10 Taliban militants killed in northwest Pak

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Jul 19 (PTI) At least 10 militants were killed
by Pakistani security forces during an operation to flush out
the Taliban fighters from the restive Hangu region in the
country's northwest, a military spokesman said Friday.

The army launched the crackdown on the local Taliban
after 16 paramilitary personnel were gunned down by militants
at Zargari in Hangu district on July 12. About 1,500 troops
backed by gunship helicopters, tanks and artillery
have been mobilised for the operation.

Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told reporters
that 10 militants were killed and five soldiers injured in
clashes since Wednesday.

However, local Taliban spokesman Maulvi Haider claimed
the militants had killed 30 troops in fighting last night. He
also said the militants were still present in Zargari but his
claims could not be independently confirmed.

Reports from Hangu said an army helicopter killed at
least five Taliban fighters and injured several more in a
strike in an area close to the Aurakzai tribal region.

Abbas said the operation would continue till the Hangu
area is cleared of militants. The army was called in by the
NWFP government to aid the civil administration "to control
the deteriorating law and order situation", he said.

The army yesterday took control of Zargari town, a
stronghold of the Taliban, after fierce gun battles. The
troops sealed off the area and launched a house-to-house
search for militants. They also strengthened their positions
and blew up the homes of several suspected militants.

Local residents said the security forces and militants
had also clashed at Shinawarai area in Hangu district and that
both sides had suffered casualties.

The army shelled suspected militant positions in several
areas. Local residents said the shelling killed five
civilians. However, the army spokesman said the civilians died
when the Taliban fired mortar shells at populated areas.

There were also reports from Hangu that most of the
Taliban fighters in the area had retreated towards Aurakzai
Agency, one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal regions
bordering Afghanistan.

Thousands of people fled Hangu district after tension
flared up between security forces and the local Taliban
following the arrest of seven militants last week. The Taliban
initially besieged a police station in Doaba village to demand
the release of their arrested comrades but moved out after the
army was deployed in the area.

More people fled from Hangu city and Doaba after curfew
was relaxed today to allow food and essential supplies to be
brought in.

The North West Frontier Province government said it was
undeterred in its efforts to curb militancy despite
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud's warning
that it should quit within five days or face the consequences.

A tribal jirga is continuing its parleys with the Taliban
and urging the militants to accept the writ of the government.

The security situation across Pakistan's northwest has
deteriorated in recent weeks amidst mounting pressure from the
US to stop militants making cross-border attacks on coalition
forces in Afghanistan.

The US and Afghanistan have said that the flow of Taliban
fighters from Pakistan to Afghanistan has increased after the
new government led by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
resorted to talks to end violence in the tribal areas. PTI