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| India-Pakistan |
| Clash averted after Taliban block army convoy in Swat |
| 2009-04-25 |
| PESHAWAR: Taliban blocked the main highway linking Swat with the rest of the country on Saturday to stop a military convoy carrying supplies to Mingora, but a major clash was averted after intervention by the Awami National Party-led provincial government. “Yes, we have stopped the convoy from entering Mingora as it was a violation of the deal with us,” Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told Daily Times. Witnesses said armed Taliban blocked the road linking Swat with Peshawar at Qambar area close to Mingora city to stop the convoy coming from Barikot. It also caused inconvenience for public transport. Eight trucks: “A convoy of eight army trucks transporting supplies to the soldiers in Swat was not allowed to reach its destination,” officials said. “A major collision between the Taliban and the security forces was averted after the provincial government’s intervention, urging the military to call back the convoy.” Witnesses said helicopter gunships hovered over the area. The brazen violation of the writ of the state comes less than 24 hours after President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani vowed they would not allow such activites. Muslim Khan said the government was to gradually pull back the army under the deal, but it is building up army presence. “We cannot allow this.” Taliban also occupied the summer residence of former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz secretary general Saranjam Khan in the town of Bahrain, local residents told Daily Times. Meanwhile, Buner residents appeared relieved after the return of Taliban from the district to Swat. “It is good that the issue of Taliban presence was resolved peacefully,” Jehanzeb, a shopkeeper in Daggar area, told Daily Times by telephone. |
| Posted by:john frum |