http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=215963
Govt orders operation against Baitullah Mehsud
NWFP governor says full-fledged war against Taliban launched
Monday June 15, 2009 (1045 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a "full-fledged" assault against the
Taliban in the lawless northwest tribal belt and will continue until all
militants are eliminated, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said on Sunday.
"The government has launched a full-fledged operation in the tribal areas
including Waziristan," he told a press conference in Islamabad. "Operations
will continue till the elimination of the militants."
Owais Ahmed Ghani said the Pakistan Army had been ordered to carry out a
full-fledged offensive against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief
Baitullah Mehsud and his fighters in South Waziristan Agency (SWA).
"The military and law enforcement agencies have been ordered to carry out
a full-fledged operation to eliminate these beasts and killers by using all
resources," Owais told reporters. He didn't give an exact starting date, but
implied that military action had already begun.
Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told The Associated Press: "The
government has made the announcement. We will give a comment after evaluating
the orders." Over the past five weeks, as Pakistan has pursued an offensive
against militants in Swat Valley, rumours have swirled that it had plans to go
into South Waziristan tribal region to target the country's most powerful
Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud. -Agencies
Our Khar, Bannu, Wana and Mingora correspondents add: At least, 50
militants, including two commanders, and five children were killed when
security forces pounded the hideouts of militants with jet fighters and
artillery guns in Bajaur Agency, FR Bannu and South Waziristan Agency on
Sunday.
In Bajaur, 20 militants, including two commanders, were killed when jet
fighters of the PAF blitzed suspected hideouts of Taliban fighters in Charmang,
Sheda Shah, Asghar Killay, Chinar in Nawagai Tehsil, Darra Banda in Salarzai
subdivision and Garigal in Mamond, sources told our sources.
Besides 22 militants, five children were also killed and two persons were
injured when artillery shells fired by security forces hit houses at Sor Dagi
in Salarzai and Garigal in Mamond Tehsil of Bajaur Agency. The civilian deaths
caused anguish in the area and forced the people to start migrating from their
villages.
Two militant commanders were also among the dead, but the official
sources said their names couldn't be ascertained. There was no word from the
Taliban militants about their losses. The sources added that security forces
had entered Charmang, a stronghold of the militants in the agency. They took
control of the strategically important locations and established positions on
the hilltops.
In FR Bannu, 18 militants were killed when security forces targeted their
hideouts in Bakakhel and Janikhel areas with artillery from Bannu Cantonment.
Official sources said security forces continued the operation against the
militants in the troubled semi-tribal areas of Bakakhel and Janikhel on the
fifth consecutive day.
Security forces travelling in a convoy shot dead a youth identified as
Hakimullah Shah in Doghawara Sorani area. Miscreants fired three rocket from an
undisclosed location, one of which landed at the house of Parvez, slightly
injuring his mother.
The second shell landed on the ground of the Government Girls' Primary
School, Lalozai, while the third one fell in the fields. The District Police
Officer (DPO), Iqbal Khan Marwar, has imposed a ban on the entry of displaced
people from Janikhel and Bakakhel areas.
He warned the local people against sheltering or renting out houses to
the displaced tribesmen. Police also arrested 10 tribesmen under the 21
Frontier Crimes Regulation and sent them to jail.
In South Waziristan Agency (SWA), eight militants were killed when jet
fighters hit hideouts in Makeen and Spinkairaghzai Kot areas early in the day,
official sources said. Also, three civilians were killed in a roadside bomb
blast in Angoor Adda.
The sources said a container loaded with Nato supplies was on its way to
Afghanistan when a roadside improvised explosive device planted by unidentified
miscreants went off at 9:00 am near Barmal area of Angoor Adda, completely
destroying the truck and nearby parked vehicles. Those killed in the blast
included Muhammad Nauroz Wazir, Painda Khan Kharoti and Jan Gul Salyankhel
while Saudal Khan and Noor Wali were injured. The injured were taken to the
nearest clinic.
The political authorities confirmed the incident, saying that the
incident took place in Afghan territory on the Pak-Afghan border.In Swat
Valley, two suspected militants were shot dead at Green Chowk of Mingora while
a soldier was killed and three others injured during an exchange of fire
between the militants and security forces in Kabal Tehsil.
Another soldier sustained injuries when fired at in Kalla Killay in
Kabal.Sources said two suspected Taliban militants were gunned down at Green
Chowk. "A brief firing took place in the evening and later we came to know that
two suspected militants have been killed," the sources said.
It was learnt that the people could not identify the bodies. Curfew was
not relaxed on Sunday in Mingora and other areas of the valley. Troops
continued to patrol the streets in the city.The ISPR in a statement said
security forces were consolidating their positions in Kabal area. A search
operation was launched in Kabal on Sunday. During the process, exchange of fire
took place between the forces and militants, resulting in the killing of a
soldier, besides injuries to three others.
As the forces were engaged in strengthening their positions in the
valley, search and consolidation operation was also being conducted in Godand
Banda, Chuprial and Arkot Qilla areas of Matta.
The ISPR said Wenai-Sijbanr road had also been opened besides firming up
positions at Ring contour and heights located east of Chuprial. In this area, a
huge cache of arms and ammunition had been recovered from tunnels.
Cordon and search operation was being carried out in Matta town, Loi
Namal and Koz Shawar in Matta Tehsil. In Matta town, house-to-house search was
being carried out to track down the hiding Taliban militants, the ISPR said.
Four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered between Koz
Drushkhela and Sambat areas of Matta. The militants have planted mines and IEDs
in parts of Swat valley to inflict human and material loss on security forces.
About the relief activities, the ISPR said three truckloads of rations
were distributed among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in union
councils of Sawala Dher, Bakhshali, Garhi Kapora and Jalala. Another two
truckloads of relief goods were distributed in Mardan. About 200 displaced
families had been shifted from Bisham to Kalam while the IDPs from Kalam were
asked to report in Bisham where security forces had made arrangements for their
transportation to Kalam.
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