US special envoy Holbrooke to visit Pakistan to study welfare of displaced persons

Washington: Mr. Richard Holbrooke, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan will be visiting Pakistan to have a first hand understanding of the welfare of the people displaced in the military operations against extremists in the Swat Valley.

State Department Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters that Holbrooke would lead a delegation at the request of President Mr. Obama and Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton. He said the delegation would have officials from the Department of State, USAID and department of Defence. Holbrooke will meet with internally displaced people and relief organizations, as well as with local and national officials, he said.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, terrorists attacked Chaman town in Baluchistan province, killing two security personnel. Reports said that they attacked a camp that supplies essentials to allied forces in Afghanistan. It also said that seven vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

In a related report, security forces have released students abducted by the Talibans, on Tuesday. These teen-aged students were abducted by the terrorists on Monday. Latest reports said all in all eighty persons including 9 staff were released from the clutches of the terrorists. Earlier reports said that 400 students were abducted.