The peace crisis in Swat continues as terrorists and security forces engage in deadly encounters. On Sunday, August 30, 2009, the Mingora Police Station was targeted by a suicide bomber, killing 16 newly recruited men while military copters fired at Taliban hideouts in Charbagh, claiming to have killed as much as 30 Taliban. Both incidents speak for the fact that peace is still a far cry in case of the beautiful, yet unfortunate valley of Swat.

The attack on the Mingora Police Station was made at a time when the recruits were taking a drill in the yard next to the station’s building. Some officials thought that the attacker was in uniform and may have been one of the recruits but others, including the DIG Malakand, denied such a possibility and held the relaxation in curfew responsible for the attack. NWFP’s information minister Iftikhar Hussain told media that such incidents were not so unexpected, given the recent military operation in Malakand; he acknowledged that Taliban were still present in the area and the security forces will continue to hunt them down till the last of them is killed.

In Charbagh (Swat), military helicopters claimed killing 30 Taliban as they shelled Taliban hideouts on Sunday. The attack was backed by ground forces advancing against Taliban. Another three Taliban were allegedly killed in North Waziristan and at least 8 terrorists were arrested, of which 4 are said to be trained in suicide bombing. News sources also reported that arms and a large amount of Afghan currency was recovered from those arrested.