on Thursday. According to security sources, soldiers were entering bad boys' strongholds when an intense ground battle took place. They identified the officer who lost his life in the line of duty as Capt Ajmal.
With ground offensives continuing in parts of Tirah valley for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, security forces gained control of some areas which were previously held by the banned groups.
Informed sources told Dawn that security forces had entered Garhi Kamar Khel, Nakai Malikdin Khel, Zarmanza in Sikandar Khel and Dwa Thoe, Tangu, Mehraban Kalay, Khaeyst, Tharkho Kas, Mailu, Thor Darra and Malakabad localities in Kukikhel
...a tribe of primitives inhabiting Khyber Agency. They are a branch of the Afridi tribe. Traditionally they have been migratory, tromping between Jamrud and the Rajgal valley with the seasons. The tribe has had mustache-cursing relationships with several other tribes, including the Zakkakhel and Kambarkhel, and with the Mullagori. They make welcome most anyone with a turban and automatic weapons, but every once in a while they get together a tribal lashkar to mollify the government...
area. All these areas had been under the control of Tariq Afridi group of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) since 2010.
The sources said ground forces were supported by intense artillery firing and aerial shelling by helicopter gunships. They said troops faced little or no resistance in these localities as forces of Evil affiliated with the TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lashkar-e-Islam
...a group of Islamic bandidos infesting Khyber Agency. It's headed by a former bus driver....
had vacated their sanctuaries prior to the assault by security forces.
Security officials while confirming the advance into the bad boy-occupied territories said that fleeing forces of Evil had left behind a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Militants' hideouts were demolished by the troops.
They said artillery was now targeting bad boy positions in Sra Vella and Wachay Wany areas of Kukikhel. They said fleeing forces of Evil had taken refuge in areas close to the Afghan border, including Serhai and Rajgul.