Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Militants capture 25 Pakistani security personnel

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Islamic militants seized a security post in Pakistan's troubled northwest, capturing at least 25 police and troops in a raid that underscored the government's weak grip on territory near the Afghan border.

Extremists also killed two security officers elsewhere in the Swat Valley, a day after three intelligence agents died in an ambush in the same area in further blows to the hopes of Pakistani leaders that they can tame Islamic hard-liners through peace negotiations.

Tuesday's incidents came a day after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani won praise from U.S. President George W. Bush, whose administration is pressing Pakistan for tougher action against militants, as a reliable ally against terrorism.

Pakistani officials said the abducted security force was manning a post near Deolai village in Swat when it was surrounded by an unknown number of militants Tuesday morning...........

No comments: