Islamabad: Pakistani troops killed five
militants while a soldier was injured during operations
against the Taliban in South Waziristan, the military said on Sunday.
The militants were killed when a gun battle erupted
while soldiers were conducting a search operation at villages
near the former Taliban stronghold of Sararogha, the military
said.
A soldier was injured and 10 IEDs defused during the
operation.
Troops continued consolidating their positions around
the militant base of Kaniguram and also carried out clearance
operations in several villages around the Taliban hub of
Makeen.
During one of these operations at Abdullah Noor Kas
near Kotkai, soldiers cleared 20 militant compounds and 14
caves.
The army mobilised over 30,000 troops last month for
Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation), which is aimed at
flushing out an estimated 10,000 militants from South
Waziristan.
The army says about 585 militants and more than 65
soldiers have died so far in fighting in South Waziristan
though these figures cannot be independently verified as
reporters have no access to the conflict zone.
Security forces also continued search and clearance
operations in the northwestern Swat valley, where four
suspects were apprehended while four militants surrendered to
authorities.
Bureau Report
