Swat Operation II

[ejaz007]

30 die in Swat ground push against militants
Thursday, September 04, 2008
By Musa Khankhel & Delawar Jan

MINGORA/PESHAWAR: The security forces claimed to have killed about 30 militants and wounded another 35 in a ground assault backed by gunship helicopters in the militants-infested Koza Bandai area of volatile Swat Valley on Wednesday.

The military has stepped up operation in the valley despite the government's announcement of a ceasefire and killed several dozen militants in the last more than one week, while the top military official has vowed to continue the action till the elimination of militants from the valley.

Since the jetfighters' participation in the operation, the number of casualties has been recording an upsurge, as 15 militants were killed on Tuesday. The security forces launched a ground assault in Koza Bandai, the native village of the Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan, at dawn on Wednesday to clear the area of the militants.

A Mingora-based ISPR spokesman, Maj Nasir Ali, told The News that 25 to 30 militants, including hardcore terrorists, were killed and 30 to 35 were injured in the attack that was backed by gunship helicopters.

He claimed that the militants had been flushed out of the area but "some pockets of resistance were still there," which, he added, "would be mopped up in the next stage of the operation".

Giving details of the operation, the official said the militants had established themselves in the village and made the civilian population hostage. The area, he added, was a stronghold of the miscreants, which served as a launching pad for their terrorist activities in and around the suburbs of Mingora, the district headquarters of Swat.

"From here they would launch their sabotage activities and destroy the houses of the people. They have destroyed the houses of ANP and PML-Q leaders besides others and subjected the locals to killings, torture and kidnapping, forcing them to request the forces to launch an operation against them in Koza Bandai," he said.

Therefore, he added, the forces launched a massive ground operation, backed by gunship helicopters, at dawn on Wednesday and targeted their fortified positions and fortress-type houses. "The people of the area cooperated with the security forces when asked through leaflets, dropped from choppers and announcement made from megaphones to shift to Bara Bandai area before the operation to avoid civilian casualties," he said.

The spokesman for the Swat chapter of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Muslim Khan, while talking to The News from an undisclosed location said that the forces destroyed 200 houses in Koza Bandai in the Wednesday's operation.

There were reports that the spokesman for Swat chapter of the TTP Muslim Khan has claimed responsibility for attack on Prime Minister's cavalcade. However, these reports could not be independently confirmed, as the spokesman could not be reached through all his contact numbers.

There were also reports about five civilian casualties, including four women besides injuries to scores of others. Adam Khan, Muhammad Hilal, Ali Rawan, Qasim Jan, Zafar Ali, Bakht, Janat Mahal, Hussan Bano, Kalsoom, Amanullah, Sulaiman, Alamzeb, Sakina, Nasir Khan, Aslam, Muhammad Ilyas and Zetun were among the injured. Two security forces' personnel, Wasim and Shahid, were reportedly killed besides injuries to four others, who were identified as Tariq, Sajjad, Zafar and Muhammad Irfan.

There were also reports about the destruction of dozens of houses. Security forces' personnel were billeted in regional office passport and curfew imposed for indefinite period. Due to curfew, a paper in the ongoing MA examination was postponed.

According to a report, the civilian casualties in the Tuesday airstrikes on Peuchar rose to 23 while another 50 were reported injured.

Meanwhile, the security forces arrested eight suspected militants, injured in the Koza Badai operation, from Saidu Sharif hospital. Confirming their arrest, the spokesman of the ISPR said there might be some key leaders among the arrested persons, saying they were being interrogated.


30 die in Swat ground push against militants

 

[RabzonKhan]

Ten militants killed in northwest Pakistan: army

1 hour ago

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) — At least 10 militants were killed afterclashes with troops who pounded their suspected hideouts in restive northwestern Pakistan, the military said Monday.

Clashes between soldiers and militants erupted in Kabal district of Swat valley late Sunday and continued until dawn, a military spokesman said.
The exchange of fire was heavy, he said, adding that troops used artillery and mortar shells to target suspected hideouts of fighters loyal to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah.

"We have confirmation that at least 10 militants were killed," spokesman Colonel Nadeem Anwar said, adding that the final toll may be higher. There were no military casualties, Anwar said.

The clashes erupted after militants hurled a grenade into a gathering of troops on a golf course in Kabal, wounding two soldiers.

