Pakistani army lifts curfews in more Swat towns

[June 01, 2009]  ISLAMABAD (AP) -- The Pakistani military lifted curfews Monday in seven areas in the Swat Valley in a further sign of confidence that its offensive against the Taliban is making progress, while militants killed two soldiers in a nearby tribal region that could be the next front in the army's campaign.

Elsewhere in the volatile northwest region bordering Afghanistan, a bomb blast killed at least two people.

Pakistan launched an offensive against militants in Swat and surrounding districts a month ago after they violated the terms of a cease-fire and advanced into a region close to the capital, Islamabad. The U.S. has praised the operation, which it considers a key test of Pakistani resolve to flush out militants implicated in attacks on Western forces in Afghanistan.

Although the military has captured Swat's main town, Mingora, insurgents still control some areas in the valley. Already, however, a spate of clashes between the Taliban and troops in the South Waziristan tribal region have prompted speculation the military will extend its offensive beyond Swat.

South Waziristan is the main base for Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

In the latest fighting there, militants firing rockets killed two soldiers, the army said in a statement Monday. At least 25 militants and seven troops died in other clashes in that region over the weekend.

With the army still facing steep challenges in Swat, opening a new front in South Waziristan appears unlikely for now.

In many ways, South Waziristan -- with its harsh terrain, reticent tribes and porous border with Afghanistan -- would be a stiffer test for the armed forces. Al-Qaida and Taliban militants have long been entrenched in the semiautonomous tribal belt, and the government has had less influence there than in Swat.

Mahmood Shah, a former security chief for the tribal regions, said he could not say when an operation would take place, but that clearing South Waziristan was probably part of a "grand plan" aimed at eliminating militant sanctuaries in Pakistan.

Journalists have limited access to South Waziristan and Swat, making it difficult to independently verify information handed out by the Pakistani military.

One problem with tackling the tribal region now is that it would exacerbate an already massive humanitarian challenge facing the country -- that of the estimated 3 million people displaced by the fighting so far.

Already, large numbers of families have begun leaving South Waziristan amid rumors of an imminent operation. In the Swat Valley, residents were trapped for days or weeks by the fighting.

Monday's lifted curfews will allow thousands to leave home and get food and other supplies.

The military said daytime curfews were lifted Monday in the Swat towns of Bahrain, Madyan, Fatehpur, Khwazakhela, Matta and Alpurai and in the nearby district of Shangla.

Militants, including Mehsud loyalists, have threatened and carried out some revenge attacks over the Swat operation. Their recent attacks on troops in South Waziristan could be part of that trend.

Mid-Monday, a blast at a busy bus terminal in Kohat town, an area near the tribal regions, killed at least two people and wounded at least 18 others, said local police officer Zafarullah Khan.

[Associated Press; By ROHAN SULLIVAN]

Associated Press writers Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan and Riaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.