Pakistan: Fifty militants arrested in north-west valley

From AKI.

Fifty militants, including a local commander, were arrested during a military operation in the restive Swat valley in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Sunday. Officials and local people said that a pro-Taliban commander, identified as Sher Mohammad Khan, and about 30 of the detained people were hardcore militants loyal to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah and were wanted by the authorities.

While returning Swat to safety, the government is not well regarded or liked in this area.

Jirga members held both the government and militants backed by Maulana Fazlullah responsible for the situation in the valley. They demanded an immediate halt to the military operation and the withdrawal of troops. They asked the militants to leave the area and avoid imposing a war on the peace-loving people of Swat. The jirga said that the economy, tourism industry, education and peace and harmony of Swat had been ruined by the clashes between security forces and militants.

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