At least ten Taliban militants were killed on Monday in exchange of fire with troops in a north-western valley rocked by a violent campaign for Islamic law, an official said. The exchange of fire erupted after militants refused to surrender in Sarsanai area in the Matta district of the valley.
"A fire fight began after militants refused to lay down arms and leave the area. Resultantly, 10 rebels were killed," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told AFP. Separately, one soldier was killed and another wounded when militants attacked a paramilitary Frontier Corps checkpost in Tutanobandai area in the Matta district. The mountainous Swat valley was until last year a popular tourist destination where many Pakistani city dwellers went for their annual holidays and it featured country's only ski resort. But the region has been turned into a battleground since Fazlullah, who has links to country's Taliban movement, launched a violent campaign for Islamic Sharia law.