Hugh Sykes will report for PM from Pakistan tonight. He writes:
"Hiya!
In case you heard the report from Pakistan on The World at One on Wednesday, here are some photographs to illustrate it - and the story in a nutshell.
In Mianwali, in far west Punjab. the police believe they have broken up a Taleban cell. On Tuesday night they confronted seven suspects - 'miscreants', as they're called here; there was an exchange of fire, and five of the men escaped - but two were arrested. No one was hurt on either side. Two AK47 rifles, an RPG launcher and a signifiant quantity of explosives were seized.
The police chief - the DPO (District Police Officer) thinks the men were part of a cell planning to kidnap Chinese engineers working at a hydroelectric project on the Indus river near Mianwali - and receiving orders and advice from the Taleban high command in the frontier area.
The DPO, Lt. Col Akbar Nasir Khan, with Naji Habibullah, who was born in 1921. "We do not like the Taleban," said Mr.Habibullah, "Islam is a religion of peace".
The DPO with a group of aid co-ordinators, discussing a contingency plan for a camp near Mianwali for families displaced by the military operation against the Taleban in the Swat valley.
The DPO's official residence. Col Akbar is married to an English lawyer, Victoria. They are expecting their first child in about a month.
DVD and CD shop in Mianwali. Titles on sale include Slumdog Millionaire, Conan the Barbarian, Spiderman 3, Titanic, Hotel Rwanda and an Angelina Jolie video. The most popular western music choice in Mianwali is....Michael Jackson. Cure the World.
CD shop owner Mohammed Afidullah with his son Bilal. He says the Taleban would not sruvive if they dared come to Mianwali.
Fast food.
Mianwali Barbers' shop. The barber, Shafiulah, told me: "The Taleban are not true Muslims. There is no association between beards and Islam".
Police escort for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ out of the district.
On the road back to Islamabad.
Paint your wagon
Donkey work
Ah, that's better.
The end of a long hot day. Sunset over north-west Punjab, Pakistan.
I asked everyone named in these pictures if they were happy for the photographs to appear online - they all, defiantly, said yes."
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