Army to remain in Swat until complete peace is established: Kayani

Islamabad, Nov.22 (ANI): Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said troops will remain in the Swat Valley until all militants are flushed out.

"The army will stay in Swat and will continue to participate in reconstruction efforts," an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement quoted General Kayani, as saying.

He said the army would remain in Swat to ensure that terrorists do not disrupt the peace and rehabilitation process in the region, The Daily Times reports.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government would be sending more troops to South Waziristan, where the army is engaged in an intense battle with the Taliban.

Referring to the recent wave of terror attacks in Peshawar, Malik said the whole of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) was in a state of war.

"We are going to launch an offensive in Dara Adam Khel, Bara and other adjacent areas," said Malik.

"The time is not far where there would be complete peace in FATA like Malakand division," he added.

Commenting on reports of presence of the Taliban 'shura' (union council) in Quetta, Balochistan's capital, Malik said there is no evidence regarding such claims.

"We have conducted more than 300 raids in Quetta after US allegation with regard to presence of Taliban shura but found nothing," he said. (ANI)