Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships killed 15 pro-Taliban militants in intense fighting in a troubled tribal zone bordering Afghanistan yesterday, the army said. Separately security officials told AFP the Islamic rebels abducted four soldiers in the rugged North Waziristan region, where the United States alleges that al-Qaeda has created a safe haven to plan attacks against Western targets. North Waziristan has seen a spike in violence since pro-Taliban rebels in the area scrapped a peace deal with the government on July 15, five days after the army stormed a radical mosque in the capital, leaving scores dead. Fighting raged for six hours after an army patrol came under attack after signalling three vehicles to stop at the Banda checkpoint in the conflict-torn region, said chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad. "Around 40 miscreants started firing at security forces and took positions in nearby hills, and security forces retaliated. Helicopter support was called in, there was a heavy exchange of fire," said Arshad. "Fifteen miscreants are dead and we have their bodies with us. Two were injured and they have been arrested," he said, adding that two soldiers were also wounded.
Meanwhile the four soldiers were abducted at gunpoint while on the way from the garrison town of Bannu to the militant hotbed of Mir Ali in North Waziristan, a senior security official said on condition of anonymity. "Efforts are underway to recover them," he said.
Earlier a roadside bomb wounded six paramilitary troops, two seriously, as they delivered food to colleagues on the perimeter of the neighbouring tribal district of South Waziristan, security officials said. Troops also traded gunfire overnight with militants in North Waziristan after rebels launched rockets at government and army buildings, officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties from that engagement.
One rocket damaged a government-run student hostel in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, while two landed on the lawns of the town's main military base, local security officials said. Seven people, including three soldiers, were killed in violence in North Waziristan on Monday.