60 militants including few foreigners killed, 18 vehicles destroyed in Buner Operation 
ISLAMABAD, May 1 (APP): Around 60 miscreants including few foreigners were killed while 18 explosive-laden vehicles were destroyed during the last 24 hours in Buner operation, said Director General ISPR, Major General Athar Abbas on Friday. Addressing a media briefing at ISPR, Major Gen. Athar Abbas said that
10 security personnel were kidnapped from a post in Upper Dir by the militants. Now the situation in Dir is stabilizing fast and life is returning to normalcy as curfew was relaxed from 8 am to 1 pm, he added.
Principal Information Officer Shabbir Anwar and Joint Secretary Ministry of Interior Mr Mazari were also present in the briefing.
He said suspected movement of militants in area Munda Sumar Bagh trough the entry point from Bajur to Dir, was engaged by fire.
On Buner operation, he said,
it is progressing smoothly as the security forces have successfully managed to link up with own forces at Daggar after clearing a tough opposition on Malandir axis.
Fierce fighting took place at northern part of Ambela Pass and the security forces are now just short of link up with the forces, he said adding the security forces also came across lot of IEDs, prepared suicide vehicles, suicide motorcycles, individual suicide bombers and a group of 70-8 militants on the way to recapture heights.
He said
two suicide vehicles were destroyed by FC troops while five other suicide vehicles were hit by Army troops and two others by helicopters. Six other vehicles of fleeing militants were also destroyed by the helicopters while three motorcycles were eliminated by advancing forces enroute on small tracks, he said.
He said one big explosive-laden house along the route was exploded by a suicide bomber as a result of which two Frontier Corps Jawans embraced Shahadat and eight others injured.
Ambela town has been surrounded and search and cordon operation is being conducted while house of Commander Ghazi was destroyed at Pir Baba alongwith 4 vehicles. Reportedly few foreign militants inside the house have also been killed, he said.
Headquarter of militants at Bagra, south of Gokand has also been destroyed while a suicide bomber has been arrested who tried to blow himself up but due to malfunction of device, he could not succeed and got seriously injured.
He said on Thursday, the militants demolished two vacant police check posts at Changley Baba Kando, Buner with explosive material while around
130 militants occupied Jawar Frontier Constabulary Fort and abducted 40 individuals who were later unarmed and released.
He said
on Thursday afternoon, a militants check post at Chakdara was targeted where 8-10 militants were killed.
Answering a question, he said some notables of Buner have contacted Headquarters Frontier Corps Peshawar assuring them their full support and offered organising a Lashkar against militants to get their area cleared of the intruding militants.
He said that the people of Daggar expressed their joy by raising slogans in support of security forces after the area has been cleared of militants. They are helping security forces in identifying militants and their hideouts, he added.
Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said the resistance security forces have encountered during Buner operation and type of weapons being used by the militants clearly negate militants earlier claims that militants had left Buner.
They are well equipped, organized and present in the area in good numbers. Since entry on all four passes from Swat was closed during the first day of the operation, this indicates that all militants were present in Buner, he said.
Regarding the situation in Swat, he said in violation of peace accord during the last four days militants have established checkposts at Shahai, Walialead, Babu Killi, Khawazakhela, Bahrain, Chinar Baba Hotel, Ghalagai and occupied a police post at Karakar.
He said on 27 April the militants planted 7-8 IEDs on Khawazakhela-Shangla road near Chinar Baba Hotel which were defused by the security forces. Since April 28, 8 policemen, retired policeman, Naib Nazim, Tehsildar and 3 persons of a local NGO have been slaughtered in different areas of Swat.
He said armed patrolling on the streets of Swat and incidents of kidnapping continue unabated - in clear violation of the peace agreement.
Answering a question, he said the provincial government was in contact with Maulana Sufi Muhammad and parleys are continuing.
In reply to a question, he said the performance of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps could be adjudged through the sizeable number of killings and arrests of Alqaeda. Pakistan Army is an disciplined force of the country and well organized and everybody in it follows the system and obeys orders accordingly, he said.
Our performance could be matched with the forces operating across the border and the figures of killing and arrests will speak themselves. He said the countrys armed forces are fully capable to meet any untoward situation and so far have successfully carried out their responsibility of safeguarding the motherland and those speaking contrary to it have different agenda for fulfillment.
He said the criticism of western media in this regard is baseless and unfounded. We strongly condemn such baseless and malicious campaign, he said in a firm tone.
When his attention was drawn towards a report terming Pakistan as epicenter of Alqaeda, he said it also is the part of the malicious campaign being run against the country. It has no material substance as Alqaeda was on the run - they are not open they are in hiding, he said.
Answering yet another question, he said that militants have been using arms and ammunition of various types including 87 MM recoilless Rifle, 12.7 Anti Aircraft Machine Guns, 14.5 Machine Guns mounted on vehicles and 82 mm mortars.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
