Heliborne Troops Land in Swat’s Key Taliban Stronghold

Tuesday, 12 May, 2009 11:45 AM PST
It was the first time helicopter borne troops had landed in Swat since the offensive began last week.

TIMERGARA/MINORA: Pakistani commandos dropped into a key Taliban stronghold in the Swat valley on Tuesday, stepping up a punishing offensive against militants that has displaced more than 360,000 people.

Troops opened up a new front in the district's northern mountains, the suspected stronghold of firebrand Taliban commander Mullah Fazlullah and his top lieutenants behind a nearly two-year uprising that has devastated the area.

Military officials said ‘heliborne troops’ landed at Peochar, around 65 kilometres northwest of the main Swat town of Mingora, in the first such assault during the latest offensive to crush the Taliban in the district.

‘The operation is right now in progress,’ said one of the officials, speaking to AFP from the northwest region.

Attack helicopters also shelled suspected Taliban hideouts in Malam Jabba, once frequented for its pristine winter ski slopes, a military official said.

Pakistani ground and air forces have been pounding Taliban strongholds across the northwest for 16 days in what Islamabad says is a fight to eliminate militants.

Military officials have released death tolls that combine to more than 780 dead militants but are not independently verifiable.

On Monday, several militants were killed or injured as security forces claimed gains in Dir and Malakand and tightened the noose around militants in Swat district.

Nine militants were killed and several others injured after security forces took control of Gulabad and established checkposts there. After a fierce clash, the security forces took control of the residence of MNA Malak Azmat in Ouch, which was occupied by militants a few days back.

Sources on Monday said several militants were killed when helicopter gunships and troops on the ground attacked a government school for girls in Gulabad from where a band of outlaws had been firing on troops. A militant vehicle was destroyed during shelling.

Two civilians were killed when a pick-up carrying vegetables was hit on Badwan road. Eleven civilians were also injured in various parts of Adenzai tehsil.

Troops took control of the Dir-Peshawar Highway and established checkposts at Gulabad and Kharkanai. The armed Taliban had set up checkpoints on the highway and were patrolling from Chakdara to Talash. They snatched several official vehicles and kidnapped a number of government employees.

Security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, pounded militant positions in Gulabad and surrounding areas, residents and official sources said. Troops cleared Osakai, Saproona, Bakandai, Ramyal, Ouch and Gulabad of militants, they added.

‘Militants are on the run,’ the sources said. They had started retreating to Asbanr, a Taliban stronghold, while troops and helicopter gunships were chasing them and some of the militants had fled to Laram and Kotigram, they added.

Main areas of Adenzai tehsil, including Ouch, Badwan, Khadagzai, Chakdara, Osakai, Asbanr and Talash of Timergara, plunged into darkness after an 11,000KV power line was hit by shelling at Chakdara and Osakai.

In Maidan, a soldier was killed and four others were injured during search operation. According to official sources, seven militants were killed in Hayaserai. However, independent sources did not confirm it.

Thousands of people came on the roads to catch vehicles for southern districts after the curfew was relaxed from 4pm in Dir. A large number of people from Adenzai crossed the Chakdara bridge to save their lives.

In Swat, security forces defused several landmines on GT Road in Barikot. Security forces blew up the house of Taliban commander Yousaf during search operation in Barikot.

Militants were offering stiff resistance to security forces in Baynai Baba area in Khwazakhela, where captain Rashid and two soldiers were injured in a clash.

The militants fired three rockets on the circuit house in Saidu Sharif. No casualty was reported in the attack. Jets and helicopter gunships pounded militant locations in Kabal, Matta and Khwazakhela tehsils.

Hundreds of people vacated their homes in Kota and Landaki and crossed into neighbouring Malakand. Caravans of people, most of them on foot because of non-availability of vehicles, were seen crossing Batkhela.

A headless body of a police havaldar was found at the main square in Nawi Kalley.

Pakistani ground and air forces are also operating in the neighbouring districts of Buner and Lower Dir in what Islamabad says is a fight to eliminate militants.

It is difficult for reliable and independent information on developments to filter across the frontlines, as many local journalists have reportedly fled.

Pakistani officials charge that more than 700 militants have been killed in the operations, but official death tolls have been impossible to verify.

The UN refugee agency said more than 360,000 displaced people had registered after escaping the worst-affected districts of Buner, Lower Dir and Swat, although OCHA feared the numbers could be much higher.

Haleem Asad and Hameedulah Khan contributed to this report.