban Tuesday kidnapped two officials but freed them after three hours, officials said.

Director Anti Corruption Yameen Khan and Assistant Director Bakht Zada Khan who were kidnapped from Qambar areas in Swat were released later, District Police Officer said.