Rawalpindi: The battle for Pakistan’s Buner district, dubbed Operation Black Thunder by the Pakistani Army, is acquiring critical mass.
Reports from the battle zone say air force jets bombed and strafed Taliban positions around Buner, attack helicopters dropped scores of troops into these hills overlooking Buner to flush out Taliban fighters.
Director-General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Athar Abbas said, “Last night, after the air strikes, attack helicopters engaged miscreants and inflicted more than 50 casualties. Security forces also destroyed 2 ammunition dumps of militants in the area. Security forces successfully secured Dagar by 0800 hours today.”
However, the Pakistani army is facing an uphill battle to secure other strategic locations in Buner
Fighting is on at Zirat Pir Baba where many security personnel are believed held hostage by the Taliban. Also in Karakar and Milandar, a battle is also shaping up in the hilly tract of Ambela.
Abbas said, “Forces also managed to recover 18 FC men out of 70 abducted by the militants.
Meanwhile, locals are streaming out of the battle zone but many others have nowhere to go,
Resident of Rustam village Saleem dil Khan said, “ A lot of firing took place early in the morning. Curfew has been imposed and the army is not allowing us to leave our houses. We are very worried."
Washington is happy with the developments. An emergency infusion of about one billion dollars in aid is being readied but may be released only in installments to ensure the Pakistani army stays the course.
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