Taliban toll 700; troops will enforce govt writ, says Gilani

Islamabad, May 11:Pakistani war planes and tanks today targeted Taliban positions in the restive Swat valley, killing 52 militants, as the government went all-out to enforce its writ in the terrorist-infested tribal belt.

Around 700 Taliban fighters had been killed in the ongoing drive by security forces in Pakistan's northwest and it will continue "till the last Taliban militant is eliminated," Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the operation was undertaken as the "very existence" of the country was "at stake." The troops will "force" the Taliban to surrender and "accept the writ of the government," he said.

Troops clashed with militants in several parts of Swat, located 160 km from the federal capital, as they continued "making headway successfully" in their operations against the Taliban, the military said in a statement.

Thirty Taliban fighters were killed when troops destroyed militant hideouts at several places, including the rebel strongholds of Kabal, Tutano Banda and Matta. Eleven militants died when hideouts were engaged at Peochar and Mingora, the main city in Swat.

Seven militants were killed at Ayub Bridge while air strikes by gunship helicopters on a tunnel and a hideout at Qamber killed three militants and injured five. Troops also killed a man who was planting an improvised explosive device. PTI