Troops have taken control of Bahrain and cleared Peochar village in Swat, the ISPR said on Friday as security forces killed 28 Taliban -- including infamous commander Khush Mir Khan alias Abu Huzaifa -- all over the valley. "The security forces have successfully secured Bahrain," said the ISPR in a statement, adding that the army had also arrested seven Taliban from various areas of Swat. The ISPR said five soldiers and two civilians were also injured in exchange of fire. Some of the heaviest recent fighting took place in Bahrain. Peochar village: In a cordon-and-search operation, the forces cleared Taliban stronghold of Peochar village. "The army destroyed Taliban hideouts, including a madrassa, and seized 12 UN-registered vehicles," said the ISPR, adding that four tunnels storing rations stolen from NGOs were also discovered and a 'huge cache of arms' confiscated.
Meanwhile in Mingora, troops continued their cordon-and-search operation, cleared Aman Kot and Technical Institute College on Mingora-Kokarai Road and arrested five Taliban.
During a search operation in Dir's Kalpani area, the army killed six Taliban commanders -- Qadir, Noor Hameed, Aftab, Yousaf, Iftikhar and Iftikhar.
IEDs: The forces defused five improvised explosive devices during a search operation around Daggar in Buner. The army killed 13 Taliban hiding in a compound in a gunbattle.
The army said it was continuing relief activities, and had despatched 50 tonnes of ration for 70,000 stranded people in Khawazakhela. Five trucks of rations were also sent to the people of Bahrain and eight to a group of people in Kalam.
| Yes indeed, standards have changed since the conquest of Iraq. |
The military says more than 1,200 Taliban and 80 soldiers have died in the onslaught launched in the districts of Lower Dir on April 26, Buner on April 28 and Swat on May 8, but those tolls cannot be confirmed independently.