Islamabad: The Pakistan Army has mobilised 15,000 troops to launch a major offensive against militant followers of a pro-Taliban cleric in the northwestern Swat valley, where 20 rebels were killed by security forces today. The militants have over-run another key town in the region despite losing nearly 150 men in clashes since Wednesday.

Tanks and armoured vehicles moved into Swat in the North West Frontier Province to prepare for a major assault against cleric Maulana Fazlullah's men. Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in the mountains throughout the day. The army said 20 militants were killed in Swat today.

The army said its troops had succeeded in driving militants out of Alpuri, the main town of Shangla district. However, the rebels yesterday captured the nearby town of Puran after police and civil officials fled the area, militant spokesman Sirajuddin said.
Hundreds of militants infiltrated Puran, the hometown of former federal minister Amir Muqam, early yesterday and captured police stations and government buildings. They set up check posts at several places. Militant commander Khalid Khan said reinforcements had been sent to Puran with heavy weapons.

Authorities imposed a curfew from 2 am to 2 pm today in Swat and Malakand Agency to facilitate the movement of troops for the new offensive. Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director General of Military Operations, told reporters in the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi that the operation is aimed at "evicting and eliminating" the militants in Swat.

Source : PTI