10 killed in Orakzai attacks

PESHAWAR: At least 10 militants were killed and six suspected militants injured when fighter jets bombed militant hideouts in Upper Orakzai Agency on Monday, security officials said.

Officials claimed that fighter jets bombed Badama, Ghundi Mela, Shadala and Neak Kot localities of Upper Orakzai. The bombing destroyed two suspected militant hideouts, sources said. Security forces said that jets and helicopter gunships have been targeting safe havens in Ghaljo and Khadezai areas of upper tehsil for more than a week. Several militants have been killed in these attacks, security officials said. The Orakzai Operation that started on March 24, officially ended on June 1. The army says that the present attacks in the tribal region are merely “stabilisation operations”.Hundreds of militants have been killed during the clashes. More than 45,000 people have been displaced by fighting. Our Correspondent

Published in the Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2010.