Islamabad: Stepping up its crackdown on the Taliban in the restive northwest, Pakistani military has killed at least 55 militants in the latest fighting in Swat and nearby areas as tanks rolled onto the door steps of Mingora and a curfew was lifted to allow civilians to flee to safety.
Taliban fighters were also fleeing from the area after shaving off their trademark beards and cutting their long hair, a military statement said on Friday. It asked people of Swat to help security forces in identifying and apprehending the Taliban.
Curfew was relaxed between 6 am and 2 pm in various parts of Swat and Malakand to allow people to leave the region ahead of an assault on Mingora, the main city in the valley, where the Taliban have entrenched themselves by building bunkers and laying mines.
An estimated 4,000 militants are believed to be in the area while the army has mobilised 15,000 troops backed by tanks, fighters and helicopter gunships for the operation in Swat. Analysts have said the security forces will face stiff resistance in their efforts to secure Mingora.
The military statement said security forces had achieved success in Swat and nearby areas in the past 24 hours and killed 55 militants. Three security personnel were also killed and 11 others injured in fresh clashes.
Nearly 900 militants and 45 troops have died so far in the fighting in Buner, Dir and Swat.