Pakistan forces recapture key towns in Swat

Pakistani security forces have taken control of two more key towns in their drive against pro-Taliban rebels in the northwestern Swat valley as the federal government said the army would be permanently stationed in the region to curb militancy.

Personnel from the army, Frontier Corps and police on Wednesday moved into Matta and Khwazakhela towns, both strongholds of the militant followers of radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah after more than two weeks of sustained operations by ground troops backed by artillery and gunship helicopters.

The troops regained control of the police station in Matta. The civil administration too moved in to restore the writ of the government. Fazlullah and his men had been running a parallel administration in the town.

Security forces also entered Khwazakhela and began searching the town for militants. The civil administration is expected to be restored in the town soon, the army said in a statement. In Islamabad, caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Shah told media persons that the army would establish a cantonment in Matta to ensure peace and stability in Swat.

The 'complete writ of the government' would be restored soon, he said.

Army officials, including Maj Gen Nasir Janjua, who is in-charge of the anti-militancy operations in Swat, said the government is working on a package to implement Shariat or Islamic law in the region.

Janjua said the army had reached Swat in July but did not begin operations against Fazlullah as it wanted to resolve all issues through a jirga or tribal council. The army acted only after Fazlullah 'crossed all limits,' he said.

The army has said it killed 230 militants in its operations over the past two weeks. Twenty civilians were also killed in the fighting. It said the people of Matta had on Tuesday requested the government to restore the civil administration in the town.

Security forces also targeted suspected militant positions near Puchaar with artillery on Tuesday night. All new check posts set up in Swat are being manned 'in strength' by troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary and local police.