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| India-Pakistan |
| 'Operation in Hangu stopped' |
| 2008-07-23 |
| A decision has been taken to stop the military operation in Hangu at the request of the NWFP government, a private television channel reported on Tuesday. According to Aaj TV, the federal government accepted the provincial government's request and decided to stop the Hangu operation. The channel quoted an NWFP minister as saying that the provincial government wanted to resolve the problems though negotiation. Security forces continued however a search operation in the Doaba area of Hangu district -- making no arrests -- while curfew was relaxed in the city. The continuous curfew in Hangu city and Doaba has resulted in a food crisis as edible items and medicine are vanishing from markets. Also on Tuesday, a jirga of religious leaders met the Taliban leadership and the district administrator here before leaving for Kohat to inform Regional Co-ordination Officer (RCO) Omar Afridi about the Taliban demands. ISPR spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said the operation carried out against Taliban in Hangu has achieved all desired results. Talking to the BBC, he declared that all troubled areas in Hangu district have been cleared of militants. Separately, Hangu SSP Muhammad Idris told a news conference that an elite force had been established to ensure the people's security. He said Hangu city had been divided into three sectors where the army, paramilitary and police personnel would continue their patrol. |
| Posted by:Fred |