Forces capture Hakimullah’s hometown

[Naveed Yaseen]

21 militants, three soldiers killed in SWA action
By I Burki, D Khattak & M Anis
WANA/PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: After several days of siege and sporadic fighting, security forces have seized the control of Kotkai village, the second important spot after Spinkai Raghzai captured by the advancing troops since the launch of the operation Rah-e-Nijat on October 17.

Though a small village having a population no more than 6,000 with almost all the houses vacated by the residents, Kotkai was the stronghold of the militants and the native village of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud and his cousin Qari Hussain, known as the mentor of suicide bombers.

Security officials said the troops launched the assault on Kotkai in the night between Friday and Saturday and pushed back the militants after intense fighting that lasted several hours.

Sources said the militants offered tough resistance in the Shishamwam mountainous area where intense fighting was reported between the two sides. Hours long battle enabled the troops to enter Kotkai, where three security personnel and four fighters were killed.

Another three soldiers suffered injuries, while four militants were captured by the troops in injured condition. Security forces launched a search and clearance operation and recovered arms from several hideouts of the Taliban besides defusing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along the road by the retreating militants.

After the lapse of one week, security forces are now in control of four important locations, including Kotkai, Chalweshtai, Sherwangai and Spinkai Raghzai, all small villages but important from the strategic point of view.

The fall of Kotkai is a setback for the Taliban, who were fighting tooth and nail over the past one week to defend the village of their commanders.

Kotkai was also captured by security forces during the January 2008 military operation. However, the onward advance of soldiers and guerrilla attacks by the militants caused losses to the troops and halted their progress at the time. Subsequently, the troops withdrew following a peace deal with slain TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud.

“The slow advance on Kotkai this time was meant to secure all sides as well as the hilltops which might be used by the militants for launching attacks on the troops,” said a security official.

Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in Islamabad, DG ISPR Athar Abbas said security forces had captured Kotkai after intense fighting.

“It is a big success of the Pakistan Army as Kotkai is the native place of the terrorists’ leader Hakimullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain and because of its location,” Athar Abbas said.

The Army spokesman said the place was a stronghold of the terrorists with majority of houses converted into strong bunkers, besides having a suicide bombers training camp of Qari Hussain.

“Security forces are now in the process of clearing the built-up area from IEDs, mines and booby traps,” he said.

He said security forces were also in control of Shishamwam and were in the process of securing the surrounding heights. During the exchange of fire, 21 terrorists were killed while three soldiers embraced Shahadat and eight were injured.

Quoting local resources, Major General Athar Abbas said these sources had also confirmed that during the initial stages of the operation (October 17 and 18) in Spinkai/Kund sector, 80-90 terrorists, including Uzbeks and other foreigners, were killed and 150 injured.

Quoting reliable sources, he said due to the pressure of the ongoing operation, there had been large-scale desertions amongst the rank and file of the terrorist groups. “It has been also reported that the terrorists are trimming their beards to escape from the area,” he said.

Answering a question, Athar Abbas said the Army had no accord with terrorists in Waziristan. “The accords in South Waziristan with Ahmadzai tribe and in North Waziristan with Wazir tribe are between the government and the tribal elders,” he said, adding that it was for the tribal leaders to honour the accords with the government.

Answering another question about vacation of some key check-posts by the US-led Nato forces at the Pak-Afghan border in Afghanistan, he said: “We have asked for reasons of vacating the posts.”

On the Shakai-Kaniguram axis, the military spokesman said after securing Chalweshtai, security forces were in the process of securing important height of Tarkona Narai. “This feature has a number of terraces with fortified positions and dominates the important junction on road leading to Kaniguram and Sarwakai.”

Stiff resistance was being put up by terrorists and in the exchange of fire six militants were killed, he said.

Responding to a question, General Abbas said there was no report about any assistance to the militants from across the border, adding that the area was far from the Pak-Afghan border.

Official sources said the troops had made 15-kilometre advance from Jandola towards the Taliban stronghold of Srarogha since October 17. They said the troops hoisted the country’s flag at Kotkai. A key road was closed after taking control of the village, thus disconnecting the supply routes of the militants hiding in the nearby mountains.

The sources said the militants would now not be able to travel in vehicles. Instead, they would be using long and mountainous routes to go from one place to another, they added. They said the next key objective was the capture of Srarogha, which would cut all supply routes of militants hiding in the mountains.

Local sources said security forces launched a search operation in Badar and Chalweshtai area and a huge cache of arms had been found in Khaisoora village.

Officials said 11,080 families, who arrived in Dera Ismail Khan by August 31, had been registered while registration of 9,792 recently-arrived families since October 13 had also been completed.

They said food baskets for two months and non-food items had already been distributed among the previously displaced people, while distribution of one-month ration and non-food items among the recently-arrived population was underway.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25177