Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 26, 2009

Pakistani Forces Launch Offensive Against Taliban Militants
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=23E0658:A6F02AD83191E1601A3BAEA0E10E559DD937473925D9872C&
 
Military officials report intense fighting in Lower Dir district, and
say scores of militants, including a militant commander, have been
killed in the ongoing clashes 
Pakistani Taliban leave Buner, 24 Apr 2009Pakistan's military says
security forces began a new offensive in the northwest Sunday, just days
after Taliban militants temporarily advanced to a district near the
capital. Military officials report intense fighting in Lower Dir
district, and say scores of militants, including a militant commander,
have been killed in the ongoing clashes. They say at least one solider
also has died. Lower Dir is part of the Malakand division of North West
Frontier Province. President Asif Ali Zardari sanctioned the imposition
of Islamic law (Sharia) in areas of Malakand as part of a controversial
peace deal with Taliban militants. The agreement also calls for fighters
to lay down their weapons, but that has not happened yet. Just days ago,
Taliban militants left their stronghold in Swat Valley and temporarily
infiltrated Buner district, about 100 kilometers from the capital. The
Swat fighters abandoned the district Friday, but local Taliban!
  remain. A Taliban spokesman, Muslim Khan, told VOA Friday that the
Swat Taliban fighters decided to abandon the district because they
worried that staying could jeopardize the recent peace deal. Pakistan's
Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani said Friday that the army "will not
allow the militants to dictate terms to the government or impose their
way of life" on civil society. U.S. officials have sharply criticized
the deal between the government and hard-line cleric Sufi Mohammed as a
capitulation to extremists.

 


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