• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pakistani security forces facing resistance in Swat valley: army

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, May 27,IRNA -- Pakistani security forces are facing resistance in two main towns in Swat valley as the ‘military operation is progressing well’, the army spokesman said.

Major General Athar Abbas told a news conference that no time frame to eliminate or expel the militants be given but the forces will succeed to clear the valley from the militants.

He said that forces are facing resistance in Mingora, the main city in Swat and Kabbal areas, adding that main squares in Mingora have been secured.

“It is not a tradition operation to retake buildings but the militants are to be killed and pushed to ensure that could not come back,” he said.

He said street fight is going-on in Mingora and house to house search is in progress in most of the captured areas of the city. He said that hardcore militants are fighting in Mingora and new recruits are deserting the militants.

When asked about Taliban spokesman statement that the militants will not fire at the forces in Mingora, the army spokesman said, “We have reports of resistance and they (Taliban) are issuing statements due to forces advancement.”

“Routes for the miscreants to flee are limited. They are in a mess. They are on run,” Major General Athar Abbas said.

He said that the militants had taken control of explosives when they occupied emerald mines and they are using the explosives against the security forces. The miscreants are using pressure cookers to make bombs with explosives with detonators and to detonate with remote control.

The spokesman said that during 24 hours, a total of 29 militants were killed in swat and other areas of Malakand.

During exchange of fire with security forces eighteen miscreants were killed in Mingora and seven others arrested while escaping to Buner district. Four Improvised Explosive Devices were also defused.

In Dir district, some one hundred twenty miscreants attacked Kalpnai post from three directions. The security forces repulsed the attack inflicting heavy casualties on the miscreants.