Unwilling refugees return home to Swat

SWAT, Pakistan, July 13 (UPI) -- Unsure if they have homes to go to, Pakistani refugees got on buses Monday to return to the Swat Valley, unwillingly in some cases, refugee Yaqoob Shah said.

"The fighting is still going on there, but the government is forcing us to go," Shah told the Los Angeles Times.

The Pakistani government started repatriating refugees to the Swat Valley, saying they routed Taliban militant from the area. Some returning residents said they worried the insurgents fled when Pakistani troops arrived and may return.

Defense analysts warned militants, including Taliban commanders, are hiding in densely forested ridges.

The government told the Voice of America this is a landmark in its quest to drive all Taliban out of the country. Authorities said they retook control of Swat in a major offensive beginning in late April, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Troops remain in Swat, but police returned and the government restored clean drinking water, electricity, telephone and healthcare services to the villages in Swat.