20 militants killed in Tirah bombing

KHYBER AGENCY:

Security forces on Thursday launched targeted airstrikes in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, killing at least 20 militants, including three suicide bombers. They also destroyed a number of terrorists’ hideouts, arms and food depots in the troubled region, officials in the law enforcement agencies said.

Identity of the killed miscreants could not be ascertained, however, the officials claimed they included three suicide bombers.

Due to lack of media access to the mountainous area, confirmation of such reports from independent sources is almost impossible.

Security forces are engaged in military action against militants in both North Waziristan and Khyber agencies.

A day earlier, the officials claimed killing nearly two dozen militants during the military actions in the border areas of both North and South Waziristan. The clashes erupted when militants attacked a check post of the security forces.

During the attack, seven security personnel also sustained injuries and admitted to the Combined Military Hospital Bannu. In the wake of what the authorities claimed as a successful military operation in Khyber One, repatriation of the internally displaced people from Peshawar and its adjoining areas is in progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.