Pakistani troops have secured hills overlooking militant strongholds in a northwestern valley where up to 45 terrorists and four soldiers have been killed in fighting this week.
Pakistani forces launched an offensive this month to clear hundreds of well-armed Islamist militants loyal to a radical cleric from the scenic Swat valley of North West Frontier Province.
Musharraf has been reluctant to aggressively attack the militants when they only occupied the tribal areas which Pakistani forces have had little control over.
In recent weeks the militants have expanded beyond the tribal areas and have seized town and villages. They’ve terrorized the locals and imposed Taliban style Sharia law in those villages.
Now Pakistani forces are engaged in vicious battles to retake those towns and push back the terrorists.
Hopefully, Musharraf will let U.S. forces finish them off at some point.
-Chris Jones
