new Delhi: Al-Qaeda's tactics in Iraq have found a new home among the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
From beheading kidnapped policeman to the indoctrination of young impressionable boys into suicide bombers, the Taliban is going all out to terrorise the residents of Swat.
Video made by Taliban, which denies television to others, at Al-Fateh Studio in Swat churns out propaganda to carry forth messages to an intimidated civilian population.
One of the video shows people being flogged for violating Sharia law and another shows Pakistani troops being targeted by snipers.
"Our soldiers were abducted, they were fired upon. They were killed. Soldiers and officers taken prisoner were executed," said Pakistani army officer Lt Gen Athar Abbas.
The army says al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan trained and funded local militants in the Waziristan agencies, who then passed on their terror tactics to militants in Swat.
These include hit-and-run attacks and the use of Improvised Explosive Devices to target army and paramilitary convoys.
Since the February peace accord at least eight IED attacks have taken place.
"All kinds of equipment which is specialised is coming from the Afghan border and not only equipment ... also funding, heavy equipment and vehicles," says Lt Gen Athar Abbas.
The government says it is committed to driving out the Taliban from Swat but it is also the third such operation in as many years.
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