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| India-Pakistan |
| Kayani tours tribal region as fierce clashes continue |
| 2008-09-30 |
| (AKI/Dawn) - Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the troubled Bajaur tribal region bordering Afghanistan, where 15 militants were killed on Sunday. Troops backed by helicopter gunships and air force planes targeted militant hideouts in Rashakai, Tang Khatta, Bicheena, and other locations at the weekend. There were no immediate reports of military casualties. Officials said that over the past month, up to 1,000 militants, including some top Al-Qaeda and Taliban 'commanders', had been killed in battles in Bajaur. Clashes were reported in Charmang, Bicheena and Delay areas where the militants had regrouped and hundreds of them attacked a number of military posts on Saturday. Troops repelled the attacks using artillery and mortar fire. Early on Sunday, the militants attacked some security outposts but were forced to retreat. Helicopter gunships and planes shelled militant hideouts, destroying their key positions, sources said. The army chief visited the region and met commanders and troops engaged in the operation. He also met a 30-member jirga or tribal meeting of Tarkhani and Utmankhel tribes in Khar. Kayani praised the role of tribal elders who had opposed the militants and said that the tribal people had always fought shoulder to shoulder with the army to protect the borders of the country. Addressing the jirga, Kayani expressed satisfaction with the tribesmen's support for the troops in their operation to root out militancy and eradicate them in their region. The army chief said the militants were enemies of Islam, Pakistan and the people, adding that they were against the economic development of the region. The militants, he said, were attacking not only security forces and government installations but were also attacking girls' schools and health centres. |
| Posted by:Fred |