Pakistan Claims Hundreds Of Militants Dead

Humanitarian Crisis Erupts As Hundreds Of Thousands Of Refugees Flee Swat Valley; Escalation In Fighting Feared

(CBS/AP)  Tens of thousands of civilians, many on foot or donkey-led carts, took advantage of a lifted curfew to flee Pakistan's embattled Swat Valley on Sunday, while the army said it had killed 400 to 500 militants in its battle against the Taliban.

The hemorrhaging of residents from a scenic valley that once attracted hordes of tourists threatened to greatly exacerbate an existing internal refugee crisis for a nuclear-armed nation already facing economic, political and other woes.

The army offensive has garnered praise from the U.S., which wants Pakistan to root out havens on its soil where Taliban militants can plan attacks on American and NATO forces across the border in Afghanistan. In an interview aired Sunday, Pakistan's president urged international support for the fight and insisted the army had enough troops in the northwest to handle the threat.

Gen. David Petraeus, the head of the U.S. Central Command, said Taliban militants are a "true threat" to the existence of Pakistan. But Petraeus said he is confident that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe from militants.

Petraeus, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," also claimed that Taliban brutality in northwestern Pakistan has "galvanized" the entire country, including its military, behind the recently launched offensive against the militant organization.

As they left Swat's main town of Mingora, some residents cursed the situation and condemned the Taliban, while others blamed Pakistani leaders for bowing to the West. "Show our picture to your master America and get money from him," some taunted.

The desperate Swat residents were trying to leave any way they could - on motorbikes, animal-pulled carts, rickshaws or foot. A ban on civilian vehicles entering the valley complicated the exodus for those without cars. Some chided an Associated Press reporter for slowing them down by asking questions.

"We are going out only with our clothes and a few things to eat on the long journey," said Rehmat Alam, a 40-year-old medical technician walking out of Mingora with 18 other relatives. "We just got out relying on God because there is no one else to help us."

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have pounded Swat and surrounding districts over the past few days after Taliban fighters in the valley moved out and tried to impose their reign in other areas, including a stretch just 60 miles from the capital, Islamabad.

The army's nine-hour suspension of the curfew Sunday could signal a more intense operation now that more civilians have left. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said 400 to 500 militants had been killed since the operation's launch last week.

Much of the latest fighting occurred along the periphery of Swat and Shangla, a neighboring district, he said, and at least 140 bodies of alleged militants were discovered at a militant training camp in that area.

Reports that militants from Swat had filtered into Shangla came out well before the latest operation, but it also was possible that more insurgents were headed to that district to escape the bombardments in the valley.

In Swat, Mingora was relatively calm, though an army statement said 50 to 60 militants died Sunday in various parts of the valley. Taliban fighters remained visible in Mingora.

Two soldiers also died in the latest fighting, including one who succumbed to injuries suffered Friday, the army said. The death tolls could not be confirmed independently, and some of the army's figures could not immediately be reconciled.

In the northwest district of Mardan, government official Khalid Umerzai said more than 100,000 displaced Pakistanis were expected Sunday, on top of 252,000 already there.

"Vehicles loaded with people are coming down bumper-to-bumper from Swat, and we are expecting a huge crowd of people and organizing two more relief camps in Mardan and Takhtbai," Umerzai said.

Before the latest operation, some 550,000 people were registered as displaced from past offensives in other parts of Pakistan's northwest, including the semi-autonomous tribal belt, according to the United Nations.

The international aid agency World Vision said its relief workers were finding "intolerable" conditions at some camps due to soaring temperatures, overcrowding, inadequate toilets and a lack of electricity.

"Despite the coordinated efforts of the Pakistani authorities, World Vision and other aid agencies on the ground, we may not be able to meet the most basic needs of the refugees as quickly as they are arriving in the camps if it continues at this pace," said Jeff Hall, an official with the aid group.

Many in the northwest have little faith in the weak civilian government's ability to help them, a challenge to Pakistan's leaders because disillusioned refugees could prove fertile recruiting ground for the Taliban. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed millions of dollars to help the residents of the region.

In his interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari brushed aside concerns that Pakistan's armed forces are still too focused on a potential threat from longtime rival India. He said the resources devoted to the fight against the Taliban - 135,000 troops in the northwest, he estimated were "sufficient."

"It's a war of our existence," Zardari said.

Pakistan launched the full-scale offensive Thursday to halt the spread of Taliban, who began moving into districts neighboring Swat despite a much-criticized peace deal in which Pakistani agreed to impose Islamic law in the valley and surrounding areas.

Swat lies near the Afghan border as well as the wild Pakistani tribal areas, where al Qaeda and the Taliban have strongholds and where U.S. officials believe al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden may be hiding.