Pro-Taliban cleric Fazlullah launched a violent campaign to enforce harsh Islamic Sharia law in the region last year. Since then, the former popular tourist destination of Swat has been rocked by fierce clashes.

Pakistan's army has intensified its campaign in the scenic valley in recent weeks against Fazlullah's fighters, killing hundreds of them.

Former president Pervez Musharraf had been a key ally of the United States in its efforts to combat militancy, particularly in the tribal area near Afghanistan, which Washington says is being used as a launch pad for rebel attacks on US-led forces across the border.
But Pakistan's fragile coalition government has been struggling to tackle the violence that has seen nearly 1,200 people killed in bombings and suicide attacks across the country in the past year.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Army targets Swat militants’ hideouts

* Eight killed
* Police constable, daughter shot dead
* Militants blow up telephone exchange, several houses in Kabal tehsil

September 12, 2008. PESHAWAR: Eight militants were killed on Thursday when security forces pounded their hideouts in the restive Swat valley, AFP reported the military as saying.

Six of the militants died when helicopter gunships fired missiles in Ningolai Kabal area, hitting the house of local militant commander Khurshid Shah, military spokesman Nadeem Anwar said.

In a separate incident, in the Sher Palam area of Swat, two militants were killed in clashes between security forces and militants.

“The bodies of those two have been handed over to the local elders,” Anwar said, adding that rifles, grenades and radio sets had been recovered in the area.More.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Nine security personnel killed in Swat suicide attack

September 23, 2008. PESHAWAR: At least nine security personnel were killed on Monday in a suicide car-bomb attack on a checkpost in Swat, the military and security officials said.

“Nine security personnel were killed and a couple more were slightly injured in a suicide attack,” the military’s media wing said. A suspected Taliban rammed his explosives-laden car into a small roadside checkpost in Madyan town in Swat, the official said. More.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Security forces kill 2 militants’ commanders in Swat

Sunday, October 05, 2008

PESHAWAR: Two important militants’ commanders were killed during exchange of firing with Security Forces at Tehsil Matta in troubled Swat district on Sunday.

A spokesman of Swat Media Centre said that militants commander Ayub and Amir Zaib were killed when they challenged the security forces in search operation in Sambut in Tehsil Matta.

Meanwhile, a remote controlled bomb hit a convoy of security forces in Swat, however, no casualty has been reported. Soon after the blast, the security forces cordoned off the area and started search operation.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Barbarians!

Taliban blow up 2 girls’ colleges in Swat

October 08, 2008. MINGORA: Local Taliban blew up two private girls’ colleges in Sangota area of Swat on Tuesday. Before bombing Excelsior Public Girls College and Sangota Public Girls College, the Taliban kidnapped two policemen and two security guards deployed there for security. Meanwhile, security forces arrested 10 key Taliban during a search operation in Matta and shifted them to an unknown place, Online reported staff report/online

 

[RabzonKhan]

Swat | Friends in need



Masked Taliban guard kidnapped Chinese engineers at an undisclosed location here on Tuesday. The Taliban said on September 3 they would not kill the two Chinese engineers and two Pakistanis they have been holding since late August, but they would not release them unless unspecified demands were met. reuters

 

[Imran Khan]

Jets bombing kills 23 extremists in Swat Updated at: 1030 PST, Sunday, October 19, 2008
SWAT: Security forces jet planes bombing extremists’ hideouts at Barthana area here left at least 23 extremists dead.

Sources said that the bombing in the area was resorted to on a tip off about the presence of 300 extremists holed in over there. The dead included several commanders of the extremists besides information received said that an arms depot at the house of an extremists’ leader, Alamgir was also blown up in the bombing.

 

[Imran Khan]

Taliban won’t lay down arms: Talks offer reiterated


By Anwarullah Khan

KHAR, Oct 18: As Security forces claimed killing 13 more militants in Bajaur, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan said their offer for talks was still valid, but they would not lay down arms.

“Taliban are … ready for talks with the government, but we will never lay down arms,” TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar told journalists by phone.

Taliban, he said, “sincerely” believed that talks were the best way to resolve issues because conflicts created complications, “but weapons will be retained for self-defence”.

In Peshawar, a senior official said unless militants lay down their weapons, there would be no peace talks with Taliban.

Maulvi Omar said Taliban were willing to hold talks with the federal government because tribal areas were directly under its control, adding that they would also negotiate in Swat.

He said that the federal government had not yet responded to the Taliban’s offer.

