 Pakistani security forces bombarded on Thursday militant hideouts in two remote areas of North Waziristan tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan, wounding more than five people, said locals and officials.
| How many more? One more would make six. 100 would make 105. |
Hundreds of troops backed with gunship helicopters launched the operation in Dutta Khel, Qutab Khel, and Khattai areas of the agency on a tip-off that foreign militants had taken refugee in the areas, a security official told KUNA on the condition of anonymity. He said the operation was still continuing and it had been expanded to adjacent villages. He added that two troops and three militants had been wounded in exchange of fire. Locals said there was heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and militants.
| That's because you usually don't get anything done with a light exchange of fire except to scare the chickens. |
A local said he witnessed two dead bodies but this was not officially confirmed. He said military and political administrations had directed the locals to evacuate the area immediately. The operation is part of the series of military operations launched since last month to wipe out terrorist elements from the agency. On Wednesday, forces had arrested 11 militants and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Earlier this month forces in an operation in Dutta Khel stormed the largest Al-Qaeda den in the agency. They seized 15 truckloads of arms and ammunition and arrested 21 militants, including 11 foreigners believed to be of Uzbek, Tajik and Arab origins. Meanwhile, according to security sources, suspected Islamic militants shot and killed four low-ranking security officials and a senior officer in neighboring South Waziristan tribal agency. |