Raids were conducted a day after a suicide attack killed at least 5 soldiers, wounded 34 others in the area. PHOTO: AFP
On Thursday in the afternoon, army units acting on intelligence reports of militants preparing another car bomb in a nearby hideout in Mir Ali, security forces launched a pre-emptive strike where 10 militants were killed.
In a statement from the Inter-services public relations, most of the militants killed were reportedly Uzbek.
The violence in the tribal district came a day after a suicide bombing at a military checkpoint killed five soldiers and wounded 34 others.
Ansarul Mujahideen, a little-known militant group linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
A senior military official said 23 militants were killed overnight in fighting with security forces in North Waziristan.
Clashes erupted after the insurgents attacked a convoy of security forces which was returning after rescuing soldiers wounded in Wednesday’s bombing, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The death toll could not be verified independently because of an ongoing search operation and curfew in the area.
Earlier, local security officials said six of the suspected militants were killed during raids on two hotels.
"Security forces raided two hotels in the area close to the site of the suicide bombing and intense gunbattles left six suspected militants dead and 12 others wounded," a local security official told AFP.
Separately, shells fired by security forces hit a house in Moski village and killed a woman and her two daughters, the local official said.
Military officials did not confirm the civilian deaths.
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On Wednesday night, 23 militants were killed while fighting with the security forces in North Waziristan.
@Kaleem: Civilians
Read the whole comments but no one care to condemn or at least show solidarity with the families of those three innocent civilians (a mother with her two daughters) who died by the shelling of our Army. Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Ra Jioun. May Allah Swt give patience to the affectees may Allah swt guide us all Ameen
WHAT??
Pakistan Army is once again victimising 'stakeholders' and 'innocent victims' of Drone attacks.
When will the great Khan launch a blockade of Military Supplies to NWA?
"Pakistani Army Accused of Waziristan Killings of Civilians Residents Say Military Took Lives of Dozens of Innocents After Militant Attack on Checkpoint" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Residents in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan tribal region claimed on Thursday that dozens of civilians were killed in an army operation following a suicide attack at a checkpoint, charges the Pakistani military rejected." Source: WSJ.
@Asif Yusufzai:
Let me try again, my reply was apparently lost in transit. You as a Yousafzai should kno that it was the waziris tribesmen who overran kashmir in 1947 taking over Sirinagar, the capital with their 48 hours 'Blitzkrieg`and made the Maharaja and his rag tag army run for life. It was also the late arrival of the Pakistan army which enabled the Indian army to retake sirinagar and the sorrounding region.
Rex Minor
@Zalmai: They will be chased even to their caves. You Afghans need not worry.
@Rex Minor: Ideed you proved yourself to be a minor and having child like IQ.
Hard-core militants don't go and spend the night in a hotel they go to the mountains in to their caves. No one can confirm this news because there are no journalists or media in Waziristan, the only people propagating and disseminating news from this region is the ISPR and their credibility is suspect.
This is a clear and precise response to the killings of soldiers who were just doing their job to protect their citizens and their nation. It sends a strong signal to the terrorists that your heinous crimes will not go unnoticed and the security forces will come after you. This common enemy has caused havoc on innocent lives, and befitting reply to their crimes is the need of the hour. We commend the Pakistani security forces for their sacrifices and their timely action against the ruthless enemy. Sometimes to achieve peace; we have to walk through the treacherous fields of death!
Abdul Quddus DET- United States Central Command
@Qasim: Respect your concern..Believe me our guys are far better than US soldiers (Tech notwithstanding).. Our guys have to move frequently on foot for various jobs like food supply etc as less of air support is available coz of financial reasons. So they are very vulnerable compared to US soldiers. We are literally all Over the place and so again more vulnerable unlike US soldiers so are in Few and really fortified bases. In a foreign country these kind of missions are easy as you don care mush about collateral but in own country you have to accept a high risk as you cant just shoot. but see still collateral happens. Allah bless Pakistan with Peace. Faith. LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
The civilian casualties caused by Drone's pinpoint attacks are despicable but civilians killed by Pakistani army shelling are not only justifiable but commendable.
Indian forces should learn from Pak army to deal with terrorists operating in Kashmir .
@Someone: Sir, I am not an Indian, but I was in your shoes I would be worrying about the Indian Sikh army whose motivation is to retake Punjab.
Rex Minor
suspected? are you sure you killed militants or just another group of civilians? This requires a Big Question Mark!
