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| Pakistan 'nearing Swat victory' | Pakistan 'nearing Swat victory' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's operation against Taliban rebels in the Swat valley region should be over in the next few days, the country's defence secretary has said. | Pakistan's operation against Taliban rebels in the Swat valley region should be over in the next few days, the country's defence secretary has said. |
| Syed Athar Ali told a meeting of Asian nations in Singapore that only "5% to 10% of the job" remains. | Syed Athar Ali told a meeting of Asian nations in Singapore that only "5% to 10% of the job" remains. |
| The army has said it will pursue "hardcore" rebels after recapturing Mingora, the main city in Swat. | The army has said it will pursue "hardcore" rebels after recapturing Mingora, the main city in Swat. |
| But an army spokesman said it was not possible to predict when the military operation would be completed. | But an army spokesman said it was not possible to predict when the military operation would be completed. |
| Meanwhile, 40 militants were killed in an attack on a Pakistani army base near the Afghan border, officials said. | Meanwhile, 40 militants were killed in an attack on a Pakistani army base near the Afghan border, officials said. |
| Officials said four soldiers were also killed in an eight-hour gun battle at the camp in South Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold. | Officials said four soldiers were also killed in an eight-hour gun battle at the camp in South Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold. |
| "Militants came in force and attacked a paramilitary camp and fighting lasted for eight hours," an intelligence official in the region told Reuters news agency. | "Militants came in force and attacked a paramilitary camp and fighting lasted for eight hours," an intelligence official in the region told Reuters news agency. |
| 'Elusive enemy' | 'Elusive enemy' |
| Having recaptured Mingora, which was home to 300,000 people before the fighting began, Pakistan's army said essential services were being restored to the city. See a map of the region | Having recaptured Mingora, which was home to 300,000 people before the fighting began, Pakistan's army said essential services were being restored to the city. See a map of the region |
| "The main cities in the Swat valley stand clear today. The operation is being conducted in the countryside to the right and left of the valley and to the North... so the operation is ongoing and it will take a little more time," army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC. | "The main cities in the Swat valley stand clear today. The operation is being conducted in the countryside to the right and left of the valley and to the North... so the operation is ongoing and it will take a little more time," army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC. |
| But while Maj Gen Abbas said the remaining militants were being hunted down, he could not confirm when the army's operation in the area would be complete. | But while Maj Gen Abbas said the remaining militants were being hunted down, he could not confirm when the army's operation in the area would be complete. |
| "It's difficult to give a timeline because this is an elusive enemy that has strongholds in the countryside," he said. | "It's difficult to give a timeline because this is an elusive enemy that has strongholds in the countryside," he said. |
| With journalists barred from the area, it is impossible to verify the situation independently. | With journalists barred from the area, it is impossible to verify the situation independently. |
| Some 2.5 million people have fled their homes since military operations began in Swat more than a month ago. | Some 2.5 million people have fled their homes since military operations began in Swat more than a month ago. |
| Bounty raised | Bounty raised |
| Soldiers continued to patrol Mingora's largely deserted streets on Saturday, securing neighbourhoods and checking houses for booby-traps. | Soldiers continued to patrol Mingora's largely deserted streets on Saturday, securing neighbourhoods and checking houses for booby-traps. |
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| People shop amid the rubble in Mingora, a day after the army said it was retaken | People shop amid the rubble in Mingora, a day after the army said it was retaken |
| Pakistan has increased its reward for the capture of the Taliban leader in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, to 50m rupees ($600,000). | Pakistan has increased its reward for the capture of the Taliban leader in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, to 50m rupees ($600,000). |
| The radical cleric is believed to be the architect of a two-year uprising in the valley aimed at enforcing Islamic law. | The radical cleric is believed to be the architect of a two-year uprising in the valley aimed at enforcing Islamic law. |
| It is thought that the Taliban responded to the military campaign this week with a major suicide bomb attack on the country's second-biggest city, Lahore, as well as bombings in two other cities in the north-west. | It is thought that the Taliban responded to the military campaign this week with a major suicide bomb attack on the country's second-biggest city, Lahore, as well as bombings in two other cities in the north-west. |
| The US is giving full backing to the Pakistani operations, which are linked to its own offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, our correspondent says. | The US is giving full backing to the Pakistani operations, which are linked to its own offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan, our correspondent says. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |