Islamabad, July 04: At least 31 people, including 19
Taliban militants, were killed in fresh violence in Pakistan's
troubled northwest on Saturday as fighter jets pounded terrorist
hideouts in a tribal region where a military chopper crash
claimed the lives of 26 security personnel.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the
Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter which crashed yesterday at Sarah
Ghari in Orakzai Agency, about 20 km from the northwestern
city of Peshawar.
The army has dismissed the Taliban claims, saying the
chopper went down due to a "technical fault". Official sources
said all 26 security personnel on board were killed.
Media reports said the helicopter was fired upon by
militants after it crashed.
An operation was launched in Orakzai Agency by the
security forces soon afterwards, with fighter jets and
helicopter gunships targeting Taliban positions destroying
three hideouts and killing 12 militants, media reported.
In the nearby Mohmand Agency, seven militants and 12
members of a 'lashkar' or tribal militia were killed in
clashes last night. The fighting broke out after the Taliban
attacked the homes of the lashkar members.
Seventeen lashkar members were reported missing after the
clashes and it is feared that they had been kidnapped by the
militants.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, July 04, 2009, 19:13