General Kiyani vows to root out militancy

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that the operation Rah-i-Raast will continue till the last militant in Malakand division is eliminated.

Addressing a gathering of elders and army personnel in Kalam, he said security forces had broken the back of the Taliban in Swat and other troubled areas of the region.

Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Masud Aslam, Swat GOC Maj-Gen Ashfaq Nadeem and GOC for Shangla and Upper Swat Maj-Gen Sajjad Ghani were present on the occasion.

The COAS said militants loyal to Maulana Fazlullah had split into small groups and were fleeing the region, adding that troops were chasing them. Militancy would soon be eliminated from the region, Gen Kayani said.

He lauded soldiers for their valour in the operation to crush militancy and said peace had been restored because of sacrifices rendered by troops.

He said protecting people’s life and property was responsibility of the armed forces and the people of Swat would not be left at the mercy of militants.

He said that besides their combat duty the troops also supported displaced people of Malakand and would continue to do so till peace was restored and all people returned to their homes.

Our Malakand correspondent adds: Gen Kayani inaugurated an army public school named ‘Sabawoon’ (new dawn) in Rangmala area.

At the school, military officials will educate children rescued from militants’ training camps during the operation.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for Gen Kayani’s visit to the area. Traffic on the Peran-Rangmala and Dheri- Rangmala roads were stopped.

Up to 200 rescued children aged between nine and 17 years will be admitted to the school. Meanwhile, security forces killed one militant in Peochar area of Matta tehsil.

Twenty-six suspected militants were captured in different parts of the district and eight militants laid down their arms. According to ISPR, six militants surrendered in Salhand and two in Shah Dehri.

Troops arrested seven militants in Dheri and Damghar and two suspects in Mingora. Eight suspects were arrested in Kabal, seven in Delai and two in Kokarai.