The army says 12,000 to 15,000 troops in Swat face 4,000 to 5,000 militants, including small numbers of foreigners and hardened fighters from the South Waziristan tribal region. The army has given no details of civilian casualties, though witnesses have reported scores, apparently for fear of a public outcry that could hamper support for the offensive.

From "Washington Unplugged" (5/08/09): CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan and CBS News national security consultant Juan Zarate discuss instability in Pakistan and Afghanistan with Slate Magazine's John Dickerson. To watch click on the video player below.

[ToolMangler1]

well i long said that there is a difference between afghan taliban and pakistani so called

taliban(terrorists). afghan talibans are freedom fighters who are fighting against foreign invasion, while these pakistani talibans are cia and raw backed trying to destablize pakistan.
pakistan has long supported afghan talibans and i still don't see anything wrong by supporting freedom fighters. if those (in pakistan) were talibans, then how come their leader mulla umer gave several statements about pakistan that pakistan is "our" brother and we will never fight against our own muslim brothers in pakistan.
Posted by timberlakeinvanier at 4:16 PM : May 10, 2009




There is no difference between Afghan Talibani and Pakistan Talibani. They are all liars and warmongers. They were given the Swat valley for their own 'little place in the sun' but they weren't happy with that, they wanted all off Pakistan and Aghanistan for their very own
"Nuclear armed, Oil rich, centrally located vantage point to begin their "World Conquest in the Name of Allah".... Why do you pretend to be a regular human being instead of a "Extremist Sharia Muslim terrorist"

[U-R-So-Wrong]

Further elaboration, IS required! Posted by stn_sage


Don't worry, some Jihadists survived. Your check is in the mail.

[U-R-So-Wrong]

thomaso188, weren't you pythoncharly before you shed your skin?

[stn_sage]

IF the Pakistanis are claiming hundreds of "Taliban" soldiers have been killed, then it's a good thing!

It depends what they mean by 'militant'! This might just be members of other political parties who don't support the current president! In that case, it just amounts to a 'political purge' and nothing more!

Without knowing exactly what they mean when they say 'militant', we can't know whether it was a good thing or not! Further elaboration, IS required!

[cattiej]

I don't trust the Pakistan government from the git go....we have supplied Pakistan will billions of dollars in aide of various kinds, weapons, food, etc....Pakistan hasn't changed in almost 300 years, the only thing new are the guns used. Why are we trying to police the world. Our troops should come home and protect US from our greedy, corrupt politicans. I think the draft should be started up again. My family men were drafted for World War II, and Korea. If we had more soldiers who were drafted perhaps our government wouldn't be so anxious to spend billions, trillions of dollars in other countries who only want our money and hate us when we do give them money. Talk about a bunch of back stabbers....and our government thinks we are so special that everyone wants to be like Americans and come to America...well, there are many free loaders here already, we don't need anymore. ..Stop buying junk made in China and India etc. Buy only American. Stop buying foreign cars, you are putting yourself, your neighbors and your realatives out of work. We will be in a finincial depression by the end of summer...start planting your gardens for food. Only buy $20 dollars worth of gasoline at a time,,,that should make the price come down..Take the bus or train to work, ride a bike. Walk to work if you still have a job. Ride with other people in your car to work. America has lost their moral compass....it's not to late for us to start caring about each other and our country. Buy American.

[rhs648]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,It is called fear,,,when those people are unarmed,,,they are in the middle of three armed groups,,,the Taliban, the Pakistanis, and the CIA drones,,,, to sit is dangerous , to move is dangerous,,,to be there is deadly....so what would you people do if YOU were in their shoes?
Posted by tincup356

Are these villagers really unarmed? If you look at Iraq and the Palestinians, you see weapons everywhere.

[liselle3]

Taliban and other religious militant ultra-conservative groups are evil and not at all reflective of God's word (regardless of religion). Anyone can take any verse and use it for their own purpose as a means to kill, surpress and imprision or reign over human beings. Doesn't matter to me if it's Muslim, Christian or Jewish or any other religion. These militants only seek to enforce their views on the will of the people through coercion, war or physical/mental harm.

[tincup356]

The citizens of Pakistan need to decide which side they favor, an elected government or the Taliban. The Taliban could not exist without the cooperation of villagers. The villagers could resist the Taliban and turn their names and wherabouts over to the government. These people give the appearance of changing allegiance whenever the wind changes. Instead of fleeing, the Pakistani people need to rid themselves of the Taliban. It is hard to believe that 4,000 Taliban can control the quarter of a million people who fled the area. The numbers just don't add up.
Posted by rhs648 at 2:33 PM : May 10, 2009 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,It is called fear,,,when those people are unarmed,,,they are in the middle of three armed groups,,,the Taliban, the Pakistanis, and the CIA drones,,,, to sit is dangerous , to move is dangerous,,,to be there is deadly....so what would you people do if YOU were in their shoes?

