Pakistan - Swat valley offensive

Dozens killed as warplanes bomb Taliban

Article published on the 2009-05-08 Latest update 2009-05-08 13:23 TU

Internally displaced people carry tents distributed from a truck as they flee military operations in a camp in Swabi district
(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistani warplanes on Friday bombed Taliban hideouts in the Swat valley, in the north-west of the country, after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani vowed to "eliminate the militants and terrorists" in a televised address to the nation.

The military killed 24 Taliban on Friday, according to Pakistan's The News, which also says that the Islamists blew up a police station, which had been vacated the previous day. Another newspaper, Dawn, reports a dozen Taliban killed. It quotes army sources as saying that the military is targeting key Taliban leaders in the valley.

Jetplanes are reported to be flying over the main town, Mingora, which fleeing local residents say is still completely under rebel control. Ground forces are coming under intense fire from the Taliban.

The UN refugee agency says that 300,000 people are currently fleeing the fighting or are about to do so, bringing the estimated total of displaced people to one million.

French-based medical charity Médécins sans frontières (Doctors without borders) says it has ended emergency medical care because of the fighting.

In his televised address, Gilani called for unity against "extremists", who, he claimed, are risking the sovereignty of the nation.

In the US on Thursday President Asif Ali Zardari lunched with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and leading members of the US Senate.

Republican Senator John Kerry, who is head of the Foreign Relations Committeee, and Republican Richard Lugar discussed their bill to triple civilian US aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars (5.6 billion euros) over the next five years.

"Obviously, it's urgent," Kerry told reporters, adding that both Republicans and Democrats back the move.

Shortly after the meeting, the House Appropriations Committee cleared an initial one billion dollars (700 million euros), of which 400 million dollars will go to the miliary and the rest to education and other reforms.

Some American politicians want to impose accountability as a conditon for the aid, a demand which Zardari's government declares is politically unviable because of popular suspicion of the US.

 

On France 24 TV  Report on Swat valley offensive