Sixteen Taliban and six security forces' personnel were killed in separate clashes in Bajaur Agency and Malakand division on Friday.In Bajaur, security forces attacked Taliban hideouts in Charmang Valley with helicopter gunships, killing 10 Taliban and wounding several others. In retaliation, the Taliban martyred two security forces' personnel and injured five others.
Earlier, on Friday morning, the Taliban attacked a Bajaur Levies checkpost with heavy weapons, rockets and hand grenades, killing four Levies personnel. In retaliation, security forces killed three Taliban. Political Agent Zakir Hussain Afridi announced Rs 100,000 each for the bereaved families.
Arrested: Separately, security forces claimed to have apprehended 26 Taliban and killed another three during operations in Malakand Division. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations press release, one of the Taliban was killed during a search operation at Sar Colony, while the remaining two were killed in Gujro Kille near Malam Jabba. The ISPR also claimed a Taliban centre had been destroyed at Kuz Darmal near Lower Dir, killing and wounding an indeterminate number of Taliban.