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| India-Pakistan |
| 500 hardcore militants captured in Swat, claims Malik |
| 2009-07-22 |
| [The News (Pak) Top Stories] Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said around 500 hardcore militants had been arrested so far from Swat, 90 per cent of whom were Afghan nationals. Talking to a private television channel, he said Swat had almost been cleared of the militants and the same approach would be adopted to pursue them in North and South Waziristan. The armed forces will stay in the militancy-affected areas until complete restoration of political and social infrastructure, he said, adding that efforts would be made to achieve these goals in minimum possible time. To a question, he said a sizable amount of foreign-made heavy and sophisticated ammunition had also been captured in the militancy-hit areas, which can be traded between the states only. "We have lodged our complaints with the quarters concerned in this regard at various levels," he said. He expressed his firm hope that Baitullah Mehsud would be captured or killed during the operation, adding the operation was focused against Baitullah and the likes and it was not focused against any tribe. To a question about delay in tracing the main leadership of militants, the minister said the terrain in militancy-hit areas was very vast and complicated and it was not easy to reach the target instantly. "We have asked the Afghan government and other stakeholders that anti-Pakistan activities of Brahamdagh Bugti should be checked and he should be handed over to Pakistan's authorities." The minister said Pakistan has extended full cooperation to India with regard to investigation into the Mumbai attacks but the Indians never did so in case of Samjhota express incident that claimed the lives of so many Pakistani citizens. The minister said the military operation in Swat was succeeded because it had the backing of the entire nation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I assume the ISI will be issuing them bus tickets to Kandahar |
| Posted by: Jolush Scourge of the Antelope9077 2009-07-22 14:21 |