No 140/2009-ISPR Dated: May 17, 2009
Rawalpindi - May 17, 2009:
1. Operation Rah e Rast has entered into a new phase. Last 24 hours 25 miscreants-terrorists were killed and an officer embraced shahadat and 7 soldiers including an officer were injured.
2. Security forces have surrounded and entered the town of Matta and Kanju to eliminate miscreants-terrorists from the area. People are requested to distance themselves from miscreants-terrorists and their strongholds/hideouts and extend full support to troops in identifying and targeting them. Security Forces with the help of local population, will not only clear, secure and hold the area, but will make sure that miscreants-terrorists are chased and killed to avert any possibility of their return. This will only be possible when people rise against them.
3. Own troops destroyed a miscreants compound from where the resistance was encountered during the advance through Dang Arkot and Nazarabad, short of Ranial. The compound was surrounded and cleared from miscreants-terrorists. Resultantly, five miscreants were killed, a sketch of military deployment in Swat was also found. Dead bodies of miscreants-terrorists are lying there.
4. After intense battle security forces have been able to secure area between Kanju to Nawan killi (Ayub Br) and from Ballogram to Takhta Band (By pass). At present intense fire engagements are taking place at the outskirts of Mingora.
5. Security forces are expanding their foothold in Peochar valley. Last night an important feature has been secured through an attack on militant-terrorists position. During operation one officer embraced shahadat and two soldiers got injured. Approximately twenty miscreants-terrorists were killed during the operation. Miscreants-terrorists engaged security forces with rocket launchers and 12-7 mm machine guns.
6. Security forces are successfully consolidating their positions at Chakdara and have cleared area from Barikot to Tandodag.