Security forces killed an estimated 18 suspected militants during a firefight late Sunday evening near the Afghan border in North Waziristan, a pro-Taliban cleric announced on Monday. “Please donate for the burial of 18 martyrs who died in clashes with security forces,” cleric Qari Muhammad Roman announced during Zuhr prayers here. He told worshippers that the army informed him that 18 militants were killed when they attacked the Pusht Ziarat checkpost in Shawal, west of Miranshah and close to the Afghan border. People donated more than Rs 10,000 for burial arrangements of the militants, local Taliban sources said. “The cleric was airlifted by the military Monday afternoon and perhaps taken to the place where the clash occurred,” a close aide to the cleric said.
Qari Roman has been asking for such donations since the militants blew up the only Town Committee Hall where the military previously kept unidentified bodies of militants.
14 casualties confirmed: Army spokesman Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad said on Monday that 14 militants had been killed in the attack on Pusht Ziarat checkpost, reported AP. He said the postÂ’s commander reported the deaths of 14 militants before it came under fire again at about noon. According to AP, officials then lost contact with the post and did not know the fate of the 16 soldiers stationed there.
Two soldiers killed at Pusht Ziarat checkpost: An intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two soldiers were killed and five injured at the checkpost. However, Arshad said he had no information of these casualties.
Alleged US spy killed: Meanwhile, masked gunmen killed a tribesman in Mir Ali bazaar for allegedly spying on the Taliban for the US, eyewitnesses said. “Two masked gunmen appeared from a car and sprayed Waliullah with bullets and announced that he had been an American spy,” the eyewitnesses told Daily Times. Previously, militants had kidnapped and beheaded spies and the Monday killing showed a changed strategy in discouraging spying.
Late Monday evening, loud explosions were heard in Miranshah and security sources said gunfire was directed at suspected militant hideouts. However, it was not clear in which direction the artillery shots were fired.
The Pakistan Army agreed to a ceasefire with militants holding some 260 soldiers hostage, AP quoted officials as saying. Tribal officials negotiated the ceasefire, said Arbab Arif Khan, the government official responsible for security in the tribal belt. Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad confirmed the agreement.