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Troops in control of over 80 percent of Mehsud areas
[The News (Pak) Top Stories] The Army on Tuesday claimed killing nine more militants to raise the Taliban death tally to 492 since the launch of the military operation in South Waziristan on October 17.Sources said security forces were now controlling more than 80 per cent of the Mehsud areas in the agency as there was no or little resistance from the militants in recent days.They said majority of militants had either fled into the neighbouring North Waziristan and Orakzai Agencies or sneaked into the adjacent districts of Tank and Dera IsmailKhan in the garb of fleeing population. Azam Tariq, spokesman for the Hakimullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed on Tuesday in a telephonic call to reporters from an undisclosed location that the Army had so far captured only roads while the Taliban were holding the key locations in forests and mountains. He said they had adopted the hit-and-run policy and were preparing to fight a long guerrilla war against the advancing Army. He also claimed inflicting casualties on security forces, but did not give the exact number. The TTP spokesman said they were ready for tough resistance against the Army. Earlier, he had admitted the death of only 11 Taliban in the operation. Among the nine slain militants, the Army said five were killed in the north of Ladha and four others were eliminated in Tauda Cheena and Fort Knoll areas of Makeen. According to the ISPR, security forces continued a search and clearance operation in Sarai Ghundaka, Kandao, Spinkai and Zariwam areas on the Jandola-Srarogha axis. Security forces have discovered and dismantled a private jail near the Bangalkhel area of Ladha, where they are conducting a search and clearance operation over the past few days. Several caves, bunkers, towers and observation posts of the Taliban were also destroyed in the same area, said the ISPR. On the Razmak-Makeen axis, security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition and arrested one militant from the area. Political administration officials said the troops were in complete control of Makeen, the nerve centre of the TTP. They said the areas of Shakai, Kaniguram and Makeen had been cleared while a search operation was underway in Maidan, Kot Langarkhel and Bazay. Security forces have also established posts on mountains in Srarogha to strengthen their positions. The troops also started a search operation on the Srarogha-Piazha Road. The troops are now advancing towards Janta, Piazha and Makeen from the Srarogha side.Sources said security forces had also started a search operation in the Sam area of Ladha while posts had been established on the hilltops in Karwan Manza, Karam and Delay. Posted by: Fred 2009-11-11 |
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