ISLAMABAD, May 29 The military said on Friday that US weapons stolen from Afghanistan were being used against security forces in Swat and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said terrorists in Fata and Swat were getting material and financial support through the Afghan border and alleged that some hostile foreign agencies were abetting them.

In reply to a question, he said the United States should stop worrying about Pakistan's nuclear weapons and start thinking about its arms lost in Afghanistan. “We are not surprised if these weapons slip out from Afghanistan and much of them are found in Swat and used against our troops,” he remarked.

About Operation Rah-i-Rast, he said security forces had recovered a huge quantity of looted and stolen canned food and a cache of arms, including 12.7mm guns, and ammunition from four tunnels in Peochar.

He said the food found in the tunnels was not available locally and its packing showed that it was a part of relief goods for people stranded in the areas where the military operation was under way.

Maj-Gen Abbas said security forces had cleared the stronghold of miscreants in Peochar village and destroyed their hideouts, including a seminary, and seized 12 unregistered vehicles.

Security forces had also secured Bahrain and locals were welcoming them. At least nine terrorists, including their 'commander' in Bahrain, Khush Mir Khan, had been killed and two soldiers and two civilians had been injured in clashes, he said.

The general said 28 miscreants had been killed and seven apprehended in various areas of Swat. Five soldiers and two civilians were injured.

The spokesman said a search operation was under way in Mingora and Aman Kot area and the Technical Institute on the Kokarai road had been cleared. Five terrorists had been arrested in the city.

In Kalpani area of Dir, six commanders — Qadir, Noor Hameed, Aftab, Yousaf, Iftikhar and Bakht Buland -- had been killed and two others --Hameed and Miraj -- had been apprehended.In Buner, security forces defused five explosive devices around Daggar. Thirteen miscreants hiding in a compound were killed in a clash with security personnel.

The spokesman said 50 tons of rations had been sent for 70,000 people stranded in Khwazakhela.

A five-member defence and security analysis team visited Buner to study the feasibility of setting up relief camps.

Security forces sent five truckloads of rations for the people of Bahrain and eight truckloads were distributed in Kalam.

Reuters adds Helicopters had dropped commandos into Peochar more than two weeks ago.

A military statement said 12 stolen vehicles of the United Nations had been recovered.

It said troops had almost secured Mingora, the main town in Swat.

Maj-Gen Abbas told the PTV that more than 1,200 militants had been killed and 42 captured since the conflict broke out. He said 90 soldiers had been killed and 60 others wounded.

The spokesman foresaw the militants breaking cover as they ran out of ammunition and supplies. “Once it's done completely then we'll be able to overpower them, as they'll be strapped for ammunition and they'll come up.”

The military had sealed off most routes into Swat, choking off supplies and reinforcements for militants, and the offensive had already hit their logistics bases, he said.

He said militants were fleeing northwards through the mountains into Kalam valley, where troops were being positioned to take them on.