ID :
21680
Sun, 09/28/2008 - 10:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21680
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30 militants killed in continued Pak offensive
Islamabad, Sep 27 (PTI) In an intensified military campaign in the strategic areas in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan army killed 30 militants in an offensive that also left three soldiers dead, officials said.
Security forces cleared militant camps near Bajaur's Loisam and Rashakai areas of Pakistan's troubled N.W.F.P. in
overnight battle which spilled over Saturday.
Five militants were killed in clashes Saturday while 25
died Friday. Two army officers were among the security
personnel who died, the officials said.
More than 1,000 militants, including five top Al Qaida
and Taliban commanders, and 62 troops have died since the
Pakistan Army launched a drive against militants in Bajaur
last month.
Troops backed by artillery and gunship helicopters
Saturday pounded rebel strongholds in the area, an army
spokesman Maj Murad Khan told reporters that troops were
closer to capturing more strategic areas.
Meanwhile, four militants including senior commander
Ahsanullah were captured by security forces during a search
operation at Matani near Peshawar, the capital of the North
West Frontier Province.
The security forces launched the search operation
following an increase in militant activities in the strategic
town of Darra Adam Khel. Curfew was clamped in Matani and
Badabher on the outskirts of Peshawar for the operation.
Pakistan's new civilian government is under mounting U.S.
pressure to crack down on militants, especially those
sheltering in the tribal areas from where they launch attacks
on coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Bajaur is now the most troubled of Pakistan's seven
semi-autonomous tribal areas along the Afghan border.
America has described the tribal belt as a safe haven for
Al Qaida and Taliban fighters and U.S.-led coalition forces in
Afghanistan have carried out a flurry of missile strikes and a
ground assault on militant positions in the region.
Islamabad has angrily protested against the attacks by
the US-led forces and said only its forces had the right to
carry out operations on Pakistani soil. The Pakistan Army had
given its troops orders to retaliate against cross-border
attacks by foreign forces.
Pakistani and coalition forces exchanged fire on
Thursday. Earlier this week, tribesmen claimed they had shot
down a U.S. drone along with Pakistani troops. The Pakistan
Army said the drone crash landed due to a malfunction.
The Pakistan Army has alleged that there is an influx of
heavy weapons and armed militants into Bajaur Agency from
Afghanistan. Army officials have also said that there is no
effort across the border to stop the movement of militants.
PTI RHL
Security forces cleared militant camps near Bajaur's Loisam and Rashakai areas of Pakistan's troubled N.W.F.P. in
overnight battle which spilled over Saturday.
Five militants were killed in clashes Saturday while 25
died Friday. Two army officers were among the security
personnel who died, the officials said.
More than 1,000 militants, including five top Al Qaida
and Taliban commanders, and 62 troops have died since the
Pakistan Army launched a drive against militants in Bajaur
last month.
Troops backed by artillery and gunship helicopters
Saturday pounded rebel strongholds in the area, an army
spokesman Maj Murad Khan told reporters that troops were
closer to capturing more strategic areas.
Meanwhile, four militants including senior commander
Ahsanullah were captured by security forces during a search
operation at Matani near Peshawar, the capital of the North
West Frontier Province.
The security forces launched the search operation
following an increase in militant activities in the strategic
town of Darra Adam Khel. Curfew was clamped in Matani and
Badabher on the outskirts of Peshawar for the operation.
Pakistan's new civilian government is under mounting U.S.
pressure to crack down on militants, especially those
sheltering in the tribal areas from where they launch attacks
on coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Bajaur is now the most troubled of Pakistan's seven
semi-autonomous tribal areas along the Afghan border.
America has described the tribal belt as a safe haven for
Al Qaida and Taliban fighters and U.S.-led coalition forces in
Afghanistan have carried out a flurry of missile strikes and a
ground assault on militant positions in the region.
Islamabad has angrily protested against the attacks by
the US-led forces and said only its forces had the right to
carry out operations on Pakistani soil. The Pakistan Army had
given its troops orders to retaliate against cross-border
attacks by foreign forces.
Pakistani and coalition forces exchanged fire on
Thursday. Earlier this week, tribesmen claimed they had shot
down a U.S. drone along with Pakistani troops. The Pakistan
Army said the drone crash landed due to a malfunction.
The Pakistan Army has alleged that there is an influx of
heavy weapons and armed militants into Bajaur Agency from
Afghanistan. Army officials have also said that there is no
effort across the border to stop the movement of militants.
PTI RHL
