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4 May 2009 Taliban Mujahideen attacked an army
convoy Monday in Swat's Bari Kot region, killing one
Pakistani soldier.
The attack took place early in the morning, said
police officer Ayaz Khan.
An army officer said fighters used rocket and gunfire
to attack the convoy, but security forces repelled the
attack. One soldier was killed and one injured, he
said, requesting anonymity.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility
for attack, saying it was in response to the alleged
strengthening of military positions in the region in
violation of the peace deal.
'Why do you think we should remain silent if they come
heavy on us? ... We will attack them too,' he told The
Associated Press.
Also on Monday, armed Taliban defied a government
curfew and were patrolling the main town in district
after rejecting an Islamic appeals court set up under
a peace deal, witnesses said.
Authorities imposed a curfew from 6:00 pm to 9:00 am
in Mingora, the main town in Swat, on Sunday for the
first time since signing the February deal with Sufi
Mohammad t.
‘We had concerns about the law and order situation,
that is why the curfew was imposed,' the head of the
local administration, Khushhal Khan, told AFP.
Residents said they saw armed Taliban patrolling the
main roads in Mingora late Sunday despite the curfew.
‘It is the first time that Taliban have again started
armed patrolling in Mingora,' one resident told AFP,
requesting anonymity.
‘Do not give my name because the Taliban will find me
and kill me,' the frightened resident claimed.
‘Once again fear is gripping the entire town.' Another
resident said Taliban fighters were ‘again taking up
positions on top of buildings' in Mingora.
Security officials and police declined to comment when
asked whether armed Taliban were patrolling in Mingora. |
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