[rhs648]

The citizens of Pakistan need to decide which side they favor, an elected government or the Taliban. The Taliban could not exist without the cooperation of villagers. The villagers could resist the Taliban and turn their names and wherabouts over to the government. These people give the appearance of changing allegiance whenever the wind changes. Instead of fleeing, the Pakistani people need to rid themselves of the Taliban. It is hard to believe that 4,000 Taliban can control the quarter of a million people who fled the area. The numbers just don't add up.

[debinok1]

I am supposed to believe that. "Militants" sometimes "Talibans", sometimes "insurgents" are all the names to make you feel better so you sleep better tonight. I have relations to the area, and all killed are local residents. The military simply does not have any training nor has any capability to combat the 'bad guys." They are just out there shooting in dark, hoping that the bad guys would be scared and give in. This is all because of US and now reported Zionists pressure to keep killing wether by their puppets in the area or themselves bombing people in their mudhouses.

Congratulations to the cowards, at least tonight you can sleep better!!!!!!!!
Posted by mysteriousjz

I keep trying to tell them that to the Pakistani people the Taliban is not the enemy. They are family. They will welcome them back in with open arms once the fighting stops. These are their fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and sons. They do not see anything wrong with what the Taliban are trying to do. This will be blamed on pressure from the US and the Pakistani government.

[gravyboat45]

pythoncharly, if you played Beethoven under an LA freeway, they'd do a movie about you.
Posted by U-R-So-Wrong

hahaha
Posted by jgg00000008

unfortunately, charly only plays with himself under the freeway
Posted by jgg00000008

jgg has the pictures...

[mysteriousjz]

I am supposed to believe that. "Militants" sometimes "Talibans", sometimes "insurgents" are all the names to make you feel better so you sleep better tonight. I have relations to the area, and all killed are local residents. The military simply does not have any training nor has any capability to combat the 'bad guys." They are just out there shooting in dark, hoping that the bad guys would be scared and give in. This is all because of US and now reported Zionists pressure to keep killing wether by their puppets in the area or themselves bombing people in their mudhouses.

Congratulations to the cowards, at least tonight you can sleep better!!!!!!!!

[gce65]

False security in old school Vietnam era body counts. 180 dead and what, 20 or 30 million left?

[boandco]

180 Militants Killed, some as young as 6 weeks old. Those terrorist are recruiting them young.

[U-R-So-Wrong]

pythoncharly, if you played Beethoven under an LA freeway, they'd do a movie about you.

[Tu_eres]

Posted by pythoncharly

You post the same crap regardless of the topic.
YOU CAN SEE IT HERE TODAY, AND EVERYDAY FOR THAT MATTER.

[Tu_eres]

I really don't know how many we kill in a month but from the news reports we see it sure has never seemed to be on the level Pakistan is getting.
Posted by Livinontheedge

You volunteering?

[ajjaxtheleast]

This is not a "battle for the very existance of Pakistan",,,This is just
one more of the ongoing battles for one country to rule the earth.

"Ruling the earth" by a "nice" government would keep people free of
despotic rule which would keep more people alive.

This is good right?,,,,,,Yes if the "nice" government can find enough
jobs for more people to work and pay taxes than the people they
already have that they cant find jobs for.

But the "nice" Govt. wont be able to,,,,Being the "nice" govt. it will deplete
it's resourses trying to do so,,,,,Leaveing the "would-be-bad-govt.-people"
on the sidelines waiting their chance.

One can only guess what riches-to-come Obama whispered
into the ear of Zardari.

But what ever it was it eliminated his previous concern over the
well being of his citizens

[jwesel1]

What can we do to stop the CYCLE of VIOLENCE ?
Where is the outcry ?? THE Disproportionate USE OF FORCE against a rag tag Muslim group with home made rockets ?

Posted by hamiltongrad at 8:22 AM : May 10, 2009

US should stop dangling carrots in front of Pakistani government promising them millions if they kill their own people.

[hamiltongrad]

What can we do to stop the CYCLE of VIOLENCE ?
Where is the outcry ?? THE Disproportionate USE OF FORCE against a rag tag Muslim group with home made rockets ?

/////What is different here vs. Israel, who is also defending herself against obliteration by an Islamic Fascist force HAMAS and HEzbollah ??

This is not a time to back off. It may be an opportunity for PAk and US and NATO to go in and finish off these b. as a message to all these crazi NAZI.