Author: Agencies
Publication: ExpressIndia.com
Date: May 9, 2009
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Army-pounds-Taliban-bases-as-Gilani-calls-it-war-for-survival/456798/
Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships
killed at least 55 Taliban in the troubled Swat valley on Saturday as the
government said the military offensive, crucial for the "survival of
the country", will continue till terrorists are eliminated.
The "full-scale operation" against
the Taliban targeted militant hideouts in in Mingora, the main town of Swat
as also bases in Matta, Qambar, Ziarat, Mushkomai and Chamtalai areas, the
military said in a statement adding that 55 militants have reportedly been
killed.
With this, the total of number of Taliban
militants killed in three days of operations climbed near 200. Fighter jets
and helicopter gunships pounded militant positions across the scenic valley
located 160 km from Islamabad.
The army said the Taliban "are on the
run" and accused them of "trying to block the exodus of innocent
civilians" and even taking them hostages.
The operation will continue till terrorists
are eliminated, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said. Responding to a question
on whether the operation was launched due to international pressure, Gilani
said the "this is our own war, a war for the survival of the country
and the future of the people. We had no other option."
"The provincial government saw the peace
deal and the constitution being violated". The militants had gone "against
the judiciary, democracy and parliament" and this was tantamount to an
"open revolt", Gilani said.
Noting that this is "not a normal war"
but a "guerrilla war," he said the troops are trying to ensure that
there is "minimum collateral damage".
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who
is on a state visit to the United States, told a TV channel that "this
is war. If they kill our soldiers, then we do the same."
Separately, during an interaction with Pakistani-American
community, he said "we will not step back... if they want to damage Pakistan,
we will fight them for the sake of our country and for the sake of our future
generations."
The security forces are also conducting operations
in Buner and Dir districts, which were taken over by Taliban fighters from
Swat.
Meanwhile, at least six persons were killed
and over 10 others injured on Saturday in a missile strike by a US drone in
Pakistan's troubled South Waziristan tribal region today.
The drone fired four missiles at a house and
an adjacent seminary in Sararogha in South Waziristan Agency, considered a
stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan led by Baitullah Mehsud. Most
of those killed in the drone attack are believed to be militants, officials
said.
The military said it had destroyed main militant
headquarters at Loenamal in Matta, considered a stronghold of the Taliban.
Two soldiers were injured in Mingora.
The militants are using the homes of civilians
to engage the security forces and indiscriminate mortar fire by the rebels
in the populated areas of Mingora had resulted in civilian casualties, it
said in a statement.
The militants are also harassing the civilian
population and are involved in looting and arson in Mingora. The statement
said there were reports that "criminals who had sided with hard-core
militants are now fleeing from the area".
The military said troops had also secured
several strategic areas in Swat, including ridges on the outskirts of Gulabad
and two dominating mountain heights known in Shangla.
Two soldiers were injured in operations in
these areas. However, the operations in Buner, Dir and Swat have sparked the
exodus of almost half a million people displaced by the intense fighting.
Officials in Swabi district said around 150,000
people had fled Buner during the last few days. People who fled from Swat
to the nearby Mardan district have also said that several civilians were killed
by the army's artillery barrages.
Gilani said the security forces are trying
to prevent civilian casualties and will try to complete the operations as
soon as possible.
The NWFP government and agencies like the
UNHCR and Red Cross have set up relief camps. International agencies have
warned that Pakistan could be facing its worst humanitarian and refugee crisis
since partition of 1947.
