Kayani visits Malakand; vows to wipe out militancy

He was quoted by TV news channels as saying that the army had “broken the back of the militants” in Swat.

Addressing troops and tribal elders,Kayani said the army’s operations will continue till militancy is completely wiped out and the last militant is eliminated.

Kayani also toured an army-run school in Malakand,where authorities plan to enrol children who were forcibly trained by the Taliban for terrorism and suicide bombings.

The army chief chaired a high-level meeting on the military operations and was briefed by senior officials on the situation in Swat and other parts of the Malakand division. Meanwhile,security forces killed four militants and captured nine others in the country’s northwest region.

Troops killed three militants and destroyed four hideouts in the Khyber tribal region,where an operation against militant groups was launched four days ago. Over 40 militants have been killed in the area so far.

Security forces killed a militant during a search operation in Peochar,one of the Taliban’s main strongholds in the Swat valley,the military said in a statement.

Nine suspects were apprehended in Mingora,the main city in Swat,and near Kanju. Eight militants also surrendered to security forces at Salhand and Shah Dehri.