Eight militants killed, 20 held in Mohmand Agency

Would-be suicide attacker killed in Bajaur Agency and his accomplices arrested.

PESHAWAR: At least eight militants were killed and 20 more were arrested after fierce clashes with security forces in the Mohmand tribal region on Thursday, officials said.

The clashes took place in the Dawezai area of Pindiali tehsil, areas of the Anbar tehsil and Saji area of the Safi tehsil. Locals told The Express Tribune that the operation was under way in the three tehsils. They said that security forces were advancing in these areas and were pounding militant hideouts with heavy artillery.

Earlier, the police and security forces conducted a joint operation in 25 villages of the tribal agency. Although the security forces said that 20 people were arrested, locals claimed that 25 people were taken into custody during the crackdown. Roads running through the area were also closed. The operation was launched after militants blew up a girls’ primary school late on Wednesday. In another incident, four troops were injured after an explosive device went off in the Lakaro area of the same tribal agency. The injured include an officer, a JCO and two soldiers.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber was killed, while two of his accomplices were arrested in the Bajaur Agency. Security forces said they had killed the suicide bomber just as he was about to attack a security convoy in the Sarameena area of Khar tehsil in the Bajaur Agency. The forces also seized arms from the possession of his accomplices. There were no other casualties.

Local people also said that security forces were carrying out operations in some parts of the Salarazai and Khar tehsils as well which share their borders with the Anbar tehsil of the Mohmand Agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2011.