By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistan Army Monday said it had killed at least 15 pro-Taliban militants, who had taken control over several villages and towns in the country’s restive northwest valley of Swat.
“We have secured back a lot of area in the latest operation and will continue the ongoing action until all the militants are flushed out of the region,” chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
“According to the reports we received from our local sources, they confirm the deaths of 15 militants.”
The fresh clashes came one day after gunship helicopters and artillery pounded militants’ positions in at least three villages in the scenic valley, killing 30 insurgents. One soldier also died and two were injured in the combat.
Thousands of armed supporters of firebrand cleric Maulana Fazlullah have captured dozens of villages and at least three main towns since late October, when the government sent additional troops to block his efforts to enforce Taliban rule in the area.
More than 350 people, including dozens of soldiers, have died in the clashes since then.
The army spokesman complained that the rebels were using civilians as human shields.
“The civilians are being terrorized and held hostage,” Arshad said. “The militants go to their houses and fire from there at the security forces, but we are always careful in our response because we want to avoid the loss of innocent lives.”