Pakistan’s army has consolidated its position on Swat valley after days of battle with Taliban, according to the officials. Swat is a former tourist valley located 120 km northwest of Islamabad. Talibans had earlier captured Swat region and were moving towards Islamabad even as the Pakistani authorities were switching decisions between peace pact and offensive attacks.

Pakistan had been carrying attacks on Talibans since late April and there are signs the operation will be over in three days. The army launched an attack in South Waziristan at the Afghan border on Sunday.

The civilians trapped in Swat are being asked to leave the region as soon as possible. The army said that it had captured and secured Mingora and the troops were patrolling that area. Relief activities have been started here.

This is Pakistan’s most aggressive counter-attack on Taliban yet. The governments of the United States and Afghanistan have been directing Pakistan to annihilate militants out of South Waziristan and other areas of the Afghan border.

Sources from the security said the militants launched an attack on a paramilitary camp near Jandola, 80 km east of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan, on Saturday night and there was an exchange of fire for a very long time.

Over a thousand militants have been killed since April, according to the army. There has been an outflow of over 2.5 million people as per the government and the UN has asked for funds to the tune of over 500 million dollars.

The military has allocated 25 tonnes of relief supplies to those stranded in Mingora. The recent attacks have displaced the normal life of citizens in Swat and the Pakistani army is confident of defeating the interests of Taliban.

The army has also asked civilians of Charbagh (15 km north of Mingora) and Mingora to evacuate. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the people in Swat region faced shortages of water, electricity, food, and medical establishment. The situation is grim and the ICRC feels there is a need for prompt action.