Islamabad: Six militants, including a
commander, and a soldier were killed and six soldiers injured
during clashes in the troubled Waziristan tribal region as
troops continued their push against the Taliban, authorities
said on Wednesday.
Militant commander Gulbadeen Mehsud was killed when
security forces engaged and destroyed a vehicle near Miranshah
in North Waziristan, the military said.
Two militants were killed when troops retaliated
against a rebel attack on a security check post at Sararogha
in Jandola sector.
The militants attacked the post with small arms. Three
more militants were killed during a gun battle near Mirkhoni
in Razmak sector.
A soldier was killed and six others were injured when
militants fired rockets at several posts and a security forces
camp in Razmak sector.
A mosque was also damaged in this attack. Security
forces conducted search operations and sanitised several
strategic areas in Jandola, Shakai and Razmak sectors of
Waziristan.
They recovered arms and ammunition and cleared 18
militant-held compounds during these operations. The army says
over 600 militants and more than 60 security personnel have
died in fighting in Waziristan since an offensive was launched
against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in October.
The figures cannot be independently verified as the
media has no access to the conflict zone.
In the restive Swat valley in the country's northwest,
two suspects surrendered to security forces at Madyan.
Troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition
during a search operation near Matta, a former Taliban
stronghold.
Meanwhile, Col Tauseef Akhtar, the commandant of the
local militia in Kurram tribal region today said at least 32
militants had been killed during a fresh offensive in the
area.
All points that could be used by militants to flee
have been secured by security forces, he said.
The offensive against militants will continue till the
area is cleared, Akhtar said. The Turi tribe of Kurram Agency
has said it will cooperate with security forces by forming a
'lashkar' or tribal militia to take on the militants.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 19:02