The officials reported that at least 60 militants were killed in northwest Pakistan when Pakistani jets and helicopter gun ships discovered many suspected Taliban hideouts.
Major Nasir Ali, a military spokesperson in the area said, “’According to preliminary information gathered from local sources, up to 60 militants have died in the strike.”
According to the army, two of the hideouts were pounded at Piochar and the near by areas of Restive Swat District in the North West Frontier Province.
Two months ago, the Taliban kidnapped two Chinese engineers and one of them managed to escape and located the security post.
The air strikes came hours after the escape and the colleague of this engineer was recaptured from the same district. It is still doubtful that whether the air strikes came because of the Chinese mans effort or it was a regular army action.
The engineers were attacked on Aug 29, when they were coming back after working on the communication tower of the China mobile Pakistan Company. Along with them were a local driver and a security guard, who were also abducted.
Violence in Swat Valley has increased significantly since 2007. It was a major tourist attraction previously until the troops of Maulana Fazlullah moved in to violently force Taliban rule in the area.
In the beginning of this year, the New Civilian Government did initiate peace talks with Swat militants and it has been successful partially in pausing the violence.
