Pak offensive kills over 50; Taliban suspend peace talks

Helicopter gunships on Monday pounded Taliban hideouts, as Pakistani security forces in intensified operations killed over 50 militants in NWFP, putting the recent peace deal reached between the government and radicals in jeopardy.

The paramilitary Frontier Corp continued their operations for the second day on Monday hitting militant hideouts in the province as Taliban suspended talks with government on the peace deal to protest operations in Dir, adjoining Swat.

"Twenty militants were killed in operations in Maidan area of lower Dir today," a military statement said. Earlier, briefing newsmen Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said security forces had killed at least 30 militants overnight.

Malik said the operations were launched in retaliation to efforts by Taliban to extend their influence outside Swat.

As Pakistani forces intensified the offensive, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi spokesman Izzat Khan told reporters that no peace talks would be held with the government unless the security forces halted the operations.

Izzat Khan said their peace deal with the government was now ‘worthless’.

The pressure on the deal built up when authorities sent troops backed by artillery, tanks and helicopter gunships to attack militants in lower Dir, part of the area which is covered by the Swat peace accord.

Islamabad has been under severe pressure from the US and other countries to back out from deals with radical militant outfits which they say pose a danger of destabilising the entire region.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan denounced the operations as a violation of the pact and vowed his militants will not lay down their arms at any cost.

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