60 Taliban killed in Buner offensive

ISLAMABAD/MINGORA: Security forces have killed around 60 Taliban in Buner over the last 24 hours as helicopter gunships continued shelling suspected hideouts, with almost 400 Taliban putting up fierce resistance to the military offensive in the district, according to ISPR spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas.

“Nearly 55 to 60 Taliban have been killed over the last 24 hours in the Buner operation,” said Abbas while briefing the media on Friday.

Troops killed: He said that two FC personnel had also been killed and eight injured in the operation, which entered its fourth day on Friday. According to the AFP news agency, Abbas said the troops were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a booby-trapped house.

The spokesman said all entry points to Buner had been sealed off.

He said the resistance the Taliban had put up and their weapons – assault rifles, anti-aircraft missiles and mortars – showed they had come to Buner with the intention to stay. He said locals had confirmed that foreigners were also present in Buner and fighting the security forces along with the Taliban.

Suicide bombers: The spokesman said the security forces had foiled Taliban plans to target security forces in suicide attacks. He claimed that one would-be suicide bomber had also been arrested, after he tried to blow himself up. He said that ground troops backed by helicopter gunships destroyed nine suicide vehicles and six vehicles of ‘fleeing Taliban’, AFP reported. Three suicide motorcyclists were shot dead by ground troops advancing on narrow mountain tracks, he added.

About Swat, he said Taliban had set up checkpoints in violation of the peace deal with the government, and were harassing and kidnapping officials and locals. He said troops present in Swat would take action if asked by the government.

Replying to a question, Abbas said the security forces had flushed out the Taliban from most areas of Mohmand Agency. He said the Taliban would be totally eliminated from the agency ‘soon’. He said troops were also taking action against criminal gangs in Khyber Agency.

The spokesman also claimed that Pakistan had captured and killed several Al Qaeda terrorists. He said that foreign reports about links between extremists and security forces were “part of a malicious campaign against national security institutions”.

Meanwhile, a curfew remained imposed in Sawari, Ambela, Daggar, Pir Baba, and other areas of Buner throughout the day except for four hours between 2pm to 6pm. Pir Baba, Jor, Gokand, and a few other areas are still under Taliban control.

Two children were killed in Ambela area. Meanwhile, locals are leaving Buner for safer places. link...