Pakistan intensifies anti-Taliban attack, 140 militants killed

Pakistan’s military said on Friday it had killed 143 militants over the previous 24 hours in fighting in the Islamist bastion of Swat. The struggle in the valley 130 km from Islamabad has become a test of Pakistan’s resolve to fight the Taliban insurgency.

“Approximately 143 militants have been reported killed in Swat valley,” military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told a news briefing at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“On the directive of the government, the army is now engaged in a full-scale operation to eliminate the militants,” he said. “They are on the run and trying to block exodus of civilians from the area,” Abbas said, warning that the operation was difficult and declining to give it a timeline.

Earlier, military officials had said helicopter gunships, fighters and troops were all involved in Swat operations on Friday, against roughly 4,000 to 5,000 militants. Abbas said up to 15,000 troops were taking part.

The view of Pakistanis towards the fighting seemed to be shifting. In the past many were opposed to action, saying Washington wanted Islamabad to be a proxy in what was essentially a US battle. But an increasing number view the militants as a threat which must be confronted.

“If the government is serious in eliminating militants from Swat then we will support the military operation,” said Khalid Khan, a social worker and resident of Dheri Baba in Swat.

“We are ready to make every sacrifice if the government means business this time,” said Gul Omer, a poultry trader, referring to previous, inconclusive actions that were followed by a peace deal that has now collapsed.

If the offensive causes many civilian casualties, attitudes could change. The growing refugee burden could also sour sentiment.