Belarus Denies Plans To Sell Syria, Iran Weapons

Belarus Denies Plans To Sell Syria, Iran Weapons

(NSI News Source Info) MINSK - May 9, 2009: The Belarusian president denied on Friday the country had any plans to sell weapons to Syria or Iran. Earlier this month some Russian and foreign media reported Belarus was planning to sell S-300 surface-to-air missiles and Iskander tactical missile systems to Iran, and said that Tehran had arranged to transfer some of the systems to Syria. "As far as S-300 and Iskander [missiles] are concerned, these complexes cannot be exported without my approval. There is not a single contract or project related to these systems that I have been asked to approve. This is utter nonsense," Alexander Lukashenko said. He added that Belarus "has no Iskander missiles, while S-300s are all in operational service." The latest version of the S-300 family is the S-300PMU2 Favorit, which has a range of up to 195 kilometers (about 120 miles) and can intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles at altitudes from 10 meters to 27 kilometers. The Iskander-M system (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) is equipped with two solid-propellant single-stage 9M723K1 guided missiles with "quasi-ballistic" capability.

Chinese J-10A Jet Fighter Has Bright Export Potential In Third World Countries / China Readies J-10A Fighter For Export

Chinese J-10A Jet Fighter Has Bright Export Potential In Third World Countries / China Readies J-10A Fighter For Export

