Security forces intensified the offensive and severe gunfire and shelling echoed across all the major towns of Swat on the third day of fighting Ibne Aqeel, an important commander of the Taliban and brother of the strongman of Matta Taliban Ibne Ameen, was killed by security forces in a retaliatory attack when the militants attacked the Matta police station. Five more militants were also killed in firing that continued for hours.Security forces also targeted militants’ strongholds at Khwazakhela, Bandai, Charbagh, Winai, Peuchar, Kabal, Shahdheri, Matta, Akot, Shahdarra and Pir Killay with jet fighters, gunship choppers and artillery, military officials said.
Mingora remained the flashpoint where gunfire between the militants and troops continued all the day. The militants attacked the Mingora police station and an exchange of heavy fire took place between the personnel of security forces and militants. However, no casualty was reported in the fighting.
Sources in the security forces said the daylong fighting and shelling had left 48 militants dead, including six in Winai, 10 in Bamakhela, 12 in Shahdheri, Sahagai and three in Pir Killay. Security forces also rounded up two suspects in Pir Killay and shifted them to an undisclosed location.
About 400,000 residents left the valley after the authorities relaxed the curfew till 6:00 pm in many parts of the troubled district, except for Khwazakhela where it was in place till the filing of this report.
A lot of families, who streamed out of Mingora and other surrounding towns, trailed all the way to Takhtbhai and Shergarh in Mardan district on foot. Tens of thousands of other families are still stranded in Mingora and other places as no transport is available due to the continuing curfew.
The troops’ convoys are still moving towards the valley and the public transport was not allowed to come into the town. Eyewitnesses said many of the families were waiting in Mingora as they could not pay excessive charges demanded by the transporters.
The militants, however, were offering resistance in Buner district where security forces continued their advancement. Security forces and militants were locked in fierce fighting in Sultanwas and Pir Baba. Shelling continued in Elay area that destroyed dozens of homes and left a number of women and children injured.
However, the curfew was relaxed from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm that allowed the residents to leave for safer places. About a dozen important personalities, including Hameed, the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, police officials, religious figures and political leaders of the area are said to be missing.
Meanwhile, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Buner chapter commanders Maulana Muhammad Alam Khalil and Maulana Yasir claimed that the militants had caused huge losses to security forces and snatched arms from them. They said a large number of government servants had pledged to quit their jobs.
The Buner-Mardan main road was closed after clashes between the troops and militants. Eyewitnesses said that Yousaf Filling Station and the market at Ambela were razed to the ground in the shelling by security forces and scores of vehicles were also damaged.
The Utility store in Elay village was looted by unidentified gunmen, who took away food and other items. On the other hand, the Taliban offered ceasefire in the entire Malakand Division and pledged to play their role for restoration of peace if the government promised implementation of Shariah in the region.
Taliban commander in Buner Maulana Khalilur Rahman phoned The News and said they were ready to announce a ceasefire in the whole Malakand and lay down their arms if the government showed sincerity in its commitment to enforce Shariah.
The Taliban commander claimed that their fighters had not suffered casualties and were ready to fight for years for the implementation of Shariah, but they wanted a ceasefire due to the suffering of innocent people in the military operation.
“We are ready to cease fire, lay down arms, and serve the government and its law-enforcement agencies without getting even a single penny. But the government would have to implement Shariah according to the aspirations of the people of Malakand,” Maulana Khalil explained.
He said once Shariah was enforced “in its true form” in Malakand, the Taliban would declare fighting against the Pakistani soldiers and police personnel an un-Islamic act.
The militant commander alleged that it was the government and not the Taliban who violated the peace accord. “The government had promised us implementation of Shariah, withdrawal of the Pakistan Army troops from Swat and release of our prisoners, which they did not fulfil,” he said.
He said they had allowed Maulana Sufi Muhammad to negotiate with the government on the enforcement of Shariah in Malakand and would accept whatever was decided between Maulana Sufi Muhammad and the government.
AFP adds from Islamabad: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Athar Abbas has said nine soldiers were killed during clashes with militants in Swat in the last 24 hours.
“In 24 hours, we lost nine soldiers and about 10 of them (were) injured,” Athar Abbas told AFP. Seven of the soldiers were killed when militants ambushed a convoy at the entrance to Mingora. “The troop carrier was coming and there were seven soldiers killed in that. Two soldiers were killed somewhere in the valley north of Matta,” Abbas said.
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