By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces have killed 143 militants in insurgency-hit Swat Valley during 24 hours as forces have intensified operation to eliminate and expel miscreants, Pak Army said Friday.
Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that 16 other militants, too, were killed in Buner and Lower Dir districts in the same period.
He told a news conference that three soldiers were killed and 11 injured in Chakdara area of Dir when the militants attacked a check post.
“The army has launched full operation and will be continued unless the militants are eliminated and the area is cleared of the militants”.
The spokesman said that there are around 4000 militants present in Swat Valley, adding that the leadership of the militants and foot soldiers and cadre are from Swat. “But there were militants from across the border and also few Uzbeks and Tajiks”.
He said that the militants in Swat have recruited over 100 youth who have taken for training. He said the militants knock at the doors of the people and take children, without parents’ permission. “They have increased numbers. Most of the recruits have been given arms”.
Athar Abbas said that the air force fighter planes destroyed training centers of the militants between mountains and in different areas, adding that data of the number of the camps and casualties is being collected.
He said objectives of the major offensive are to clear Swat valley from the militants, restore peace and establish writ of the government in the area.
The spokesman said that border forces have also been on alert to stop cross border movement of the militants from entering Pakistan. The number of forces has been increased in Swat to break the coordination of Swat militants with those coming from across the border.
Athar Abbas said the militants are getting drug money from Afghanistan and it estimated 10 per cent of the 4 billion dollars estimated drug money in the international market. The militants are also getting money from kidnappings for ransom, charity as well as from hostile intelligence agencies in the region.