After Swat gain:

Pakistan hunts Taliban leadership

PAKISTAN: Pakistan on Sunday pursued the Taliban leadership in the northwest after seizing the main town in Swat valley from the militants, as it continues its drive to flush out extremists.

The business and administrative hub of Mingora was back in government hands, military officials announced late Saturday, more than a month after Islamabad began its blistering assault.

The army is still fighting Taliban guerrillas, but the fall of Mingora is a critical milestone in an offensive across three northwest districts launched after the Taliban thrust to within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of Islamabad.

Washington, which is firmly backing the military drive, had warned the rebels threatened Pakistan's very existence and identified the country and neighbouring Afghanistan as central to its 'war on terror'.

"We are trying to target the top leadership of militants and they are constantly being followed," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said as he announced the Mingora win.

Peshawar, Sunday, AFP