Taliban fighters have resurfaced and begun conducting armed patrols in Buner district near the restive Swat valley, months after the Pakistani army claimed that the region had been cleared of militants, a media report said on Saturday.
Taliban cadres have been carrying out armed patrols on roads in Buner district and established a check post at Pacha Killay over the past few days, local residents were quoted as saying by The News daily.
People of the area said militants established a check post beside a stream at a spot between Pacha Killay and Balo Khan a few days ago. They checked people at the post, singling out government officials and their opponents.
"The checkpoint was set up a few days ago but removed after shelling by security forces. However, they have set it up again and checked people here on Friday," a resident said.
People also said some 250 to 300 Taliban fighters stormed Pacha Killay a couple of days ago.
The militants reportedly took away cash cards given to displaced people to obtain Rs 25,000 from state-run banks. Local residents said militants were active in many parts of Buner district, including Pir Baba, Mula Banda, Dokada, Malikpur, Balo Khan, Hisar and Gokand.
However, the Frontier Corps, which is leading anti-militancy operations in Buner, denied reports that the Taliban had set up a check post. It also played down concerns about the regrouping of militants.
The Pakistani military began the operation to flush out militants from the Swat valley a couple of months ago and claimed to have cleared the entire area last month.
The militants have reappeared at a time when thousands of people displaced by recent military operations in Swat and nearby areas have begun returning to their homes.
"My brother had gone back to his home after the start of the IDPs (internally displaced people) return, but the situation there was still precarious and the Taliban were active, which forced him to leave Buner again," a resident of a village near Pir Baba told the paper.
The man said the Taliban militants had suffered "meagre casualties" during the military operations and their numerical strength had remained intact.
The displaced people coming back would not be safe and could have to migrate again, he said. The 'Amn Tehrik' or local peace committee has expressed concern over the situation, saying the Taliban's top leaders are still alive.
"How can we say the task has been completed when the top leadership of the Taliban is still alive? After the return of the IDPs, there is an apprehension of a wave of targeted killings," Idress Kamal of the Amn Tehrik said.
