Pakistan

RSF concerned about safety of media persons in Swat after Taliban threat

RSF concerned about safety of media persons in Swat after Taliban threatPeshawar, Apr. 29 : Following the Taliban's threat to the media to not to promote `anti-Taliban coverage' in the Swat Valley, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concerns about the safety of media professionals in the region.

In a statement issued by the RSF, the organization said that Taliban threats were unacceptable, and seriously endangered the safety of the journalists working in the region.

71 security officials taken hostage by Taliban in NWFP

71 security officials taken hostage by Taliban in NWFPPeshawar, Apr. 29 : The Taliban has taken hostage at least 71 security personnel in the Pir Baba area of Buner district in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

According to The News, the station house officer (SHO) of the Pir Baba police station along with his cops and 50 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel have been held captive by the armed gunmen.

Army could topple ‘non-performing’ government in Pakistan: ex-Saudi intelligence chief

Army could topple ‘non-performing’ government in Pakistan: ex-Saudi intelligence chiefLahore, Apr. 29 : The Pakistan Army, which has until now vowed to stay away from the country's politics, may be compelled to act and initiate a coup if the government continues its submissive performance, a former Saudi intelligence chief has said.

According to Turki al-Faisal, Pakistan has failed to deal with the Taliban in the right manner.

Faisal said the Taliban is not a `monolithic organisation', and that Islamabad must have the right policies to counter the problem.

Taliban deputy chief announces new offensive in Afghanistan

Mullah Omar Kabul - The deputy of the Afghan Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Omar announced Wednesday that the militants would launch a new "strong and robust" operation in Afghanistan to counter more than 25,000 additional US and NATO forces due to arrive in the country this year. "As the US and NATO wants to send more troops to Afghanistan, the Afghans too sense the need for a strong and robust operation to counter the new forces," Mullah Brodar Akhund, the Taliban movement's number two leader, said in a statement posted on their website.

Pak Army launches aerial offensive on Taliban in Buner

Pak Army launches aerial offensive on Taliban in BunerIslamabad, Apr. 29 : The Pakistan Army on Wednesday launched an areal offensive on the Taliban in Buner district.

The Pakistan army is said to be on its final leg of operations in Buner. So far, 70 Taliban fighters have been killed in the intensive offensive.

North western Buner district is about 100 kilometers from Islamabad.

Television reports said army troops are being parachuted onto strategic heights in different areas of Buner District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to flush the militants out of the region.

Taliban capture Sikh property in FATA over failure to pay “protection money”

Taliban capture Sikh property in FATA over failure to pay “protection money”Islamabad, Apr. 29 : The Taliban has forcibly captured three houses and ten shops belonging to people of the Sikh community in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after they failed to fulfill their demands of huge protection money.

According to the sources, armed Taliban gunmen forced all the 24 family members of one Kalyan Singh out of their houses and shops.

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