<p>The militants told the gathering of residents of Kabal sub-division that they had made a mistake by joining the Taliban, whose leadership is "anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam."<br /><br />They requested the people to forgive them for their crimes, the Daily Times newspaper reported.<br /><br />The Taliban fighters appeared before the public at a gathering held at the 'hujra' or guesthouse of local defence committee chief Idress Khan in Bara Bande village.<br /><br />The militants are residents of Kabal, a former Taliban stronghold, and were arrested during the operation conducted by the army in Swat last year.<br /><br />This was the first time that Taliban militants appeared at a public gathering in Swat, located 160 kms from Islamabad.<br /><br />The militants were later taken away to a detention centre located at an unknown place, witnesses said.<br /><br />The army has asked residents of Kabal to keep an eye on suspicious elements and to inform it if any wanted terrorists are spotted.<br /><br />The Taliban had set up a parallel administration in most parts of Swat valley.<br />This prompted the government to launch an army operation to flush out the militants from Swat and surrounding districts.</p>
<p>The militants told the gathering of residents of Kabal sub-division that they had made a mistake by joining the Taliban, whose leadership is "anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam."<br /><br />They requested the people to forgive them for their crimes, the Daily Times newspaper reported.<br /><br />The Taliban fighters appeared before the public at a gathering held at the 'hujra' or guesthouse of local defence committee chief Idress Khan in Bara Bande village.<br /><br />The militants are residents of Kabal, a former Taliban stronghold, and were arrested during the operation conducted by the army in Swat last year.<br /><br />This was the first time that Taliban militants appeared at a public gathering in Swat, located 160 kms from Islamabad.<br /><br />The militants were later taken away to a detention centre located at an unknown place, witnesses said.<br /><br />The army has asked residents of Kabal to keep an eye on suspicious elements and to inform it if any wanted terrorists are spotted.<br /><br />The Taliban had set up a parallel administration in most parts of Swat valley.<br />This prompted the government to launch an army operation to flush out the militants from Swat and surrounding districts.</p>