Such revenge attacks will not help to eliminate militancy in Pakistan without adopting a uniform policy as well as launching decisive operations against Taliban. Incidentally, no revenge attacks were ever conducted immediately against the militants after many such bomb blast killing scores of innocent civilians.
@Sajid Iqbal: Pakistan army wont do blind bombings
Strikes are only carried out after ground intelligence confirmation. Locals obviously are going to speak against bombing there area but its their job to not let the terrorists make safe haven in their area and put lives of their own families and business at risk.
All peaceful people of Waziristan should evacuate the area until the operation against the terrorists is going on. Once completed, they can go back and live there in peace.
@truth: @uglytruth Yes off course you indians will condemn the killing of indian agents and indian trained terrorists by the PAK Army. No matter how hard you try, you cannot break this country this easily. Sorry to hear about your loss guys, why dont you worry about the soon to be AJAD KHALISTAN.
@Rex Minor: You mean just like how India lost Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan in 1947 Kashmir war?
@Rex Minor: What makes people like you to think that such a course will not destabilise the entire region, resulting in the Indian army re-uniting the Punjabi as well as the kashmiri speaking people with those of theirs and thereby disintegrating the State of Pakistan?
You can test out your hypothesis and see whatever will be left of the fragmented union state known as India that you come from. You will lose what you already have. Why go for another dhoti shiver?
Why Muslims are killing Muslims instead of Hindus. What is wrong with us?
For all my friends jumping in their seats on this "feat", they should check this news from other news outlet too where locals of NW terming it blind bombing of their homes and market in retaliation of the suicide bombing on Army checkpost last day. Does it make sense that militants were partying in a hotel and Army killed them there?
@truth: Well tried Indian!The way you wrote "Ajad" instead of "Azad" gave away your identity. Next time when you go imposter be careful.
Dear Munawar Hassan, Who was Shaheed today?
Brilliant! Great job to announce Gen Raheel's ascension to the COAS spot. Hope he takes this to the hilt and makes these brutal murderous animals extinct! Muabark General and May Allah grace your efforts with victory and bless every Fauji Shaheeds blood.
Fighting against lawless butchers ... GO GO GO ..!
Send every Afghan back. You will find Pakistan next to heaven.
Why don't security forces finish the job? They are obviously capable of it. There is something fishy about selective behaviour of security forces.
How long before Imran Khan refers to the dead as shaheed?
@A J Khan: In continuity of your point 7:...and send them on a one way trip to bermuda
and yet PMLN wants negotiation with the militants
Only solution just do the carpet bombing and then action by ground troops. Right now no table talks - yes after this successful action do table talks on government terms and conditions and that's all. Pakistan Zinda Bad
ET, please allow the reply to the enthusist adventurer who has put out the catalogue of actions.
@A J Khan: Why the complicated narrative, you mean the military intervention? Is this not what the people of the tribal territories have been facing from the past two centuries, especially since the American invasion? What makes people like you to think that such a course will not destabilise the entire region, resulting in the Indian army re-uniting the Punjabi as well as the kashmiri speaking people with those of theirs and thereby disintegrating the State of Pakistan?. Unless ofcourse you reckon that Pakistan army is more powerful than the world super powers?
Rex Minor
Waiting for Mr Nisar's usual rant about how this has destroyed the peace process
I put forward following to Prime Minister of Pakistan: 1. Declare Emergency and declare War through parliament on Crimes, Criminals and Terrorists. 2. Seal Western Border with Afghanistan. 3. Send back all refugees and illegal immigrants of all kinds and countries. 4. Clamp down on moles of terrorists in Government Services and Judiciary/Judges. 5. Close media channels which is spewing venom against the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan in the name of freedom of expression.. 6. Close madrissahs which is drawing funds from Foreign Countries and spreading hate and violence. 7. Isolate political & religious parties and leaders who support crime / terrorism in garb of religion and human rights. 8. Establish Military Courts to punish criminals till judicial reforms are in place. Secure your country and pass it on as a safe and developing country to your next generation.
Bravo! Hunt them all down. Thank you for your sacrifices --- I salute you!
Some more shaheeds.........
Bravo. Keep up the good work my dear army men. I wish you God speed. Alas, I wish we were able to destroy the minders not just the players.
We have seen these Taliban are also tried hard to do Sucide attack on US posts in Afghanistan. Our soldiers should learn how they avoid them. Time to learn lesson from US soldiers.
Way to go!
Go Pakistan Army go. Finish these talibans and their apologists.