31 militants die in clashes

31 militants die in clashes

Sunday, November 15, 2009 KALAYA/PARACHINAR: Nineteen militants were killed when fighter jets targeted hideouts of the militants in Orakzai and Kurram tribal agencies on Saturday, official sources said. Also, a soldier sustained injuries when militants attacked a roadside checkpoint in the Tora Waray area in the Orakzai Agency. Sources said the fighter jets hit five hideouts of the militants in the Bezotkhel area in the Orakzai Agency, killing nine terrorists. Three militants were killed in attacks in Khadezai, Ghiljo and Mazidgarhi, the sources said, adding 11 Taliban hideouts and three vehicles were also destroyed in the action. Security forces have intensified aerial attacks on the hideouts of the militants in recent days. Meanwhile, seven militants were killed and five others sustained injuries in the bombing by fighter jets in central Kurram. There was, however, no independent confirmation of the casualties suffered by the militants. Sources said the fighter planes blitzed two hideouts of the militants in the Dogar area. “The jets pounded the hideouts after reports about the presence of the militants in the area,” an official said. He said seven militants were killed in the attack. Earlier, the militants attacked a security check-post in the Tora Waray area of the Orakzai Agency, injuring one soldier, identified as Hawaldar Amir Khan. After the incident, the positions of militants in the area were targeted with heavy artillery from Doaba. Our Batkhela correspondent adds: Five militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces in the Chinar area near Totakan Talangai on Saturday. Sources said the exchange of fire took place early in the morning and continued for a long time. Security forces shifted the bodies to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Batkhela where the slain militants could not be identified. Later, the bodies were buried in a Galai graveyard. APP adds from Islamabad: Seven militants were killed and four soldiers sustained injuries during the last 24 hours of operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency, the military said. According to a media update of the Army-run Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on the Jandola-Srarogha axis, security forces cleared the area around Madike, located two kilometres northeast of Ahmed Wam and also secured important height Point 1663 at Parmonkai Raghzai. Three soldiers got injured during an encounter with terrorists in the Ahmed Wam area, it added. On the Shakai-Kaniguram axis, the ISPR said, security forces were consolidating their positions and conducting search operations. The important feature of Takrai Sar, located one kilometre south of Marobi Raghzai and three kilometres northeast of Ladha, has been secured. Four terrorists were killed during clashes in the area, it added. During a search of terrorist commander Dr Nasrullah’s house in the Khaisura area, a large number of propaganda CDs, maps, passports and miscellaneous photos have been recovered. The troops also completely sanitised Banglekhel, Sultano, Narakai and Tutai Langarkhel areas and recovered arms and ammunition from there. On the Razmak-Makeen axis, security forces are securing areas south and east of Makeen and have established contact with forces moving on the Ladha-Kaniguram axis. According to the ISPR, an important road from Makeen to Lattaka Narai, east of Makeen, has been secured. Three terrorists were killed and a soldier sustained injuries during clashes in these areas. In Ghariom-Mir Khoni sector, the troops are consolidating their positions and advancing further and six improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were defused during the clearance operation, it added.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25577