(8 Dec 2007)
1. Aerial of Swat river valley
2. Wide pan right of two artillery guns in front of mountains
3. Mid of soldiers maintaining guns
4. Soldiers with shells beside artillery
5. Various of soldiers in Swat area
6. Wide of mountain tops to north of Mingora
7. Wide of artillery and mountains
8. Mid of head of Pakistan army operations in Swat Valley briefing foreign media
9. Close of journalists at news conference
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major General Nasser Janjua, Pakistan Army:
"He's on the run (referring to Maulana Fazlullah, leader of Swat militants). Everywhere that he goes I chase him there using my artillery, using my helicopters. So as of today I find him somewhere hiding in Piochar."
11. Various of troops
STORYLINE:
Pakistan's army has forced Islamic militants out of their strongholds in the scenic Swat valley and is pursuing a group of hard-core supporters of a radical pro-Taliban cleric, the head of the operations said on Saturday.
Major General Nasser Janjua was careful not to claim success, saying the militants remain dangerous and are likely try to regroup for at least one major counter-attack. He estimated it will take three to four months to "stabilise" the situation.
Since the military began pouring troops, artillery and attack helicopters into the area on November 24, some 290 militants have been killed and 140 others captured, Janjua told reporters at a base the army has set up in Mingora, Swat's main town.
Only five soldiers have been killed, with six civilians dead and 20 wounded as troops have been extremely careful to avoid casualties among residents, he added.
Janjua said officials believe the army initially was facing up to 5 thousand fighters loyal to fugitive cleric Maulana Fazlullah.
"He's on the run. Everywhere that he goes I chase him there using my artillery, using my helicopters. So as of today I find him somewhere hiding in Piochar." Janjua said at a news conference on Saturday.
Fleeing their strongholds along the Swat river, some fighters have melted into the local populace, hiding their weapons, leaving an estimated 400-500 hard-core supporters who have been pushed into the Piochar side valley, where the army has previously said they are believed to have training camps.
But Janjua reassured reporters, troops were also trying to identify and arrest those who are hiding among villagers in the former tourist destination.
Those killed or captured include some foreigners, Uzbeks and citizens of unspecified countries with which Pakistan "has good relations," Janjua said.
Supporters of Fazlullah took up arms, heeding his calls to enforce Islamic law and carry out a jihad, or holy war, against the government, and taking over towns in the area. Troops faced no resistance as they took his sprawling Imam Dheri complex, which includes a seminary, hostels and a mosque near Mingora, on Thursday. Security forces blew up Fazlullah's home.
Janjua said he is asking the government to provide development aid for the area and improvements in the judicial system, saying its failures have been among the root causes for the push for implementation of sharia, or Islamic law.
The militants think sectarian groups and al-Qaida have come to support Fazlullah, Janjua said. A recent U.S. intelligence report indicated that al-Qaida may be regrouping in Pakistan's tribal areas.
With Swat under curfew, security forces have been consolidating their hold on the towns of Khawazakhela and Matta, which the militants had taken over, and were combing the areas for fighters, land mines and booby traps, the army said in an earlier statement.

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