With three killings in 10 days Taliban haunts Swat Valley again

London, Apr.30 (ANI): Months after the Pakistan Army declared the Swat Valley safe claiming that the Taliban has been flushed out of the region, the extremists have resumed their activities killing at least three local leaders in ten days.

Pakistani officials also confirmed the target killings, but added that the recent murders does not mean the Taliban is re-entering the valley.

"There have been three incidents of targeted killings. But these incidents do not mean that the Taliban can return in any organised form to the Swat valley. The army is confident of this," The BBC quoted Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Major General Athar Abbas, as saying.

He said the militants who carried out the killings, have been "dealt with."

"We carried out an operation after a tip-off and killed the four of them," Abbas said.

Local residents, however, presented a different story, saying at least one militant had escaped after a gun battle with security forces.

Residents complained that though the Army claims that peace has returned to the valley, things have not improved much, and added that tourism, which once contributed a major chunk to revenue generated in the valley, still remains affected.

"Things have not improved and business is not good. We cannot even imagine that tourists will come here," said Khalid, a local restaurant owner.

"How can things be better if there are still suicide bombings and people are being killed every few days?" he asked. (ANI)