Pakistan pounds Taliban; fighters pour into Swat

[Akoto]

Source: Associated Press

MINGORA, Pakistan (AP) -- Helicopter gunships and mortar teams pounded militant strongholds Wednesday, killing dozens outside emerald mines, the military said, as Taliban reinforcements poured down from their mountain hide-outs and seized homes and government buildings.

The army began taking the fight to militants entrenched in both the Swat Valley and in Buner, just 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the capital, as Pakistan's leader prepared to hear demands from President Barack Obama for forceful action from a struggling ally.

The latest actions will please Washington, which is urging Pakistan to crack down on militants blamed for rising violence at home and in Afghanistan.

Since fighting broke out Tuesday, thousands of men, women and children have fled Swat's main town of Mingora and surrounding districts, fearing an imminent major military operation. The government said it believes refugees could reach 500,000.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=MALOW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[EFerrari]

1. Where are these refugees GOING? Yikes. This has humanitarian disaster

written all over it. :(

[ohio2007]

2. A displaced family from Swat valley arrives at a make shift camp in Swabi.—

Call it an exodus or herded human shields, no question they are being driven.
?

They shouldn't fear the Taliban as some posting here have suggested.
:shrug:
the following excerpts must be propaganda to spin the Taliban into something they are not

Fleeing Swatis describe horrific scenes

snip

I don’t really know my destination and destiny. My family and I need protection.’

At the bus stop in Peshawar — the capital of the North West Frontier Province — exhausted and anxious people told stories of horror as they poured out of vehicles carrying old bags, blankets and bundles of clothes.

snip

‘They (Taliban) killed my husband, they slit his throat after accusing him of spying... I escaped Swat because I don’t want my son to be killed under the same circumstances. I don’t want to receive his decapitated body.’

The government had hoped that a peace deal agree in February would placate hardliners trying to impose a repressive brand of Islam, but instead the deal appears to be in tatters.

Clashes have flared in recent days throughout Swat, where wealthy Pakistanis and foreigners used to enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery from plush hilltop hideaways, or cruise down the ski slopes.

Now, gunfire rings out in Mingora, where armed Taliban patrol the streets.


snip
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/09-fleeing-swatis-describe-horrific-scenes-szh--02

Looks like the Taliban only hate the rich

and punish the poor unenlightened peasants for not boot licking the righteous ones


they are moving toward "Taliban influenced" terrirory which is closer to sectarian government frontier

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[varun]

4. Everytime a Pakistani minister visits US, they capture Al Qaeda

This "pounding" is just a show. Everything will be "Normal" once Zardari goes back to Pakistan. He is visiting DC now, and wants American money - hence all this show.