Ten killed in militant attack in Swat

Mingora (Pakistan), Aug 25 : Ten people were killed today in Pakistan's Swat Valley when militants attacked a district government official home.

According to the police, the deceased include three members of a family and seven security guards.

The fighting between troops and militants in the Swat Valley has intensified in recent weeks. On Sunday, 78 people were killed and several others injured as fierce clashes continued in different parts of the Swat Valley.

The security forces launched their offensive late night on the alleged headquarters of Taliban militants, using artillery and gunship helicopters to hit positions of the militants.

ISPR spokesman in Swat said that clashes between security forces and Taliban militants resulted in killing of 45-50 militants including a Taliban commander and foreign fighters in Tehsil Kabbal of Swat.

The security forces blew up a headquarters of Taliban in Tehsil Kabbal.

Meanwhile, ten security men were also killed and seven injured in clashes while Taliban claimed to have destroyed 20 vehicles of security forces.

On the other hand, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) Swat spokesman Haji Muslim Khan rejected the ISPR's claim, saying that no local or foreign fighter was killed in fighting. He claimed the responsibility of attacks on FC check post and other areas.

He vowed to carry out more attacks in the country if security forces were not withdrawn from the troubled valley of Swat.

ANI