2500 soldiers take position in Swat

SWAT/RAWALPINDI—The Security forces have taken Position in mountainous valley of swat and closed various main highways for every type of traffic to maintain law and order there. Confirming the deployment of security forces, Director General Inter Public Service Relations (ISPR) and Army Spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed has said that about 2500 Personnel has been deployed in Swat on request of local administration.
He said that the main reason behind the deployment of forces was to curb the activities of Maulana Fazlullah, besides ensuring law and order in Swat, a mountain valley popular with tourists. Fresh caravan of troops comprised of more than 500 vehicles arrived in Swat, which were being deployed in Mangora, Faza Gut, Mangalore, Char Bagh, Khawaza, Kabal, Kanju and Matta and other areas.
All the educational institutes, business centres and banks have been closed on Wednesday in Mangora and its suburb areas. Sporadic hovering of Gunship helicopters were being underway causing sense of fears among the locals. Sources told Online the paramilitary troops are setting up checkpoints across Swat while full fledge preparation is underway for action against Maulana Fazal Ullah and his associates. The soldiers have closed all entry and exist points leading to Imam Dheri, native area of Maulana Fazal Ullah.
Due to absence of traffic at roads and main highways, the student, Government employees and General Public were facing enormous difficulties, as the troops have closed entry and exist points leading to Swat. The patrolling of security forces across the swat has been intensified. On the other hand, Maulana Fazal Ullah and his accomplices have started preparation of counter action.
Meanwhile, Spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed told foreign news agency 2500 soldiers have been deployed around the Swat and the local people will soon get rid from Maulana Fazal Ullah and his associates. The army will assist the frontier corps while it was not such operation in which firing and shelling will be used. Commenting on current situation of Miran Shah, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad there was peace and calm while local tribesmen had given ultimatum to foreigners to leave the areas.
Director General Inter Service Public Relations Maj. Gen Arshad Waheed has said that the seven men involved in assault on the army caravan in Chak Darrah area of Malakand on late Tuesday have been arrested and the security forces are not conducing any large operation in the area. At least four security personnel were injured in a bomb attack on a military caravan in Chak Darrah area of Malakand on late Tuesday. Security forces rose to prompt action and arrested seven people.
According to sources, some unidentified men blew up with remote-controlled bomb a ration-laden truck included in a 50-vehicle military convoy moving to Swat. The explosion caused injury to four army men, who were rushed to Agency Headquarters Hospital for immediate medical aid. The eyewitnesses said the blast caused huge fatalities.
Pakistan Army Spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad confirmed the injury to four men. Talking to Geo News, he said the seven men involved in assault on the army caravan have been arrested and the security forces are not conducing any large operation in the area. In the wake of the recent attack, the stringent security arrangements have been made and traffic routes have been changed thanks to the transportation of the security forces.—Agencies