WANA/BARA/KHAR: Nineteen militants were killed in clashes with security forces in South Waziristan, Khyber and Bajaur tribal regions on Friday.
Tribal and officials sources said five militants were killed and nine others, including a soldier, sustained injuries during an exchange of fire in the Asman Manza area in Ladha Tehsil of South Waziristan. The clash, which continued for an hour, erupted when the militants attacked a military camp.
Security forces and militants also clashed in the Maidan area in Ladha Tehsil but there was no word on casualties till the filing of this report. Security forces continued the search operation in the Rawam area in Tiarza Tehsil and Kaniguram and seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition. A small arms factory was also seized in the operation and the forces established a check-post on the Ladha Road.In the Khyber Agency, eight militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Gandao area.
Official sources said the militants attacked a security check-post in Gandao with heavy arms, prompting security forces to retaliate. The exchange of gunfire continued for two hours in which eight militants were killed.
Meanwhile, a member of the bomb disposal unit was killed in a roadside explosion in Bara Tehsil. Tribal sources said the bomb disposal unit members were clearing the route for security forces’ convoy in the Naway Kamar area in Bara Tehsil when an explosive device planted by unidentified militants went off at 10:45 am, killing a BDU member identified as Ashraf and injuring Lance Naik Momin, Sepoy Kamran and Naik Akram. The injured were rushed to the hospital.
Soon after the incident, security forces cordoned off the area and arrested nine suspected militants in a search operation. They were identified as Ghulam Muhammad, Faqeer, Sarteef, Muhammad Usman, Khiyal Wali, Habib, Aqalamin, Said Ahmed and Sajid.
The sources said security forces targeted the hideouts of militants at Charmang in Nawagai and Hazar town in Mamond Tehsil with artillery shells and mortar guns, killing six militants and injuring four others. According to AFP, four soldiers were killed and three wounded when the militants attacked their check-post in the Chinar area.
In Khar, a militant was arrested while two others surrendered to the forces. Meanwhile, officials of the political administration and paramilitary forces held a Jirga with tribal elders in Lagharai area in Mamond, wherein the tribesmen assured of their support against the militants.
The tribal elders, including Malik Taj, Malik Shatir and Malik Ayaz, vowed that the Mamond Qaumi Lashkar, would continue to fight against the militants till they were completely eliminated. They said nobody would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government in their areas.
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