Islamabad: Army helicopters on Tuesday dropped commandos behind the Taliban lines in Swat as security forces
stepped up offensive to dislodge militants still holding some of the key towns in Pakistan's troubled northwestern region.
Troops were landed by helicopters at Peochar, a thinly populated hilly area in northern Swat, considered to be the hiding place of Maulana Fazlullah, the commander of the local Taliban.
"The operation is still in progress," a military spokesman said as attack helicopters also bombed Taliban positions in Malam and Jabba, more well-known for their ski slopes.
This was the first time troops were air-dropped to outflank the Taliban who have fortified houses and buildings, making it difficult for the army to launch a frontal assault on Mingora, the main town of Swat, and other built-up areas.
The army had used similar operations to wrest Daggar, the main town of Buner, from the Taliban.
Nearly 12,000-15,000 armed security personnel are operating in Swat against an estimated 5,000 well-armed Taliban fighters, who still are in occupation of Mingora town. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had deployed the armed forces last week to eliminate militants who had violated the
peace deal in Swat and challenged the writ of his government.
A minister from the North West Frontier Province on Monday said that about 50 per cent of Mingora's population of about 360,000 had already fled the city due to fighting.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that some 700 Taliban fighters had been killed in the fresh offensive against the militants.
The government launched operations against the militants after they extended their influence from Swat to the nearby districts of Buner and Dir, located about 100 kms from Islamabad.
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