World | Pakistan
Army claims 170 militants killed in Swat overnight
Pakistani military said on Friday that about 170 militants had been killed since the army launched a "full-scale" operation overnight to crush anti-state elements in Swat and adjoining districts in the northwest.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 23:07 May 8, 2009
Islamabad: Pakistani military said on Friday that about 170 militants had been killed since the army launched a "full-scale" operation overnight to crush anti-state elements in Swat and adjoining districts in the northwest.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced in a televised address to the nation on Thursday night that the army had been called out to "eliminate terrorists and militants".
Chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a media briefing that the militants in Swat, Buner and Dir districts were now "on the run".
He, however, admitted that in some densely populated areas in Buner the forces had to operate with caution to avoid collateral loss of civilian lives and the pace of offensive there was relatively slow.
The spokesman pointed out that the militants had taken people hostage and were using them as human shield.
He said the operation was meant to clear the areas of militants and after completion of the task it would be up to the government to decide how to deal with the aftermath.
Giving details, he said 143 militants were killed in Swat valley and about 30 in Buner and Dir areas. Three forces suffered three casualties while several soldiers were injured.
He confirmed that Kifayat Ullah, son of cleric Sufi Mohmmad, head of the religious body TNSM which had signed the Swat peace agreement in February, was among the militants killed in Dir on Thursday.
Estimating the number of militants in Swat valley at 4,000 the spokesman said the forces were using all resources including attack helicopters. He gave no timeline for accomplishing the job.
Amid the intensified conflict in the northwest the number of people fleeing their villages to safer areas had crossed half a million and officials said it was likely to rise to one million.
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