At least three policemen were killed and another injured when militants attacked a check post in a far-flung area of mountainous Shangla district late on Saturday night. Officials say dozens of extremists targeted the policemen with rockets and other sophisticated weapons. Eight personnel were guarding the check post at time of attack.
The check post was established in a tent a year ago when security forces restored the writ of state after defeating Taliban in Swat and other parts of Malakand Division. But several incidents of violence have been reported around Swat in recent days, where militants also shot dead ANP Tehsil Matta president along with a security guard at his home.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar told Pakistan Today that after assassination of al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, the militants had resumed activities in these parts of the province. But the provincial government was firm on its decision to eradicate terrorism and militancy from the region.
In response to a question, Iftikhar said the government successfully busted militant networks in the military action in Swat, Shangla and other parts of Malakand but it did not mean that militancy was uprooted. The militants were still present in the region, which was confirmed by targeted killings and isolated acts of terrorism, Iftikhar said, adding that the security forces were on a high alert and aware of the responsibilities to tackle the challenge.
The Shangla district is sandwiched between Swat, Buner, Torghar (Kala Dhaka) and Battagram districts. Formerly, it was a part of Swat district. In a bid to stimulate business and economic activities in the terrorism-hit Swat valley, a festival, “Spirit of Swat”, is in progress while the civil and military authorities are attaching great hopes to the event.
