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| India-Pakistan |
| NWFP government to net militants in Mardan |
| 2008-02-05 |
| The government is finalising a plan to launch a search operation against militant groups linked to Baitullah Mehsud to curb the growing militancy here, Daily Times learnt on Monday. Police sources said the provincial government, in collaboration with the district administration, was currently devising a search operation in the district’s rural and hilly areas to counter recent clashes between militants and police, and attacks on police stations, CD centres and officials. Foreign militants: Faisal Khan, of the Palo Dheri village located 14 kilometres southeast of Mardan, said initially local Taliban had occupied the area. However, he said Uzbek and Afghan Taliban had been “spotted” in nearby areas, such as Jamra, Jhengra and Spinkai Ghar, during the past three months. Khan said the militants had started to occupy the Kashmir Smast hills bordering Swat following the military operation there. He said they were hiding in the hills and the police were unable to deal with them. Separately, Bakhshali residents have said that local Taliban and banned jihadi organisations are grouping there. They claim the militants are pressuring the locals to stop listening to music, and are bombing music centres and girls schools. Additional forces: Mardan District Nazim Himayutullah Mayar told Daily Times that threatening letters to girl schools, NGO offices and video centres in the area had become commonplace. He said several DVD shops and schools have been bombed and the principals of several girls’ schools have received threatening letters. Mayar said the district administration had requested additional forces and logistics support from the provincial government, but no measures had yet been taken. The army has already closed all roads used by both the army and private vehicles to pass through the interior part of the Punjab Regiment Centre in Mardan city following the Dargai suicide attack that killed 42 army recruits and injured many others on November 9, 2006. |
| Posted by:Fred |