By Andrei Chang and John Wu

(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG, China - May 8, 2009: China is aiming at a substantial share of the international market for third-generation fighter aircraft, with a particular eye on oil-rich third-world countries as part of its arms-for-oil strategy. This was evidenced by the high-profile display of its J-10A fighter at the 2008 Zhuhai Air Show last November. Pakistan is the largest importer of Chinese military hardware. Its air force flies over 180 F-7 aircraft made by China. In addition, Pakistan is a 50% partner in the FC-1/JF-17 Thunder and K-8 Karakorum advanced jet trainer projects. In April 2006, the media reported that the Pakistani government intends to procure at least 36 J-10s (designated FC-20 or FC-10, depending on the report). The Business Recorder claims that the Pakistani official document it obtained said the Cabinet "has allowed PAF to set up Joint Working Group (JWG) with CATIC for procurement of 36 FC-20 aircraft". Other media reports cited Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid (at that time) saying that the Cabinet has approved the purchase of J-10s from China, in addition to JF-17s. On 31 March 2007, Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said, "PAF would soon induct fourth and fifth generation high-tech fleet of fighter-bomber aircraft with the aim to modernize the country's air force which includes the induction of 2 squadrons of Chengdu J-10 aircraft." The J-10 export deal is estimated to cost a total of $1.5 billion USD, with a flyaway price of $41 million USD for each J-10 fighter with maintenance and parts inclusive. It was reported by Jane's Defence Weekly on 2006-01-09 that a more advanced version of the J-10 is planned, referred to as the Super-10, with a more powerful engine, thrust-vector control, stronger airframe and passive phased-array radar. Iran was reported to have signed a deal to purchase 24 J-10s from China in October 2007. The agreement is estimated at a cost of about $1 billion, with deliveries of the 24 jets expected between 2008 and 2010 to replace MiG-29 jets. However China later denied that such a sale had taken place. Chinese experts were observed giving exhaustive information on the J-10A to military delegations from Angola, Nigeria and Venezuela at the air show. Venezuela seemed most interested in the aircraft. The first foreign buyer of the J-10A will be Pakistan, a source from the Chinese aviation industry said. In March, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshall Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed confirmed that a deal with China had been reached, and the aircraft would be delivered in 2014 and 2015. The version for Pakistan will be called the FC-20. However, there is an issue with the engine on this aircraft. The J-10A is currently equipped with Russian-made AL-31F aviation engines. It is unclear whether Russia will permit China to install these engines on its aircraft and then export them to Pakistan. Such a move would have not only economic but also political repercussions, considering that Pakistan’s rival, India, is a major purchaser of Russian arms. For this reason, the export version of the J-10A fighter is still under design. Both the engine and the weapon systems on board will be different from the domestic version, according to the source from the Chinese aviation industry. India has been using the Russian AL-31FP engine extensively in its fighter aircraft. If China exports large numbers of J-10P/FC-20 fighters outfitted with Russian engines to Pakistan, India will be much more concerned over this deal than with China’s earlier export of JF-17 2.5-generation fighters to Pakistan. As a third-generation combat aircraft, the J-10A will pose a real threat to the Indian Air Force. With this concern, India sent a strong delegation to the Zhuhai Air Show to expand its contacts with the Chinese, led by its air chief of staff. The Indian Air Force’s aerobatics demonstration team also put on a performance at this event. At the Singapore Air Show earlier last year, Indian Air Chief Marshall Fali Homi Major had already carefully inspected the simulation cockpit of the JF-17, which is being jointly developed by China and Pakistan. His trip to Zhuhai was to examine the J-10A/ FC-20 fighter. In contrast to India’s increased interest in engaging with China, Russia sent a much smaller delegation than usual to Zhuhai. For the first time, Russia did not exhibit any combat aircraft or radar systems at the air show. Some representatives of Russian enterprises even cancelled their planned trips to China at the last minute. One member of the Russian military delegation described China-Russian arms trade as being in a long and drawn-out “winter.” A representative of Rosoboronexport, the agency that handles exports of Russian defense equipment, declined to comment on China’s possible export of J-10A fighters equipped with Russian AL-31F engines. China did have its own indigenous engine on display at the show, the Taihang turbofan engine, with a thrust power of 13,200 kilograms – although some experts say it is only 12,800 kilograms. The Taihang’s exterior design and modular structure, as well as the processing and polishing technologies of the core machine and engine blades, seem to be an improvement over China’s previous aviation engines, but it is still far behind similar systems from Russia and Western countries. Representatives of China’s Liming Motor Corporation refused to answer questions about the engine’s performance features. It is unclear why China decided to introduce this engine to the international market when it has not elected to use it on its own J-10 fighters. A Chinese military source disclosed that China has been promoting the J-10A to Egypt, but it appears that no substantial negotiations have yet taken place. An authoritative source from the Russian military industry has said that Russia will not allow China to use its engines in exported planes if it perceives such sales as having a negative impact on Russia’s own export market. Egypt was once a major client of Russian arms, though it now buys little other than spare parts. Pakistan, on the other hand, is not a traditional client of Russian aircraft. Therefore Russia allowed its engines to be used on the JF-17 fighters China is developing with Pakistan. The same arrangement may therefore hold for the J-10A. The basic price for the J-10A is about US$29.3 million, according to the Chinese source. Considering that China aims to sell this fighter primarily to oil-producing countries – and is prepared to trade it for oil and other natural resources – it could be an attractive option for such countries. A general assessment of the export version of the J-10A fighter can conclude that its engine has less thrust than the F-16 Block 52, while its radar system is more or less on a par with the Zhuk-ME multifunction radar on the Russian MiG-28 SMT. This is because Russia’s Phazotron Design Bureau exported to China three sets of its Zemchung multirole radar systems after 2001, allowing China to come up with its own version of the Zhuk-ME radar. This radar has a detection range of 120 kilometers for 5m2 aerial targets and can attack four targets in the air simultaneously. In terms of the diversity and performance of its weapon systems, especially long-range attack weapons, the J-10A lags far behind the F-16 Block 52. The-air-to-air missiles loaded on the J-10A fighter at the Zhuhai exhibition were SD-10A AAMs with compound hardpoints. The SD-10A is a medium-range active radar-guided air-to-air missile upgraded from the SD-10, with its maximum range extended to 70 kilometers. Its length is 3.9 meters, diameter 203 millimeters, weight 198 kilograms, and maximum speed Mach 5. The PL-12 air-to-air missiles currently in service in the PLA Air Force have undergone similar upgrading. Short-range missiles include the new-generation PL-5EII and PL-9C. The PL-5EII is equipped with a multichannel infrared seeker, the latest laser proximity fuse, and a rocket motor with a non-smoke propellant. The air-to-ground weapons on the J-10A mainly include the LT-2 laser-guided bomb and the FT series of global positioning system-guided bombs. In recent years China has been imitating U.S. aviation combat weapons, a trend that is reflected in the weapon platforms on the J-10A, including its imitation U.S. joint direct attack munition serial bombs. At the most recent Zhuhai show, China put on open display its FT-5 GPS-guided bomb. The FT-1 and FT-3 500/250-kilogram-class GPS-guided bombs were on display at the previous show in 2006. China also showed off its 500-kilogram-class FT-2 with gliding fins added. The FT-2 has an effective range of 15-90 kilometers, a circular error probability of 20 meters and an air-dropping altitude of 3,000 to 12,000 meters. The FT-5 small-diameter bomb copies the latest design of the U.S. military. A designer of the system said that the FT-5’s warhead has a weight of 35 kilograms and a circular error probability of 15 meters. It was developed mainly for unmanned aerial vehicles. The effective range of the FT-5 is 2-5 kilometers when launched from a UAV and 3-35 kilometers when launched from a J-10A. China has also developed the LT-3 GPS+ terminal laser-guided air-to-ground missile for the J-10A, which is very similar in structure to the U.S. Army’s JDAM+ laser-guided bomb. These imitations provide evidence that the Chinese military has been tracking U.S. technology, viewing the United States as both a presumed enemy and a competitor in the arms export market. Of course China’s imitations are not limited to U.S. military equipment, but it is certainly learning from U.S. technology as well as military combat doctrines. China is now paying close attention to the development of anti-GPS-jamming multiple-guidance weapons. Its Sekong Company has developed a 570-kilogram-class guided bomb based on the Russian Krasnopole laser-guided projectile’s seeker technology. China plans to promote this guided bomb along with the J-10A. A designer says that this bomb has a circular error probability of 3.1 meters and an air-release altitude of 500-10,000 meters. It is not clear whether the LT-3 has ever been test-fired, as China did not show video footage of this guided bomb under test. As for anti-ship weapons, Chinese promoters of the J-10A claim that the fighter can carry 75-kilometer-range new-generation C-705 anti-ship missiles or C-802A anti-ship missiles with a range close to 250 kilometers. The C-705 was also on exhibit for the first time. The C-705 is a modified version of the C-704, with a turbojet engine and two flight fins. The weight of its warhead is 110 kilograms and it has a minimum flight altitude of 12 meters. The J-10A fighter has 11 hardpoints, two of which are of compound structure, making the total number of hardpoints 13. The PLA Navy seems to be assessing the possibility of acquiring J-10As for its combat ships. A Chinese source said that the navy liked its price and its aerial refuelling capability. This source also disclosed that the J-10A’s combat radius is 800 kilometers. In this regard, the technological standard of the materials used on the J-10A can be judged far inferior to those of the same-generation fighters of the United States and Europe. The J-10A is already fitted with an arresting hook imported from Russia for shipboard landing drills. However, the same source said no decision had as yet been made as to whether the PLA Navy will employ the J-10A as a ship-borne combat aircraft.

DTN News: Military TODAY May 8, 2009

DTN News: Military TODAY May 8, 2009

(NSI News Source Info) May 8, 2009: A soldier from a bomb disposal unit inspects a dismantled CB-250k cluster bomb at the military base in Marandua May 7, 2009. Colombia destroyed its last 41 cluster bombs in accordance with the Oslo Pact, the army said on Thursday.

Indian Capital Sees 50% Turnout In Peaceful Polling

Indian Capital Sees 50% Turnout In Peaceful Polling

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - May 7, 2009: With a turnout rate at around 50 percent, the voters of Indian capital exercised their franchise in the seven constituencies around the political heart of India Thursday in the fourth phase of the general elections.

A voter leaves a polling station, temporarily made inside a school, after casting her vote, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, May 7, 2009. Thursday's vote is the fourth of five phases in these elections and is spread across the federally administered Indian capital of New Delhi and seven states, including parts of the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh and Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Election officials said 50 percent of some 11 million voters of the capital polled their votes in a peaceful atmosphere and in relatively good weather condition below 40 degrees Celsius in the May summer time here. The issue of development was the key as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dominated the wrestlings in this key battleground of the month-long elections, with other political forces playing a minor role here. Even as infrastructure development picks up in the run up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Rekha Sharma of north Delhi says she wants hygiene levels raised in the city. "One must not find garbage littered around. Delhi has seen good number of flyovers coming up, yet traffic congestion remains an issue in some parts of Delhi. More road widening or flyovers are necessary," she said. Another Dehlhi resident, Jagpreet Brar, said clearing up graffiti walls, maintenance of heritage sites and general upkeep of all buildings and roads was necessary for the city to prepare for the international sports event next year. For some residents, frequent cutting of electricity in Delhi, especially in summer time, is a big problem as well. For women, safety is a priority issue. Manpreet Kaur, a housewife from Tilak Nagar, said crime control needs to be looked into by the government, as mugging, molestations or related incidents every day are heard of. The youth believed that their vote would matter. They came out in enthusiasm to vote more than justifying issues this time. "I feel everyone should vote as it is our duty," said 24-year-old Akriti, a first time voter. Political parties were concerned about an estimated 15,000 weddings taking place in the capital region on the polling day. Atbooths, however, it did look like that had an adverse impact on voting. Delhi's Chief Minister, Shiela Dixit of the Congress party, told media that Congress would bag at least five of the seven seats. Last time the Congress grasped six seats out of seven in the 2004 general elections.

However, voters do believe that it will be a close call between the BJP and the Congress at most places.

DTN News: Military TODAY May 7, 2009 - Russia's Military Parade Preps WATCH VIDEO

DTN News: Military TODAY May 7, 2009 - Russia's Military Parade Preps WATCH VIDEO (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW May 7, 2009: Russia showed off its latest heavy weaponry on Thursday (May 7) in a city centre rehearsal for Victory Day parade which takes place in Red Square in Moscow. Missile-transporters and tanks lined Moscow's main shopping street, Tverskaya, waiting for their cue to rumble onto Red Square for the parade rehearsal. Police and special troops lined the route, preventing civilians entering the area. A display of Russia's air power followed, with transport planes, helicopters and jets overflying the Kremlin and St Basil's cathedral.

Boeing Unveils US Navy Paint Scheme For P-8A Poseidon

Boeing Unveils US Navy Paint Scheme For P-8A Poseidon

(NSI News Source Info) SEATTLE - May 7, 2009: The first painted P-8A Poseidon aircraft rolls out of the paint hangar at Boeing's Renton, Wash., facility, displaying its new U.S. Navy livery. The aircraft, designated T-2, is the third of five test aircraft being assembled and tested as part of the System Development and Demonstration contract that Boeing received in 2004. The U.S. Department of Defense wants to follow a program template similar to that of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, with international cooperation from prospective MMA users. This would include many of the fifteen nations that currently use the P-3. The MMA project should avoid one of the major problems of the JSF, that of technology transfer. The MMA, while incorporating much high technology, would not include such proprietary and sensitive characteristics as stealth technology. The Australian Minister for Defence announced on 20 July 2007 that the P-8A MMA had been selected as the preferred aircraft to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's fleet of AP-3C Orions in conjunction with a yet-to-be-selected unmanned aerial vehicle. The last RAAF AP-3C is scheduled to be retired in 2018, after nearly 30 years of service. An MOU will be signed that will help Australia to gain access to classified data and help to input specific requirements. In March 2009, Australia's Chief of Air Force stated that subject to anticipated government approval, the RAAF will begin to add the P-8A to their fleet in 2016. Italy indicated interest for a purchase of a total of 14 Wedgetail and MMA aircraft, with fleet support provided by Alitalia in 2004. However, in December 2008 Italy announced the purchase of four ATR-72 turboprop aircraft to replace its aging Atlantic Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which "likely means the Italy's ambitions to join the U.S. Navy's MPA program are dead." Canada and Australia may each pay up to $300 million in order to have first-tier participation in the MMA project. In January 2008, Boeing proposed P-8I Poseidon, a customized export variant of the P-8A, to the Indian Navy. On January 4, 2009, the Ministry of Defence of India signed an agreement with Boeing for the supply of eight P-8I Poseidons at a total cost of US$2.1 billion. These aircraft would replace Indian Navy's aging Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprops. Each aircraft will cost about US$220 million. The deal not only made India the first international customer of the P-8 Poseidon, but also marked Boeing's first military sale to India. The first test aircraft, T-1, which successfully completed the program's first flight on April 25, will be painted in the same gray paint scheme later this summer.

T-2 was painted in late April. The Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8A anti-submarine warfare aircraft to replace its fleet of P-3Cs. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

The P-8A is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation.

U.S. Forces Handed Over Hundreds Of Humvees To Iraqi Counterpart

U.S. Forces Handed Over Hundreds Of Humvees To Iraqi Counterpart

(NSI News Source Info) May 7, 2009: Joint expeditionary tasking Airmen and Soldiers here are currently working to arm Iraqi forces with more protective means of transportation. As U.S. forces change over to the M1151 Humvee, they turn in the older M1114 vehicles to the Taji Redistribution Property Assistance Team here as a means of salvaging the vehicles.

The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by the M151 1/4 ton MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks with the United States military, as well as being used by a number of other countries and organizations.

Overall, the team processes M1114 up-armored Humvees prior to distribution to Iraqi army and police. "We receive M1114s from all over Iraq," said 1st Lt. Victoria Smith, assigned to the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group and the RPAT officer in charge.

"We are the central hub or depot point for the receiving and transferring of M114s over to the Iraqis." The team then accounts for each vehicle turned in and performs an initial safety inspection, storing them until they are ready to be picked up for processing to the next staging point.

"We take these vehicles in from various companies, various battalions, and whoever is in need of turning them in," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Dietz, the RPAT yard boss. "Instead of scrapping these vehicles, we use kind of like a recycling program. "In turn, we continue to improve our relationship with the Iraqi government by selling these vehicles to the Iraqi government for a much lower price than they are standard," added the sergeant deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

"Then, the Iraqi government takes (the Humvees), does a little work to them and puts them out in their army and police force for better protection (of their forces) against (improvised explosive devices), insurgents, things of that nature."

Once the M1114s are accounted for and have passed their initial inspection, U.S. Soldiers assist in turning the vehicles over to the Iraqis for the next step in the redistribution process. During a typical pick-up, 150 Humvees are taken to the next stage in the process.

"The Iraqi army along with U.S. Soldiers come over to pick up the vehicles to take them to their next staging point," said Sergeant Dietz, a native of East Islip, N.Y. "We will transfer the M114 to (Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq). They will, in-turn, sell it to the Iraqi (government)."

MNSTC-I is a command that is responsible for helping Iraq organize, train and equip its military and police forces and develop Iraqi security institutions capable of sustaining security with reduced coalition involvement.

While in the hands of MNSTC-I personnel, the vehicles are repainted and any necessary maintenance is performed before they are turned over to Iraqi soldiers and police. Assisting in the redistribution process, Iraqi soldiers take the vehicles to MNSTC-I for processing, and help bring the Humvees one step closer to being distributed for use on their daily patrols.

"I am so thankful for these vehicles," said Hakem, an Iraqi army private stationed here. "I'm proud to be a part of the process to get them to our Iraqi soldiers and police. These Humvees will help keep them safe." "This process is really important," said Lieutenant Smith, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., deployed here from Holloman AFB, N.M.

"It is important what we are doing in this country as far as helping rebuild the infrastructure. (This will) help get Iraq back on its feet and get them to the point where they can provide everyday security on their own streets." "We are helping the nation stand on its own," Sergeant Dietz said. "It feels good."

DTN News: Military TODAY May 7, 2009

DTN News: Military TODAY May 7, 2009

(NSI News Source Info) TBILISI, Georgia - May 7, 2009: A Georgian and Turkish serviceman interact during joint NATO training activities, 30 km (18.6 miles) outside Tbilisi, at the Vaziani military base May 6, 2009.

NATO began military exercises in Georgia on Wednesday in a move Russia said threatened stability in the region just nine months after a war between the former Soviet neighbours.

U.K. Shuffles Ships, Submarines, Work Around Naval Bases

U.K. Shuffles Ships, Submarines, Work Around Naval Bases

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - May 7, 2009: Britain will shake up its Royal Navy base structure, swapping around the nuclear submarine fleet, the surface fleet and maintenance work among Faslane, Devonport and Portsmouth. By 2017, Faslane Naval Base will become the only dedicated nuclear submarine base in Britain. (MAURICE MCDONALD / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) The decision marks the end of a lengthy review undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to optimize base requirements as the size of the Royal Navy declines. In the biggest restructuring of Britain's naval bases for years, Devonport will be stripped of its nuclear attack submarine fleet and possibly its Type 23 frigates. Instead, Western Europe's largest naval facility of its kind will handle most surface ship refits and, subject to final approval, welcome a force of Royal Marine landing craft. The base will retain its position as the home for the Royal Navy's amphibious warships such as HMS Bulwark, HMS Ocean and survey vessels. Subject to commercial negotiations, the switch to Devonport of most of the surface ship refit work will get under way once work on two new aircraft carriers ramps up in the next couple of years. Refit work is currently split between Babcock Marine operations in Devonport and Rosyth in Scotland and BVT Surface Fleet in Portsmouth. Rosyth and Portsmouth will both be engaged in aircraft carrier construction work. In a statement May 6, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said no decision had been made on the location of a nuclear submarine dismantling facility. That could end up in Devonport, where contractor Babcock Marine operates a nuclear submarine update and refueling facility. By 2017, Faslane will become Britain's only dedicated nuclear submarine base. The Scotland base is already home to the Navy's four Vanguard nuclear ballistic missile boats and several aging Swiftsure attack submarines. The three newest Trafalgar-class boats will move incrementally from Devonport to Faslane, while their remaining four sister subs will remain in the west of England until they are retired. Britain's attack submarines are being replaced by the seven Astute-class subs to be built by BAE Systems. The MoD announcement said that the third base, Portsmouth, in southern England, will be home to the first and most complex variant of the Royal Navy's next generation of frigates, the Future Surface Combatant. The FSC fleet, which is likely to include more than one type of warship, will replace Type 23s presently based at Portsmouth and Devonport-based Type 22s. Subject to MoD decisions, FSC deliveries are likely starting around 2018. Six new Type 45 destroyers and two new 65,000-ton aircraft carriers will also be based at Portsmouth. Some major refit work will occasionally be done at Portsmouth to retain skill levels, said the MoD. The MoD statement said it will look carefully at less complex variants of the FSC and consider the optimal base porting for these vessels, taking into account similarities with existing classes. "This work will inform the decision about whether there is any case to change the base porting of the Type 23 frigates," it said. Ainsworth said that the results of the review meant that "Each of our naval bases has a strong future under the plans we have laid out today. We have undertaken an extensive review to ensure that we match the infrastructure in place at the naval bases to the needs of the Royal Navy of the future. The review has identified changes that will align the way in which we provide that support, reducing overhead and excess infrastructure by developing the specializations at each of the bases - and we're confident these changes will lead to savings of several hundreds of millions of pounds," he said. No base porting changes will take place for five years, said the Armed Forces minister.

