Pak Army launches major military operation against Taliban militants

August 4th, 2009 KABUL - Fifteen militants were killed in fighting with the security forces in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province Tuesday, the Afghan Army said. "Troops conducted a commando operation in Marja village of Nadali district Tuesday morning, as a result 15 insurgents were killed and eight others were captured," a military official said.

July 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 31 militants were killed and 28 others, including a Taliban commander, were arrested in separate operations in northwestern Pakistan, according to a media report Monday. According to the Pakistan Army's Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), 11 militants were killed and 28 others, including the wanted commander identified as Kabir, were arrested during a search operation in Swat Valley in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Geo TV reported.

July 24th, 2009 Military: Clashes kill 5 militants in NW PakistanISLAMABAD — Security forces say clashes in the troubled Swat Valley and nearby areas in Pakistan's northwest have left five militants and a soldier dead. The military issued a statement Friday saying the deaths occurred during search and clearance operations over the previous 24 hours in various parts of Swat.

July 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani security forces have killed at least 114 Taliban militants in two separate operation in Lower Dir and Swat regions, while three army officials have also lost their lives, a private TV channel has claimed. During the operation, troops managed to destroyed many bunkers and hideouts in Lower Dir, after they targeted the headquarters.

July 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said Wednesday the military operation against the Taliban will continue till the militants are eliminated from the country. Zardari made the comments during a meeting with Prime Minster Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

June 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 34 Taliban militants were killed and seven others captured in an operation carried out by the Pakistani Army in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the army said in a statement Thursday. The army said five soldiers were also injured in the operation in Malakand Division of the NWFP in the past 24 hours to Thursday evening.

June 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 31 militants have been killed in latest operations carried out by the Pakistani security forces in northwest Pakistan, officials said Monday. The army said in a statement that in the 24 hours to Monday evening at least 31 militants have been killed and 50 others wounded in operations carried out in different parts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and in South Waziristan tribal agency.

June 10th, 2009 LAHORE - One of the commanders of the Swat Operation, Major General Ijaz Awan, has said the Taliban started to arm themselves against the Pakistan Army after parliament decided to enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand Division. In an interview with a private TV channel, he said the Taliban had made Mingora their base, and then advanced towards Buner and other adjoining areas.

June 7th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - The military offensive against the Taliban and other extremist groups in the Swat Valley would not be complete unless the top Taliban commanders are killed or nabbed, the ISPR Director General Major General Athar Abbas has said. Major General Abbas said that during the last 24 hours, at least 17 militants have been killed in Sarsanai, and added that the militants attacked the security motorcade which was taking Maulana Alam and Amir Izzat.

June 7th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani security forces have killed 1,305 militants, including 40 suicide bombers, since the operation began against the Taliban in the country's northwest, the Online news agency said Sunday. In addition, 120 militants have been captured since the Operation Rahe-e-Rast was launched in April, Athar Abbas, director general Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.

June 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - More than 40 cadets and staff members from an army-run college who were in Taliban captivity for three days in Pakistan's troubled north-west have been released, the military said Thursday. "Forty-six students and two teachers are now in the custody of the security forces," said Major General Athar Abbas, chief military spokesman.

May 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan security forces Wednesday said they killed 12 more militants in the ongoing operation against Taliban in northwest valley of Swat. Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said one soldiers was also killed and three others wounded during the firefight with the insurgents.

May 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Intensifying its operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley, the Pakistan Army has reportedly stormed into Mingora, the main town of the Valley, and is engaged in street battles with the extremists. According to reports, 17militants have been killed in the last 24 hours as troops entered the city.

May 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Army's spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas has said that an all-out offensive has been launched in Swat to flush out anti-state elements and terrorists from the restive valley. In a press briefing here on Friday, Major General Abbas said that the army had been tasked to eliminate the terrorists from Swat.

April 29th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas on Wednesday told a press conference here that over 50 Taliban militants have been killed in the ongoing military operation in Buner. Major General Abbas also confirmed the death of one security official and the rescue of 18 Frontier Corps personnel.