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Militants vacate trenches in several areas of Swat

MINGORA: Militants in several parts of the restive Swat district vacated their trenches on hilltops and disappeared on Tuesday, Daily Times has learnt. Rebel cleric Maulana Fazlullah’s loyalists had established trenches in the Dherai, Kooza Bandai, Bara Bandai, Nangolai, Charbagh, Khwazakhela and Pir Kalay areas of Swat. However, they vacated the areas on Tuesday morning and their current whereabouts are unknown, residents said. Locals believe the Taliban have fled the area under intense pressure from the military, which had been using artillery and gunship helicopters to target their positions in several areas of Swat and Shangla districts for the last few days. Meanwhile, Swat Media Centre spokesman Amjad Iqbal told journalists that a local resident had killed Taliban commander Khan Khitab, as people of the area were tired of the Taliban. Iqbal claimed 50 militants had been killed in the ongoing military operation over the past three days. His claim could not be confirmed from an independent source, while purported Taliban spokesman Sirajuddin was also unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told Dawn television that troops had taken control of Najia Top, a stronghold of Fazlullah. He estimated the insurgents’ strength in the area at about 1,000, reported AFP. Local residents and state television, meanwhile, reported that Fazlullah’s pirate radio station had shut down. Also on Tuesday, the Swat administration announced a four-hour relaxation in curfew to let the local residents fulfill basic necessities of daily life. staff report

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