The military spokesman, quoted below, seems a bit overconfident. To quote an American military saying, "Hope is not a method." "Pakistan Taliban militants 'reappear' in Swat valley," from BBC News, April 29:
Taliban militants have resumed targeted killings of local leaders in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley, officials have told the BBC.
Pakistan's army declared the Swat valley free of militants after carrying out an anti-Taliban operation in 2009.
A Pakistani army spokesman said three people had died in attacks over the last 10 days. Local journalists say that seven have died in 15 days.
The militants were effectively in control of the region from 2007.
In 2009, they started to expand their power across North West Frontier Province, prompting the army to launch its offensive.
Differing accounts
"There have been three incidents of targeted killings," Col Akhtar Abbas, head of the army public relations in Swat, told the BBC.
"But these incidents do not mean that the Taliban can return in any organised form to the Swat valley. The army is confident of this."...
JIHAD WATCH
