The Pakistani Army on Monday intensified operations against Taliban in Buner and Dir districts in restive NWFP killing 10 militants, as president Asif Ali Zardrai headed for Washington for a trilateral summit with US president and Afghan counterpart, were the spotlight would be on fight against the group.
As troops under the cover of tanks and artilleries continued to blast Taliban hideouts in the two districts, the controversial peace deal in adjoining Swat, which has raised the ire of Americans, came under cloud with a Taliban spokesman declaring it "dissolved".
The death of the deal reached between Taliban and the provincial NWFP government could signal Pakistan Army extending its operations to Swat also. Taliban also threatened a fierce retaliation for attacks being carried out against it.
Zardari will attend a summit along with US president Barack Obama and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai in Washington beginning on Tuesday where emphasis, according to White House sources would be on controlling rising Taliban activities in the Afghan-Pak border.
The crucial meeting comes as Obama is pledging more troops to war-torn Afghanistan and more resources, including military aid, to the region to eliminate what he has called an international threat.
Taliban and the Army had skirmishes in Bari Kot early on Monday morning with an officer reportedly killed in a rocket attack by the militant on a convoy.
The Army also confirmed that the militants had beheaded two soldiers whom they were holding at Khawaza Khela in Swat.
The Army said these attacks went against the peace deal, but Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said the pact was "practically dissolved". He said Taliban fighters could not stand mute as the Army killed militant fighters in Buner and Dir.
After securing the Swat-Mardan highway, the Army now conducting clearing operations in Dir by neutralising pockets of Taliban resistance.
The Army on Monday attacked a major Taliban hideout in Kalpani area in Buner killing seven militants including a key commander Afsar Hameed. A soldier was also killed and three others were also injured.
