ID :
23665
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23665
The shortlink copeid
20 militants killed in fresh offensive on Taliban in N.W.F.P.
Islamabad, Oct 9 (PTI) Pakistani combat jets and helicopter gunships Thursday destroyed a major Taliban militant base killing 20 militants in the country's restive Swat valley in North West Frontier Province (N.W.F.P.).
Army officials said the fresh offensive was aimed at
destroying militant bases in the Taliban stronghold of Matta.
Local residents said the jets bombed militant positions
in Peochar, Shawar and Landai Sar, which are considered strong
bases of the Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said bombs dropped by the
jets caused casualties among the militants and had also
destroyed houses. The army said 20 militants were killed in
the air strikes in Matta area of Swat.
Shells fired by the security forces landed on two homes,
killing nine civilians. In one incident, five members of the
same family were killed, the residents said.
A majority of people in Matta sub-district have already
fled their homes and only 10 percent of the original
population, considered to be militants or their supporters,
were in the area when the forces launched the bombardment.
The bombing damaged communications and electricity supply
networks, residents said.
The fresh offensive came a day after top security
officials briefed lawmakers on the security situation and the
war on terrorism during a joint session of parliament. The
session will continue for the next few days.
Several parliamentarians were not satisfied over
Inter-Services Intelligence (I.S.I.) chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed
Shuja Pasha's briefing Wednesday and raised questions as to
who had allowed U.S. forces to conduct air strikes in the
tribal regions and why Pakistan has been pushed into a "state
of war".
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of deadly suicide attacks
and bomb blasts since July last year. A suicide bomber struck
the high-security Police Lines in Islamabad Thursday, injuring
10 persons.
According to the army's statistics, suicide attacks have
killed some 1,200 people since July 2007, most of them
civilians.
The data also showed a total of 1,368 security personnel
had been killed since late 2001, when Pakistan's former
military ruler Pervez Musharraf joined the U.S.-led war on
terror.
The Pakistan Army claims it has killed over 1,000
militants in an ongoing operation against the local Taliban in
the Bajaur tribal region. PTI RHL
PMR
NNNN
Army officials said the fresh offensive was aimed at
destroying militant bases in the Taliban stronghold of Matta.
Local residents said the jets bombed militant positions
in Peochar, Shawar and Landai Sar, which are considered strong
bases of the Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said bombs dropped by the
jets caused casualties among the militants and had also
destroyed houses. The army said 20 militants were killed in
the air strikes in Matta area of Swat.
Shells fired by the security forces landed on two homes,
killing nine civilians. In one incident, five members of the
same family were killed, the residents said.
A majority of people in Matta sub-district have already
fled their homes and only 10 percent of the original
population, considered to be militants or their supporters,
were in the area when the forces launched the bombardment.
The bombing damaged communications and electricity supply
networks, residents said.
The fresh offensive came a day after top security
officials briefed lawmakers on the security situation and the
war on terrorism during a joint session of parliament. The
session will continue for the next few days.
Several parliamentarians were not satisfied over
Inter-Services Intelligence (I.S.I.) chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed
Shuja Pasha's briefing Wednesday and raised questions as to
who had allowed U.S. forces to conduct air strikes in the
tribal regions and why Pakistan has been pushed into a "state
of war".
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of deadly suicide attacks
and bomb blasts since July last year. A suicide bomber struck
the high-security Police Lines in Islamabad Thursday, injuring
10 persons.
According to the army's statistics, suicide attacks have
killed some 1,200 people since July 2007, most of them
civilians.
The data also showed a total of 1,368 security personnel
had been killed since late 2001, when Pakistan's former
military ruler Pervez Musharraf joined the U.S.-led war on
terror.
The Pakistan Army claims it has killed over 1,000
militants in an ongoing operation against the local Taliban in
the Bajaur tribal region. PTI RHL
PMR
NNNN
