The government urged people on Tuesday in the Swat valley's main town, Mingora, to leave their homes for safer places as security forces could soon launch an offensive against Taliban militants there. A February peace pact aimed at ending Taliban violence in the Swat valley north-west of the capital has all but collapsed as the government comes under US pressure to get tough with the militants rather than appease them.
Militants had infiltrated into five districts of Mingora, the main town in Swat, and begun attacking security forces and government installations, said top government official in the valley Khushal Khan Khattak. "We have relaxed the curfew on Monday and asked residents to leave their areas because security forces may engage militants and we want to avoid civilian casualties," Khattak told Reuters.
Khattak declined to comment on the situation at the base, but a senior military official in the region said an operation might be launched to rescue 46 paramilitary soldiers besieged there. "We're acting with restraint because they're using civilians as a shield, but we'll go after them if the situation gets worse," said the military official, who declined to be identified.
The Taliban refused to give up their guns and pushed into Buner district, only 100 kilometers (60 miles) north-west of Islamabad, and another district adjacent to Swat last month, intent on spreading their rule. Amid the mounting concern, security forces launched an offensive to expel militants from Buner and another district on April 26. About 180 militants have been killed, according to the military, although there has been no independent confirmation.
MONITORING DESK ADDS: Militants occupied the government offices of Swat Nazim and Deputy Inspector General of Police and surrounded the residence of the Commissioner Malakand Division on Tuesday, Aaj TV reported.
According to sources, three militants were killed when clashes erupted between security forces and the militants in Kanju. While one policeman also sustained injuries following militants attack on the police station. In Swat, curfew was relaxed from 1:30pm to 7:00pm. During the curfew relaxation, militants occupied the empty offices of DIG police and District Nazim Nasir Jamal in Saidu Sharif. They also besieged the office of the Commissioner Malakand region. The militants attacked a police station in Saidu Sharif, injuring one policeman, the TV channel added.