Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Suspected militants kill policeman, kidnap two others in Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 24, IRNA - Suspected Taliban militants Thursday attacked a police mobile team, killing a policeman and injuring another in Pakistan’s northwest, officials said.

Two other policemen have gone missing in Buner district near Swat valley as paramilitary are being deployed to deal with the Taliban militants.

Taliban have extended their writ to Buner from Swat valley and on Thursday did not allow regular judges to function.

A top cleric Sufi Muhammad, who had signed agreement with the government for setting up Islamic courts in Swat valley, had set April 23 for regular judges to leave the region as Islamic courts have already set up and the regular courts are not allowed to work.

A meeting between the authorities, Taliban and elders was held in Buner and it was agreed to extend the deadline for indefinite period.

In view of the Taliban fast growing activities in Buner in recent days, the government rushed paramilitary forces to the area to maintain peace.

The people were concerned over Taliban arrival in the area and the government is trying to convince Taliban to leave the area and stop armed patrolling.

Officials say that the security forces will guard government and other sensitive buildings and will start patrolling.

Taliban fired at a police mobile van, which was escorting a convoy of security forces, officials said.