Taliban Trap Civilians In Pakistani War Zone

Taliban Trap Civilians In Pakistani War Zone

(NSI News Source Info) MINGORA, Pakistan - May 7, 2009: Taliban militants blocked roads with rocks and trees, preventing terrified civilians from fleeing a Pakistani valley Thursday as the army stepped up a ground and air assault on the guerrillas that has been applauded by the U.S., witnesses said. Buner refugees travel by road as they flee fighting on May 6, 2009 near Swabi, Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani people have fled their homes due to fighting between the Pakistan army and Taliban forces in the Northwest Frontier Province. Destabilizing violence is flaring in Pakistan just as its embattled president is appealing in Washington for more help to reverse the extension of Taliban-held territory to within 60 miles (100 kilometers) of the capital. The U.S. is particularly concerned by the unrest because its troops are fighting an increasingly virulent insurgency in Afghanistan fed from militant havens in Pakistan's lawless border area. Officials are bracing for a mass exodus from the Swat Valley, a former tourist destination where fighting has resumed after the breakdown of a controversial peace deal earlier this week. The military claimed to have killed more than 80 militants in the region on Wednesday. There has been no official word on civilian casualties. More than 500,000 Pakistanis driven out by fighting in other regions of the northwest are already living in makeshift camps or with relatives, adding a growing humanitarian crisis to the country's daunting security, economic and political problems. With Taliban militants roaming the streets of Mingora, Swat's main town, on Thursday and troops launching artillery and airstrikes on militant targets from helicopter, many residents hunkered down in their homes. The army announced it was relaxing its blanket curfew in the area, but some of those who tried to make a swift exit said militants blocked their way. Ayaz Khan, a 39-year-old from the Kanju area of Swat, said he loaded his family into his car early Thursday but that rocks, boulders and tree trunks has been laid across the roads, forcing him to turn back. "I am helpless, frustrated and worried for my family," he told an Associated Press reporter by telephone from his home. He appealed to authorities to clear the barriers and let people move to safety. A health worker living in Mingora said militants had warned her to stay in her home. "During the whole of last night, I heard firing, and again this morning," said the woman, who would only give her first name, Maryam, for fear she could be targeted for speaking with a reporter. "I don't know when some weapon will hit our home and kill us," she said. Washington has said it wants to see a sustained operation in Swat and surrounding districts, mindful of earlier, inconclusive offensives elsewhere in the Afghan border region. Eight years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the area remains a haven for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters blamed for spiraling violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But uprooting the insurgents from the valley will mean civilian casualties, property damage and massive disruption which could sap the resolve of the government, which is struggling to convince the nuclear-armed Muslim nation that fighting the militants is in its interests as well as those of the U.S. President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met Wednesday in Washington to explore ways to boost the country's antiterror fight, seen by many as the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the U.S. administration. "Pakistan's democracy will deliver," Zardari said in Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the military offensive against the Taliban was a positive sign. "I'm actually quite impressed by the actions the Pakistani government is now taking," she said. "I think that action was called for, and action has been forthcoming." The Swat accord began unraveling last month when Taliban fighters moved from the valley into the nearby district of Buner, even closer to Islamabad, prompting an operation that the military says has killed more than 150 militants but has yet to drive them out. The Swat Taliban are estimated to have up to 7,000 fighters — many with training and battle experience — equipped with rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and automatic weapons. They are up against some 15,000 troops who until recent days had been confined to their barracks under the peace deal.