(PTI): After a large number of pro-Taliban militants resurfaced in Pakistan's restive northwestern Swat valley, security forces on Thursday launched a fresh offensive in the area and arrested three militants. | Whoa! Three of them! Wowzers. |
About 45 Pakistani Taliban militants led by commanders Iqbal Hussain and Ikramuddin were seen in the area, locals said adding, they marched in the Shakar Darra area located 500 metres from a check-post manned by security forces at Baryam. The security personnel at the check post and local police officials did not offer any resistance to the show of strength by the militants, the Daily Times reported.
Following this, the army today launched a fresh offensive in and around Imamdheri, the former stronghold of Fazlullah and his men. The security forces cordoned off Imamdheri and nearby areas and arrested three militants in Kabal sub-district. Army officials said they planned to set up a permanent check post at Imamdheri to curb the movement of militants.
The resurfacing of the militants comes days after a coalition government led by the Awami National Party assumed office in the North West Frontier Province and offered to hold talks with all militant groups to end violence in Swat and other areas. The local Taliban have completed renovating the madrassa in Imamdheri that had served as Fazlullah's headquarters till October last year, when security forces had launched an offensive against the cleric and his followers.
The re-emergence of the militants has given rise to fears among locals about an increase in their activities. Sources also said that the Taliban would offer Friday prayers in the mosque from which Fazlullah had broadcast sermons using his illegal FM radio station. Fazlullah's spokesman Sirajuddin said the local Taliban were returning to their respective areas to "resume their responsibilities", adding he hoped that Fazlullah too would return and restart his "mission".
Hundreds of people, a majority of them militants, were killed during the offensive launched by the security forces against Fazlullah's men. The troops used artillery and gunship helicopters to bombard militant positions, sending on the run rebels who had captured police stations and security check posts across Swat. Fazlullah and his men had established a parallel administration in nearly 60 villages in Swat when the security forces launched their operation against the cleric.