23 militants killed in air raids

Seven bases of militants also destroyed in the blitz. PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR: At least 23 Taliban militants were killed and 21 injured in fresh air strikes in the Orakzai tribal region, intelligence sources said on Friday.

Warplanes bombed hideouts of Taliban insurgents in Dalani, Jharndo Killay and Kundi areas of Mamuzai, in Upper Orakzai Agency, the sources said, adding that seven suspected bases of militants were destroyed in the air raids. Warplanes carried out two sorties in on Friday. Twelve insurgents were killed in the night, while 11 were killed in daytime strikes.

Security forces claim to have killed hundreds of rebels since they launched the ground offensive in the region in March this year. The operation was initiated following intelligence reports that militants fleeing a military operation in South Waziristan Agency were regrouping in Orakzai.

Thousands of tribesmen have been displaced by fighting in Orakzai. Security forces have purged the southern part of the agency of militants. And subsequently, around 500 families belonging to Ferozkhel and Sturikhel tribes have been repatriated to their villages.

On June 1, the army claimed victory against militants in Orakzai. The announcement coincided with a visit of the army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, to the region. The military spokesperson later said that “stabilisation operations” would continue for some time. Sources, however, say that the militants are still in control of large swathes of land in Upper Orakzai and it will take security forces some time to finish the job.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2010.