In an operation in Machi Khel and Dandyderpa Khel remote villages and Miranshah city in the North Waziristan tribal agency, forces arrested eight suspected militants, officials told KUNA. They said operation was carried out after a tip-off that wanted former head of Afghan forces, Badshah Mir Khan, has taken in the area. Officials added that gunship helicopters and local tribal elders also assisted forces in the operation. They did not give identities of the suspects but a source revealed that three of the arrested suspects hold Afghan nationalities. The source said one is a Taliban rebel and the two others are brothers of Badshah Khan.
Meanwhile, officials said further, the main road of Miranshah, the main headquarters of North Waziristan agency, leading toward Afghanistan has been closed due to the operation. Pakistani forces are carrying a series of search operations in its tribal agency, a home of more than 100 foreign suspects, ahead of landmark legislative elections in the neighboring war-ravaged country, Afghanistan. It has deployed 80,000 troops along the border and established 16 mobile checkposts to assist the neighbor in security issues during the elections.
In a related incident, officials said further, forces also carried out operation against Afghans in Miranshah, who failed to follow the directives of the government to evacuate the agency by August 31. They said at lest 40 Afghans were wounded in the operation.