Security forces have killed seven terrorists including six foreigners on a tip-off from an aged local, arrested nine while 26 have surrendered. Huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives was also recovered during on going 'Operation Rah e Raast' in Malakand division.
As many as 135 terrorists including four Taliban commanders are killed, and 19 of their centres and 119 houses are destroyed during ten days of the operation in Khyber Agency against terrorists. On the other hand, police seized 250-kilogram explosive being smuggled to Mardan from Buner and foiled a sabotage plan.
The spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Thursday said that people in Swat and other parts of Malakand division were extending full support to security forces to flush out terrorists from their area. He said that an 80-year old inhabitant of Swat informed the forces about presence of foreign terrorists in Dureshah near Kokrai area of Swat Valley.
Security forces conducted search operation during which they killed six foreign terrorists mainly Afghan and Uzbek nationals and huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives was recovered from the area, he added. The spokesman said that the old man who informed security forces was offered prize but he declined to receive it saying that he wanted to see his area clear of terrorists.
He said that thirteen terrorists had voluntarily surrendered at Barshaur and Kanju Fort in Swat Valley, which indicates that they were demoralised and leaving the area. He said that security forces had conducted search operation at Banjot, Takhatband and Batkhela to clear the areas of terrorists.
During the operation they faced resistance from terrorists and in the gunfight one terrorist was killed and seven suspects were arrested. The ISPR spokesman said that the operation against terrorists, which started in Bara area of Khyber Agency on September 1, was going on smoothly.
During the operation 135 terrorists including local Taliban commanders Murad, Alam Shah, Habib ur Rehman and Tehseen were killed by security forces, he said, adding that 19 of their centres and 119 houses were also destroyed. He said that during the Bara operation forces had recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs including 129 small machine guns, 96 rifles, 53 Klashnikoves, 71 Rifles of 7/8 MM, 121 pistol, 8 grenades, heavy and light machine guns, 2.5 rocket fuses, 50070 bullets, 30 bore pistol, 79 boxes of small arms, ammunitions and explosives and huge quantity of other goods which included hashish, opium, mobile sets, generators, passports, batteries, cars, motorcycles, foreign currency and computers.
The spokesman said that 13 terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Zamindara Post in Dir district of Malakand division. He said that the security forces arrested two suspected terrorists from Kalapani area of Dir. It was learnt that Police have foiled a terror attack plan by seizing 250 kilogram explosive being smuggled to Mardan from Buner. The explosive was being carried on camels.
Police barricaded the area on a tip-off that heavy explosives were being smuggled from Mardan to Buner district via hilly track. A man was seen walking with camels at Rustam-Buner crossing. Police searched the goods on camels and found about 250 kg explosives. Five hundred-meter wire used in blasts and 10 detonators were also recovered, sources said. Police arrested a man namely Gulzar and a pistol was recovered from his possession, sources said, adding that the explosives were to be used for more blasts in Swat and Buner.
Meanwhile, the ISPR sources told this scribe that security forces had killed about 4,000 terrorists and arrested 3,000 militants in the last eight years. About 1,900 soldiers were killed in the fight against terrorists since 2001, they said. The military killed 1,800 Taliban militants and arrested 2,000 in Swat valley this year, he said. About 340 soldiers had died in the Swat operation.