(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-17 19:21

Arshad said it was possible that the suicide attacks were an attempt to avenge a major army operation against militants in the Swat valley, a former tourist destination about 100 miles from the capital, Islamabad.

The army claims to have killed about 300 militants in Swat during an operation that began last month. Artillery and helicopter gunships continued to pound targets in the Piochar side valley Monday.

Arshad also said that the army is investigating media reports that Pakistani militant groups have formed an umbrella organization to wage jihad, or holy war, against the government.

Baitullah Mehsud, a pro-Taliban warlord from the lawless South Waziristan tribal area, reportedly chaired a meeting of 40 representatives of militant groups, including ones from Swat, last week.

"We are trying to find out whether that meeting took place or not" or whether it was just a propaganda ploy by Mehsud, Arshad said.

Arshad said there were already loose links among the militant groups.

The Nation newspaper, citing a purported spokesman for Mehsud, reported that the new umbrella group, called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, issued a ten-day ultimatum for the army to halt its operation in Swat.

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