Swat battle 'could last another two months'

The military offensive to expel the Taliban from Pakistan’s Swat Valley could take another two months and troops may have to stay for a year to prevent them from retaking control, commanders said today.

The armed forces secured control over several key towns during the month-old campaign in the north-western region, but the fighting has uprooted three million people and triggered a series of reprisal attacks elsewhere in the country.