Army need to stay in Swat for a year to prevent Taliban from resurfacing: Pak Army

Islamabad, Jun.3 (ANI): The Pakistan Army would need to stay in the Swat Valley for at least a year after its operation against the Taliban in the region is accomplished, in order to prevent the extremists from resurfacing again, a senior Army official has said.

Major General Ijaz Awan, who is commanding the military's Swat offensive, said the army would have to stay in the valley for at least another year so that peace and security could be re-established.

Awan said the troops would now further expand its operation in the Taliban strongholds such as Kabal, where it believes that top extremist commanders are hiding.

"We have bottled them up very well, hopefully this will be a decisive battle here," The News quoted Awan , as saying. "Their deaths are vital to killing their myth," he added.

Awan also informed that the military is working with local government officials to set up community police organizations. (ANI)