Pakistan forces wrest key town from Taliban | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Pakistan forces wrest key town from Taliban

IANS | By, Islamabad
Apr 29, 2009 05:19 PM IST

Pakistani security forces today wrested control of a key town in restive North West Frontier Province's Buner district from the Taliban fighters, authorities said. Troops secured Daggar, the main town in Buner, after being dropped by helicopters behind Taliban lines, a military spokesman said.

Pakistani security forces on Wednesday wrested control of a key town in restive North West Frontier Province's Buner district from the Taliban fighters, authorities said.

HT Image
HT Image

Troops secured Daggar, which is the main town in Buner district, after being dropped by helicopters behind Taliban lines, a military spokesman said on the second day of the offensive against the Taliban on Wednesday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The troops have linked up with police and the Frontier Constabulary, Dawn reported.

At least 60 personnel of police and the Frontier Constabulary were taken hostage by Taliban in Buner's Pir Baba area as security forces, backed by helicopter gunships and jet fighters, launched an operation in the district on Tuesday and pounded suspected hideouts of militants in some of its border areas.

Two policemen who were out of the police station at the time of the attack told Dawn that militants had set up their headquarters at a mosque adjacent to the shrine of Pir Baba and the hostages were taken there.

"Security forces' troops dropped down by helicopters on mountains as operation continued in Buner and remote areas," the News International reported.

Pakistan's interior ministry chief Rehman Malik on Tuesday told Geo TV on Tuesday that there was a threat of reaction from militants in other parts of the country following launch of a major military offensive in Buner.

He said that the government would launch operation in every area where writ of the state was challenged.

"Time for Taliban militants has ended," he was quoted as saying.

At least 70 militants were killed by the security forces in Lower Dir while nearly 450 terrorists were holed up in Buner area, Malik said on Tuesday, adding "we will not tolerate them anymore".

The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and Taliban-backed radical cleric Sufi Mohammad had Feb 16 signed a controversial peace accord to impose Sharia laws in Swat and six other districts of the province in return for the militants laying down their arms.

President Asif Ali Zardari baulked at ratifying the accord in the face of strident international pressure and tossed the deal to parliament, which approved it April 13. Zardari approved it the same night and the accord came into force two days later.

The Taliban, however, did not keep their end of the bargain and moved south from Swat to seize control of Buner district last week.

While some of them moved out after intervention from Sufi Mohammad, chief of Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), a Taliban-aligned group, the bulk of the militants had stayed back, prompting the security forces to act against them.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On