MINGORA: Security forces thwarted an attempt by militants to destroy their base in Peochar valley, a stronghold of Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat chief Mullah Fazlullah, the military said.

Briefing reporters on the progress in operation Rah-i-Haq 4, military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said at least 21 of the militants who had attacked the base were killed. Eight security personnel were injured in the fierce clash.

He said the security forces had firmed up their positions although they were facing stiff resistance.

Answering a question, the military spokesman said that no external power had any role in the planning, execution and financing of the operation.

He rejected as baseless a BBC report claiming that militants were in control of a major portion of the NWFP. He said Bajaur had been cleared of militants and the FC was in control in Mohmand Agency, except for a few pockets.

He said none of the headquarters of the seven agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas had ever been overrun or held by militants.

‘All roads in Fata are open and we support our huge force deployed along the border through all these roads,’ he said.

Responding to a question, he said the air force was attacking mountainous areas where militants had set up training centres or stored ammunition and food.

The general said the operation in Swat was progressing well and 54 militants had been killed on Wednesday and Thursday. He said nine security personnel had laid down their lives and 14 others were injured.
 
In Shangla sector, 15 militant hideouts and strongholds had been destroyed; three terrorists had been killed and 12 others injured, he said.

In Barikot, security forces have secured the area up to Udigram, 6 kms from Mingora, after removing or defusing a large number of improvised bombs and eliminating resistance.

Fierce clashes took place in Udigram on Thursday, and three terrorists, among them a ‘commander’, was killed. Two terrorists were killed in the Mingora circuit house.

At least 13 militants had been killed in Buner, the spokesman said. He expressed the hope that security forces would gain complete control over Sultanwas in 48 hours and Pir Baba would also be cleansed of terrorists soon.

Answering a question, he said civilian casualties had taken place in Mingora because of indiscriminate firing by militants. He said the troops were not taking action in populated areas at the moment.
 
The spokesman said extraordinary measures were being taken to avoid collateral damage on instructions of the army chief. He said the army’s special support group was trying to take care of the displaced people.
 
At the same briefing, Minister of State for Information Samsam Ali Bokhari said troops would move out of Swat after return of normality. He said the government had provided Rs1.5 billion to cope with the crisis of Internally Displaced Persons.
 
He said members of the federal cabinet had donated their one month’s salary for relief activities and several civil society organisations and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry had also promised help.

He said the Water and Power Development Authority was supplying free electricity to the IDP camps. He said the prime minister was getting hourly briefings on the condition of displaced people.

Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar said the government was preparing plans for relief and rehabilitation in collaboration with local and international donors.

She said the United Nations had revised its appeal for help, raising the amount to $164 million, in view of the new influx of displaced people from Swat. She said about half of the target had been met.

She said an international appeal for assistance would be launched from Islamabad for camp management, health, education, nutrition, early recovery and sustainable income opportunities for the affected people.

Local representatives of donor agencies and countries would be invited to a conference in Islamabad next week, she said.