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Pakistan bid to stop Taleban push | Pakistan bid to stop Taleban push |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Pakistan government has sent troops to tackle Taleban militants who have advanced into a region just 100km (67 miles) from the capital, Islamabad. | The Pakistan government has sent troops to tackle Taleban militants who have advanced into a region just 100km (67 miles) from the capital, Islamabad. |
Officials say the forces will protect government buildings in Buner district, where insurgents have begun patrolling the streets and mounting checkpoints. | Officials say the forces will protect government buildings in Buner district, where insurgents have begun patrolling the streets and mounting checkpoints. |
As the troops moved into the region, insurgents launched an attack on their convoy, killing at least one soldier. | As the troops moved into the region, insurgents launched an attack on their convoy, killing at least one soldier. |
The militants advanced from the Swat Valley, a region they largely control. | The militants advanced from the Swat Valley, a region they largely control. |
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says if the government is trying to reassert control over the region, its efforts appear to be too little, too late. | The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says if the government is trying to reassert control over the region, its efforts appear to be too little, too late. |
The Taleban are reported to have moved several hundred men into Buner from the Swat Valley. | The Taleban are reported to have moved several hundred men into Buner from the Swat Valley. |
The government sent six platoons - up to 300 men - to deal with the insurgents. | The government sent six platoons - up to 300 men - to deal with the insurgents. |
A police official told the BBC that the troops were attacked as they were leaving the village of Totalai in the south of Buner district. | A police official told the BBC that the troops were attacked as they were leaving the village of Totalai in the south of Buner district. |
The convoy was heading for Dagar, the central town of the largely mountainous district. | The convoy was heading for Dagar, the central town of the largely mountainous district. |
Springboard | Springboard |
The confrontation comes just weeks after a peace deal was signed by President Asif Ali Zardari allowing the introduction of Islamic law in Swat. | The confrontation comes just weeks after a peace deal was signed by President Asif Ali Zardari allowing the introduction of Islamic law in Swat. |
The deal was designed to end a bloody 18-month conflict with the Taleban in Swat by yielding to some of their demands. | The deal was designed to end a bloody 18-month conflict with the Taleban in Swat by yielding to some of their demands. |
But critics say that the militants can now use Swat as a springboard to take over new areas of the country. | But critics say that the militants can now use Swat as a springboard to take over new areas of the country. |
The BBC's Ilyas Khan says many people believe Buner could be the next battlefield for the Pakistani security forces after Swat. | The BBC's Ilyas Khan says many people believe Buner could be the next battlefield for the Pakistani security forces after Swat. |
HAVE YOUR SAYPakistan is caught in a whirlpool created by its own mistakes and vested interest of other nationsIqbal Zaman Khan, Dublin Send us your comments | |
Human rights group Amnesty International said there was concern that the Taleban were targeting non-governmental organisations, and residents feared the restrictions imposed. | |
Sam Zarifi, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific director, said: "The people of Buner are now at their mercy, particularly women and girls, whose rights the Taleban systematically deny." | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier said the insurgency posed a "mortal threat" to world security. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier said the insurgency posed a "mortal threat" to world security. |
Speaking to a Congress committee, Mrs Clinton said the Pakistani government was "basically abdicating to the Taleban and the extremists". | Speaking to a Congress committee, Mrs Clinton said the Pakistani government was "basically abdicating to the Taleban and the extremists". |