Pakistan Battles Taliban

(29 Apr 09 - RV) Pakistan is acting under intense U.S. pressure to take a tougher line against Islamist militants expanding from strongholds along the Afghan border.

In recent days, government forces have begun trying to drive the Taliban back into the Swat Valley, from where they had pushed out under cover of a creaking peace pact struck in February.

The deal imposes Islamic law in exchange for peace with militants who have waged a violent two-year campaign in the region.

The executive secretary of the Pakistan-based National Commission for Justice and Peace, Peter Jacob, says the Taliban did not hold up their side of the deal...