ISLAMABAD , Pakistan ( CNN ) -- At least 43 civilians were killed Sunday when they were caught in the crossfire between Pakistani forces and Taliban militants , a Pakistani military official said . The official , who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media , said the incident happened in Charbagh , a district of Swat Valley in Pakistan 's North West Frontier Province . The mountainous Swat Valley region used to be a popular destination for tourists and skiers , but today it is a Taliban stronghold . The Pakistani government and the army have come under criticism in recent weeks for allowing the security situation in Swat to deteriorate in the past few months . Islamabad has said there are plans for a new strategy to fight the Taliban , but they have yet to offer details . The Taliban are imposing their strict brand of Islamic law in the region -- banning music , forbidding men from shaving , and not allowing teenage girls to attend school . Watch a report on civilians killed in crossfire » . Government officials say the Taliban have torched and destroyed more than 180 schools in the Swat region . Many families have fled the area , and have been followed by many Pakistani police officers who are too scared to take on Taliban forces , a Pakistani army spokesman told CNN last week . The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 1996 -- harboring al Qaeda leaders , including Osama bin Laden -- and ruled it until they were ousted from power in 2001 after the September 11 attacks on the United States . Since then , the Taliban have regrouped and are currently battling U.S. and NATO-led forces . U.S. President Barack Obama has called Afghanistan the `` central front '' in the war on terror and has promised to make fighting extremism there , and in neighboring Pakistan , a foreign policy priority . He is expected to send as many as 30,000 additional U.S. troops to battle Taliban forces . Richard Holbrooke , the administration 's new envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan , is scheduled to make his first trip to the region this week .
Swat Valley region used to be a popular destination for tourists and skiers . Taliban are imposing their strict brand of Islamic law in the region . Pakistan government criticized for allowing security in Swat to deteriorate .