No more organised resistance in Swat: ISPR DG

[LahoreEstate]

* Camps being set up to accommodate South Waziristan IDPs
* Besides hunting down remaining terrorists, army is focusing on protecting people
* Swat Taliban mainly led by local commanders, only 10 percent of them foreigners or from Tribal Areas

ISLAMABAD: Organised resistance in Swat and its adjacent areas has come to an end and the remaining militants are on the run, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said on Monday.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said the Swat operation was the best example of civil-military cooperation as the people had helped security forces hunt down terrorists.

The ISPR chief said Swat Taliban were mainly led by local commanders, adding that only 10 percent of them were foreigners or from FATA.

Abbas said the Pakistan Army would remain in Swat until law enforcement agencies’ capabilities improved enough to allow them to take on the responsibility.

To a question about alleged human rights violations in Swat, Abbas said the civil administration and army officials had probed the matter, but found no violations.

Besides hunting down the remaining terrorists, the army was focusing on protecting the people of the area, he said.

To a question about the funding and backing of the terrorists, he said they had multiple sources of funding. Besides, these people raised funds by kidnapping for ransom, imposing taxes, and through extortion.

He said the Swat Taliban were mainly led by local commanders and only 10 percent of them were foreigners or from Tribal Areas.

When asked about propaganda by certain quarters about human rights violations in Swat, the DG ISPR said the civil administration and army officers posted in the area have looked into the allegations, but found no violations.

Talking about operation in Khyber, he said the operation was launched because the criminal elements and terrorists were gathering there and carrying out activities in Peshawar and its suburban areas.

To a question about operation in Waziristan, he said the army is focusing on the operation under a well thought out strategy.

The strategy has been formulated by keeping the capability of the terrorists in view. It is not necessary to launch ground offensive at the outset, he added.

He said some fifty thousand people have been displaced from Waziristan and camps are being set up for their relief. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_14