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| India-Pakistan |
| TNSM goons seize 2 police stations |
| 2007-11-04 |
| Militants said yesterday they captured two police stations and 120 security forces in a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan that has increasingly fallen under the control of Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked extremists, bringing further embarrassment to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government. A flag was hoisted over one of the buildings after it was abandoned by officers in the scenic Swat valley, once a popular tourist destination now plagued by fighting between paramilitary forces and Islamic militants, said Sirajuddin, who goes by one name, speaking on behalf of the insurgents. Hours later, militants took control of another police post six miles to the north, said Mian Rasool Shah, a Taliban commander, claiming his men had convinced 60 officers to leave and then locked the doors to prevent the looting of weapons. No government official was immediately available to comment on the claims, which came a day after extremists paraded dozens of men described as surrendered government troops before journalists. They like the 120 security forces who allegedly defected after being surrounded by militants overnight were later released, Sirajuddin said. |
| Posted by:Fred |