Two officers among 5 soldiers killed in Pakistan fighting

Islamabad, June 25, IRNA-- Two officers and 3 soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in Pakistan’s restive Swat Valley in Northwest Province Wednesday, police sources said.

The government had claimed that most of Swat Valley has been cleared of the militants and that the displaced persons would be allowed to return by June 25th.
The fresh attack by the militants has raised concerns about the security situation in the insurgency-hit valley.
Sources said that the militants attacked the security forces in Charbagh area of Swat valley, killing two officers and three soldiers.
The security forces returned fire but there was no report of casualties of the militants, the sources said.
Charbagh area is one of the strongholds of the militants in Swat Valley.
Sources said that the security forces shelled militants' positions in Kabbal area as the army says the operation has entered its last phase.
The army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said this week that over 1,500 militants have been killed in the operation launched in Malakand, including those in Swat, in April.
There is no independent confirmation of the army’s claim as media is not allowed to work freely.
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