Army to stay in Swat until normalcy returns: Gilani

Malakand (NWFP, Pakistan) Aug.11 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said security forces would remain in war ravaged Swat Valley until displaced people are rehabilitated and normalcy returns to the region completely.

"I am confident your presence in the area will not only discourage anti-state elements from regrouping, but also improve the pace of development in the area," Gilani told a gathering of soldiers during his visit to Malakand.

Addressing tribal elders separately during his first visit to the valley after the military operation, Gilani said extremists were on the run and would be eliminated soon.

Gilani said militants would not be allowed to establish their writ through violence again.

"Nobody will be allowed to stop our children going to school or impose a system through violence in the name of Islam and at gunpoint," The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

He asked the people of the region to be wary of 'black sheep' trying to mislead them and create problems for the country.

Gilani said the government would introduce a special package for the region, incorporating development work, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

He said the government has already allocated 50 billion rupees for the rehabilitation of the IDPs and ongoing development projects.

Over two million people were forced to move out of the region after the Pakistan Army announced an all-out operation against the Taliban and other extremist groups in mid-April. While the military claims that it has killed over 1800 militants in the operation the numbers could not be verified independently. (ANI)