PESHAWAR // Pakistan's military said today that 94 Taliban militants, 14 troop members and 28 civilians have been killed in the past week in fighting in northwestern Swat Valley. Fierce fighting erupted in the former tourist region a week ago, leaving a fragile peace deal, between the government and the rebels that had caused concerns among Pakistan's western allies, in tatters. "The operation will continue till the objective of clearing the area of militants is achieved," local military commander Brigadier Zia Anjum Bodla said in Mingora, the main city in Swat.
"Some 94 militants were killed in the ongoing operation and 14 security forces were martyred. Also, 28 civilians died in the violence, which is very unfortunate," he said. The dead security forces included three employees from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency who were reported shot dead last week.
Under the May peace deal, the government agreed to gradually pull out troops and introduce an Islamic justice system. In exchange, the rebels said they would halt attacks and surrender arms. But violence has crept up in recent weeks, with militants burning down the country's only ski resort, located in Swat. Brig Bodla said the army was forced to act in Swat because militants were "attacking the security forces, setting ablaze schools and harming the local population. We defused eight bombs on Saturday alone."
"The army showed restraint following the May 21 peace deal between militants and the provincial government. But the militants violated the agreement consistently," Brig Bodla added. Separately, in the tribal region of South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan today eight soldiers were wounded when a roadside bomb hit their convoy, security officials said. The bomb was planted on the road at Tanai, some 20 kilometres east of Wana, the main town in the troubled district, they said.
Pakistan is under mounting international pressure to crack down on Taliban and al Qa'eda militants who are increasing their hold over parts of northwestern Pakistan and the adjoining, semi-autonomous tribal belt. US officials have reportedly joined India and Afghanistan in accusing the ISI of covertly backing the rebels, while all three countries have criticised the new government's efforts to negotiate with the militants.
*AFP
