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| India-Pakistan |
| US drones prowl as Pak Army bombs Taliban positions |
| 2008-09-17 |
| Ten Taliban were killed and several others injured on Tuesday as Pakistan Army helicopter gunships and fighter jets fired shells at militant hideouts in Bajaur Agency as United States' drones prowled the sky over another Taliban sanctuary on the Afghan border. In a statement issued by the media cell, Frontier Corps NWFP headquarters said security forces had pounded Taliban positions in the Loyesam, Tang Khata and Shakai areas of Bajaur Agency. Military spokesman Major Murad Khan said ground troops were also searching house-to-house for Taliban. "They have constructed underground bunkers and are putting up stiff resistance. Troops are clearing each and every house in the area," he said. Khan said he had no information about casualties in the current fighting, but the military has said that 117 people have been killed in Bajaur over the past week. An intelligence official in Bajaur said a helicopter gunship had killed nine militants in an attack on a vehicle east of Khar. Residents said US drones had flown over the region, but had not fired any missiles. Curfew: The statement said an indefinite curfew had been enforced in the area, adding that people were fleeing to safer places. It said the Frontier Corps had seized various types of ammunition and large amounts of Afghan currency notes during a search of militant compounds around Tang Khata. Helicopter gunships and fighter jets had killed 24 Taliban in raids on their hideouts in Bajaur Agency on Monday. Several Taliban strongholds had been destroyed in attacks on bunkers in Loyesam, Tang Khata, Rashakai, Tandar Gat, Kirala, Bai Cheena, Tangai and Khazana. Security forces had also patrolled Loy Khwar, Tangi, Kotkai and Charmang but had not made ground advances. Curfew had been relaxed in parts of the agency earlier in the day. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Why am I skeptical of a report claiming the Frontier Corps is doing anything useful? But maybe they're like some laborers I know, who only work when someone is watching (from a drone circling overhead?) |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2008-09-17 09:51 |