Taliban using 2,000 villagers as human shields in Buner

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 2nd, 2009 BUNER - Despite the Pakistan Government's declaration that peace has been restored in Buner, many government employees are reluctant to come back and resume their duties out of the fear of the Taliban. On Sunday, the North West Frontier Province Government asked all government employees to resume their duties, but a majority refused to come back.

May 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban are using at least 2,000 civilians as human shields in the Buner region of Pakistan's orth West Frontier Province (NWFP). In an interview to state run PTV, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said the Taliban is holding civilians hostage in the Peer Baba and Sultan Was areas of the region.

May 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban in Pakistan's restive northwest are using civilians as human shields to forestall the security forces action against them, the military said Monday as six soldiers and 10 militants were killed in the fighting. The military operation in the Buner and Lower Dir districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) 'is continuing while at least 2,000 innocent civilians are being used by the militants as human shields in Buner's Pir Baba area', the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

May 3rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - More than 2,000 people have fled their homes in Buner district of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province as the military operation against the Taliban militants hots up in the area, a media report said Sunday. Hundreds of displaced and homeless people have arrived in the Shangla area to take refuge in schools and government buildings as the military operation against Taliban militants intensified in Buner, the News reported.

April 30th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Major General. Athar Abbas, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Thursday said security forces were exercising utmost restraint during the military operation in Buner as the militants were using civilians as human shields.

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.

April 29th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Army on Wednesday launched an areal offensive on the Taliban in Buner district. The Pakistan army is said to be on its final leg of operations in Buner.

April 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - At least 70 militants were killed by the security forces while nearly 450 terrorists were holed up in Buner area, Pakistan's interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said Tuesday, adding 'we will not tolerate them anymore'. Malik told reporters at least 70 militants had been killed in the Dir operation so far, while 450 others were still present in Buner, Geo TV reported.

April 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban has threatened to take revenge from the villagers of the Buner region who had formed 'Lashkar' to prevent them advancing further in the region. Maulana Misbahuddin Malikpuri, a Taliban operative, said the outfit would seek revenge from the residents of Shalbandi and Sultanwus villages as they had dared to form 'Lashkar' against them.

April 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Inching closer towards the capital city Islamabad, the Taliban has entered Shangla district adjacent to Buner in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Police officials of the area have also confirmed the report.

April 24th, 2009 PESHAWAR - The Taliban has decided to withdraw from the Buner district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) following orders from its chief Mullah Fazlullah, the Dawn reported the Commissioner of Malakand Division, as saying. "Our leader has ordered that Taliban should immediately be called back from Buner," Taliban spokeperson Muslim Khan told an international news agency.

April 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Taliban militants Friday agreed to withdraw from Pakistan's northwestern Buner district that they had captured earlier this week, a government official said. The announcement came after a meeting between local administrator Syed Mohammad Javed and radical cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, the major broker of a peace deal regarding the neighbouring Swat district.

April 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Taliban has agreed to move out of Buner district in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), a media report said Friday. Fear spread among local people in Buner district after Taliban infiltrated from adjoining Swat valley into the area, about 100 km from capital Islamabad.

April 23rd, 2009 PESHAWAR - At least eight platoons of paramilitary troops have been dispatched to North West Frontier Province's (NWFP) Buner district to counter the heavy infiltration of the Taliban. According to sources, eight companies of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) have been sent to the district to safe guard government buildings and bridges, which the government fears the Taliban could attack.