The Security forces have regained total control of the Peochar valley and enhanced their efforts to wipe out terrorists from whole Malakand division, said the spokesman of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claiming that it will take three days to clear all major towns and villages from terrorists.
The security forces have regained control over Peochar valley, while the forces are advancing towards the Kala Kalay area and a crackdown against terrorists is under way in different areas of Lower Dir as local Lashkar has killed seven militants and four more militants in Nango Tel area during the action on the second day.
Giving details of the "Operation Rah-e-Raast," the ISPR spokesman said that in the last 24 hours, three terrorists were killed in various areas of Swat while one soldier was martyred and two others injured. He said the forces had also recovered huge cache of explosive and IEDs during search operation of a Madressah in Allahabad area of Mingora, adding that the security forces were now consolidating their positions in Charbagh area of Mingora after they had successfully secured Charbagh from terrorists.
He said that the security forces had repulsed an attack of terrorists at Baidarra post, north of Matta, and killed three terrorists in fierce battle fought in the area, while one soldier was martyred and two others were injured.
The security forces had established checkposts in Sattal area of Shangla after they cleared Dakorak area adjacent to Gulibagh. Now they were consolidating their positions at Kalam, he said. He said that the security forces had launched massive search operation in Gulabad to Shewa, Kipiari and Asband areas of Lower Dir, to get these areas cleared from the terrorists and consolidate their positions. The forces had successfully wiped out terrorists from the area, he added.
He said the forces had launched an operation on Wednesday morning and successfully cleared the areas of Pirbaba and Bhai Kalay of Buner from the terrorists, he said. Talking about relief activities of Pakistan Army in the strike-hit areas of Malakand division; the spokesman said that Army, in coordination with the civil administration, had so far distributed 803 tons rations and relief goods among the stranded people of Swat. He said that the food items were dropped by army helicopter for stranded people of Kalam and surrounding areas. Five trucks, carrying 25 tons of rations, had been dispatched to Khawazakhela, he added.
Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) and incharge of "Operation Rah-e-Raast" Major General Ijaz Awan has said that the IDPs of Swat and other parts of Malakand will be allowed to return their homes by June 17. He said the grid station of Mingora would be re-constructed within the next 24 hours and people would allowed to return their homes after the civic services were put back into action.
Gas supply to the city had been restored, he added. Major General Ijaz said it was quite possible that the forces would have to stay back in the area. He said at least 572 militants were killed during the operation in Mingora, of them, 155 were the leadership of the second tier.