Islamabad, Oct 03: Pakistani forces have wrapped up a fierce battle with Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters on the tribal-dominated northwest border with Afghanistan, killing eight militants and capturing 18, the military said today. "Eight terrorists were killed and 18 captured alive," spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told reporters. "The operation culminated late in (Thursday) evening." Two Pakistani troops were killed and two wounded in the in the day-long gunfight, which began with a dawn siege of an Al-Qaeda hideout in mud-walled compounds in dusty hills five km from the border. Sultan said it was too early to determine the nationalities of the killed and captured fighters. “Their nationalities can only be determined after interrogations. It's a process that will continue for whatever time it takes," he said.
The 18 prisoners, three of whom were wounded in firefight, were in the custody of the Pakistani army.
Bureau Report