Truce in Swat after gunship strikes

SWAT—The ceasefire has been announced between the Security forces and militant supporters of a radical religious leader Maulana Fazlullah in the scenic Swat valley in North West Frontier Province, the base of the cleric, who has been driving a fierce campaign to introduce pro-Taliban laws.
Troops backed by gunship helicopters clashed with a militant cleric’s supporters at his hideout in northwest Pakistan on Friday, leaving three rebels dead, officials said.
Heavy fighting broke out in Swat valley a day after a blast tore through a security forces vehicle in Swat, killing about 30 people, in an apparent reaction to the arrival of more than 2,000 troops in the area earlier this week.
Violence first erupted in Swat in July, when militants mounted revenge attacks on the army after government troops stormed the Al-Qaeda-linked Red Mosque in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
The Swat valley was once one of Pakistan’s premier tourist spots, attracting a large number of foreign guests drawn by its Buddhist heritage and archaeological sites. But the area in the conservative province bordering Afghanistan has in the past two years become a stronghold of Fazlullah’s banned group, Tahreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM).
Security officials say the group is linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network and Afghanistan’s ousted Taliban regime. The group was outlawed by President Pervez Musharraf in 2002 after it sent more than 10,000 volunteers to fight in Afghanistan against US forces who led an invasion to oust the country’s hardline Taliban regime. Fazlullah is also known as “Mullah Radio” for his fiery radio speeches in which he calls for the imposition of Islamic Sharia law and for a holy war on security forces.
The worsening situation in Swat is seen by analysts here as evidence of the growing “Talibanisation” of previously peaceful areas that border Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt along the Afghan frontier. Pakistan has around 90,000 troops in the tribal belt combating Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants who fled Afghanistan in 2001, as well as their radical Pakistani supporters.
More than 250 people, including about 50 troops, were killed in battles in the tribal region of North Waziristan earlier this month. The violence also adds to the political turmoil in Pakistan, following a double suicide attack on returning former premier Benazir Bhutto in Karachi on October 18 that killed nearly 140 people.
NWFP Secretary Home, Badshah Gul Wazir Friday said that government is expecting 4600 fighting force with Maulana Fazalullah which might take up arms against security forces during the ongoing operation aimed at restoring writ of the government in Swat. Addressing a press conference here at Media Centre of Information Department, Secretary Home said that government is facing problem in 59 villages of Matta sub division in Swat where armed men supporting Maulana Fazalullah are challenging writ of the government. Secretary Home was flanked by Inspector General of Police (IGP) NWFP, Muhammad Sharif Virk and Provincial Director Information, Farid Khan.
In response to a question, Badshah Gul Wazir said there are reports about presence of outsiders in the area including some foreigners. He said Swat is linked with Afghanistan through Bajaur Agency and some foreign militants would might have joined the miscreants.—Agencies