Two key areas declared militant free, official says

Islamabad: A top Pakistani civilian security official yesterday claimed that two key districts, Buner and Lower Dir, adjoining the restive Swat valley have been cleared of militants, and the internally displaced people (IDP) from these areas can now return home.

"Security forces have also cleared the Swat area of Khawazakhela of militants. [The] government will provide transportation of the people of these areas to reach back home," Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malek told media during his visit to the IDP camps set up in Mardan area, adjoining the Swat and Malakand areas.

The Interior Minister however, refused to give any time frame for the military operation to end, claiming the operation was progressing in the right direction.

"We want the operation to end as soon as possible," Malek said as an operational commander of the military forces told media that the military will overpower the militants in the key Swat city of Matta until this evening.

"Troops have entered Matta city from three areas, but were not using heavy weapons or air strikes. We are engaging and eliminating militants through surprise ground attacks to avoid collateral damage," Major General Sajjad Gani told media in a briefing.

Security forces began the operation in Buner on around April 26 as Taliban fighters, loyal to militant commander Fazlullah, had occupied the areas in violation of the Swat peace deal between Frontier province government and elderly cleric Sufi Mohammad, who is also father-in-law of Fazlullah.