Pakistan’s military twice bombarded a remote mountainous area in the restive Swat Valley today, killing at least 60 militants and wounded an unknown number of others. The target was said to be a “Taliban training camp and hideouts.” The hideouts appear to have consisted mainly of caves, which were hit by Pakistani fighter jets.
The attacks also reportedly destroyed 10 houses in the vicinity, although it does not appear the houses were occupied at the time of the bombing. The military has been engaged in hostilities in the Swat Valley and neighboring Bajaur for over a year now, and has regularly imposed curfews on the populace.
Traditionally, the Swat Valley has long been a popular tourist destination, but is increasingly losing that reputation after months of militancy and kidnappings. A group of college students has condemned the army for a “mindless offensive” that “did more collateral damage rather than arresting or eliminating the militants.” They complained about multi-week power outages, and said that “there is no one to whom the people of Swat could complain as our phones are dead.”