By IRNA,
Islamabad : Thousands of armed tribesmen Sunday burnt two centers of Pakistani Taliban in the country’s tribal region and vowed to expel all militants from the area, locals said.
Tribal elders from Salarzai tribe in Bajaur region also torched two houses of locals for sheltering Taliban and warned the people not to give shelter to the militants.
The action came hours after the government announced halt to military operation against the militants in Bajaur on the eve of the month of fasting.
All operations will be suspended till October 2nd, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said.
Last week, Taliban in Bajaur had already announced unilateral ceasefire, but the government had rejected their offer.
On the other hand army says it has not yet received any formal decision from the government to stop actions.
Malik said that over 500 militants have been killed in the major operation launched earlier this month in Bajaur, the claim denied by Taliban.
A tribal elder Malik Munasib Khan told reporters in Bajaur that a tribal jirga or council of some 80,000 people has been formed against Taliban.
He said that the tribesmen burnt two centers of Taliban and houses of two tribesmen who had sheltered Taliban.
Five hundred thousands people had fled Bajaur and moved to other cities as the army used fighter planes and heavy artillery to bomb Taliban positions.
Locals said the people started returning on Sunday after the government announcement to halt operation.
Khan said that armed tribesmen have taken control of most of the areas from Taliban and will never allow the militants to return. He said that tribesmen will continue operation to expel all Taliban militants.