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| India-Pakistan |
| Seizure of ammunition trucks by militants: Battlefield shifts to Darra Adam Khel |
| 2008-01-26 |
| Around 34 militants and two soldiers were killed during a military operation in Darra Adam Khel, as fighting erupted in the formerly stable region, sources said on Friday, adding that gunship helicopters were used to target militant bunkers. However, ISPR Director General Major General Athar Abbas said around 25-30 militants and two security forces personnel were killed, adding that 10 personnel were injured. He said he was not aware of any truth behind the militants’ claims of having killed seven soldiers and taken another 15 hostage. Online reported that the security forces had imposed a curfew in the region. “At present, the aim is the recovery of trucks [of food and ammunition] and if the resistance grows, then the operation may continue till the army takes control of the area,” Abbas said. The military launched the operation after the collapse of talks between the government and local Taliban for the release of five soldiers and four truckloads of ammunition and food that were hijacked on Thursday. A jirga failed to convince the local Taliban to cooperate. Later, tribal elders quoted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Maulvi Omer as saying that the trucks had been shifted to a safe place. Omer also claimed that the ammunition was enough to fight against the security forces for two years. A tribal elder said the trucks had been recovered, but the ammunition and kidnapped officials were still missing. He said the local Taliban and security forces had blocked the Indus Highway at separate points. Checkpost captured: Meanwhile, the militants claimed to have captured Zarghun Khel checkpost. Locals said three soldiers had been killed and five others captured. Senator Abdul Razzaq said dialogue collapsed after the Taliban refused to hand over the vehicles and soldiers. Local population: “Around 70 percent of the local population has left,” he said. Arms dealers have shifted their stocks to safer places, he added. NNI quoted TV channels as saying that rocket shells hit mobile phone towers on the main road, disrupting phone service in the region. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 As the legend of the Talibans very poor aim i doubt there was enough ammo for the too shoot for a week much less years. Hell if they have a wedding there goes an entire US soldiers lifetime worth |
| Posted by: sinse 2008-01-26 16:52 |