“We are waiting for the government’s response and are also ready for talks through a mediator,” the spokesman said.

Also on Saturday, artillery and air force jets pounded militants’ positions in various areas, including Nawagai where six militants were killed.

Combat helicopters and fighter planes carried out joint strikes in the Mamond area in which seven people were killed.

More than 20 families have so far left the Wer Mamond area, seeking refuge in safer places. Houses of militant ‘commanders’ were also attacked.

 

[Imran Khan]

Top Taliban commander splits from Mehsud

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud’s opponent faction in North Waziristan announced on Friday the creation of a new parallel organisation, the Muqami Tehreek-e-Taliban or local Taliban, effectively splitting from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a report published on the AKI news agency website said.

The announcement was made by top commander and former Mehsud lieutenant Hafiz Gul Bahadar, the report said.

According to the report, “Bahadar also said a decision by a ‘shura’ or consultation council said that attacks against Pakistani security forces only weaken the cause of the Afghan resistance against foreign forces.” The council urged focus on “fighting against NATO troops in Afghanistan” instead.

The TTP “fell apart due to Mehsud’s violent policies against the Pakistani security forces,” it said.

 

[Imran Khan]

Afghan money being spent for terrorism in Pakistan: Zardari
Updated at: 1545 PST, Sunday, October 19, 2008
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the drug money in Afghanistan was being utilized for stoking terrorism in Pakistan and urged US taking immediate notice of it.

Talking to US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher currently on Pakistan tour, President Zardari stressed on the US and the world community for halting the intrusion from Afghanistan into the tribal areas.

War against terrorism, Pak-Afghan border situation and different issues relating to the Pak-US bilateral ties were also discussed in the meeting.

President Zardari said that Pakistan was fighting a war against terrorism under a comprehensive strategy and the US was needed to understand the ground realities in Pakistan.

Richard Boucher participating in the discussion said the US supported Pakistan’s policy against terrorism and added that high-tech weapons would be supplied to Pakistan forces for crushing the miscreants.

 

[Imran Khan]

At least 100 militants killed, several injured by jets bombing in Swat
submitted 5 hours 25 minutes ago
Security forces jet planes bombing extremists’ hideouts at Barthana area here left at least 100 extremists dead. Sources said that the bombing in the area was resorted to on a tip off about the presence of 300 extremists holed in over there. The dead included several commanders of the extremists besides information received said that an arms depot at the house of an extremists’ leader, Alamgir was also blown up in the bombing.




FINISH THEM ALL

 

[Neo]

Jets bombing kills 23 extremists in Swat ​

Sunday, October 19, 2008

SWAT: Security forces jet planes bombing extremists’ hideouts at Barthana area here left at least 23 extremists dead.

Sources said that the bombing in the area was resorted to on a tip off about the presence of 300 extremists holed in over there. The dead included several commanders of the extremists besides information received said that an arms depot at the house of an extremists’ leader, Alamgir was also blown up in the bombing.

 

[Imran Khan]

Jets destroy rebel den, kill militant commander


Sunday, 19 Oct, 2008 | 12:00 PM PST |



SWAT: Pakistani fighter jets bombed a militant hide-out in Swat on Sunday, killing a rebel commander and destroying an ammunition dump, officials said.
The airstrike in the Matta district of Swat killed a senior fighter closely associated with Maulana Fazlullah, a security official said.
‘According to reports received by us, commander Alamgir has been killed in the airstrike and several other casualties are likely because ammunition at their hide-out exploded,’ the official told AFP.
‘It was a militant den. We cannot confirm casualties immediately.’
The official said that intelligence reports had indicated a large militant gathering in the area, a stronghold of extremists loyal to Fazlullah, who has declared a jihad or holy war against the government.
Meanwhile, Dawn News reports that 25 militants have been killed in Swat over the last 24 hours

 

[Imran Khan]

Jets pound Swat extremists’ hideoutssubmitted 6 hours 16 minutes ago
Jet planes pounding the extremists’ hideouts in the different areas here left several miscreants dead and injured, sources privy to the incident told. Sources said that the security forces Sunday morning bombed the extremists’ hideouts in Charmang area besides the jet planes also targeted extremists’ hideouts at Bartana and Barar areas of Tehsil Matta, where leaping flames and thick smokes were seen overcast in the sky. Sources said that a key-commander’s house was also destroyed in the bombing at Bartana