Islamabad - Pakistani security forces Monday claimed gains in their push against Taliban fighters as the militants expanded their influence in the north-west, threatening the fragile peace deal in the troubled Swat valley. Hardline cleric Sufi Mohammad mediated between the rebels and government in the North-West Frontier Province to end 16 months of militant violence in return for enforcement of sharia law.
Mohammad guaranteed militants would give up their weapons after establishment of Islamic courts in Malakand division, which includes Swat, but the emboldened fighters moved into adjoining districts, prompting authorities to launch offensives last week.
The military said its operation was "progressing smoothly" in Buner district that was overrun by the Taliban early April.
On Monday, security forces engaged militant hideouts in Kalpani area, killing seven militants, including an important commander Afsar Hameed.
The fresh casualties took the death toll to 87 after a week of clashes. At least four soldiers have also died and 11 injured.
The Taliban takeover of Buner troubled Western allies, because of its proximity to Islamabad. The district is just 100 kilometers north-west of the capital.
The US criticized the Pakistani government for negotiating with the insurgents, accusing Islamabad of abdicating to the Taliban militants. Washington pressured the lone nuclear-armed Islamic country to act against the Taliban with force.
But Mohammad's Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammedi (TNSM), a movement seeking the enforcement of sharia law, warned the government Monday of violence if the military operations in Malakand were not stopped.
A TNSM spokesman said the agreement the Islamic organization had signed with the government in February was not a peace pact but one for Islamic law that it had guaranteed would bring peace.
"There has been no peace agreement between us and the provincial government. We have an agreement to enforce a system of justice based on sharia," Amir Izzat Khan told reporters in Batkhela village of the troubled Swat region.
The authorities said the militants has started armed patrol in the district, a clear violation of the agreement.
"Militants high handedness continues in Swat,' said a statement from Pakistan Army on Monday. "Armed militants are marching on the roads of Mangora city and other areas, threatening the lives of the innocent people of Swat and civil administration."
"Security Forces are still exercising restraint to honour the peace agreement," it said further.
According to the military rebels early Monday attacked a Security Forces convoy in Barrikot, killing one soldier and injuring two others.
Besides the militants demolished a police check post and also kidnapped some civilians.
