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Aarwaa · #**204** Sunday, February 03, 2008

18 militant hideouts in Swat

* Interior Ministry report says 104 suicide, bomb and rocket attacks took place in valley since January 1, 2007
* Makes recommendations to bring peace to Swat

By Azaz Syed

ISLAMABAD: An Interior Ministry report says militants have established four “major” and 14 “small hideouts” in four Swat areas.

The report says that the majority of militants were hiding in Kabal, Khawanza Khola, Matta, and Minogra. It said the militants had also set up “small hideouts” in 14 valley suburbs – Totano Bandi, Bagh Dehrai, Manja, Salanda, Sarkhorai, Manosar, Guli Bagh, Shakardara, Sambat, Namal Gat, Shawar, Pewchar, Chupriyal and Manglawar.

“Kabal, Khawanza Khola and Matta were cleared on December 3, 2007, and law- enforcement agencies have established 13 checkposts on strategic locations in these areas,” the report said.

But it said the three areas had still been placed in the category of “remaining militant hideouts”. Shangla district, according to the report, was secured and reoccupied on November 29, 2007.

104 attacks: The report said that 104 incidents of bomb blasts and rocket and suicide attacks had taken place in Swat from January 1, 2007, to January 23, 2008.

The report said that 292 people – 195 officials from the army, the Frontier Constabulary, and police and 97 civilians – had been killed in the same period.

The ministry has made seven recommendations to improve the situation in the restive valley. They are public mobilisation against militancy; an effective use of force; strengthening of law-enforcement agencies; a special development package for the Malakand region; compensation for the people affected by operations in Swat and Shangla districts; speedy justice through amendments to Nizam-e-Adle Regulation, 1999, and cleanup operations to flush out militants.

Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed that militant were still hiding in the troubled area. He said big towns of Swat had been cleared of militants, adding that some militants were still present in Kanju, Pewchar and Chupriyal.