20 troops, 50 militants killed in fierce battle

NORTH WAZIRISTAN—With the martyrdom of ten more soldiers in a second attack on military convoy in N. Waziristan and killing of 20 miscreants in retaliation total 20 soldiers embraced martyrdom and 30 miscreants were killed in the gunbattles on Sunday. Ten soldiers were martyred and 12 others were injured in attack on military convoy in Masukhel in N. Waziristan, said ISPR Director General Major General Waheed Arshad.
Twenty miscreants were killed in the army retaliated, he said, adding that the gunbattles between the security forces and militants was going on. Some 30 miscreants were killed and 15 others were wounded in the fighting in a mountainous area south of the town of Mir Ali, Arshad said after Security forces launched an attack against militant bases and hide-outs in the restive North Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan.
“We got this information by intercepting the militants’ own communications,” the general said. The military also said in a statement that ten soldiers were killed. Separately the military said security forces arrested two militants in the same troubled tribal area — the region where the United States alleges that Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have been regrouping since 9/11.
“The miscreants were fired upon by security forces when they were fleeing from the site after planting an IED (improvised bomb)” it said in a statement. Nearly 300 people have died in attacks since the crisis, most of which have been suicide bombings. A further 250 militants have been killed in clashes with security forces since the mosque standoff, the army says.
Pro-Taliban militants have also been holding more than 200 Pakistani soldiers in nearby South Waziristan district since abducting them in late August. They shot dead three of the soldiers earlier this month to put pressure on the government to halt military operations in the rugged region, officials said. Pakistan’s military has around 90,000 soldiers fighting Al-Qaeda and Taliban rebels on the border with Afghanistan.
Bloody clashes, once again erupted between law enforcers and local Taliban in the area of Hasu Khel Tehsil Mir Ali in North Waziristan that has left 48 militants dead and 32 other wounded. As many as, 20 security men have reportedly embraced Shahadat and 25 are wounded in the continuing exchange of fire started from Sunday morning when tribal insurgents ambushed one of the military convey in the aforesaid area.
According to information, both warring parties are indiscriminately trading firing with automatic and heavy weapons including Motors, Rocket Launchers, Doshakka and 75 RR. A private-run TV channel revealed that state forces are also reinforced with gunship helicopters.
6 civilians have also lost their lives during ongoing bloody skirmishes so far. This incident marred the peace and clam of the area and people are being compelled to remain within boundary walls of their homes. Even, a small portion of the population immediately decided to leave area for safe places.
Political Administration of the Agency, on contact, confirmed fighting between law enforcement agencies and miscreant however official sidestepped queries regarding exact casualties figures so far and contended that exact details will come once operation will be ended.

—Agencies