Pakistan Army commences operation in Mingora

Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 8:23 am

Pakistan Army commences operation in Mingora:-

Pakistan Army commences operation in Mingora ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has commenced the operation for the clearance of Mingora, chief town of Swat, besides claiming of killing more 17 miscreants in last 24 hours of ongoing operation in the area.

Briefing the newsmen here Saturday along with Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Director General ISPR Maj. Gen. Athar Abass said that the security forces have been cordoned off Mingora city while the troops are engaged in battling with the militants in the streets of city’s outskirts.

He said that the forces have cleared the area of Mingora from Circuit House to Matkan. He said that the land route between Matta and Peochar have also been restored as the forces have assumed control of the only bridge connecting the two valleys, known as Vinnay bridge.

Pakistan would not allow any foreign army to operate inside the country but at the same time the country is desirous to get latest military technology to enhance Pakistan Army’s capacity to fight extremists, he told the press conference.

Kaira said foreign aid for IDPs was coming through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme and Red Cross and added the government had issued directions to all concerned ministries not to wait for foreign aid and try to arrange funds from country’s own resources.

Replying to a question, he said Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the operation in Swat was likely to take six to eight weeks but it should not be taken as deadline.

“The government realized the gravity of the situation and it was trying its best to complete the operation as early as possible,” he added.

About some rumors of terrorists’ presence in camps of IDPs, he said registration process was meant to identify suspects.

To a question about India’s involvement in Swat unrest, the minister said blaming others without concrete proof was not the policy of the government.

Army’s top spokesman said that that more 17 militants, including a top Taliban commander of the area, have been killed in the last 24 hours of the operation.

He said that the IDPs from Khwazakhela to its downward areas could return to their houses as the area till Khwazakhela has been cleared off the miscreants.

He said that the residents of Pir Baba of Buner district have formed a tribal lashkar to evacuate their area from militants.