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| Pakistan army 'retakes key town' | Pakistan army 'retakes key town' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Pakistan army says it has taken control of a key town in Buner district in the north-west, a day after starting an offensive against the Taleban. | The Pakistan army says it has taken control of a key town in Buner district in the north-west, a day after starting an offensive against the Taleban. |
| Soldiers were dropped from helicopters into the town of Dagar and were linking up with ground forces. | Soldiers were dropped from helicopters into the town of Dagar and were linking up with ground forces. |
| The area is less than 100km (60 miles) from the capital, Islamabad. | |
| The government is concerned the Taleban are trying to extend their control beyond the Swat Valley, an area which they largely control already. | The government is concerned the Taleban are trying to extend their control beyond the Swat Valley, an area which they largely control already. |
| "The airborne forces have linked up to police and Frontier Constabulary in Dagar," the military spokesman said. | "The airborne forces have linked up to police and Frontier Constabulary in Dagar," the military spokesman said. |
| "A link-up with ground forces is in progress." | "A link-up with ground forces is in progress." |
| See a map of the region The army launched its assault in the valley, only a few hours drive from Islamabad, on Tuesday afternoon as jets bombed militant positions. | See a map of the region The army launched its assault in the valley, only a few hours drive from Islamabad, on Tuesday afternoon as jets bombed militant positions. |
| There was no word on any casualties during Wednesday's operation, nor whether troops clashed with fighters. | There was no word on any casualties during Wednesday's operation, nor whether troops clashed with fighters. |
| Dagar resident Saleem Dil Khan said when the army arrived "a lot of firing took place early in the morning, a curfew is imposed in the area and they are not allowing us to come out of our houses. | Dagar resident Saleem Dil Khan said when the army arrived "a lot of firing took place early in the morning, a curfew is imposed in the area and they are not allowing us to come out of our houses. |
| "We are very much worried." | "We are very much worried." |
| The Pakistan government says there are as many as 500 armed Taleban fighters in Buner in violation of a peace agreement. | The Pakistan government says there are as many as 500 armed Taleban fighters in Buner in violation of a peace agreement. |
| The peace deal between the two sides this year allowed Sharia law to be adopted in large parts of Malakand division - which includes Buner, the Swat Valley and Lower Dir - in return for the Taleban laying down arms. | The peace deal between the two sides this year allowed Sharia law to be adopted in large parts of Malakand division - which includes Buner, the Swat Valley and Lower Dir - in return for the Taleban laying down arms. |
| Fighting in Lower Dir, another mountainous region in the northwest, had ended, said chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas, according to the AFP news agency. | Fighting in Lower Dir, another mountainous region in the northwest, had ended, said chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas, according to the AFP news agency. |
| The army said about 75 militants and 10 security personnel died in the operation. | The army said about 75 militants and 10 security personnel died in the operation. |
| Tens of thousands of people had fled the area and many houses were damaged. | Tens of thousands of people had fled the area and many houses were damaged. |
| The increase in army activity follows criticism from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Pakistan was abdicating to the Taleban. | The increase in army activity follows criticism from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Pakistan was abdicating to the Taleban. |
| Last week she said the Taleban posed a "mortal threat" to the world security. | Last week she said the Taleban posed a "mortal threat" to the world security. |
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