Britain backs Pak Army’s ‘vital’ movement to Mingora in Swat
May 24th, 2009 - 3:22 pm ICT by ANI
London, May 24 (ANI): Britain has supported Pakistan military’s ‘vital’ drive against the Taliban and other extremists in the Swat Valley, amid reports about the troops storming into Mingora, the main town of the Valley.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the United Kingdom was committed to the success of the operation, and urged the international community to support Islamabad in the on-going struggle
“The Pakistan government is engaged in a vital drive to assert its authority over extremist militants who have rejected Pakistan’s constitution, parliament and judiciary.The UK is committed to the success and prosperity of Pakistan and it is right that we, and the whole international community, should support this effort,” The Dawn quoted Brown, as saying.
Brown informed that London has approved a further 10 million pounds aid, bringing its contribution to 22 million pounds, for the thousands of people displaced in the Swat Valley due to the military operation.
“We are ready to do more to help displaced persons in the most extreme of situations and we want to encourage other countries to do so also,” Brown added.
According to reports, 17militants have been killed in the last 24 hours as Pakistan troops entered Mingora.
The Army is reportedly engaged in street battles with the extremists in the region.
The confrontation between the military and the Taliban was confined to the mountainous region and villages of Swat, but now it has shifted to Mingora, situated about 100 miles from away from Islamabad.
The struggle in Mingora is being seen as a test of the ability of the Pakistani military.
With the military operation gaining momentum, fears about large scale civilian casualties is making the task of the security forces more difficult.
The Army is unable to determine exactly how many civilians are still trapped in the region.
“It is difficult to estimate how many civilians or militants are present in the city,” the ISPR spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas said.
He added that there were about 1,500 ‘hardcore militants’ still fighting in the Valley, and that the army would try to complete the operation in eight weeks.(ANI)
- Taliban engaging in street fighting after Pak Army storms into Mingora - May 24, 2009
- US doubtful about winning war on Pakistan border - Dec 06, 2010
- Swat operation in final stage as Taliban 'staring defeat in the face' : Pak army - May 26, 2009
- Four killed, 44 wounded in Pakistan bombing (Lead) - Jul 15, 2010
- Two killed in Pakistan bomb explosion - May 01, 2010
- 10 militants killed in Pakistan - Dec 03, 2009
- Seven killed in Pakistan suicide attack - May 02, 2010
- 11 Taliban militants killed in Pakistan - Dec 10, 2010
- 37 killed as Pakistan Army battles Taliban in Swat (Lead) - May 06, 2009
- Pakistani troops find bodies of 18 militants in Swat - Aug 16, 2009
- Taliban down, but far from out in Swat: BBC report - May 02, 2010
- Pakistan deploys army to stop cross-border attacks - Oct 19, 2011
- Pak Army still stuck in Taliban quagmire two years following offensive - Jul 05, 2010
- Flood relief efforts force Pakistan Army to alter plans against terrorists - Sep 14, 2010
- US runs out of patience with Pak's toothless military campaign against terrorists - Oct 06, 2010
Tags: british prime minister, british prime minister gordon brown, civilian casualties, civilians, confrontation, extremist, extremists, gaining momentum, gordon brown, militants, military operation, mountainous region, pak army, pakistan government, pakistan military, pakistani military, prime minister gordon brown, street battles, success and prosperity, swat valley
