Taliban threatens politicians in troubled Swat, says report
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 14, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Pakistani Taliban warned local politicians in the troubled Swat Valley that they and their families would be attacked unless they quit their posts protesting against the continuing army offensive in the region.
Speaking to Qatar-based Al Jazeera network yesterday, Muslim Khan, a Pakistani Taliban spokesman, gave members of the national and regional assemblies a three-day deadline to denounce the military assault on Taliban fighters.
The warning came hours after suspected Taliban militants stormed a depot in northwest Pakistan that handles supplied for NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan and torched eight trucks. Also yesterday Pakistan’s embattled President Asif Ali Zardari called for global help to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. "The warning signalled a dark turn in the unfolding events in Swat where the Pakistani army is battling Taliban fighters. They [Taliban] can make these threats and people will take them very seriously," Al Jazeera’s correspondent said.
Trapped residents
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have escaped the punishing offensive in the Swat valley, fleeing Taliban fighters who have terrorized the population in a bloody campaign to enforce Islamic law, or Shariah, and expand their control. Residents trapped in Mingora, the district's main town, told Agence France-Presse by telephone that militants had planted mines and were digging trenches. "People are becoming mentally ill, our senses have shut down, children and woman are crying, please tell the government to pull us out of here," said one shopkeeper contacted by AFP who did not want to give his name. "Forget the lack of electricity and other problems, the Taliban are everywhere and heavy exchanges of fire are routine at night."
Airstrikes targeted Taliban bastions across Swat, which has sunk from a stunning ski resort favored by Westerners to a crucible of Taliban violence, where ground troops have yet to take control. Helicopter gunships also swung into action in the neighboring district of Lower Dir, where the military has been on the offensive since April 26 after Taliban fighters advanced to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.
A military spokesman reported "heavy fighting" in Swat's northern mountains at Peochar, the suspected stronghold of firebrand Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, where airborne commandos on Tuesday opened a new front. Overall, the military says more than 750 militants and 33 troops have been killed in its operations.
The warning came hours after suspected Taliban militants stormed a depot in northwest Pakistan that handles supplied for NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan and torched eight trucks. Also yesterday Pakistan’s embattled President Asif Ali Zardari called for global help to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. "The warning signalled a dark turn in the unfolding events in Swat where the Pakistani army is battling Taliban fighters. They [Taliban] can make these threats and people will take them very seriously," Al Jazeera’s correspondent said.
Trapped residents
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have escaped the punishing offensive in the Swat valley, fleeing Taliban fighters who have terrorized the population in a bloody campaign to enforce Islamic law, or Shariah, and expand their control. Residents trapped in Mingora, the district's main town, told Agence France-Presse by telephone that militants had planted mines and were digging trenches. "People are becoming mentally ill, our senses have shut down, children and woman are crying, please tell the government to pull us out of here," said one shopkeeper contacted by AFP who did not want to give his name. "Forget the lack of electricity and other problems, the Taliban are everywhere and heavy exchanges of fire are routine at night."
Airstrikes targeted Taliban bastions across Swat, which has sunk from a stunning ski resort favored by Westerners to a crucible of Taliban violence, where ground troops have yet to take control. Helicopter gunships also swung into action in the neighboring district of Lower Dir, where the military has been on the offensive since April 26 after Taliban fighters advanced to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.
A military spokesman reported "heavy fighting" in Swat's northern mountains at Peochar, the suspected stronghold of firebrand Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, where airborne commandos on Tuesday opened a new front. Overall, the military says more than 750 militants and 33 troops have been killed in its operations.